Don’t Tread On Me

August 25, 2002

by Christopher G. Adamo

The precious nature of freedom is never so evident as it becomes to those who have lost it, or are clearly in the process of losing it. Perhaps this can explain the amazing phenomenon of a citizen revolt against state income taxes in, of all places, Massachusetts. Without becoming obsessed with comparisons to the Boston Tea Party, the significance of this situation, occurring when and where it does, cannot be minimized.

A referendum on whether to repeal the Massachusetts income tax will be on that state’s ballot this November. Despite apocalyptic predictions of job losses and the cancellation of crucial services by entrenched state workers, the movement continues to gain popularity. Citizens of the “Bay State” are apparently recognizing the advantages of freedom over the promises of the “Nanny State.”

Make no mistake about it. The income tax constitutes a direct assault on personal freedom. Though not usually so immediately obvious as other encroachments, taxation of income amounts to nothing less than the punishment of success and, ultimately, subjugation to the State of all who seek to earn a living. It is a pronouncement, by those in power, that all of the wealth accrued by its subjects is actually a possession of the State. Of course this concept is always enshrouded in a facade of acting in the best interests of the people... a ruse that, though rarely corroborated by hard and consistent evidence, has been far too successful across America in recent years.

But even in Massachusetts, where tax increases have been instituted with such regularity as to become almost commonplace, accompanied by the predictable promises of improved services, a glimmer of reality has begun to pierce the darkness. With state budgets growing ever larger, the only tangible result has been more complex and cumbersome bureaucracies, bigger state workforces and payrolls, and a deeper morass of paperwork with which to contend. If asked whether or not governmental “benefits” have improved, the average Massachusetts citizen is not likely to offer any enthusiastic agreement.

The necessary reduction in the budget, needed to balance out a repeal of the income tax, would be enormous, dropping from its present cost of $23 billion to $14 billion. However, proponents of the measure accurately categorize departments and services needing trimmed under the heading of “unnecessary spending.” In return they offer the historically corroborated promise of enhanced economic activity that always follows, whenever greater portions of private wealth are allowed to remain in the hands of those who produce it.

Not surprisingly, comments by pro-government interests prove that “Big Brother” and its minions simply do not “get it.” Michael Widmer of the Massachusetts Taxpayer Foundation, an advocate of expansionist government, claims that a repeal of the income tax would force legislators to increase taxes elsewhere. In essence, Widmer contends that the only segment of the budgetary formula to be regarded as absolutely sacred is on the spending side.

One is compelled to ponder just how the citizens of Massachusetts ever survived, back when Michael Dukakis was governor, and the state’s budget was less than half of the $23 billion that it is today. As is to be expected, all four Democratic gubernatorial candidates oppose any repeal of the income tax. Unfortunately, Mitt Romney, the sole Republican candidate, also opposes any elimination of the Massachusetts state income tax. In a manner which is completely consistent with the “me too” philosophies of the political geldings who make up the Northeastern Republican establishment, Romney claims that although he would see the income tax remain intact, he would work to reduce the size and burden of government. In other words, its “business as usual” from the Republicans.

While any effort to repeal the state income tax will be an uphill battle, especially in a place like Massachusetts, the fact that this measure has gained so much traction gives clear indication of a growing disillusionment with the empty promises of socialist utopians. And although Massachusetts has traditionally been among the worst big-government states, it is by no means alone. Even in traditionally conservative and independent regions such as the Midwest, the tendency in recent years has been for governments to grow and expand, spurred by demands for increased services. Perhaps it can be hoped that the seeds of tax revolt, which were spawned so gloriously in Boston Harbor two centuries ago, and which appear to still be alive today, might once again spread throughout America.

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Christopher G. Adamo is a freelance writer who lives in southeastern Wyoming with his wife and sons. He has been involved in grassroots political activity for many years. Chris was the editor of the Wyoming Christian from 1994 to 1996, and his columns can also been seen at CheyenneNetwork.com.

Send the author an E mail at Adamo@ConservativeTruth.org.

For more of Christopher's articles, visit his archives.