OUR RESPONSE TO GSFTC...

In the years prior to Mel Thomson's governorship, New Hampshire's economy was on the ropes. The state had been suffering massive losses of industrial employment. Textile mills, shoe factories and tanneries had been leaving the state for South of the Mason-Dixon line. Those remaining were either contemplating moving or closing their doors. Despite a lousy economy and little opportunity for new employment, New Hampshire voters nevertheless embraced Thomson's message "Axe the Tax," and his pledge to veto any broad based sales or income tax. The pledge has been a feature of the state's political and economic landscape ever since.

And what's been the result? New Hampshire, where, for 222 years, the local property tax has been the primary means of funding government, is currently ranked the best state to live in. NH has low unemployment and low poverty because our vibrant low-tax economy produces good wages and jobs. Efficient state and local government has produced a social service and welfare system which is the envy of all other states. We pay the lowest per-capita taxes in the country. The 'pledge,' transformed New Hampshire from a state almost wholly distinguished by its reliance on low paying, low status, bottom rung industrial jobs, to a state, now defined as exceptionally high-tech and entrepreneurial. 95% of New Hampshire's diverse and resilient current economy revolves around thousands of small businesses. For Democracy for New Hampshire, The N.H. Council of Churches, and for the majority of newly elected House and Senate Democrats, who would ditch the 'pledge,' these are all bad things.

So which state economies do the pledge's detractors hope to emulate? Vermont, whose economy is so stagnant that as soon as youngsters reach the age of majority they leave for jobs elsewhere? Vermont, is the 47th friendliest state for business. New Hampshire is 6th. Newspapers here in the Upper Valley, are constantly reporting on the property tax crunch in Vermont, which also sports burdensome state sales and income taxes. Or how about Maine, which, like Vermont, is also plagued with a lousy economy and high property taxes but which also has the distinction as the state with the highest per-capita taxes in the country? Or, do they look to Massachusetts, the former home of most of New Hampshire's tax refugees?

The New Hampshire Council of Churches support of this effort is somewhat troubling.

In response to a Pharisee's trick question having to do with taxes, Christ replied, "Give to Caesar, the things that are Caesar's and to God, the things that are God's." He didn't add, "And take and give to Caesar, your neighbor's things too."

So, when, out of envy and covetousness, the New Hampshire Council of Churches proposes to replace the local property tax with an income tax, it embraces theft of large and small wealth for arbitrary use by the state. In advocating for an income tax, the New Hampshire Council of Churches promotes reintroduction of 12th century serfdom, where the first hours of each workday were compelled to filling the King's coffers before filling the bellies of subjects. What they advocate is loss of individual liberty. How Christian is this? How many Commandments does the Council choose to conveniently ignore in advocating for an income tax?

Finally, what tax could be fairer than the local property tax? Property taxes paid are the result of voluntary, individual, taxpayer choice. Every property tax payer gets to set the tax rate they'll be charged by deciding on spending priorities at annual town and school district meetings. Every property tax payer determines how much or how little property tax they will pay by choosing how lavishly or how modestly they will live. McMansions generate property higher taxes than more modest homes. The property tax is all about liberty gained.