By Dawn Stanger, Vermont Workers Center Steering Committee Member

I just read about this 'new' proposal to avoid state service cuts by taxing the rich more than the rest of us. Every time someone raises the idea of progressive taxes, the argument is immediately countered with, "the government's doesn't have the right to ask more from the rich." I gotta ask, What kind of patriotism is it, that the rich don't feel an obligation to pay more? Weren't they raised right? Us workers were asked to spend like crazy after 9/11 (even as we were getting laid off with the highest-ever level of personal debt). And this government is our government; it has whatever rights we give it, at least in theory. Listen, is it unfair to tax childless people for schools? Many think so, but not me, though I have no kids. All of us benefit when we have smart kids in our communities. I'm willing to pay because it keeps crime down, invigorates life in my town, and, it's just....well....ethical. I was raised to do my part to better society. Often, Vermonters who use state services don't get paid enough at work or have healthcare coverage. What the state gives them is really a subsidy of sorts for their employers who won't pay livable wages. I heard Bernie Sanders' talk at the AFL-CIO's C.O.P.E. Conference last Sunday, and he urged all union members to be more active, and to bring into our discussions the question of just what our country's economic 'values' really should be. CEO pay is 531 times the average worker's pay. Hourly wages have dropped for decades. Most of us realize corporations have manipulated our government by lobbying, but we don't know the half of it. Bernie said there are 600 lobbyists in Washington to cover 535 reps. ENRON didn't pay a cent in taxes, and somehow still received refunds. 40% of Bush's tax cuts will go to the top 1%, those of us lucky enough to earn more than $350,000 a year. I think everybody better take a long, hard look our democracy lately. It's a damned auction. I want government to curb the excesses of big money. The state should tax capital gains at a higher rate than earned income. After all, how many hours do you have to work a week to earn interest. Does the work ethic only apply to welfare recipients?

Look, I make $20,000 a year loading trucks, and when ENRON pays less tax than me the system is messed up. And ENRON'S nasty policies were not just theirs, there's cut-throat atmospheres in many businesses. It's encouraged. Dog eat dog capitalism. I was disgusted to see a flag draped across ENRON's headquarters on t.v. Corporations have sneakily shifted their share of our country's taxes to us over the last few decades. 1% of Americans now have more wealth than the other 90% of us. And the top dogs run the show. There's money all over our politicians, buying "access", favorable legislation, privatization, deregulation. And you know, Argentina was following our free market policies when her citizens decided they could no longer 'go along' with the system crushing them and rose up. In the 1890's, the excesses of robber barons energized U.S. citizens to reign in excessive wealth. Then, with fairer policies, our country rose up together, rich and poor both gaining. But recently, we lost our way again. We need the government's help more than ever now, since the new wealth is multi-national. I say, tax the hell out of the rich. Rescind the budget cuts. Raise the level of services for the recession and the layoffs. We allow these monied interests to drape themselves in our flag. Tell me again there's no class war. Time for the rich to pony up. Workers want bread, but we want roses too.

Well, we'll see how this goes....