Metro voters at least open to transportation tax

It would be great if next year’s region-wide referendum on a new transportation tax were to pass by the margin suggested in a newly released AJC poll. According to Mason-Dixon pollsters, 51 percent of registered voters say they would approve the one-penny tax, with just 36 percent opposed.

In fact, if repeated next year, such a result would be more than great. It would be downright shocking.

That’s not a reflection on the merits of the poll, which probably offers an accurate snapshot of public sentiment as it exists today. The only problem is, the vote won’t be held today. Given that Mason-Dixon found that just 29 percent of metro voters are even somewhat familiar with the proposed tax, a lot of minds are destined to change, one way or the other, in the months to come.

In fact, if the referendum does pass, I’d bet it would be by fewer than five percentage points. At the moment, even that would be a bit of an upset.

However, the poll results do offer a lot of pleasant surprises and cause for optimism, suggesting that the political landscape is not quite as forbidding as it might have seemed. It also offers one unpleasant result that isn’t a surprise in the least and may represent the proposal’s single biggest obstacle to passage.

For example, are suburban voters in Cobb and Gwinnett opposed to the measure before they even know much about it? No. By a margin of 48 to 42 percent, they say they support it.

Will transportation advocates have to overcome a knee-jerk opposition to new taxes in general? No again. Only 42 percent say they would refuse to support this or any other tax increase.

You also hear a lot of claims that metro Atlantans just won’t vote to spend money on public transit. Again, the poll suggests otherwise. Two-thirds of those responding believe that their community would benefit from expanded transit, and 82 percent agree that it’s important to encourage commuting via transit.

Overall, 91 percent of those polled said it was important to address the region’s transportation problems, and 67 percent said that congestion is causing a decline in quality of life here. Those are all good baseline numbers upon which to build a successful campaign. People understand there’s a problem and they want a solution.

So what’s the bad news? When voters were asked whether state and local officials would end the one-penny sales tax in 10 years, only 42 percent had faith the promise would be kept. The fact that the promise is written into law, ensuring that the tax could be renewed only if voters re-approve it come 2022, doesn’t change the reality that the public is deeply distrustful.

That lack of faith, driven in part by decisions such as keeping a toll on Ga. 400 beyond the promised time frame, is probably the single biggest obstacle to be overcome.

It also doesn’t help much that mechanisms for planning, funding and executing the regionwide transportation plan are awkward and unwieldy. That’s a direct consequence of a General Assembly and governor that were less interested in solving the problem than in finding a way to dump responsibility on someone else, in this case voters and local officials. If a camel is a horse designed by committee, this process is admittedly a camel.

On the other hand, if you’re stuck in the desert with no other options, a camel can be quite a fine transportation alternative. And that’s pretty much where we find ourselves. As voices rise in opposition to the referendum, it will be important to ask what alternative solutions they propose because realistically, there aren’t any.

– Jay Bookman

251 comments Add your comment

FSG

September 26th, 2011
11:52 am

Noted comment from a ‘retired person’ in the article connected to this editorial – doesn’t want ‘taxes raised to pay for transportation or roadways’.

Things retired people don’t care about:
- Schools, Transit, Sidewalks, Libraries, Children, and the future in general; it’s old people who let politicians get away with ‘Social Security is fixed – it doesn’t run out of money until 2036!’

Yet they control politics because they have nothing better to do. And they need to make sure that my taxes pay for their ‘free’ medicine, their ability to sit in doctors offices to visit with their friends, and buys them a scooter.

Yes, I’m slandering them, and I love my parents. But can we please set a maximum voting age?

AngryRedMarsWoman

September 26th, 2011
12:01 pm

“so people can ride into the city on Sunday Afternoon to watch the Falcons”

I had to LOL at that one. Have you been to a Falcons game? I have been to a few and although they were all bad experiences the last one that involved not only the Falcon thug-fans but also the Saints thug-fans (one of whom threatened to “smash” a 10 year-old in my group from Roswell youth football for tripping in the aisle and dropping some popcorn on his lap) sealed the deal for me…there is not enough money in the world to pay me to attend a Falcons game again. How many folks from “points North” do you think are taking MARTA (or any other means of transportation) to a Falcons game?

