In a world where ideas like “abolishing the income tax” are often met with scoffs and skepticism, President Trump managed to capture imaginations with his bold proclamation that maybe, just maybe, Americans won’t have to worry about paying income taxes in the not-too-distant future. Such news feels like Christmas came early, doesn’t it? While it might sound a tad ambitious to some, isn’t it high time somebody thought outside the box (and the IRS)?
On the other side, Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson seems to have a different plan up his sleeve, proposing an income tax targeting millionaires. Now, to be fair, Ferguson likely wouldn’t be in the running for any “Most Popular Politician Among Millionaires” awards. He claims that the wealthy benefit far too much under the current tax system, contributing a smaller percentage of their income compared to the average taxpayer. Oh, the horror of a tax system not resembling Robin Hood’s playbook.
Enter Seattle radio host Jason Rantz, who highlights the alleged unconstitutionality of this maneuver. Rantz expresses concern that the Washington Supreme Court might wave its magic wand to transform this income tax into something less disagreeable—like an “excise tax”—by sheer judicial sleight of hand. He further warns that this revenue-grab won’t even come close to patching the financial mess left by the state’s spending habits, a bit like trying to stop a leaky boat with a band-aid.
The fear here is rather simple: millionaires will either skip state lines or find clever ways to protect their earnings faster than you can say “tax haven.” Then, politicians will inevitably shift their eyes to the less wealthy, eager to refill their ever-dwindling coffers. It’s a pattern as predictable as a sitcom rerun. Rantz aptly notes that last year’s tax increase left everyone feeling the pinch, topping it off with a shiny new capital gains tax. Who wouldn’t want to pack their bags for tax-friendlier pastures?
Democrats, per this critique, seem to thrive on the classic middle-class-versus-rich narrative, casting it as the fall’s hottest political spectacle. Yet, despite continually driving their policies down this one-way street, voters keep handing them the keys to the car every election. Perhaps it’s time for voters to ask themselves whether being repeatedly taxed is a trick they want to keep applauding, or if it’s time to demand an encore with fewer zeros attached. That debate promises to be anything but one-dimensional.
