Stop new tax before it gains traction

Gov. Inslee has floated another tax scheme, a capital gains tax. We need to harpoon this floater before it spots land.

This is just another Democrat attempt at circumventing the no income tax law. If you own a piece of land, a house, a mutual fund, a company pension plan, a company stock-sharing plan or buy and sell stocks on your own, this law will hit you in the pocketbook.

Apparently, Inslee doesn’t see these things as income. I tell him to ask any retired person if they consider it income. Their answer would be yes. This is what many of them live on.

What’s the governor’s next trick pony — to consider dividends and interest as non-income? After that, he can go after pension-plan payouts, even Social Security. These aren’t technically income.

Retired persons live on stock-gains, mutual funds, interest, dividends, pension disbursements, gains on selling their too-big house and Social Security. All of these are income to them. All are fair game to Democrats.

The article goes on to say there is a $2 billion budget shortfall. Typical of Democrats, there is not a whisper of cutting the budget to solve this. Tax and spend is their only answer, same as pre-2008. Give me the budget and a red pen. I’ll find the cuts in one day.

We hear the same mantra each budget cycle: Schools will suffer. That’s a cheap, Democrat trick to pluck emotional strings. Are schools the last thing on the list to be funded? Here’s a novel suggestion, fund schools first. Then start cutting everything else.

When will Democrats learn that this state does not want an income tax? Attempts at skirting what is income just makes us angry and more untrusting of politicians. Because Democrats think we’re all stupid, here’s a definition of income we will accept: If an employee receives it as pay, it’s income. If a retired person uses it to live on, it’s income. If we sell an asset, it’s income.

I’m sure Democrats’ minds are awhirl, looking for the loophole in these definitions.

Mark Farrell

Arlington

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

Initiative promoter Tim Eyman takes a selfie photo before the start of a session of Thurston County Superior Court, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, in Olympia, Wash. Eyman, who ran initiative campaigns across Washington for decades, will no longer be allowed to have any financial control over political committees, under a ruling from Superior Court Judge James Dixon Wednesday that blasted Eyman for using donor's contributions to line his own pocket. Eyman was also told to pay more than $2.5 million in penalties. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Editorial: Initiative fee increase protects process, taxpayers

Bumped up to $156 from $5, the increase may discourage attempts to game the initiative process.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Thursday, March 28

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Washington state senators and representatives along with Governor Inslee and FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez break ground at the Swift Orange Line on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Community Transit making most of Link’s arrival

The Lynnwood light rail station will allow the transit agency to improve routes and frequency of buses.

Protecting forests and prevent another landslide like Oso

Thank you for the powerful and heartbreaking article about the Oso landslide… Continue reading

Boeing’s downfall started when engineers demoted

Boeing used to be run by engineers who made money to build… Continue reading

Learn swimming safety to protect kids at beach, pool

Don’t forget to dive into water safety before hitting the pool or… Continue reading

An image of Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin is reflected in a storefront window during the State of the City Address on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at thee Everett Mall in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Editorial: State of city address makes case for Everett’s future

Mayor Franklin outlines challenges and responses as the city approaches significant decisions.

FILE - The massive mudslide that killed 43 people in the community of Oso, Wash., is viewed from the air on March 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
Editorial: Mapping landslide risks honors those lost in Oso

Efforts continue in the state to map areas prone to landslides and prevent losses of life and property.

Comment: Why shootings have decreased but gun deaths haven’t

High-capacity magazines and ‘Glock switches’ that allow automatic fire have increased lethality.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Wednesday, March 27

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Burke: ‘Why not write about Biden, for once?’ Don’t mind if I do.

They asked; I’ll oblige. Let’s consider what the president has accomplished since the 2020 election.

Comment: Catherine missed chance to dispel shame of cancer

She wasn’t obligated to do so, but she might have used her diagnosis to educate a sympathetic public.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.