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February 19, 2003
The Clackamas Print
★ THE CLACKAMAS PRINT*
Editor-in-Chief
Daisy Bain
Tax reform: the quest for more
funds following failure of M28
Copy Editor
Shadra Beesley
Design Editor
Erinn Lerten
Managing News Editor
Frank Jordan
News Editor
Pete Ford
Robb Egan
Opinion Editor
grams in order to save a few.
The big three of the tax world are
sales tax, income tax and property
taxes. Each tax has its advantages
and disadvantages. As it stands now,
Oregonians pay both income and
property taxes (Californians pay all
three). Following is a gross over
simplification of each tax, as well as
a few theoretical plus points and
drawbacks.
Now, sales tax is simply a tax
paid by consumers for the purchase
of goods and sometimes services.
The positive side of a sales tax is
that in theory it taxes everyone
equally, including tourists from
other states or countries, and is
therefore the most “fair.”
However, the rather ugly truth of
an Oregon sales tax is that the
majority of the burden would fall
primarily on lower income families,
many of pay rent rather than owning
their own homes. With a sales tax,
renters would have to pay additional
non-deductible tax on the rent they
pay-
Photo Editor
Luke Mahan
In a letter recently published in
The Clackamas Print, one Oregon
City business owner expressed his
belief that charging a sales tax
would be the only fair and effective
way to collect taxes.
With the surprising defeat of
Measure 28, Oregon legislators are
facing a serious crisis; funds are
needed, but where to get them?
Many of M28’s opponents have
argued that a reformation of our
admittedly inefficient tax system is
the only way to bring our flagging
economy back on track.
Specifically this involves slash
ing funds entirely for many pro-
Webmaster
Joel Gaynor
Stop deno uncing
Opinion Editor
Robb Egan
Feature Editor
Elisabeth Meyer
A&E Editor
Jen Kane
Sports Editor
Elena Boryska
Advertising Manager
Mark Falling
ext. 2578
Staff Writers:
Megan Cobb
Heather Dahmen
Nic Delzell
Cyndee Mady
Sadie McCarthy
Andy Price
Cory Price
Tina Tate
Melinda Crouchley
Mike Pollock
Production Assistants:
Katie Funk
Jake Carpenter
Opinion Editor
As the United States continues its
inevitable stumble towards a war
with Iraq, more discussion of the mil
itary in general arises. And let me
say, I’m a little disappointed and
even a bit discouraged by what I’ve
been hearing.
After the events of Sept. 11, there
was, for a time, a great deal more
pride and respect displayed for the
men and women who devote their
lives to the cause of freedom.
Unfortunately, with war looming
just over the horizon, people have
started slipping back into- their atti
tudes of disparagement and disdain
for military-minded individuals,
hoisting signs and putting down
those who might end up giving their
lives in battle.
Americans as a whole have
become far too complacent in their
attitudes, thinking that because
Additionally, Oregon currently
receives a significant amount of
business from out-of-state con
sumers who would rather hop across
the state line and avoid paying taxes
on goods. For example, Portland
generally does over $100 million
more in retail sales than Seattle,
despite Seattle’s larger population
and higher per capita income.
Income tax is the taxation of
money earned by a citizen or busi
ness. The advantage of income tax is
that the amount owed is adjusted to
take into account income level,
dependents, and deductions Such as
property taxes and interest on home
loans. This means that after adjust
ments high-income earners might
end up paying a higher percentage
than low-income earners, as they
can afford to pay more while still
living quite comfortably. Many
believe that this makes income tax
“unfair,” and that taxes should be
the same for everyone, all people
being supposedly equal according to
the law.
Property tax is, in the eyes of
many, the most complicated and
controversial of the three. Simply a
tax on land owned, our property tax
has the benefit of affecting everyone
who owns land in Oregon. Even out-
of-state and foreign citizens have to
pay taxes on any Oregon property
they own. Also, unlike sales tax,
property tax is deductible from
income taxes.
Sadly, property tax is based on
the value of property owned, and the
value of any given property can
change radically in a relatively short
time. Additionally, counties and
cities levy their own property taxes
on landowners, making a consider
able amount of scratch after the
smoke clears.
Whatever the future holds for
Oregon taxpayers, it’s not too far
fetched to speculate that any radical
changes made to our tax structure
will certainly prove so costly and
time-consuming that it will be quite
some time before any additional
funds can do any good.
nation's protectors
something is happening on the other
side of the globe it can’t possibly
affect us, and therefore we shouldn’t
be sticking our noses into it. We have
developed a self-righteous percep
tion that we are above the horrors and
sacrifice of war, an attitude that, is
ultimately undeserved. We wave our
banners touting equality, personal
freedom and civil liberties for every
one, and yet most people seem
unwilling to fight for the causes they
believe in.
Any man or woman who devotes
their life to protecting others is okay
by me. Those with the courage of
their convictions, who fight to pro
tect the rights we all hold so dear,
will always be welcome at my table.
Whether we believe in a war with
Iraq or not, it’s still important that if
and when our soldiers, sailors, air
men and Marines are sent to war they
do so with our love and support, and
that we never forget those who fight
and die so far away from home.
How will a tuition increase affect your
future education plans?
Secretary:
JoAnne Gale
Goals:
The Clackamas Print aims to
report the news in an honest,
unbiased, professional manner.
The opinions expressed in The
Clackamas Print do not neces
sarily reflect those of the student
body, college administration, its
faculty, or The Clackamas Print.
Products and services advertised
in The Clackamas Print are not
necessarily endorsed by anyone
associated with The Clackamas
Print. The Clackamas Print is a
weekly publication and is dis
tributed every Wednesday
except during Finals Week.
The Clackamas Print Copyright
2003.
19600 S. Molalla Ave.
"It would make it a
lot harder, since I
have to pay my own
way through
school."
"Greatly, because
my tuition is
dependent on my
paycheck."
Adviser:
Linda Vogt
Genesis Rosas
Becky Hall
Stephen Broker
Justin Miracle
"I'm on scholarship
so it won't affect
„
_ //
me.
"Won't affect me
due to a tuition
waiver, and I will be
transferring after
Spring term."
photos by CORY PRICE Clackamas Print
Oregon City, Oregon
97045
(503) 657-6958 X2309
cccprint@clackamas.edu
http://www2.dackamas.edu/theprint
Do you have something to shout about?
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