Weapons of Mass Discussion - TROLLS wll NOT be tolerated. Period.
OK, Matt--do I have to give you kudos twice in 24 hours? Your sober analysis of Kasich's tax policy is principled and compelling. You like the goal--get rid of taxes--but you acknowledge that hey, these things can't be done on the back of an envelope, it's a huge chunk of revenue. If there were more conservatives like you...
"If there were more conservatives like you..."
DANGER WILL ROBINSON! WARNING!
Next you'll start calling him a "Maverick" and we all know where that leads...
Funny, Strickland thought Ohio was in bad enough shape to adopt "Turnaround Ohio" as a campaign slogan. Now he's "pie-in-the-sky" after not having done one thing thus far?
I'm not ready to start criticizing my own just yet simply b/c he won't give me a detailed thesis on his plans. And I don't think he's one to simply throw an idea out for kicks only to abandon it later.
John is the only one out there who has been talking about school choice, tax reform, entitlement cuts, etc. I have no doubt that he will walk the walk when it's time.
Logic dictates that a "best practice model" among the other states w/o income tax is taken into consideration, mixed with relevance to Ohio's condition, is what's behind the plan.
Well, I just really hate slogans-as-policy type politics. It is one thing to say, "I think we ought to take a look at phasing out the income tax in this state" and "I think we ought to phase out the income tax in this state." One implies that there is a principle from which to frame a discussion in order to formulate a plan. The other indicates that there is a plan. And clearly, he has no plan.
After having read Kasich's book, I was mildly concerned about him...I can't really put my finger on exactly what it is, but Kasich does make me a little nervous. Still, he is the best hope the GOP has to reclaim the governor's mansion...
I will NOT vote for Kasich. He is anti-gun. He supported the Clinton Gun Ban, and refuses to repudiate his position. Those who I trust have heard him say that he will "never be the candidate of the NRA", and that he doesn't want their support.
Kasich is not acceptable. Portman YES. Strickland YES. Kasich...NO! (Portman before Strickland, btw)
Somebody ought to ask Kasich about 2nd Amendment issues during one of them rubber chicken dinners...
Well, while I am no fan of the income tax, one has to wonder given the economic state florida is in right now, with all the issues involving other taxes there, whether this is a right issue. the fact remains kasich should have talked about looking at the issue rather than simply saying, this is what i would do. Those types of things lead to "read my lips" moments.
I just worry who we will run against Brown in 2012. Hopefully that takes care of itself
I read somewhere (NixGuy's commenter maybe?) that somebody wanted Boehner to take him on...but there is no way Boehner is going to leave the House until he is Speaker for awhile...
Maybe Kevin Coughlin...but he might actually be too high profile what with the Alex battle and all...
I dunno...fortunately (or not), we have a lot of time...
Someone needs to explain how Texas and Florida haven't fallen into the Gulf of Mexico despite not having an income tax.
The burden of proof is NOT on Kasich, it's on those who say it can't be done, when those two states have proven that it CAN be done.
Well, Texas does lead the nation in children without health insurance, so it may not be the BEST idea...also--since so much of state funding goes to public education, when you lack an income tax, what you get are much greater county by county disparities in school quality, because you end up relying even more than most states on property taxes to fund the public schools. Still, the more important question for economic vitality is what percent of state GNP goes to the state government, not so much the source of the revenue. Source of revenue is relevant in terms of what behavior you are trying to encourage/discourage (use of gas, alcohol, etc) and what is the transaction cost of the tax? Income taxes have much better transaction costs than, say, property taxes, but nowhere near as efficient as the gas tax. Sales taxes depends on administrative structure and complexity. I'd be very happy to see Ohio lead the nation in funding state activities via utilities and transportation (gas) taxes, and junk the income tax. If Kasich led with that, he might even attract some green votes as well as the "I hate the income tax" conservative crowd.
Rasing gas taxes will be pegged by Ohio Demcrats as being against the middle class and the poor. Even though, they will turn around and suggest raising gas taxes themselves in the very next session (just like in Congress!)
Honestly, I'd like to see a either a flat tax or a consumption (sales) tax tried. The flat tax has the advantage of being more easy to model for budget purposes -- not like the appropriators actually care about the revenue side; but I could support either plan if somebody could run the numbers and show that we could replace the 34% of revenue generated by the current income tax.
Although, that brings up another point...one that I mentioned in one of my updates...is there 34% of current spending in the budget that could be eliminated? I honestly don't know...34% sounds like an awful lot to me...
I have the answer: gambling. Let's install Keno machines in every diner and eatery in the state at every table.
Oh wait...
Somebody already tried to pull that one over on us...
Gambling is a tax on the poor and the stupid.
A sales tax/consumption tax has several advantages--for one thing, it encourages savings! But the reason I've always opposed it is its complexity. The administrative costs are phenomenal, the incentive and ability to cheat even worse than the current income tax. It is also REALLY regressive--ie, the poor spend almost all their income every year, and would face a rate of taxation greater than the wealthy, as a function of income.
A flat tax is something I would support if only to simplify the tax code AND remove all the lobbyists who live on getting and keeping tax breaks. And all the wealthy folks who use the complexity of the current tax code to legally and illegally avoid taxes. Flat tax has much lower admin costs, and higher compliance. It would have to have a graduated entrance rate--ie, if it is 17%, it couldn't apply to people making 5K...but it should apply in part to people making 20K...but at full rate? If the full rate kicks in at 50K, it would still be a massive shift in tax burden to the middle class, incidentally.
Gun Fan, as an NRA member & CCW permit carrier, heresay isn't good enough with so much @ stake in 2010. Having that said, I will definitely write in and ask him about that one vote.
As for Brown, I was hoping that Jim Jordan would be ready to take him on in 2012. That would give him 6 good years in the House and I have no doubt that he would do well in most areas; esp. his own district where they love him and in the SW where folks know him as a young, sane Tom Brinkman.
Kasich is perfect. Metro Columbus is the swing area and Kasich is well known and trusted.
Not feared as the perceived scary social conservative aka Blackwell. Kasich will get respectable numbers in Cleveland. He has a Reagan Democrat appeal.
Ohio government spending must be reduced and constrained. If we keep spending limited just for 8 years with 3% state growth, then immediately you have about 24-27% extra revenues (taxes) you can cut to stay even.
Ohio's income tax, capital gains tax (pt of income tax), estate tax, and city income tax/school income taxes add up to too much. Go Kasich!
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