Jeb's parting gift to Florida: slash taxes on the rich, privatize key government functions

[yurbud]

If the GOP had their way, this would be the shape of things to come for the whole country. The DLC Democrats differ only in that they wouldn't publicly advocate tax cuts for the rich--though they would vote for them without too much arm twisting.

How to Destroy the Public Schools
When the Rich Pay No Taxes

By PAUL A. MOORE

During his eight-year reign as governor of Florida, Jeb Bush fashioned an economic time bomb. On his way out the door he lit the fuse. His handiwork will soon devastate this state and visit unprecedented suffering on its people. It will be a nightmare, part of which will imperil the public schools, the operation of local governments and the state retirement system.

The government of the State of Florida realizes most of its revenues by way of sales and use taxes, intangible taxes and corporate income taxes. Sales and use taxes are the most regressive and hit poor, working and retired people the hardest. These taxes have done nothing but increase and when they are discussed in the halls of government it is always in the context of raising them.

Meanwhile, if he could have, Jeb Bush would have relieved Florida's wealthy persons and corporate entities of their entire tax burden. As it stands he came very near his goal. Tax loopholes created during his administration for corporate income now shelter between $500 and $600 million that was counted as revenue before. $600 million more was lost to the state when Bush eliminated the tax on intangible properties (stocks and bonds) in January 2007.

Jeb Bush tried to privatize all things profitable and make the people assume all risk associated with investment. His program gave a leg up to charter schools and turned elements of the state's water supply, public roads and social services over to wealthy investors. The lynchpin of his healthcare agenda was to turn Medicaid into a private managed health care system. That program was piloted in five counties and has failed miserably. The Department of Children and Families was turned into a massive private gamble that money could be made off Florida's most vulnerable children.

http://counterpunch.com/moore01172008.html">FULL TEXT

[rodeodance]

1. That will apply to George also Plus the WARS

[CanonRay]

2. Karma is a bitch.

The people who gave us * twice, are the first to get really fucked. I feel sorry for the Gore/Kerry voters, though.

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. That's correct, except,

Quite a few of those who voted for Bush are insulating themselves by playing the game, and getting access to resources in the usual ways that Florida is so well known for.

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. This is probably why Wesley Snipes thinks he doesn't have to pay taxes.

I hear he went into court with paperwork proving that the IRS wasn't properly established. That kind of nuttery is just the kind of thing that white men in my community spend their leisure time talking about.