Amendment 5: Putting the choice back in your hands

Today, before you even open your paycheck, the government has already reached into your pocket. They take their cut before you can even put food on your table. To some, there is absolutely nothing fair about punishing a man or a woman simply because they wake up early, put on their work boots, and earn a living. If you feel that way, Amendment 5 on the August 4 ballot is a breath of fresh air, and you will probably vote for it. If you don’t, then you’ll probably vote against it.

To an Ole Seagull, Amendment 5, while certainly not perfect, is a solid plan to slowly reduce and completely get rid of the state income tax. This elimination will take place only when there is enough revenue growth to cover the deficit that eliminating the income tax will leave. 

Some will say that getting rid of the income tax is a terrible idea. But you just have to look at our neighbors in Tennessee, a state with a lot of economic parallels to Missouri, to see it might not be such a bad idea. 

They have no personal income tax, yet their economy, particularly their tourist economy, appears to be thriving. To an Ole Seagull, if Tennessee can create that kind of success by trusting hardworking folks with their own money, Missourians deserve the same chance. 

Another benefit of this amendment is how it can reduce local taxes. If the state expands sales taxes to pay the bills, Amendment 5 forces local governments to cut local taxes. If local sales tax money goes up, those politicians must reduce the other taxes you pay. This includes, among other things, the personal property tax you pay on vehicles, boats, etc. 

“Hold on, Seagull, some of the critics are howling that this is an Everything Tax that will ruin the economy.” It didn’t in Tennessee!

“They claim everyday people will pay over $500 more a year.” The Ole Seagull considers himself an everyday type of person and looking at taxes through the lens of basic fairness—an income tax forces you to pay the state just for surviving while a sales tax puts the final control directly back into your hands. You pay taxes based on what you choose to buy. 

If you choose to buy a Rolls Royce, you pay sales tax on the Rolls Royce and less if you buy a Hyundai. If you buy prime steak, you pay taxes on the prime steak, less if you choose to buy choice. The point is you get to make a choice. Also, with the sales tax, everybody has some skin in the game and pays sales tax in accordance with the choices they make and what they choose to buy.