When it comes to football, Pennsylvanians are pretty hardcore. From the Steelers to the Eagles, NFL football makes headline after headline in the fall. Also in the state, we have a little college football team called Penn State that seems to do pretty well from time to time. I think it’s fair to say that the state is passionate about football.
Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Cranberry) wants to see a little of that heart when it comes to talking taxes. On Tuesday, June 9, representatives from the National Taxpayers Union, Americans for Tax Reform, Citizens Against Higher Taxes and the National Federation of Independent Business will speak at a rally in the rotunda at the Capitol Building at 10 a.m. Metcalfe is hopeful that taxpayers turn out, too. He noted that record numbers of citizens showed up to watch Pittsburgh take home another Super Bowl trophy, and encouraged a similar level of participation: “Ten percent of the people who showed up to see the Steelers win the Super Bowl — if they would descend on the Capitol, it would be historic for this building.”
Metcalfe has a good point. Whether you agree with Governor Rendell (who claims that an income tax increase of .3% is needed to close the state’s $3.2 billion deficit) or Senate Republicans (who argue that a tax increase isn’t necessary and was Rendell’s plan all along), participation in the process is important. It’s easy to yell and scream about taxes – but how much do you really care about it? If you’ll yell and scream about football, why not a tax increase?
Folks will stand in the freezing cold to watch a mediocre team lose as much as they will to watch a good team win. They’ll drive hours to see games and players and spend tons of money on jerseys, pennants, and posters. They’ll organize entire day-long tailgating events and invite friends and family over for parties and dinners – all to watch the “big game” and in football parlance, that’s more or less every game.
But what about taxes?
Hey, I’m not claiming that talking about taxes is necessarily as fun as attending a Super Bowl party but it’s arguably more important to your life (assuming, of course, that you’re not Ben Roethlisberger). Why not show a little – and I’m talking just a little – excitement when it comes to tax policy? Write a letter to your local representative (or to the editor of your local newspaper). Attend a rally. Read the budget. Get educated. Don’t think it won’t make a difference. It will. Lots of what goes on “behind the scenes” happens because nobody cared enough to say differently.
Show that you care about where your tax dollars go.
Statistically, people have a negative reaction when it comes to increasing the income tax rate. But apparently it’s more along the lines of a shrug than a full-on “Booo!” And heck, I live in Philadelphia. We’ll boo just about anything. Why not taxes?
Do you think the Steelers and Eagles would show up every game and play if the stadiums were empty? Let me clue you in: they wouldn’t. Cheering matters.
So here’s my advice – and it’s not just for Pennsylvania. Let your legislators know how you feel. If they’re doing the right thing, why not shake a pom-pom in their direction? And if they’re not doing the right thing, give them an “encouraging cheer” in the right direction or flat out “boo” them loudly. Show that you care as much about taxes as you do about football. And since I realize that’s just not possible for some of you (you know who I’m talking about, PSU people), at least make the effort.
Well said, Taxgirl! I’m surprised that you haven’t gotten more comments on this. Maybe it just goes to show that PA residents~~~and the others, as well~~~really do care more about football than their pocketbooks.
People don’t come out against taxes because they perceive it as hopeless; much more hopeless than even the worst of football teams. Yes, there were a few casualties because of the pay raise flap but things are back to “normal” now. We have one of the largest most expensive legislatures in the country. They get fantastic perks; medical care, pensions, cars, per diem; things the average PA citizen will never see (but he will pay for). Vince Fumo even had his own private non-profit that he coerced large corporations to contribute to then he would dispense the largess to his constituents and reap the benefit. The legislature even has a $250 million slush fund just in case the governor decides to veto any bills that pay for their upkeep. There is no turnover in the legislative ranks unless someone dies and gerrymandering ensures that you don’t pick your legislator, they pick you. So, there really is no need to vote, it’s all predetermined.
This is a subject near and dear to my heart. Most citizens want to do something about the thievery but just need to be told what, where, and when. It’s that simple. I can guarantee that it works! I was there in 2002 when Tennessee Governor Don Sundquist and his cronies mounted a vicious onslaught to enact a state income tax. After several weeks of an increasing horde of angry citizens circling the state capitol with horns blaring, the saga climaxed one evening when thousands of people swarmed the capitol building upon learning that the General Assembly had convened to vote on it.
The governor had called a special night session to blitz the bill through thinking no one would know about it until the next day. (Remember Connecticut?) However, thanks to some very active talk-radio hosts, dire warnings went out that effectively communicated the seriousness of the situation. It was truly moving to watch entire families show up with their children, workers leaving their posts still in uniforms and scrubbs, and disabled people using what ever means available to converge on the plaza to let their elected officials know that they did not want another tax.
What got the legislators’ attention was the sudden appearance of such a large body of the hard-working every-day people that rarely take the time to drop what they are doing to exercise their right to dissent. It had such an impact that the bill failed. Two of the legislators had to be hauled out by ambulance due to the stress!
It worked because of two critical factors: 1) The taxpayers were fed-up with high taxes and wanted to do something about it; and 2) What, where, and when were communicated to them. Look how many attended the first Tea Party on tax day! So PLEASE… don’t ever think you can’t do anything about it. Now, more than ever is the time to show our elected officials that their spending, just like ours, needs to be prioritized and they need to stop the relentless tax increases.
It’s time to show the Legislators and Governor that we will not accept another tax increase.