Tax and Spend Propositions Go Down in Flames Despite Out-Spending Opponents 10 to 1
The People That Pay All the Taxes and Create All the Jobs Are in Revolt.
The model for America: NEVADA where the state constitution bans income taxes.
By Wayne Allyn Root, 2008 Libertarian Vice Presidential nominee
Whatever revolution that starts in California, always spreads to the nation. In arguably the most liberal state in America, California taxpayers sent a message to the nation on Tuesday: “We’ve Had Enough and We’re Not Going to Take It Anymore!” California voters shocked the political establishment by rejecting a slew of propositions meant to save California from a massive, unsustainable $15 to $23 billion-dollar budget deficit, by taxing and spending some more. All the tax and spend propositions went down to a resounding defeat, despite a $30 million spending campaign. Perhaps these big government proponents should have instead saved the $30 million and applied it to the deficit. The results were remarkable considering that proponents of “tax and spend” out-spent the opposition by 10 to 1.
Even more telling, the only proposition that passed will ban salary increases for politicians if the state is running a general fund deficit. The results prove that California is once again at the epicenter of a seismic tax revolution. With voter turnout low, the results also prove what I’ve been predicting for months now- the only people who care about taxes are the 20% of taxpayers who pay them all. That is the group that will rise up in revolt. Since California starts most of the trends in this country, and leads the nation in taxes, I think it is safe to say that the sleeping giant has awakened.
As the author of the new book, “The Conscience of a Libertarian: Empowering the Citizen Revolution with God, Guns, Gambling & Tax Cuts! I’ve seen this political revolution brewing for 2 years now. It came to a head with the election of Barack Obama, the king of “tax and spend.” The straw that broke the camel’s back was Obama’s response to the worst financial crisis of our generation: massive spending programs; multi-trillion dollar bailouts; handouts disguised as “tax cuts”; and record-setting waste and pork disguised as “economic stimulus.” Guess where all that money came from? The taxpayers. But not just any taxpayers- it came from one special group. The top 20% of American taxpayers who pay virtually all the taxes and create all the jobs. Obama’s plans are killing the proverbial “golden goose.” Obama’s tax and spend plans are a declaration of war on the private sector, small business owners and the investor class. Obama’s plans will wipe out the upper middle class of America- the heart and soul of our taxpayers, job creators and investor class.
California’s taxpayers have spoken loud and clear. The Obama national tax and spend plan is a carbon copy of the California plan the voters just rejected in a landslide. California has not gone bankrupt by mistake. The record is clear: California leads the nation in government spending; education spending; spending on illegal aliens; spending on entitlements and handouts; and spending on government employees. California has the highest paid teachers in all of America, yet its education system is among the worst. California student test scores are the 2nd lowest in the nation, and dropout rates are among the country’s highest. What has all this spending produced? California has built the biggest deficit in the nation and the lowest bond ratings among 50 states. All that tax and spend has clearly led to BANKRUPTCY.
Yet California leads the nation in taxes too. California proves the lie of Obama’s plans: You can’t spend your way out of bankruptcy. You can’t tax to death the only people that pay all the taxes and create all the jobs- in the middle of a depression. You can’t burden our economy with irresponsible and unsustainable levels of debt. You can’t enslave our children and grandchildren to big government and big taxes for generations to come.
I believe a seismic political revolution has begun. The private sector, upper middle class taxpayers, and small business owners- the groups that can and will lead this revolution- have woken from a giant slumber. The honeymoon is over for Obama. For Schwarzenegger, a political career is over. “The Governator” destroyed a potentially brilliant political career by listening to his out-of-touch liberal Kennedy-clan wife. The man preached the politics of Reagan, but practiced the politics of McGovern and Obama. California’s results prove that Obama’s policies are a prescription for disaster.
The answer is obvious. Tax less and spend less. Stop punishing the successful taxpayers, business builders, financial risk-takers and job creators. Reward those key members of society. Stop expanding government. Stop hiring government employees. Stop paying government employees more than those that toil in the private sector. The model for America is the centerpiece of my new book, “The Conscience of a Libertarian.” The model is my adopted home state of Nevada. It is no coincidence that in the past decade Nevada has gained over one million new residents and countless new businesses, while our neighbor California has lost over one million taxpayers. The citizens are voting with their feet (and their assets). They are escaping from high tax California and moving in droves to low tax Nevada.
Yes the good news is that the political and tax revolution has begun. But for those of us who pay all the taxes, the hard work has just begun. There is a long battle in front of us. It is a battle we must win- for the sake of our children and grandchildren. We either take our country back, or lose it forever.
Wayne Allyn Root was the 2008 Libertarian Vice Presidential candidate. His new book will be released by John Wiley & Sons this July entitled, “The Conscience of a Libertarian: Empowering the Citizen Revolution with God, Guns, Gambling & Tax Cuts.” The book is available for pre-sale at Amazon.com. For more of Wayne’s views, commentaries, or to watch his many media interviews, please visit his web site at: www.ROOTforAmerica.com
