Why do we always let ourselves be fooled?
I was a big fan of former NJ Governor Jim Florio who told us flat out that taxes would go up. After all, it’s as byproduct of inflation. Everything goes up. Food, rent, gas, phone, etc. So why would taxes miraculously be unaffected? His opponent Christie Todd Whitman however said she would never raise taxes and how dare Florio suggest such a needless course of action.
Her clever strategy worked because she won. Now take a wild stab at what happened just weeks after she took office. When will we learn? Time and time again we the people are fooled by snazzy politicians with boatloads of money and charm. They stand on the campaign stage spouting all the things we want to hear. No more taxes! More money for education! Homeland Security! And so on.
And every time this happens, our brains fart out any recollection of the last group of liars and we somehow believe the new cats. Then some time will pass and we all seem surprised when that inevitable announcement comes. Such as when NJ’s current Governor Jon Corzine repeatedly announces the need for higher taxes and budget cuts despite his many, many contradictory campaign promises.
I was initially a supporter of the increase of the NJ sales tax from 6 to 7%. After all a consumption tax burdens the wealthy by default and that’s a good thing. Then I found out that half of this increase would be used for property tax relief. Now I’m no economist, but it makes no sense to me that one tax is increased just to pay for another. Especially when that other tax was increased as well.
Once again Honest Jon told us all how we will now need to pay taxes on more items than ever before starting today, October 1, 2006. So we now have a fantastic list of even more broken promises that we can throw in the face of our Governor. Or maybe, just maybe we’ll remember this list so we won’t get fooled the next time some slickity slick slickster hands us a bag of campaign promises to buy our votes. But who am I kidding?
As Of 10/1/06, The Law Imposes Sales & Use Tax On The Following Services:
- Space for Storage
- Tanning Services
- Massage Services
- Tattooing
- Investigation and Security Services
- Information Services
- Limousine Services
- Health Club Membership
- Parking
- Magazines and Periodicals
- Ringtones
- Prewritten Computer Software Delivered
- Laundering
- Installing Floor Coverings
- Landscaping Services
- Delivery Charges for Taxable Goods and Services
For the full story behind the new taxes, check out: www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation
