It’s hard not to draw parallels between what’s going on in Augusta and what we’re seeing in other areas of the country. Gov. Janet Mills and her cohorts in the Legislature are apparently overwhelmed by the state’s economic viability, growing revenues and a growing rainy day fund (nearly $300 million as of November 2018). With visions of political dynasty dancing in their heads, these folks can’t wait to plunge the State into Baldaccian insolvency.
However, they can’t just squander the economic security built by the LePage administration; their plans include huge redistribution of wealth through tax increases and regulatory strangulation. Tax everything that moves, doesn’t move and think might move; tax on the way up and tax on the way down. If it can be taxed, it must be taxed.
This session, we’ve already seen proposals to tax carbon emissions, worker earnings for family leave, incomes over $200,000 to fund education, and multiple measures to allow municipalities to assess local option sales taxes. There is no shortage of proposals to tax hard-working Maine families this session.
“The American Republic will endure, until politicians realize they can bribe the people with their own money.” (Alexis de Tocqueville)
Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York in his State of the City address said “There is plenty of money in the world and there is plenty of money in this city. It is just in the wrong hands.” If this is not a cynical ploy by an ambitious politician lying to sustain his power, perhaps de Blasio is too ignorant of economics, human nature and the Constitution to be entrusted with public office.
“Give me four years to teach the children and the seed I have sown will never be uprooted.” (Vladimir Ilyich Lenin)
Congresswoman Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, recently elected to the House, is espousing an increase in taxes on the “rich” to pay for college, Medicare for all, and any other “free” stuff that will appeal to voters. The extent of good works financed by other people’s money that Ms. Ocasio-Cortez is willing to propose is endless.
Considering that the congresswoman graduated cum laude in international relations and economics from Boston University, one has to ask: is she putting on a good show or are our institutions of higher learning teaching pie in the sky foreign policy and economic theories? Is it ignorance or unfettered ambition?
“Authority that does not exist for Liberty is not authority but force.” (Lord Acton)
Progressives just don’t get it. Our government is instituted by the people to protect their rights to life, liberty and property, not to protect and build politician’s power, position and wealth. Tax and spend is not viable policy, and its rebirth in Maine will only hurt our state.
