![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bobemmThe city of Ypsilanti is considering instituting an income tax.
Initially, I was opposed to this. I would prefer an increase in the property tax. Everybody who is so ostentacious as to work pays income tax; only those that can afford property pay property tax. I feel that, the way our government was designed, owning property rachets you up one socioeconomic notch (or so). With extra privilege and status comes extra responsibility (this is the concept that the neocons miss entirely).
But, I've learned two new things this weekend.
1) People who work in Ypsi but live elsewhere will be taxed, so the base of the burden will be expanded.
2) The city is facing insolvency. Not due to mismanagement so much as to the closing of the Visteon plant, which was the largest industrial concern within city limits. Nevertheless, if our financial situation doesn't improve, the state will take over governance of the city. I'd rather not see that happen.
2a) commentary - I think it's pretty fucking sad when a vital blue-collar city with a ridiculously high property tax rate (54 mills - if you know of a city with a higher rate, please tell me, I'd shit my pants) can't stay solvent. You might think this is crazy, but - I blame Bush. I'm serious! All of these fucking tax cuts, in the name of trickle-down economics. Well, this is what trickle-down economics really is. As a result of the tax cuts, federal grants to states get slashed, state grants to cities get slashed, and here we are, nearly insolvent. Thinking about turning off the streetlights, moving trash collection to every other week.
Elsewise - I caught up on Six Feet Under today. Some lovely paraphrases - "I don't want you wearing rotten food!", and "If you think that life is a vending machine where you put in virtue and get out happiness, you'll be disappointed." I feel like that really pertains to me. My modus operandi is to be a nice boy and hope that if I'm good enough, everything will work out. But, it really won't. This is really an epiphany for me. I need to figure out what to do with it.
Initially, I was opposed to this. I would prefer an increase in the property tax. Everybody who is so ostentacious as to work pays income tax; only those that can afford property pay property tax. I feel that, the way our government was designed, owning property rachets you up one socioeconomic notch (or so). With extra privilege and status comes extra responsibility (this is the concept that the neocons miss entirely).
But, I've learned two new things this weekend.
1) People who work in Ypsi but live elsewhere will be taxed, so the base of the burden will be expanded.
2) The city is facing insolvency. Not due to mismanagement so much as to the closing of the Visteon plant, which was the largest industrial concern within city limits. Nevertheless, if our financial situation doesn't improve, the state will take over governance of the city. I'd rather not see that happen.
2a) commentary - I think it's pretty fucking sad when a vital blue-collar city with a ridiculously high property tax rate (54 mills - if you know of a city with a higher rate, please tell me, I'd shit my pants) can't stay solvent. You might think this is crazy, but - I blame Bush. I'm serious! All of these fucking tax cuts, in the name of trickle-down economics. Well, this is what trickle-down economics really is. As a result of the tax cuts, federal grants to states get slashed, state grants to cities get slashed, and here we are, nearly insolvent. Thinking about turning off the streetlights, moving trash collection to every other week.
Elsewise - I caught up on Six Feet Under today. Some lovely paraphrases - "I don't want you wearing rotten food!", and "If you think that life is a vending machine where you put in virtue and get out happiness, you'll be disappointed." I feel like that really pertains to me. My modus operandi is to be a nice boy and hope that if I'm good enough, everything will work out. But, it really won't. This is really an epiphany for me. I need to figure out what to do with it.