Intowner

September 26th, 2011
12:06 pm

Steve – USA

September 26th, 2011
11:45 am
Redneck@11:23 Your “h” comment is totally unacceptable. I would report you if they didn’t require you to fill out some form.

I hope Jay pulls the plug on you.

Steve — It’s OK. It’s satire. Redneck is on here everyday with his “comments”.

Josh

September 26th, 2011
12:07 pm

Alternative: Roads not transit.

godless heathen

September 26th, 2011
12:32 pm

Why Can't Everyone Just Get In Line?

September 26th, 2011
12:35 pm

Joe Mama,

“It’s called arcology”, yes and portrayed in “Logan’s Run”.

MrLiberty

September 26th, 2011
12:43 pm

Why would anyone be stupid enough to endorce giving $7billion more to a failed government that can’t even manage to buid a bridge with safe railings, operate a bloated train system within budget, or keep the lights and roads properly maintained??

The failure is with government as more than enough money has been spent. Government has no incentive to spend other people’s money wisely and no incentive to keep customers happy. The whole system should be privatized and all government barriers taken down. The free market knows how to address transportation issues and the past 75 years of government failure clearly shows that the government does not. JUST VOTE NO !

Peter ( the first )

September 26th, 2011
12:48 pm

allen981 – And just where will that get your grandchildren when they run out of petroleum?

Adam

September 26th, 2011
12:53 pm

MrLiberty: The whole system should be privatized and all government barriers taken down. The free market knows how to address transportation issues

Really? How is that then? What’s the magic private solution to transportation?

Buford Citizen

September 26th, 2011
12:58 pm

For many in Gwinnett, SPLOST has become a dirty word thanks to the follies of our county commissioners over the years. Additionally, just last week we were told that some parks will need to be closed due to lack of maintenance funds. SPLOTS has been used for years to build stuff that the county can’t afford to keep up and maintain. Just like all the Libraries some of which have been forced to close or cut operations.

This November Gwinnett will have on the ballot an “E” SPLOST for education. A SPLOST here and a SPLOST there…a SPLOST everywhere. I wouldn’t count on a positive vote from Gwinnett on the TSPOST. Besides that, TSPLOST is about having a regional entity determine the transportation projects the sales tax collected in a county goes to instead of the counties. T-SPLOST takes away local control by allowing the wishes of the voters in each county be overridden by the collective vote of the region.

Not a very appealing thing with the current county commissioner situation already angering the citizens daily.

Strawman

September 26th, 2011
1:02 pm

“That war has to be the biggest lame-brained idea in the history of this country.”

You mean the Vietnam War, our involvement in which really began with the presidency of LBJ (after campaigning on the promise he would not involve the US in the war)? Can you think of another recent president who did NOT run for re-election? The Iraq War was a bad idea. But let’s not, while we are pointing fingers, be so myopic as to forget what party got us into Vietnam in a bad way.

Aquagirl

September 26th, 2011
1:07 pm

Heathen, did you notice IBM only polled those 20 cities listed? NYC had to end up somewhere on the list.

Also, the questions seemed to be about commutes by car, not public transportation.

If this is supposed to prove NYC has the worst commute in the US, massive FAIL.

Road Scholar

September 26th, 2011
1:09 pm

So, you don’t live near a MARTA train station. Or you can get to a station, but the MARTA train does not go to each and everyone of your destinations. So you do not benefit from it 24/7/365, right?

Wrong!!!!What if , since transit may be expanded, other people ditch their cars for some of their trips and get out of your way? Do you benefit from transit? Wouldn’t that decrease congestion? Now remember we are expectd to add 3 M more people to the metro area in the next 20 years.

And you want to sit in traffic longer? Boy some people are short sighted. Oh and how about future gas prices? Will it always be $3.50 /gal ? Remember that China and India and third world nations are increasing their use of oil.

In focus groups, many in the suburbs use GRTA/MARTA transit because of lower costs and provided STRESS RELIEF! No more yelling, flipping off, cutting off, etc. the person in front of you.Grab a book, listen to music, or sleep! Imagine that!

