Sales tax proponents typically count on low levels of publicity when it comes to getting the latest reach into working people’s pockets approved.
That has not been the case with the T-SPLOST this year and that may end up being what keeps it from passing. Reported large voter turnout in several counties could well be traced to the T-SPLOST issue.
A rally was held over the weekend against its passage and we’ll know in less than a week from now if hard-working Georgians will have even more of their take home money stolen from them.
It’s not that the projects these sales taxes fund are all bad. Many times they are needed. However, the working man and working woman can only have their funds stretched so far. Many people are fortunate to still be working in this economy and those who still are often go years without an increase in pay.
When workers don’t get an increase in pay — even a simple cost of living hike — then another tax of this nature hurts. You can only take so much out of a person’s paycheck and that person still be able to support a family and pay the bills. Expenses go up every year. The cost of gas is typically on the increase. The cost of insurance goes up and even if a worker’s company offers insurance, the employee still has to foot a large portion of the cost. (The company which pays 100 percent of an employee’s insurance is all but nonexistent these days, especially in the private sector.)
That’s why I think the push for this T-SPLOST is going to fail. I believe it will be close. The state Chamber of Commerce, as well as local chambers, have pushed this with little regard to the impact on the working man and woman. Just once I would love for a Chamber of Commerce — any Chamber of Commerce — to say, “this tax would help fund some needed projects, but at this time we just don’t think people can afford it.”
One report said even after 10 years the proposed T-SPLOST would not have paid for all the projects it is slated to fund. That means it will have to be passed again.
Personally, I’m taxed enough and my paycheck cannot be stretched any further. I think many voters feel the same way and are going to say so at their voting precinct. We’ll know next week.
•••
Many people in Barrow County (and the 47th district) probably didn’t know what to make of commission chairman Danny Yearwood’s run for the state senate.
Regardless of how the race turns out, Yearwood has been a serious candidate for the position as he and his campaign organization have covered the area with signs and are even making recorded phone calls to voters. Yearwood has gone on the offensive at various forums in the area.
Yearwood has taken on a great tactic of focusing on taxes (what person doesn’t feel he or she has been burdened too much in that area). Frank Ginn is vulnerable, in my opinion, although it still may be tough for Yearwood to overcome him. Ginn rolled in some heavy support last week and raised a ton of money in the process.
Still, don’t be surprised if the race is somewhat close. Ginn really hasn’t done anything to warrant being re-elected, but whether Yearwood is the candidate to defeat him remains to be seen. Like the T-SPLOST vote, this race will be interesting to watch next Tuesday evening once the returns start rolling in.
Chris Bridges is editor of the Barrow Journal. You can reach him at cbridges@barrowjournal.com.
Blanketed seriously?
Didn't see any in Madison, Clarke, Elbert, or Oglethorpe.
In fact, I made it a point of asking people in some of the counties if they planned on voting and who they were going to vote for senate, Ginn, Yearwood, or Riley.
By far, the response was Ginn. I don't think I found anyone who even knew who Yearwood was.
If the person I was speaking with was Democrat, well .... we know who they are voting for. At least they knew his name!
Let me guess, you got this information from Yearwood himself? Or maybe Coley (he's been hugging Dumbwood lately) who LOST TO GINN
We either have to maintain it or move closer together so there's less to maintain. I prefer the latter. People will have to make hard decisions if they want to keep the former.
The choice is already made if people really don't have the money to be taxed at the levels needed to maintain the status quo.
Suggestion: After TSPLOST is trashed on Tuesday, our local business leaders should look to what they can do to alleviate the problems for the local area.
How? Perhaps a commuter bus line run by a private firm. Do a market survey and determine if there is sufficient interest for one or more lines into Atlanta. Another option might be to have a business partner approach CSX about running a commuter passenger rail service to Atlanta from Athens. Again, do the market research and find out if the public is willing to pay for rail on their own dime.
Why should we always look to gov't to solve problems that are great opportunities for businesses to solve??
If you have two pennies then pay mine.
I still have to pay ObamaCare and all the other freeloader programs.
the problem is not the Govt does not have enough money but the fact they use laws to return favors to those who finaced the jobs elected people hold. often times with items that sound like they should work but in real life they only work to provide jobs for those unable to work elsewhere and friends, and in return give yes give companies bloated payments for products that fail horribliy to perform as promised, from IDS to construction to govt food programs to more secure and safe places. few truely bnifit while few make much more on products that outside govt would not be bought for the prices paid
If we vote for a tax increase, or for candidates that will increase taxes on working people, we are blind to what is happening to our state and nation. Government is not the solution, even though those who make their living from government jobs, projects and wealth transfers would swear to us government is our savior. To claim government is the solution is a lie, and is actually quite irrational.
For my part, I am not interested in being socially accepted. I don't vote or speak based on peer pressure or to advance a personal agenda. I simply want to return to the sort of free society that was respectful and rewarded productivity, which led to abundance and prosperity.
Even worse from an accountability standpoint, too many of our endorsing institutions talk about principle, but when the chips are down, they fold. I have seen it over and over again.
And how do we treat the people who are working for the benefit of freedom and prosperity? When an official does what we say we want done, the moochers and power hungry get angry, start a campaign to undermine the honorable person who is doing the right things, and then the voters buy into the lie. It happens with such regularity that good people refuse to enter the political arena.
If we really want freedom and security in this country again, we have to become informed about how our liberty is being undermined so we can put a stop to it, and we have to support candidates who will do what needs to be done.
And you may have noticed, the real heroes today will not be supported by the establishment, political institutions, government contractors or most government employees. They are defending their meal ticket at the expense of the working people in our state and nation.
TSPLOST is just another power grab and wealth transfer. I am definitely voting no to any increase in tax, wealth or power for any level of government. I have no trust in the system or the candidates or the organizations the system defends.