The media say the world ended in California last night, but Libertarians think the sun rose over a freer Golden State this morning.
In yesterday’s special election, more than 62% of California voters rejected five different ballot proposals to raise various taxes. These were not close calls; three of the measures were voted down by two-to-one margins. On top of that, almost three-quarters voted to deny pay raises to legislators in years when California’s budget is in deficit.
The Libertarian Party of Georgia is proud of the California electorate for saying “NO” to higher taxes. Although we predict the legislature will raise taxes despite the election results, yesterday’s vote demonstrates a growing unhappiness with statist policies. We predict that if the state’s lawmakers go ahead with tax increases anyway, there will be an enormous turnover in the 2010 state legislative elections. Coming as it does after the spontaneous Tea Party tax protests, the California vote is another bright sign that the pendulum is swinging back toward freedom.
California’s establishment politicians are angry. How dare those voters say “no”! Don’t they realize their job is to pay up when lawmakers want them to? The Libertarian Party of Georgia expects California regulators will attempt to manipulate acquiescence by threatening to cut fire and police personnel, and emotionally popular programs like school lunches and state parks. We urge Californians to call their bluff. Muddle through without state parks if needs be. Citizens have to cut their personal expenses, let lawmakers wake up to their responsibilities and intelligently cut the state budget.
The Libertarian Party of Georgia repeats our admiration of the voters in California. We can’t wait until their 2010 elections!
