Opinions

Editorial - Taxing Taxes Is Wrong

Opinions | Friday, February 15, 2019 | By Dan Veaner

Thinking about it, I'm for a much simplified tax system. While it would probably devastate the accountant industry, I just think it would be nice to be able to understand how much of my hard earned money is going to the federal and state governments, and why. The current reduction of the State And Local Tax (SALT) deduction proposed by the IRS is something that I didn't understand or even think about. Until I noticed Governor Andrew Cuomo going on and on about it.

Cuomo said something I certainly understand: "For the first time ever since the tax code went into effect under President Abraham Lincoln, the federal government says, we will also tax the tax you paid to the state government and the local government," Cuomo said. "So they now tax the tax that you paid. First ever tax on tax. So what does it mean? It means if you pay taxes of $100,000, you are taxed on that. If you pay property taxes of $20,000 you're now taxed on that. We have worked for seven years to reduce the tax burden on people. We have a two percent property tax cap every year, which means property taxes can't go up more than two percent. If you now tax people's property taxes, that's like a 30 percent increase."

Taxing taxes? Whoah!

Thoughts - State Spending Spree

Opinions | Friday, February 15, 2019 | By Casey Stevens

What passes for a February thaw feels adequate to the task. The groundhog has done his duty (what kind of tranquilizer do they give that rodent to keep him calm during his traumatic foray under the TV lights, held by an apparently drunk reveler in top hat?) And, my pipes un-froze. And, as I write I can be sure that winter has much more havoc to wreak before the tulips emerge.

Speaking of tulips, I walk seven or eight blocks in Fall Creek during early mornings to my 'temp' job and deer tracks are quite common in the snow on the sidewalks and street. In the middle of the city, no less. I wonder if dishonest money is to be made by going door to door selling 'guaranteed deer-proof' tulip bulbs...as if there ever were such a thing. But, how many might believe me? Grab the money and run from Fall Creek as fast as my old legs might run.

Letters - Editorial Comment on Primaries

Opinions | Friday, February 15, 2019 | By Richard Durst

Dear Dan,

I have to take exception to your tongue-in-cheek editorial of Feb. 8th in which you propose that in the primaries we should "Let Republicans, not Democrats, vote in the Democratic primary, and Democrats, not Republicans, vote for Republicans".

Rather than resulting in more centrist candidates for the general election as you suggest, this process would more likely lead to the worst possible candidates. If they were smart (albeit a questionable premise to begin with), the Republicans would vote for the worst democratic candidates in hopes that their candidates would look better by comparison and thus be elected. Likewise, the Democrats would do the same.