by Robert Cruickshank<\/p>\n
Over 30 years ago California was gripped by the “tax revolt,” where the right led a wave of white populist anger at rising tax bills and public services for people of color to begin the long assault on taxes and government.<\/p>\n
But that revolt has faded in California, and is about to be replaced by a new tax revolt – one that recognizes taxes, especially on the rich, are actually too low<\/I> in order to maintain prosperity and the public services that enable the California Dream.<\/p>\n
Over at Huffington Post SF I wrote about the new tax revolt<\/a>. While I’ll make you go over there and read the whole thing, I will give an excerpt:<\/p>\n Tax revolts happen when the public realizes that their dreams of economic security, a beautiful place to live, and a better life for their children are going to be lost unless changes are made to the revenue system. As Californians watch their public services collapse, taking with it the prosperity those services made possible, they are ready to lead a new tax revolt. It will transform the state just as it did in 1978. And this time, it will rebuild the California Dream, rather than destroy it.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n This theme has been cropping up a lot lately, as my post explains. Two weeks ago the San Francisco Chronicle examined the high cost of low taxes<\/a>, and I was quoted there as well:<\/p>\n The higher fees, most notably for state college and university tuition, represent “in effect, a huge whopping tax increase on California families and students,” said Robert Cruickshank, who writes about state politics at the liberal Calitics.com.<\/p>\n “You’re starting to see the anger,” Cruickshank said. “You can let your roads collapse, you close fire stations or watch your library permanently shut down, but Californians are starting to realize” they’d be willing to pay higher taxes to keep those services.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n As I pointed out last month<\/a>, the wealthy and large corporations have been making more money but paying less in taxes over the last 30 years. Instead of that money going to make college affordable, provide more people with affordable health care, or maintain our roads and give people alternatives to high gas prices, the money is simply going to the pockets of rich people. No wonder the public is beginning to revolt.<\/p>\n This revolt won’t happen overnight. But neither did the 1970s tax revolt. That one took time to achieve its climactic victories. This new revolt will too. But it is underway. And among its victims will be what is left of the moribund, fringe, and unpopular California Republican Party.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Robert Cruickshank<\/p>\n Over 30 years ago California was gripped by the “tax revolt,” where the right led a wave of white populist anger at rising tax bills and public services for people of color to begin the long assault on taxes and government.<\/p>\n But that revolt has faded in California, and is about to be replaced by a new tax revolt – one that recognizes taxes, especially on the rich, are actually too low<\/I> in order to maintain prosperity and the public services that enable the California Dream.<\/p>\n Over at Huffington Post SF I wrote about the new tax revolt<\/a>. While I’ll make you go over there and read the whole thing, I will give an excerpt:<\/p>\n Tax revolts happen when the public realizes that their dreams of economic security, a beautiful place to live, and a better life for their children are going to be lost unless changes are made to the revenue system. As Californians watch their public services collapse, taking with it the prosperity those services made possible, they are ready to lead a new tax revolt. It will transform the state just as it did in 1978. And this time, it will rebuild the California Dream, rather than destroy it.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n This theme has been cropping up a lot lately, as my post explains. Two weeks ago the San Francisco Chronicle examined the high cost of low taxes<\/a>, and I was quoted there as well:<\/p>\n The higher fees, most notably for state college and university tuition, represent “in effect, a huge whopping tax increase on California families and students,” said Robert Cruickshank, who writes about state politics at the liberal Calitics.com.<\/p>\n “You’re starting to see the anger,” Cruickshank said. “You can let your roads collapse, you close fire stations or watch your library permanently shut down, but Californians are starting to realize” they’d be willing to pay higher taxes to keep those services.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n