Tallahassee Tea Party

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Letters to the Editor

March 3, 2010

Progressives back health care sham

Is it possible to become physically ill from a health care summit? I know it is, because I have been
nauseated since listening to the president's summit last Thursday.

If nothing else in this never-ending suffocation of American health care has been clear, the sham was
transparent enough. We were able to see for ourselves how the progressives close the door on
new ideas. We heard them mock their own bill by referring to it as a "prop." We watched as those who o
pposed the bill were insulted and shut off from discussion, and the end result was an immediate
threat to "go along" with the 2,400 pages of lower- quality, higher-cost, more restrictive medical
treatment or take it up at the polls in November.

Do the progressives have no intellectual honesty left in them? They know, as every American instinctively
knows, this bill is not affordable to the citizens of this country, and they also know that it will reduce
the availability and quality of health care for the majority of citizens. It appears that, like spoiled
children, these '60s leftovers care not about anything except their own power. If we allow one-
sixth of our economy to be taken over by what has essentially become a handful of "government
gangsters" (Michael Barrone's term, not mine) we are in serious trouble. The Constitution says, "We the
People," and the people need to break the tyranny of those in office and take back our ever-dwindling
ability to live in freedom.

CYNDI WEBSTER

Whatever you call it, data were incorrect

Reader Glen Gifford (letter, Feb. 23) rightly sees the brilliance of George Will, despite the weird headline:
"Climate change trilling rings mute." Unfortunately, Will's main point was missed: The climate change
scare (formerly the global warming scare) is bogus. Move on to the important stuff.It's like a group who claims the sky is falling, using doctored data to "prove" it. Their plan: Persuade enough suckers to give them lots of money to "solve" the problem. Or in the case of global warming, government will force you to give it
money, burden and tax industry with green regulation, and enjoy telling the rest of us what to do in perpetuity.

As you read this, Democrats in Washington are planning a huge energy tax called cap-and-trade to
"fight" climate change. The first of many, I'm sure, it will burden every citizen and business with higher
costs of, literally, everything.

Questions for the Tallahassee Democrat: Is what George Will says true? Did Phil Jones of the Climatic
Research Unit admit there's been no warming in 15 years or that the earth was warmer during the
Medieval Warm Period? Are businesses and states pulling out of the Western Climate Initiative and
USCAP? Did the IPCC retract its assertion that Himalayan glaciers are melting?

Then, why doesn't the Democrat report on it? Instead, we get stories about how record snowfall
points to global warming. As we suffer through the coldest winter in memory: global warming. Whether
snow, heat, drought, hurricanes, excess pollen or spittlebugs: global warming. Trilling ringing mute,
indeed.

TOM EATON

"Five hats for Josh Culling: Proposed cigarette tax hurts everyone. Thanks Mr. Culling and Tallahassee Democrat."   Pace
 

 April 25, 2009 Tallahassee Democrat

Josh Culling: Proposed cigarette tax hurts everyone

Josh Culling
My View

Apparently accepting an 11-figure bailout from the federal government and exporting the burden of Florida's overspending problem was not enough for some public officials in Tallahassee. The state Senate last week approved a 294-percent increase in the state cigarette tax, and unless the House or Gov. Crist rejects the plan, it will punish the very taxpayers the stimulus package purported to save.

A cigarette tax increase is a regressive tax hike on the state's low-income population during a devastating recession. Florida smokers' median household income is almost $10,000 less per year than that of Florida nonsmokers. Cigarette taxes also consume a greater percentage of poor Floridians' income. In some of the state's poorest counties, the cost of cigarettes will surpass 5 percent of household income.

Cigarette tax increases also have detrimental effects on nonsmokers by damaging the larger economy. Raising the price of a pack of cigarettes higher than those found in bordering states promises to not only repel out-of-state consumers but drive Florida citizens over the state border, where prices are lower. Retailers are justifiably clamoring to defeat the tax hike, because they see sales evaporating as customers buy their cigarettes in Georgia and Alabama, where a carton will cost almost $10 less. A study done last year showed that, of the 7 million cartons sold within 25 miles of the Florida/Georgia border, a whopping 73 percent were sold in Florida. The price advantage that Florida's retailers enjoyed will go up in smoke if this tax hike happens.

Florida Senators are lauding the $1-per-pack hike as a victory for both balanced budgets and anti-smoking initiatives, but the reality is a cigarette tax increase cannot achieve both. Cigarette tax hikes inevitably lead to increases in other taxes down the road. Any drop among in-state cigarette purchases goes hand-in-hand with a reduction in tax revenues, leaving another gaping budget hole in the future. As growing numbers of Florida smokers buy their cigarettes somewhere else, revenue projections will not be met. Between FY 2002 and FY 2007, state cigarette taxes were increased 57 times; 39 of those increases yielded revenues that fell short of predictions. In New Jersey, cigarette tax revenue actually declined after a tax hike there, with revenues falling 181 percent short of expectations. A study by the National Taxpayers Union found that, after 35 tobacco tax hikes between 2004 and 2006, 22 states followed up with other tax increases.

For those of you keeping score at home, cigarette taxes are bad for smokers, nonsmokers, the poor, retailers, the government and anyone who cares about the state's economy. It appears the only people these tax hikes benefit are the misinformed, who will change their tune soon enough.

The fact that any tax hikes are on the table is preposterous. Florida expects to receive a $13 billion infusion from the federal government as part of President Obama's stimulus package. While this massive bailout of state government is a bad idea, the battle to stop it is over.

