New Tax Burden Study Ignores Property Tax 
By Robert Skinner

Vermont's legislative Democrats have their spanking new tax study created  by Vermont's Joint Fiscal Office (JFO),  and they are heartened that it shows Vermonters are not really that burdened with taxes. The problem is, as in another study done not long ago, is the fiscal analysts failed to factor in the one tax that nobody can deny is burdening  a majority of home owners - the property tax. How politically convenient, and folly, to deny this great crushing tax from the study.  The fiscally conservative Governor Douglas commented that "It's preposterous to calculate the tax burden without including the oppressive burden of property taxes. The Democrats efforts to do so is perhaps the most desperate attempt to justify raising taxes that I have seen in my more than 30 years in public service."  The common sense of this criticism  of ignoring the property tax was underscored by one of Vermont's finest talk show hosts and rather politically neutral analyst Mark Johnson.  Johnson was a guest commentator on the PBS political talk show, Vermont This Week on Friday, September 12 and said,  "You know you really do have to wonder about the value of this [study] that the governor noted and others noted that not including what you pay in property taxes,  you know, really is like counting your calories and forgetting to count dessert  ... You know what they do with this and what the value of it is, ha you know, I'm trying to reach back and try to remember why they asked for this study to be commissioned - what context that was in."

This isn't the first study, as aforementioned, that has attempted to assuage the growing emotions of bitterness of Vermont home owners whose quality of life is on the decline due to ever more dollars from their pay checks  going to support education.  This study that excludes the property tax is an insult but Speaker of the House Gaye Symimgton was quick to attack the common sense of the omission by saying, "I am disappointed that Governor Douglas chooses to politicize this report.  As we head into an election year perhaps such rhetoric is inevitable. However, Vermonters would be well served if their leaders could avoid such mischaracterization of analytical work."   At least Bill Clinton admitted that "I feel your pain," and most believed his sincerity in his saying so.  It seems the Democratic leadership in the Vermont House of Representatives is attempting to persuade Vermonters that this study on tax burden they laud which  excludes the property tax in the equation is illegitimate as an "analytical work."   Because of this blatant omission of this painful property tax the conclusion must be made, and has been made, that the tax burden upon Vermont citizens is not heavy and therefore of little consequence.  Subsequently,  when the House Ways and Means committee sets out this coming legislative session to create more tax schemes to fuel Vermont's so-called "Progressive way forward" its collective liberal conscience can be clear  when it expands tax rates or creates a new tax.

In essence, Vermonters are being told by the progressive Democratic leadership that if you are feeling pain this "analytical work" underscores the pain hardly justified and we, your duly elected representatives with a plan forward "don't feel your pain." Some advise - just think about the horrors of Global Warming and our new Peace Prize winner, Al Gore, who will lead with ever increasing vigor on the "way forward."  So bear any pain you fell and just  Get over because our vision is to solve all your problems with ever expanding programs and new entitlements for those truly suffering.   In other words, liberal Democratic leaders like Speaker of the House Gaye Symington and Senate Pro-Temp Peter Shumlin can continue in earnest finding new ways to tax Vermonters "for the children" and the "socioeconomically disadvantaged."

But being in tax burden denial for a Vermont representative is completely irresponsible if not outright reckless and hardly what Vermont home owners, in real fiscal pain,  deserve from their elected Democratic reps.  The same representative  who in the last legislative session gave so much attention to Global Warming and so little attention to the one issue that a vast majority of Vermonters believed they would focus upon - property tax relief. That did not happen - not even close.  But for a moment let me speak of one such progressive program that does give relief at the expense of home owners - Section 8.  Section 8  is a program that takes tax money from Vermonters earning $45,000 or more (the JFO says earning $45,000 or more categorizes one as rich) and gives it to people who can't afford some of the country's highest priced rental units.  Recipients of this progressive handout can get as much as 75% of a rental fee. This artificial increase in one's economic reality raises the quality of life of one family while helps to make  another family "less rich" - not more poor but "less rich."   Rather than let the market forces operate in reality that is  free  from government interference and control so genuine market adjustment can be made, liberal thinkers create artificially high income earners at overtaxed Vermonters' expense.  The result - landlords will have no incentive - NONE - to work hard to reduce their expenses and profit taking and rental fees naturally rise rather than level off or even decline. If the government would just keep its hands off and a large majority of Vermont families were unable to pay the often obscene rents then many  "rich"  landlords would have to compete with others to fill apartments or rental homes.  This competition would force rents to come down to reflect the reality of the economic health of a community or a state. It seems when government gets overhanded and all to comfortable or eager to expand socioeconomic programs with the idea they are do-gooders, they actually create more harm.

