It’s probably fair to say that one of the reasons the Republicans lost so heavily last week is that on government spending, entitlement programs and earmarks, they abandoned their historic positions.
It may also be fair to say that at least some Democrats were embracing those positions. Just consider the following quotes from this year’s campaign:
- "If you have a very poor county and the property values are low, when you increase the millage you still have a poor county. You still have a county that still needs help from the state of Alabama…We can’t just collect from the people, the working people.”
- “We need to cut taxes on the poor and the middle class, who pay more than their fair share. The legislature just took a small step to aid the poorest, but it is not enough. We need to end sales taxes on edible groceries.”
- “He brought tax relief (and) said no to the government taking your private property.”
Is this from a roomful of supply-side economists? Has Rush Limbaugh entered the political arena? Is it part of a Republican Party ad campaign?
Well, no. These statements all come from candidates who ran for office in Alabama—Democrats in Alabama.
The first quote is from Democratic candidate for governor, Lucy Baxley. She said during a debate with her Republican rival, Gov. Bob Riley, that she opposed an initiative to require counties to contribute property taxes at a minimum rate of 10 cents per $100, also called 10 mils.
The second comes from Frank Camp, a Democratic candidate for District 95 in the state house of representatives. Cutting taxes? Ending sales taxes on groceries?
Finally, the last comes from an ad for “Walking” Wendell Mitchell, an incumbent Democratic senator.
Indeed, throughout the state, Republicans and Democrats sounded remarkably alike in their stance on taxes: namely, they don’t like them, because they know voters in the Yellowhammer State don’t like them.
Only 13 states have lower maximum income tax rates than Alabama. Of those, eight have no income taxes and the other five have low flat rates.
If only the common sense of Alabama voters could be found everywhere in the country, then federal taxes wouldn’t be such a burden.