Tax the rich day! MEASURES PASS!!!!

Today is a special election in Oregon with only TWO ballot measures. Tax the rich measures....

One for those making over $250,000 jointly, or $125,000 as individuals, would pay more taxes.

The other hits corporations, and puts an end to the 1931 (I'm not kidding) $10 corporate tax.

One commercial has a bit about how credit card companies hit up customers with $39 bucks a pop late fees-- yet they pay a $10 annual tax, they are updating it to a $150 minimum & more if you make more $.

Truth is, even if this is approved , low & middle income Oregonians still pay a higher percentage of their total income in taxes.

Nike, Intel and other super wealthy corporations have quietly poured millions into defeating the measures. The wealthy are whining about the tax, but hey!

Corporations are people, & people pay taxes.... right?

UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RESULTS ARE IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Statewide Results

Candidate Vote Count Vote Percent Winner

Measure 66 Personal Taxes Yes 640,110 54% (X) No 549,815 46%

Measure 67 Business Taxes Yes 640,759 53% (X) No 565,298 47%

WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Locally, the sentiment was even stronger..... Lib'ral College Town!

Lane County

Candidate Vote Count Vote Percent Winner

Measure 66 - Lane Co. Personal Taxes Yes 80,965 64% No 44,676 36%

Measure 67 - Lane Co. Business Taxes Yes 79,407 64% No 45,243 36%

Rock Solid Wisdom

A little background-- Oregon State has two ballot measures we will be voting on, Jan 26th.

Basically, both are *tax the rich* measures, that fix grossly outdated tax laws. The 90 page booklet arrived in the mail-- mostly filled with arguments for & against the measures. I like to flip through the pages & see who is endorsing & opposed to the measures. Some of them are downright amusing & comical, others make you spit your coffee across the table. I asked Mr. Ramblings if h would like to read the booklet, but he declined. "Tax the rich", he said in his to the point commentary.

The local paper has had a number of editorials- ranging from opinions with biblical quotes, and misquotes.... someone thought they were posting a biblical quote, but it was actually a Karl Marx quote! I decided why not quote a Rock & roll song? So here is the editorial I sent to the local paper:

Rock & Roll Wisdom

Regarding Tax ballot measures 66 & 67, I'd like to quote the band "10 Years After", their song titled: I’d love to change the world. Many have quoted the Bible or Karl Marx, I’m going to reference rock & roll lyrics:

"Tax the rich, feed the poor

Till we run out, rich no more

Population, keeps on breedin'

Nation bleedin', still more feedin'

Economy

More pollution, there's no solution

Restitution, mass confusion

Spread the word

Rich or poor

Save the earth

Stop the war

~I'd love to change the world”

Lane County has a 15.7% poverty level (U.S. Census bureau, 2008 figures). Lane County jobless rate hit 14.2% in 2009 (11.1% Statewide). The median income is approximately $50,000, with many people making under that amount. There are more than 3000 children in 4J & Bethel School districts living in poverty (family of 4 making less than $22,050)-many more children and families are struggling than the census figures show. You could be making a little bit more than $22,050 with a family of four and still have a very tough time.

It is only fair those making $250,000 (joint filers) or $145,000 (individual) that you kick in more taxes to support education, public safety, and general services. Time to answer the call for basic needs of humanity.

Please join me in voting YES on measures 66 & 67.

Here is the song I am referring to~

The good news is there are ONLY these two measures on the ballot, not a dozen or more that tends to confuse the masses. I think Oregonians are smart enough to not buy the "job killer" ad campaigns the rich have rolled out.

They even stooped so low as to quote Obama saying "raising taxes in a recession is the last thing you want to do" -- these are the birther, teabagger types trying desperately to keep their coffers of cash in their pockets & not pay their fair share- I doubt they are Obama supporters- so much as they are desperate.