A few short years ago, Massachusetts voters were offered the chance to return the state income tax to 5 percent. The state and its allies cried out "Teachers! Firemen! Policemen!" Suitably cowed, voters rejected the tax break. The state rewarded us with 8 tax increases, including a 25 percent increase in the sales tax, and an "in-your-face" double taxation on liquor.
This year on election day, voters were offered the chance to reduce the sales tax to 3 percent. The state and its allies predictably shouted "Teachers! Firemen! Policemen!" And Massachusetts voters followed Oliver Twist's famous line when the schoolmaster beat him, "Thank you, sir, may I have another?"
Incredibly, over 3,200 of my East Longmeadow compatriots joined the chorus, thanking the state for the tax increase.
In fact, after suffering multiple tax increases, huge increases in spending, renewed efforts by the governor to extend college-education benefits to illegals, widespread unemployment, and do-nothing legislators, voters marched to the polls and overwhelmingly expressed satisfaction with the status quo. Almost every incumbent in our legislature-for-life, the good and the bad, got 4 more years. Once again, as when we chose Walter MondaIe, we are totally out of step with the rest of the nation.
We can now expect more taxes, more spending, more job losses, more capital flight, and more excuses for four more years. And we have earned it. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice . . .
R. Patrick Henry, Jr.
East Longmeadow
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