Let’s face it, taxing poor people to pay for an events center they will never be able to afford to visit is discrimination, plain and simple, yet it doesn’t stop our city leaders from pushing this stupid idea. This letter to the editor says it all;
Unfortunately, the current and proposed sales taxes already impact poor and moderate-income folks disproportionately. They pay a significantly higher percentage of their already strained incomes on food and other necessities. This includes baby food and food for older children.
As of May, Sioux Falls had 37 percent of its school children on free and reduced-price lunches. That percentage probably is higher now. South Dakota is 49th in hourly wages.
The Food Pantry in Sioux Falls is reporting a 70 percent increase in requests for food during the past 18 months. We need to eliminate the sales tax on food altogether. To consider raising it again is unthinkable and immoral.
This chart shows the percentage of income paid in taxes compared to what you make. As you can see most of South Dakotans are submitting over 10% of there income to local taxes. Couple that with Federal income taxes and you are looking at a staggering amount of taxes. We must stop the retail tax increase to build the events center, especially on food (Thanks to Bread for the World for the Chart)
And just look at what Thune thinks about the needs of children in Sioux Falls and the rest of the state and the country. He voted no every time. No to child healthcare, no to SCHIP, no to women getting equal pay, no, no, no. He gets a 25 rating. Take a look at how he and the other republicans voted. It it amazing how the repubs talk about family all the time but when it comes to voting for families they say NO. Then take a look at how democrats vote. They are all closer to 100% on voting for children and women.
http://www.votekids.org/wp-Content/themes/wpremix2/Senators/ScorecardIntro.pdf
As long as the rich are in control in SD, they will continue to burden the poor.
Sadly that is true in a lot of places.
Did anyone notice that Thune’s name did not seem to come up during the Value Voters Summit? Huckabee won the vote and Carrie Miss Ex California spoke. Guess there was no room for Thune to say a few words. Surely he would have wanted to be there. Surely his dance card was not full.
Where are the TEAbag protesters on this issue?
Here is an immediate example of oppressive taxation that they could make a difference on – if they really cared…
I guess they don’t give a shit about taxation unless Fox News tells them to.
Teabaggers love retail taxes because the rich people they aspire to be have told them that income taxes are evil.
The Argus had an article about the homeless in todays paper. It skims the rate of homelessness rise and states 87% are employed. Taxing an employed homeless person is stabbing then twisting. It’s no wonder so many drop out because welfare pays better. The county has a serious problem. Munson will eventually get involved. There’s no more earth moving projects for his term but he’ll jump into action with his corrupt contractor to bury the bodys.
Each of us can individually initiate a tax revolt. Shop in Minnesota (no tax on food or clothing). Shop online (no tax for ebay, amazon, and most other out of state retailers). It’s convenient to shop here until it gets to expensive. When sales volume diminishes, retailers will organize and have the sales tax lowered. Middle and low income citizens are subjects in this city’s realm. King Munson will make sure you pay him everything you earn but make sure the nobles pay nothing.
Newsflash: Thune has nothing to do with what our local & state tax rates are. And perhaps you haven’t noticed, but half the legislative crap with “Children” or “Family” in the title is simply another pile Socialist Utopian pork that we cannot afford.
As for the EC, Omaha has it figured out. Pay for the place with the B&B tax. People who are traveling to Events don’t care about another $5 on a room and bar/restaurant patrons shouldn’t bitch about another $1 on their $25 tab.
Fuck the sales tax, we just increased it and the last thing we need is a reputation of a city that raises it’s sales tax in a kneejerk fashion.
“Socialist Utopian pork”
Sy, you really didn’t just say that? Did you?
I heard Famous Dave’s has a new pulled-pork sandwich called the ‘Utopian’
Sure, raise the bed and booze tax. When I travel, I stay in a suburb outside of town (ie. Brandon). Room rates are cheaper and the added tax is much lower, worth the extra few miles into town. An events center tax could encourage perimeter city growth. Considering ‘Home Rule socialism’ and Sioux Falls tax increases, we’ll be moving out to a neighboring city at some point in time. This city will become just another principle city plagued with urban blight, homelessness, high taxes, and corruption.
The sky is falling! The sky is falling!
Plantiff Guy:
“This city will become just another principle city plagued with urban blight, homelessness, high taxes, and corruption.”
Yes, I’m sure that’s true since the exact opposite has happened in Omaha, Wichita, Denver, Des Moines etc.
L3wis:
“I heard Famous Dave’s has a new pulled-pork sandwich called the ‘Utopian'”
I had one, it was huge and I couldn’t finish it. Weird part was, they never brought me a check, As I left my waitress told me they’ll bill my grandkids $1,200 for it down the road.