Some things to understand about taxes and the people who lobby for them:
1. It's always "just a little more." Well of course it's never a lot more. Nobody would vote for a lot more. And that's the goal, to sucker you into voting for it because it's just a little more. They want your permission to nickel and dime you to death. You'll often hear something like, "It's no more than dinner at a fast food restaurant." See how they get you? They compare it to something they assume you'll consider trivial, hoping you'll be convinced the amount is trivial, and therefore justified. It's that magical (emotional) leap, from trivial to justified, that threatens to lead the U.S. hook, line and sinker down the path to ruin. The amount may be trivial for some, but that's beside the point. The point is it's always just a little more. Just to make sure we all understand so far, the ploy is "trivial amount = justified tax." Don't fall for it.
2. It's always for a "good cause." Well of course it's never for a bad cause or a trivial cause. Nobody would vote for a tax to build a new liquor store, golf course or payday lending office. Or would they? See how they get you? It's a subtle guilt trip, to imply ever so gently that if you don't support this new tax, you don't really care about this "good cause." So, you have to prove you care by giving government permission to pick your pocket.
3. It's always an "emergency." Well of course they never want you to feel like you have time to really think. You just need to open up your wallet and let that knee jerk. They make it seem like the world is going to come to an end immediately if they don't get this extra money. Somebody is going to go without, or maybe even die, which naturally they imply is society's (the taxpayers') responsibility.
4. There's never "any other way." Well of course in some peoples' minds there really is no other way. They never bother trying to think of one, instead assuming anything needing to be done must be government's responsibility, which justifies their endless crusading for more taxes and more spending. The best response to this ploy is simply asking, "What else have you tried?"
If they can't or won't give a straight answer, you know they're playing you.
In the case of the Bradley County wheel tax, every one of these ploys has been put forth. Don't fall for any of them.
You can vote NO at your designated polling place [Early Voting runs through July 28 and the General Election Day is Aug. 2].
— Patrick Crane