When the government interferes and over-manages and mismanages the mechanism of capitalism that is responsible for the world's most robust and energetic American economy, taxes rise in proportion to the degree of the mismanagement and expansion of entitlements. Such is the case in Vermont where a liberally dominated legislature just can't seem to  find the trust in free capitalistic markets that are fueled by a  competitive, creative energy that if left alone would self adjust to low income populations.  But for the "vote of it," I believe, liberals in leadership characterize themselves as the champion the poor, the down trodden and redistribute the wealth from the so-called  "rich"  and hand it over to others who eventually lose faith in their own capacity to fend for themselves and become ever dependent upon the government.

Such thinking, such artificial tinkering with the economy only propagates more socioeconomic programs that yield a socioeconomic state of fiscal  homogeneity - yes - socialism,  Socialism, as demonstrated in the former Soviet Union and Cuba today,  only stifles the individual's drive and energy to be independent in their finances and in their creative capacity in all other endeavors. That's the socialistic world of reality that Vermont Democrats are moving toward - some unwittingly and some with a focused determination. All who challenge  progressive "way forward" and attempt to tarnish or challenge the path to socialism are targets for ridicule and often  characterized as heartless and "mean spirited" - not fit for positions to serve the people. This lauded, liberal "way forward" with government managed/controlled health care, and government managed retirement, and government managed prescription drugs is the path to the grave yard of a vibrant, capitalistic society that promotes individual responsibility and "REAL" brain strained solutions to the people's problems.

That Gaye Symington, a major leader of the Democratic Party, has validated the Vermont's Joint Fiscal Office's new report that Vermonters are in reality, their reality, not overly taxed underscores her as someone who is part of the problem and can never be part of a viable solution. It is impossible for one to be part of the solution if they are in denial of the problem. The problem ? Middle class Vermonters ARE over taxed as a result of government officials/politicians believing they are the be all, end all controlling agent in best managing the lives of average, regular citizens. The liberal, and most in his day would say very progressive, Henry David Thoreau had it right long ago that 'best government is less government.'  But allow  government to continue growing to ever higher  power levels that Vermont government is growing then those  once heroic "rugged individuals" like Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys who won the freedom and dignity from an oppressive, all controlling English monarchy - then  these heroes of the free spirit and individual pride will be simply objects of ridicule in a socialist society.

This country became great in mind, spirit and body not because the government expanded its control over the everyday lives of its citizens as underscored by section 8 handouts and other social entitlements, but because individuals took pride and inspiration in the vision that their lives and their fortunes, for better or worse, are in their hands - not in government hand outs.   When Democrats in this state can't even handle the truth of over burdened taxpayers and attempt to create a tax friendly reality as they laud a new fiscal report, then isn't it time for another revolution to reclaim our pride in the individual's great capacity to forge his or her own destiny - for better or worse? That's freedom.

Each election we all get a chance to place people in power who can be honest with us and who can above all seek the truth and  "handle the truth."   Keep your eyes on the 2007-08 Vermont legislature dominated by Democrats to see if the leadership of the Democratic Party is taking you down the best path. We are a people of pride and want to be honored as individuals capable of finding our own path forward with as little government management, or mismanagement, as possible.  We detest a lockstep march behind socialistic pathfinders and seek ways forward with those who  honor the individual and his or her unique ability to solve one's problems?
 

Robert Skinner is a former Editor of the True North Radio website.