MrSensible

September 26th, 2011
1:20 pm

MrLiberty
September 26th, 2011
12:43 pm
Why would anyone be stupid enough to endorce giving $7billion more to a failed government that can’t even manage to buid a bridge with safe railings, operate a bloated train system within budget, or keep the lights and roads properly maintained??

** Do you think it was government building the bridge? NO. They contract it out to private business, and since it is a private business, perhaps they cut corners to keep more money. But let’s cut government oversight on this and let them reduce safety…**

The failure is with government as more than enough money has been spent. Government has no incentive to spend other people’s money wisely and no incentive to keep customers happy.

**Ummm, yes they do have an incentive. It’s called elections. Except people like you continue to vote based on the R or D behind the names.**

The whole system should be privatized and all government barriers taken down. The free market knows how to address transportation issues and the past 75 years of government failure clearly shows that the government does not. JUST VOTE NO !

**What planet are you from? Private industry can address transportation issues? You really think private industry is going to build roads and bridges? Earth to Mr. Liberty… Come in Mr. Liberty….**

Luis

September 26th, 2011
1:25 pm

So, why is godless heathen intent on celebrating ignorance as opposed to putting forth ideas worthy of consideration?
NYC does not have the worst commute in the nation, in fact Atlanta’s is worse.
And, the vast mass transit network that’s in place in the NYC metro area moves millions of people every day faster than us sitting like lame ducks on I-75 traffic.

These are the 10 worst commute times in the nation in hours wasted per year.
1. Chicago, IL: 70 hours
1. Washington, DC: 70 hours
2. Los Angeles, CA: 63 hours
3. Houston, TX: 58 hours
4. Baltimore, MD: 50 hours
5. San Francisco, CA: 49 hours
6. Boston, MA: 48 hours
6. Dallas, TX: 48 hours
7. Denver, CO: 47 hours
8. Atlanta, GA: 44 hours
8. Seattle, WA: 44 hours
9. Minneapolis, MN: 43 hours
10. New York, NY: 42 hours

Aquagirl

September 26th, 2011
1:37 pm

So, why is godless heathen intent on celebrating ignorance as opposed to putting forth ideas worthy of consideration?

You also have to consider if those NYC commute times include the Metro NY area, which extends out to places like Bridgeport, CT, 60 miles away.

I think we’ve beat this horse to death, heathen, but I’m still amazed how you can throw out such obvious junk and put people on the defensive. How the crap can we solve our transportation problems when people vote based on what they think they heard on TV one weekend, when it’s completely wrong?

Based on this, I anticipate nothing but more traffic in Atlanta. Ignorance doesn’t stop Georgians from pontificating loudly and traipsing into the voting booth.

dorae

September 26th, 2011
1:38 pm

If marta was to do a few things I think they would be more successful. Add more lines, instead of limiting the lines. In a store one will have on their shelves items which don’t sell that often because if someone comes in to purchase the item it only takes a couple of times till they stop shopping at your store. Remember, while in the store they will purchase other items. The same can be said of any product or service.
Also, the lines need to run longer and more often. Flexability is very important.
Finally, marta needs to change the perception of the public that riding marta is unsafe or can be irratating. If they were to provide more, not less, security then they may change the perception that marta is unsafe. And, if they were to provide security which would keep impolite people from hitting on every pretty person who sits down and doesn’t want to socialize than ridership would increase and the roads may be come less congested.

Whahema

September 26th, 2011
1:40 pm

It will be a shock to Bookman’s normal bigotry, but the reason that voters OTP will oppose the TSPLOST is that it’s a bad idea. It’s not race, it’s not knee jerk opposition to taxes. Voters will not like the projects selected and will be concerned that the six billion will do far less to relieve their traffic congestion than it could have. Most of us want to address traffic congestion, we just want TSPLOST to fix the problem and not just support some ideology.

Joe Mama

September 26th, 2011
1:45 pm

MrLiberty — “The free market knows how to address transportation issues”

Bullspit.

Laurie

September 26th, 2011
1:47 pm

getalife brings up a good point. We spent billions of dollars building military installations in Iraq, just to give it all away as we pull our forces out!?! I say we should be charging Iraq for the cost of building thoses installations and funneling that money back into the states for economic stimulus and transportion. Hey, maybe we could even pay down some of that federal debt Congress keeps fighting about. That’s a much better plan than increasing taxes.

