While I’m a Democrat and against this tax reform, I’m not going to play the hypocrite and pretend the Democratic Party, our party, which has been in complete power over NC for a century didn’t also put burden on the poor and middle class via taxes.

Every cent of sales tax is regressive, hitting the little guy the hardest. The 3% sales tax was installed in 1935 by Democrats, increased by Democratic Governor Scott in 1971, and democrats allowed cities to double the sales tax.

So, we now become hypocrites by pointing fingers at Republicans as being the anti-Robin Hood after it was us, we Democrats who added 8 cent tax on the dollar cup of coffee I buy the fast-food-corner bum in the first place. Democrats were hardly Robin Hoods as our politicians became rich and powerful, had our roads paved, and family employed out of Raleigh.

We should be a bit humble now, realizing how little progressive action we took while in action those hundred years. How much better do we think we are?

Let’s us this moment to reflect and decide on better means of taxation to propose to get back into power.

Let’s do away with the sales tax altogether and other regressive taxes and fees, such as utilities getting “hook up fees” added before any product is used instead of a minimum charge. Let’s do away with state withholding taxes, so those involved with civil disobedience can have some real power, and we can set an example for the federal level on giving power to the people.

In any case, let’s Democrats stop pretending to be standing on higher moral ground as if we were so perfect and good. We were not and that is why we are out of power. Let’s use this Republican moment to look at ourselves for what we have been. What do we want to be, to do, when next in power?

We can’t imply in any way that we Democrats were “Robin Hood” when we were taking from the people with both fists while using the power of the law to do it. Who do we think we were? We can see the enemy now, and it was us. The Republicans are us, just more so.

1795 – first public university in 1795, financed in part by a lottery

post revolution — tolls funded the building of more than 500 miles of plank roads.

1856 -North Carolina railroad (a public/private enterprise)

1921 – 50 million dollar road bond issue to build 5,500 miles of roads.

1949 – 200 million dollars in road bonds for farm-to-market roads.

2000 – 3.1 billion dollar higher education bond package passed

Tom points out our status today:
Today – $100 billion dollars.(needed for) deferred maintenance and growing infrastructure needs in transportation, water and sewer, public buildings like schools, communications, energy and main street revitalization

today – our unemployment rate is still 8.9 percent

today – interest rates…never been cheaper

Reminder: every billion dollars spent in construction creates 28,000 jobs.

That’s Tom’s challenge. Why did I outline it? A good, persuasive pitch has to be reflected upon.

I could ask if $35,000 + interest create more than one job, done otherwise, say by the controversial government incentives for desired corporate interests to move to NC? But then, infrastructure needs would remain.

Capitalism does seem to be based on ‘grow or die’ concepts, as does borrowing and paying back loans. Is that realistic in the day of climate change?

I do question the continued long term investment in ever more land paved over in more roads for more cars to drive more miles so people can live farther from their jobs. Is this our model for the future?

Also, on the green side of things, what is the optimal population of NC and is anyone considering controlling our growth? Look at Wake County commissioners allowing water, sewer, building permits that outrace the infrastructure leaving schools, hospitals, jails, emergency services struggling.

I would question specific spending such as the reasoning and pay-off of the expensive replacing of otherwise structurally sound bridges that lack pull off lanes or cloverleafs that slow merging traffic, and I don’t support the “main street” expenditures nor the light rail as presented.

I do support funding for the public schools and community colleges and reforms of them. I’m swayed by Tom’s message and say let’s work out the detalis of what the majority of us are willing to go into debt for.

I like the thought, but tell me, how can I do that one?

This is a fine blog with clear, concise steps we could take, and should take to cut health care costs.

Why not include quitting smoking, moderating drinking, and developing positive relations with others, including having a loving dog from the pound? Mayo Clinic says dogs are life savers, lowering blood pressure for one, and the dog will help your legs take those walks and get your eyes off the TV.

Would be interesting to see the contributions to each member of the house and senate, plus Governor, by those, and other organizations. Who’s going to write the blog? I know questions always abound.

The Democrats ran themselves out of power after over a hundred years. The mindset of those advising and leading the party remind fixed and in place. The Democrats need to clean house behind the scenes now. Those rats won’t leave the barn willingly, and where are we to find bright, high minded replacements with a two-party mindset? Do those people even exist in public life?

It isn’t impossible to change.

As an ordinary citizen I can agree with doing away with charity deductions & other non-profit protections. I’m against sales tax altogether, but there has to be a basic deduction for individuals to protect the poor. I’m for smaller, more efficient government, with more accountability & transparency.

How do we claim fairness in business taxation when on the one hand we give huge tax breaks to get desired industries, and on the other complain of breaks?

Great changes would be easier in a great economy, when the disruptions would be less damaging, but then there is no motivation when things are easy. No, it needs to be done now, during a time of economic need, and during the first months after election, long before the next election.

Each of us surely has an unworkable, but “ideal” tax concept, so the question is how do we find the proper “compromise” Tom alludes to in his blog? I don’t know. I just get one vote now and then, and comment on here, which seem to rarely appear.