It is election time across this country once again. Important races and ballot initiatives will effect citizens for years to come. Many ballot initiatives to the people will be on ballots across Washington state. One of those initiatives is I-1098. The creators and backers of I-1098 use one of the seven deadly sins in order to get it passed. That deadly sin is obvious – envy.

That’s right, I said it, envy. Class warfare. Let’s stick it to the rich because they make a lot of money and they need to pay their fair share and can afford a tax increase. A basic summation of I-1098 is that it implements an income tax on people that make $200,000 individually or $400,000 or more for the household. On initial observation, the average person says, “yeah, stick it to the rich, they can afford it.” Basically, punishing those that have succeeded in this society and punishing those that provide jobs. That’s right, rich people provide jobs to people. And to tax them further will be a job killer. When was the last time a poor person has given you a job and benefits? What is insidious is that the blood suckers behind this initiative don’t have the guts to call it what it is – an income tax. Instead, they call it an excise fee.

You may ask yourself, “Why call it an excise fee when it is clearly an income tax?” There is a state constitutional reason to call it an excise fee as opposed to an income tax. If an income tax is implemented, it must be implemented to all citizens equally. So, that means everybody who works needs to be taxed on their income in order to pass Constitutional muster. And, if this devilish initiative passes, that means in two years, the political party that is in control can pass a law that changes this initiative to require that all income earners must pay a state income tax, er, I mean state excise fee.

You can bet there are plenty of Democrat politicians (and a few Republicans) in Olympia that are chomping at the bit in hopes that this initiative passes. That way, they can wash their hands of a tax increase and can say, ‘Hey, the citizens spoke.” And you can bet they are chomping at the bit to have a new source of income to spend, not reduce the Democrat-caused billion dollar deficit. That way, they can pay off the nonessential state employee unions.

Oh Jon, how can you say that, you are so controversial and divisive!

But supporters will say, “Hey, these funds will be designated for education and health care.” Of course, with these magical promises, the ignorant lemmings in this state will cheer. But a person with a half a brain and at least a 10th grade education will say, “Politicians have made that promise about designated tax funds in the past and they have raided those designated funds to pay for other programs.”

I don’t have a dog in this fight because I don’t come close to making $200,000 a year. But I know who creates jobs in this state and it isn’t the government. And Gov. Gregoire and the Democrats have done an excellent job in killing jobs in this state and running business out of state. You can bet they are fully supportive of this initiative. I also know that in two to four years, every one of us will be included on this “state excise fee” garbage. I know liberals like I know every square inch of my naked body and they want more and more of our hard-earned money to give to their special interests and lobbyists in exchange for votes. (Dang it, Jon, there is that divisiveness again. Why aren’t you a uniter?) We have to vote “no” on this initiative and let the party in control know that their greediness at our expense is no longer acceptable. Don’t fall prey to envy.

While you are voting “no” on this initiative, ask your local representative and senatorial candidates how they stand on this initiative and other initiatives because that says a lot on their general philosophy on governing. And, if you intend to vote “no” on this insidious initiative, please get out and vote, you are a good American with a brain. If you intend to vote “yes” on this initiative, please don’t vote because it is apparent you are a mind-numbed robot that swallows liberal talking points. Stay home with your cap on backwards, watching ESPN while you are roasting a bowl of B.C. Bud and stewing how life is so unfair because of the rich people in this state.

Democrat and Republican liberalism is a mental disorder. Geez, Jon, stop hitting people in the face with the truth, it is so divisive.

J. Buss

Enumclaw