When the Rope Comes Tight

The Governor is doing everything she can to make sure the income tax is reduced and no longer a tax here in Oklahoma.  The current majority is doing everything they can to make Oklahoma more like Texas.  There are many economical flaws in this plan, but there is a strategy behind all of this which is not being discussed.  The income tax accounts for approximately 1.7 billion dollars of Oklahoma's budget.   This is nearly a third of Oklahoma's entire budget.  The argument is this will be replaced by new business coming in and creating more jobs, increasing the average income, and selling more product.  Here is what will really happen.  In the Governor's plan to reduce and eliminate the income tax in ten years we will see many things change.  Schools will begin to lose money so every school board election will also be a school bond election (property tax).  Firefighters will see supplies and benefits cut, and unsafe bridges and roads will not get the care they need.

            So what will really happen.  In the ten years, it will take to reduce the income tax into nonexistence services will be cut.  Services provided the state of Oklahoma will be put on churches, the private sector, and property owners.  Within this ten year mark we will see, the current majority which not only holds a super majority in the legislature but all executive offices, become the minority.  When the people of Oklahoma lose their services provided by the State of Oklahoma the politics will swing the other way.  This may seem exciting to some and nerve racking to others, but don't worry it will not last long.  We will see a legislature elected to restore the services they lost over the past ten years. However, this cannot be done without restoring the tax levels lost in 2012. So this poses quite a conundrum. 

            If the democratic majority (in ten years) passes tax increases either on income or property and then it is some how approved of by the people of Oklahoma do you know what will happen to those who passed it? After all of this, after trying to fix the revenue issue of someone will lose their job.  When the rope comes tight  some good young elected leader will lose his or her election because their opponent will run on no new taxes. (sound familiar)  The reason they can run on this slogan is because they will not have to raise taxes because it will have already been done for them.

            In reality eliminating the state income tax is nothing more than a political ploy to keep the current majority in power for a long time.  Sure they may lose it periodically but they will quickly regain their control once the plan goes into full effect.  We need good elected leaders of both  parties. We need people who will work for the people.  Leaders who will work to provide opportunity for all individuals.  The next time you sit at the coffee shop or local diner and people begin talking about getting rid of the income tax please remember this blog post.  God Bless Oklahoma.