The governor and the Republican right have gotten their way in this recent budget mess. Let's look at who is paying the tab.
State employees are being asked to take a 5 percent salary cut. In some school districts, teachers are being asked to take a pay cut so that other teachers can continue to work. If not a pay cut, they will have to deal with larger classes and fewer resources, which makes a difficult job even more challenging.
At the county and city level, similar cuts are being implemented.
Think about this.
The middle class is asked to reduce their income from (for argument's sake) $50,000 to $47,500, so $2,500 goes to help the state. It comes out of someone's salary but we don't dare call it a tax which, in reality, is what it is.
Those at the bottom who need basic services just to survive may lose that lifeline as well. The tax to them could be everything they have. For some, it could be their life. For our children, the tax will be an underfunded education system or no funding for a college education. The future for most will suffer, but not the future of everyone.
Who isn't getting taxed? Those at the top, of course, because they have the power of a one-third vote to prevent it. And don't give me the argument that they already pay their fair share. In 2007, the top 1 percent paid 7.4 percent in various state taxes while those at the bottom paid 10.2 percent. California ranks 18th nationally in state taxes paid, not first as many would tell you.
So, thanks to our teachers and schools, government workers and the very poor. This budget solution is being put on your shoulders, whether you like it or not.
When state Sen. Tony Strickland tells you that Californians want tax cuts, not tax increases, just remember that he isn't speaking to you. He's speaking to the one-third minority at the top.
-- Ed Wehan, Ventura