Speaking of California & other states...

[motordavid]

Arnold & Gang want to add some new "service" taxes...
Sometime in the near future, a citizen will be taxed
every time they walk out their door, or inhale/exhale.

Try spending less...

In California, Schwarzenegger wants to help close a nearly $42 billion budget deficit by taxing rounds of golf, auto repairs, veterinary care, amusement park and sporting event admissions and appliance and furniture repairs.

Democratic Gov. David Paterson in New York has proposed levies on MP3 downloads, taxi rides, movies, concerts, sporting events, and personal services such as haircuts, manicures and massages.

Schwarzenegger's fellow Republican in Utah, Gov. Jon Huntsman, has shelved a proposal to tax attorney and accounting services but promises to bring it back next year.

Service taxes in other states include levies on pet grooming, water well drilling, fur storage, massages, shoe repairs, swimming pool cleaning, taxidermy, and dating and diaper services. But that doesn't make the groups affected by Schwarzenegger's proposal feel any better.

The tax on services is part of $14.3 billion in hikes Schwarzenegger has proposed to help close a budget deficit that's projected to total $41.6 billion over the next 17 months. He also is seeking $17.7 billion in spending cuts and $10 billion in additional borrowing.

In addition to the service tax, Schwarzenegger proposes hiking the sales tax by 1.5 percent through the end of 2011, boosting taxes on alcoholic drinks, increasing the vehicle registration fee by $12 and taxing companies that extract oil.

Local sales taxes in California range from 7.25 percent to 9.25 percent, varying from county to county and even from city to city. A 1.5 percentage point increase would boost the rate to nearly 10 percent in many areas of the state.

..."You're looking at a $50 increase on a $500 (repair) bill at a time when people are not buying new cars and instead are having their old cars repaired so they can keep them on the road to drive to work," said Peter Welch, president of the California New Car Dealers Association.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090127/..._service_taxes

[blondboinsd]

How about they simply remove the gold-plated Government employee benefits, over the top amount of days off and then lay off about 1/3 of them to reflect the current need? That is a start.

THEN they can consolidate government entities to reduce waste.

Ordinary citizens could easily fix this issue, it's pathetic how idiotic are system is sometimes.

[The Cleaner]

Cut government employee benefits by 50% to bring them in line with private industry, fire 10% of the entire state and local employees, cut the remaining employee salary by 10%.

Next cut every single budget by 10% across the board, no exceptions.

That will solve most of the problem.

[motordavid]

...

Great tune from the Beatles, written by George Harrison, from
the Revolver album:

Taxman
Let me tell you how it will be
There's one for you, nineteen for me
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman

Should five per cent appear too small
Be thankful I don't take it all
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah I'm the taxman

If you drive a car, I'll tax the street,
If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat.
If you get too cold I'll tax the heat,
If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet.

Don't ask me what I want it for
If you don't want to pay some more
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman

Now my advice for those who die
Declare the pennies on your eyes
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman
And you're working for no one but me.

[E61Silver]

What are the stats on government, is the ratio the same as other states?

[Viperfreak2]

SC has a tax on prepared food. Figure that one out.

[AzNMpower32]

Originally Posted by Viperfreak2

SC has a tax on prepared food. Figure that one out.

So do many counties and cities in VA. Albemarle Co. has an additional 4% on top of 9%. Most counties and cities in VA have this prepared food tax. I've been to counties like Augusta Co, Sussex Co, and City of Virginia Beach that levy a 5,5% food tax, making total tax 10,5%.

Why can't governments just spend less? I think the word "less" has been effectively forgotten. Why not cut benefits and reduce social services? I'm not saying eliminate them, just reduce them.