JHD Letter: (Untitled regarding Measures 66 & 67)

Added 1/6/2010: Published in GT as: Letter: Oregon's Legislature must live within revenue means (Jan. 5)
SUBMITTED TO: CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES/LETTERS by John Detweiler - We are about to vote on raising taxes on corporations and the rich. As I said on this page on November 30th, the people who will have to pay the increased taxes make economic decisions in their best interests as they see them. Taxes have been raised in other places at other times creating an incentive for people to take action to reduce the effects of the increased taxes. People living in the Boston area have been moving to New Hampshire for years to avoid Massachusetts' taxes. People retiring in New York move to places like Texas for lower taxes -- and better weather. California has been losing business to Nevada and Arizona for years because of high taxes. People are moving out of Maryland to avoid the recently imposed millionaires tax. The results will be the same in Oregon.

Responsible citizens know they must live within their means. They prioritize their needs and wants over the long run and stop spending when they run out of money. Oregon can't seem to act responsibly. It has been known for many years that Oregon's revenues fluctuate with the business cycle. The Legislature needs to spend less in good times, putting serious money into the rainy-day-fund, so there is money for the bad times.

John H. Detweiler (www.peak.org/~detweij)
Corvallis

Published in GT as: Letter: Oregon's Legislature must live within revenue means (Jan. 5)