GUEST COLUMN: Make the tax cut ‘real’

By Brent Morring
Cullman Resident

May 10, 2008 12:43 am

— I am in favor of abolishing the grocery tax if the legislature will do it with no strings attached. But the legislation being proposed is not a simple abolishment of the grocery tax. It is a shift of the tax burden.
Let me respond to Sen. Zeb Little’s guest column of April 26 titled “End Grocery Tax.” I will respond in a conversational style point-for-point.
Zeb Little (ZL) — “We must help these working families, who play by the rules, work every day, raise a family, obey the law, yet barely keep their heads above water. If we can't help honest people like that, we don't deserve to be in public service, and we don't deserve to call ourselves Democrats.”
Me — If you want to help a struggling family with your personal money I whole-heartedly encourage you to do so. That is called charity or philanthropy, and is one of America’s strengths. But that is not the proper role of government. Taxation is not charity. The government will take my property or my liberty if I do not pay my taxes. Taxation is implemented by force. Charity is an act of free will. Taxation is not charity. Don’t confuse the two.

ZL — “Removing the state sales tax on groceries is an immediate tax cut that helps every family, every single one.”
Me — This is not true. In your article you admit that this “tax cut” will be “paid for” by a change in other parts of the tax code. You admit that only “…80 percent of Alabamians will get a well-deserved tax cut.” You even say, “A few rich people will pay just a little more under this plan.” Clearly not every single family will benefit.

ZL — “Our plan eliminates that income tax deduction, giving us the money needed to pay for the food tax cut.”
Me — Why do politicians never propose shrinking the size of government to pay for a tax cut? If you abolish the grocery tax without altering the tax code in any other way and reduce state spending then you will be delivering a real tax cut.

ZL — “[Alabama Republicans] will claim this tax plan only helps poor people. They will use their usual tactics of fear and smear, but don't let them fool you. When you hear people oppose this plan understand one thing: They are either rich people or they represent the very rich.”
Me – Are you trying to create class divisions and envy among the citizenry? (By the way, I am neither rich nor represent the rich and yet I oppose this plan. I don’t consider myself a Republican either.)
I am one of those that would benefit personally from this legislation but I cannot support it. It is clear that this legislation simply shifts the tax burden from one group to another and is thus effecting “legalized theft” upon my fellow citizens who are supposed to be equal with me under the law. I want the “multi-millionaire in Mountain Brook” to have full rights and protection of life, liberty and property as every other citizen. I do not want the government to steal on my behalf or anyone else’s.
In summary, this legislation benefits 80 percent of the population at the expense of 20 percent. Why stop with the grocery tax? Why not eliminate all taxes from 80 percent of the population and put the full burden on 20 percent? Make it a referendum so you can get the votes and really stick it to them!
This is abusive, unfair, and wrong. I challenge Sen. Little to eliminate the food tax and cut government spending so that all benefit. Let us all remember that government is supposed to protect individuals in their rights of life, liberty and property, not become the greatest threat to those rights.