- Posted by Christopher Estep on June 2, 2008
Georgia governor Sonny Perdue (R) has suspended a new gas tax increase. I applaud this move at a basic level, though it's ridiculous that it takes an energy crisis to avoid a tax increase. Read that closely. You'll note that this is not a tax cut.
Ok, I realize that in the democrat world view, any tax increase that doesn't happen is a cut. It has to do with baseline budgeting where they get this notion that whatever doesn't increase is actually a cut.
Let's apply this to something more personal, like my paycheck.
I work at a large company as a contractor. I just completed a year there at the end of May and my current wage is exactly the same as it was a year ago. That's right, I didn't get a raise. I'm a reasonable person who is grateful for his job (aka a conservative) so I'm not complaining. While others are getting laid off or getting "retirement packages" in lieu of layoffs, I'm still working at what I consider to be a very decent wage. I won't get into any details, but democrats think I'm rich.
If I were a liberal democrat (or for that matter, John McCain) I would be up in arms. Since I didn't receive a wage increase, my wages haven't stayed the same but rather (by their logic) I have received a pay cut! If I'm not making what I think I should be making, then my employer has cut my wages by their inactivity.
Just like the President can use what's called a "pocket veto", my employer has given me a "pocket pay cut" through their inaction!!!
Can you hear me rolling my eyes? Yes, I roll my eyes audibly.
Yes, I applaud this non-tax-increase. But am I grateful? I will never be grateful for the government deciding at the last minute not to forcibly take more of my money like they really wanted to. Remember, taxes are our money. It's not "revenue" and it's most certainly not "an investment". It's the government taking what's ours and spending it. We've just been conditioned, like a beaten wife, that it's how things are supposed to be and it's what we deserved. And like a beaten wife, we've been conditioned to accept that it's just how things are and that we can't do anything about it.
So thank, Governor Perdue. Thanks for not taking even more than you already are.
With gas prices continuing to spike, Gov. Sonny Perdue moved Monday to suspend a gas tax increase that was supposed to go into effect July 1.
Perdue's decision will save most motorists 2.9 cents per gallon. The governor said the move will let Georgians know the state is concerned about gas prices and that the government doesn't want to take advantage of the situation.
Perdue suspends gas tax increase | ajc.com