Ballot Initiatives

Here is my take:

1. Issue 1 is about the adding of the Sales Tax to alcohol sales.  I take this as a weak action on the part of the General Court.  Thinking that they needed more money, our elected representatives added a tax to something that a lot of people see as evil.  They should not have done this.♠
2. Issue 2 is about affordable housing.  The current approach is broken.  However, abolishing 40B is not the solution.  If we abolish 40B we will solve the smaller problem and open up, again, the larger economic problem that exists because of NIMBY attitudes, while the General Court hides from this problem.  Those outside the General Court who see the economic problems with affordable housing will focus their energy on fixing this problem, rather than moving on to other economic problems that need our attention—just look at the article in today's Boston Globe "Ideas" Section to see how we let a major opportunity slip through our fingers.  The fact is, if we are standing still we are slipping behind.  Too many of us have wanted to keep things the same, and thus we have been losing ground.
3. Issue 3 is about rolling back the income tax.  This is a freebee.  If this passes, the General Court will either ignore it or override it.  It is that simple.  The advantage of a yes vote is that it will send a signal to politicians that the voters want to reduce taxes, and thus reduce government spending.  Some will wish to just slash spending.  I think that is the wrong approach.  On the other hand, there are major changes to the operations in State Government that could save us a fair chunk of change.  It will mean laying off some Government workers, but the fact is that personnel cuts will be needed if we are to reduce the cost of Government.  This is not something ethically or morally wrong.  It is what we owe the taxpayers when it means a better use of the taxpayers' money.  On the other hand, personnel cuts will not solve our problems.  Don't let yourself be fooled.  Taking a new look at Government, based upon understanding the needs, values and responsibilities of each worker and section and department, summed up to each cabinet officer, will be needed to do better.  That and an understanding that rice bowls will need to be broken and some people will need to take on new responsibilities and divest themselves of old ones.

Good luck to all of us on Tuesday and fie on those who won't take the time to vote.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  I do think that when the General Court is considering a tax increase on any goods the General Court should hold fire until the Commonwealth's Attorney General, in concert with the Treasurer and the Secretary of State, has submitted an economic report that talks to the consequences of the application of the tax, to include the soft avoidance of buying in New Hampshire and the hard avoidance of actual smuggling.