Do you have the uncomfortable feeling that government is seizing more control of your life? In 2009, Tax Freedom Day came on August 17, according to Evergreen Freedom Foundation’s calculations. That means that the money you made from January 1 to August 16 was taken by the government, through various forms of taxation, fees, and waste. This was a full month longer than in 2008, so if you’ve been feeling the pinch, you’re not imagining things. While our state officials claim that they did not raise taxes in 2009, the truth is that in the 2009 legislative session, they raised taxes and fees by $590,000,000 (590 million) for the next two years. And now they want to increase it even more. This is why we are struggling to pay our bills, businesses are closing, and people are losing their jobs. Our elected officials are sucking us dry.

It is time for Citizen Legislators to stand up and say, loudly and firmly, “Enough!” From 2004 to 2008, Olympia saw an increase of 20% in revenue (your money); but in the same four years, Olympia increased their spending by 32%! We don’t run our household budgets that way; we know it’s a recipe for disaster. How is it that Olympia can find money for new touch-screen kiosks at a museum...but then cut funding to teachers and librarians? This mismanagement must come to an end. It requires resolve, real-world private-sector experience, and a solid understanding of the proper role of government.

We must return to a Priorities of Government model (POGs). Set aside 2% of the projected revenue, like a rainy-day fund; look at the tasks under State Government’s jurisdiction, according to our State Constitution (ten areas: Education, Transportation, etc.) and give each area its slice of the rest of the financial pie. Within each area, officials need to ask themselves, “Can any of this be done equally or better by the private sector?” After all, Government’s job is simply to do that which cannot be done better or more cheaply by private citizens or enterprise. Otherwise there is no moral justification for confiscating someone’s money.

To hear more on this topic, watch my April 15, 2009, speech on Youtube, linked on the “Speeches” tab at the top of this page.