53 online
 
Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 8 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
OpEdNews Op Eds    H3'ed 4/11/11

Robin Hood in Reverse, in the Georgia State Legislature!

By       (Page 1 of 1 pages)   2 comments
Become a Fan
  (9 fans)

It seems that, with unemployment well above the national average, with a crumbling infrastructure, with one of the worst educational systems in the nation, and with a likely major budget deficit, the State of Georgia stands poised to reduce corporate and personal income taxes to benefit primarily the wealthiest Georgians. In place of those reduced income taxes, the Georgia Legislature plans to impose new sales-type taxes which are well known to be regressive, falling much more heavily upon the poor and middle class than on the wealthy, who spend a considerably smaller proportion of their higher incomes.  This is surely Robin Hood in Reverse: the rich get richer, the rest of us get shafted.

 

The analysis being provided to justify this particular piece of bad legislation is that it mirrors Ronald Reagan's approach to the economy in the early 1980s; supposedly, entrepreneurship will be stimulated and more jobs will be created by moving from income taxes to more sales taxes.  As noted economist John Kenneth Galbraith said then, "when you feed enough oats to a horse, eventually there will be something left over in the road for the sparrow."  We all know just what that something will be, too. 

 

The Georgia State Legislature needs to come to its senses, and needs to start representing all Georgians, not just the richest among us.  The best way to create jobs and a sound economy is to have fair and sensible tax policies.  One would think that being last in the nation in so many categories, from education to infrastructure, would bring the Legislature to its senses.  Judging from recent history, though, the prospect for tax fairness in Georgia is not at all encouraging. 

Well Said 1   Interesting 1   Valuable 1  
Rate It | View Ratings

Eugene Elander Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Author's Biography Eugene Elander has been a progressive social and political activist for decades. As an author, he won the Young Poets Award at 16 from the Dayton Poets Guild for his poem, The Vision. He was chosen Poet Laureate of (more...)
 

Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

American Banking's Shameful Double Standard

The Decline and Fall of AARP

Georgia's State Bar is a Bar to Complaints Against Attorneys!

Meet the Worst Post Office in America!

Ukraine and Putin: Shades of Adolf Hitler!

Romney's Rancid Rant!

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend