As I was driving home from work last week listening to NPR, pushing through the constant noise of the Trump regime's horrific chaos that we grapple with daily, Governor Ferguson's voice came on, steadfastly dedicating himself, in no uncertain terms, to "budget cuts" over raising taxes. 

 As a layperson living in the dogma of capitalism, and a laborer who pays taxes under the impression the money will be used to support the things enshrined in our Constitution, (especially the general welfare of all of our people,) I perceive budget cuts as a form of taxation, and specifically a tax that takes exclusively from genuinely working people and the poor. Cutting "safety nets" imposes heavy demands on all of us who live with one another daily.

 We do not live in gated communities, take private jets to and from our destinations, nor do we delegate our necessary daily chores of life to a surrogate who will rub shoulders with us, the hoi polloi (I actually heard a wealthy person refer to us as "the great unwashed!").

Unlike those in our state who enjoy fiscal pay packages of $96.5 million, we share our air, just as we share our space on the street, on the roads, in our transportation system, in our stores and places of business. What harms our fellows, harms all of us. Our wellbeing is connected. (That is ultimately true for all, but the extremely insulated wealthy members of the human race are the last to feel the impact of their behavior.) We are the people without or with minimal mental and physical health care, housing, food, or access to transportation. And we are the people who are under constant stress and worry about keeping these necessities for ourselves and our families, and we are the people whose savings accounts would not sustain us for long to prevent this level of anxiety.

Now, let us look at what we could possibly do to place the greatest burden where it belongs, i.e. on the “strongest” shoulders, those who have far more than they need: 

 1) If the governor were to raise the sales tax, that would further burden the financially challenged and everyone who wants to help meet emergencies for their brothers and sisters. However, if it could be imposed for a limited time to meet the emergency shortfall (a real emergency), a small increase in taxes for unnecessary items could be part of a solution to our financial crises.

 2) Income tax has also been floated as a long-term solution. I grew up in a state with income tax and, as with all taxes, those with the least money actually pay the highest percentage of their usable income because they do not have tax havens and accountants who live to find loopholes and work arounds. If income tax is enacted, (and we do not get money out of campaigns,) our state will start by proposing a tax on high income earners, but it will shift slowly, and eventually grow to ensnare the workers. It will preserve income inequality.

 3) A long-term solution could be found by following Massachusetts’ four-percent wealth surtax. The threshold for the surtax in 2025 is $1,083,150. (Massachusetts 4% Surtax on Taxable Income) Massachusetts has shown us the way and it is succeeding! When every state follows suit, we can stop arguing about what businesses will leave, etc.

And on the topic of taxation that drives business away: good riddance to bad rubbish. Where are the people who will see those vacancies as opportunities to start their own businesses to fill the gaps and offer alternatives?

Which leads me to another tale I was told about the glory of capitalism: that it creates healthy competition and choices for consumers. Well then, get on board! If a company moves out of Seattle because it is a money grubbing Grinch, start up a competitor and do it better. Advertise your dedication not only to your business but to your city, your fellow workers, and your customers. You may be surprised to find people willing to pay a little more for your services. 

Are we enjoying these constant stresses and threats to our communities' well-being? If we want change, we need to do something different. Think outside the box!