Vermont Legislature & taxes

Twas brillig in the slithy toves,
did gyre and gimble in the wabe…

Lewis Carrol 1832-1898

Running for office in Vermont requires an ability to change your position as the trees change color. Heaven forefend one is caught flatfooted in the usual obtuse position without a fallback to a dull-witted, but more obscure redoubt.

Socialist economics is a Ponzi scheme, promising the first in a payout, produced by increasing the number of individuals contributing, until the numbers receiving exceed the numbers paying. The government made this illegal, except when the government does it, as in Social Programs such as Security, Medicare, Welfare, Medicaid and other entitlement programs.

This year, we’ll have the privilege of hearing some very whimsical ideas both for the local and statewide races. When they spout a preposterous promise, just ask them, “What other program will be cut to obtain the money?” “Or are you raising taxes to pay for it.”

No, they intend to sneak up on the taxpayers. The Gospel of Poverty (also called Sustainability and Conservation) has gnawed on their tax purse. Our Vermont budget is in the red; they are looking for new taxes (fees, permit charges, call them what you like).

The Transportation fund (a favorite looting fund), rooms and meals and sales tax are down; this poises a dagger over the heart of many dearly held social programs. Worse, without new taxes the promise of larger government is impossible. What will the Legislature ever tell the Teachers Union?

Stay tuned for the bloodletting when the Vermont Legislature encounters reality; Socialism, meet the Laffer Curve.