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Opposition to "Tech Tax"

Dear Editor,

 

I recently got a notice from the Small Business Service Bureau (in Worcester) asking for my opinion on the new "Tech Tax" on computer system design services.  Here's my answer:

 

"I definitely favor repeal of the "Tech Tax" on computer and software services.  Government seems to be taxing and spending more and more, while giving the average citizen and business less and less.  One might want to ask where the money is going...  This tax doesn't affect my business directly....yet.  So on general principle, I oppose it.

If the Tech Tax is supposed to bring in $500 million, the implication is that the computer and software services industry is large and important to Massachusetts.  Currently, in the continuing Obama "Great Recession," Massachusetts has a lower unemployment rate than much of the rest of the country.  Isn't it a bit foolish to meddle with an industry that is responsible for a good proportion of our state's success?"

While we are on the subject of new taxes, the other outrageous new tax from our masters in Boston is the automatic increases in the gasoline tax indexed to the rate of inflation. In other words, if the economy inflates by 5% next year, the gas tax goes up by 5%, without requiring our legislators to vote for the increase.  Given how simple it is to vote in a tax increase, this strikes me as a sneaky trick by the Democratic majority in the legislature.  Note that no Republicans voted for this tax increase - not one.  Please note, that while I am in general opposed to tax increases, I do recognize the occasional need to increase taxes.  But this automatic tax increase indexed to the rate of inflation is, not to mince words, Taxation Without Representation.  I seem to recall from my history books, that we once fought a war over that issue...  There's a petition being circulated to put the repeal of this automatic tax increase on the ballot.  I hope you will support the effort.

Also, while I have your attention, I would like to suggest that the laws and regulations relating to wetlands, which caused such a long delay in cleaning up the weed problem in Lost Lake (and which are locally being revised for our Groton Bylaws, to be presented at the Fall Town Meeting), might be improved by a large dose of realism and common sense.  We certainly don't want to go back to the days of EPA overreach, when a puddle on your front lawn was considered a wetland, do we?

And finally, the recent tragic mass murder at the Washington Navy Yard brings up a few points.  Why, in a military base, were there almost no armed personnel on hand?  This is the Navy; they fight our wars for us, and their bases (and other US Military bases as well - remember the Fort Hood massacre) are gun-free zones???  And the shooter passed multiple background checks to buy the gun he used despite his history of mental and criminal offenses.  Therefore you and I should be denied our Second Amendment rights because our government is incompetent?  And note also the zeal with which the press and politicians claimed that the shooter used an (evil, black, looks "military") AR-15 rifle. Well, that's a zealous LIE.  He used a shotgun; he didn't even own an AR-15.  But what's a lie between fellow travelers in the gun control movement?  No big deal.  Get used to it, this is how the Obama administration and its media enablers operate.

Sincerely yours,

Brooks Lyman

Townsend Road

Groton Herald

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Office
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