Regarding the Viewpoints point-counterpoint about Boeing’s tax breaks in Sunday’s paper: A long overdue discussion, by the way. I have long been an opponent of tax breaks for business and not because they are not necessary or not good business or bad for the taxpayer, but with the billions of dollars handed out to business in this state there is still no accountability to the taxpayers. We do it because other states do it. We do it because proponents ballyhoo the jobs, always the jobs, never the downsides, as if there was never a down side. Always the benefits and never the cost of infrastructure built to accommodate businesses. Freeways and highway interchanges, port facilities, utilities, more schools, etc. All of the public services, fire and police protection, health services and so on. All paid for by taxpayers.
Property values can be enhanced or hurt by a business, another factor we are familiar with. No one talks about the threat to manufacturing jobs either. What has been happening to manufacturing jobs, for decades now? Going to cheaper labor land, aren’t they? And we know all about that. Maybe we are granting tax breaks to the wrong kinds of businesses. Everyone wants a Boeing, Microsoft or Amazon, for obvious reasons, and because business rules in this state as it does in most states, just look at who wrote the pro-tax break argument. And what politician doesn’t want to brag about the jobs he brought to his constituency? By the same token, what politician can stand the thought of jobs going away under his or her watch? Never heard of one and you never will and for that reason tax breaks continue without the accountability. Bring us accountability done by a commission of economists and knowledgeable fair-minded citizens, no politicians, and I believe taxpayers will live with the decisions on tax breaks, but not until then.
Don Curtis
Clinton
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