If the cigarette tax is raised, Florida will be relying on two unstable revenue sources to ostensibly "right the ship." The stimulus package is a one-time infusion of cash to fund projects with ongoing costs. And the cigarette tax almost certainly will fall short of anticipated receipts. The result is simple: more deficits and a raft of additional taxes in the near future.

A cigarette tax hike isn't only unnecessary — it is economically detrimental, whether you smoke or not. The reasons to oppose it are numerous, and with a $13 billion check in the mail, the excuses to embrace it are nonexistent.

Additional Facts

"Five tricorn hats for Government's purpose should be to let us grow. Thanks Mr. Moore and Tallahassee Democrat."   Pace
 

March 20, 2009

Government's purpose should be to let us grow

DeVoe Moore
My View

Reading my My Views, one might think I am anti-government. I want the same form of government you should desire for your children. We need a government that will encourage entrepreneurs and preserve property rights, thus allowing citizens to invest in America.

This is what has made America great — letting one choose his or her own destiny. I want your children and mine to have the same opportunity that government gave me in the 1960s, '70s, '80s and '90s.

State House Speaker Larry Cretul, speaking of the shortfall in the current budget, said: "We should be braced for some unpopular decisions." But what our local government says is summed up in a recent headline: "Budget cuts, fee increases on horizon." To balance city and county budgets, the story said, "so far, no specific cuts are on the table."

My good friend Mayor John Marks said he was "waiting for recommendations from staff."

But does anyone believe that staff members will recommend cutting jobs by laying off their friends?

The city's Growth Management Department laid off 10 employees, only to send seven to the electrical division and three to the city-county planning department.

Two options to balance the state budget are laying off employees or charging more fees — which local government is doing.

"One thing I don't want to do would be to cut positions or lay off any individuals. Jobs are key to keeping people employed," Mayor Marks said. But keeping people employed through government jobs at the taxpayers' expense will not stimulate the economy. Government should reduce jobs, just as the private sector does.

This brings me to ask why we, the citizens of Leon County and Tallahassee, are being hit with so many fees in these troubled times? If banks and states are cutting back, why doesn't our local government cut back? Are citizens here obligated to furnish local-government employees with a better lifestyle by imposing fees while local businesses are hurting for sales? These fees will not help the doors of businesses to stay open; they will only let the bureaucrats keep their jobs.

To quote Voltaire in the 1770s: "In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other."

In addition to fire fees and septic tank fees, the city has now passed an ordinance to charge $400 for "fees in car crashes." This is like ambulance chasing by lawyers. What's next?

The city and county should first look at the situation we have now, which is an ex-fire chief managing the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and a fire chief managing the Tallahassee Fire Department. Do we need two chiefs, two sets of administrators and two sets of employees?

I, for one, will be looking to see if consolidation of the fire department and EMS will cut taxes and expenses for the taxpayer; however, I do believe it should improve services.

The fire department has 248 employees; EMS has 130 employees. It is my understanding the fire department is going to hire 18 additional employees. Why should the city not take 18 EMS

employees who are trained in medical services and train them as firefighters?

My point: How feasible is it for local government to grow when the education system, state budget and businesses are cutting back?

Winston Churchill in 1903, said, "I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle."

I also question whether the city needs to send an expensive fire truck to car crashes along with the

EMS and police or sheriff's officers.

Considering the downfall of banks, investment firms, 650 Circuit City stores, several other companies, the troubles of GM and Chrysler, where would local governments be if they could not raise taxes and fees to balance their budgets when they need money?

Fire Chief Cindy Dick said the new fees will help recoup the city's cost in responding to crashes. Taxpayers are covering the cost now, and taxpayers have always paid for fire protection through their property taxes.

In the 1960s, '70s, '80s and '90s, property taxes paid for local government without the fees we are faced with today. Now I wonder what the property taxes are paying for today.

French Economist Frederic Bastiat is quoted as saying, "Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else."

We need to be concerned that government does not put us in a depression like that of the 1930s ,when the president raised the marginal tax rate on top incomes to 79 percent.

Increasing taxes and fees will only discourage entrepreneurs from investing in America. Therefore,

America will not have the healthy economy that we have known in the past.

In closing, I refer to an often-used statement whose authorship is attributed to everyone from Thomas Jefferson to Gerald Ford: "A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have."

Additional Facts ABOUT THE AUTHOR ·  DeVoe L. Moore is a Tallahassee businessman. Contact him at devoe@tacm.com.

 "Thank everyone for the great letters and Mr. Gabordi for Thinking about the meaning of Christmas.  Thank Mr. Kinder and Ms. Bennett for your astute observations.  Chrismas is above all about giving and receiving.  Christ gave so we may receive the greatest gift of all.  Tax taking via bailouts, grants, handouts and tax based social engineering don't work in the long run. Freedom works. Excessive taxation and excessive political correctness do not work in the long run. Stop them at Swanee River. Merry Christmas to everyone, especially the Old Folks at Home."    Pace      Tax Tea Party Rating: Five Tricorn Hats

"Thank you Mr. Skelding. Freedom, personal responsibility and private  property rights work. Excessive; regulation, taxation, political correctness, handouts, bailouts and tax based social engineering do not work in the long run. Stop the excesses at Swanee River."  Pace Allen, Tallahassee native, attorney, CPA, former Chairman - Tallahassee Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Tea Party Rating:

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"Thank you Mr. Moore and thank you Tallahassee Democrat for publishing this important letter.  Our government should help business.  Tax dollars should not be used to compete against business such as the Gaines Street and Goodwood Museum Bailouts. TaxTea Party - TTP Rating: Five Tricorn Hats."  Pace

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