Common Sense

September 26th, 2011
1:58 pm

We are talking about giving more money to a system that actually cut the full buses traveling back and forth to Turner Field. If running full buses are not profitable, what would be?

We are talking about giving more money to a system that cannot add enough cars on the rails to handle the crowds from major events on weekends. These events are on the calendar weeks in advance. It is the opportunity to show how the system can handle things. They choose not to.

This is the system that despite having collected the MARTA tax in Fulton County since the 1970s, does not plan to have rail to Windward Parkway until 2030.

That’s nearly a sixty year wait.

Mass transit: For those that love to wait.

bull

September 26th, 2011
2:14 pm

“Once the train lines exist, development and density will concentrate around the stations in the same way that development pops up around a new interstate interchange. ”

This is laughable.

Please point to ANY high-density development in Atlanta that occurred because of close proximity to MARTA.

MARTA trains have been running since 1979.

Luis

September 26th, 2011
2:14 pm

godless heathen

September 26th, 2011
12:32 pm
Granny:
http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/transportation/10-worst-cities-for-commuting-2011-edition/892

Now I get it, godless heathen got Mexico City confused with NYC, which happens to be on the green on this IBM study.

But, I don’t think godless heathen read the entire article, for it indicates that commuters surveyed in these 20 cities are opting for public transportation instead of driving, which means they at least have more choices than us, who are resigned to sitting on traffic. Now that’s a mess!

ATF

September 26th, 2011
2:52 pm

One of the problems I have with the proposed Cobb County light rail line is this: the line will run for 1 mile in Cobb County with one (maybe two) stops in the Cumberland area. Then it will run for 13 miles in Fulton County/City of Atlanta with an unknown number of stops until it reaches the Arts Center or Mid-Town Atlanta area. But the entire cost of constructing the line is coming from Cobb’s share of the TSPLOST.

It will take 10 years to build. After it is built, there is a thought that the line will be extended into the northern parts of the county – up toward Acworth. But that will be funded by a second TSPLOST which we will vote on in 2022 – for another 10 years of building and paying for a rail line that could begin to impact Cobb County traffic problems. Maybe by 2032 we will begin to have some relief from today’s traffic problems.

I would like to see the cost of the line apportioned based on the areas it serves – that includes Cobb County but also the areas of Fulton County/City of Atlanta that will benefit from it. If that happens, Cobb may be able to address some other transportation needs – street widenings, intersection redesign – that could make a difference to more of us who live in the county and are not heading to down town Atlanta to work.

Build The Outer Perimeter!!!

September 26th, 2011
2:55 pm

Build the Outer Perimeter!!!

Terry Bond

September 26th, 2011
2:58 pm

So how wide do we need to make I-85 to handle the current commuter traffic? How wide will it need to be in 10 years? Do you think we can ever make the Connector wide enough to keep up? At what cost?

The TIA we’re voting on next year is estimated to bring in just over $7 billion over it’s 10 year life. 15% of that is set aside for each county to spend as they see fit. The remaining money is for projects which have impact for the entire 10-county region. 45% of this remaining bucket is currently planned to be spent on roadway improvements, the rest (~55%) on transit.

This is still a far cry from what Atlanta really needs to invest to have anything approaching a world-class transit system to match our world-class airport.

rightwingextreme

September 26th, 2011
3:02 pm

Only if you can “carry” on the buses and MARTA!

Aquagirl

September 26th, 2011
3:05 pm

I would like to see the cost of the line apportioned based on the areas it serves – that includes Cobb County but also the areas of Fulton County/City of Atlanta that will benefit from it.

I’d like to see Cobb voters pay for MARTA, which they certainly use—-check any MARTA parking lot. DeKalb and Fulton have been paying 1% sales tax for decades. How about this: we calculate the back cost of Cobb MARTA riders, and y’all cut a check to us?

Unless you only work, live, and shop in Cobb County, the idea that TSPLOST should only be spent on roads that begin and end there is faulty, to say the least. Cobb drivers use the entire metro area. They pass through spaghetti junction, the downtown connector, and pretty much everywhere else. Demanding that others pay for these improvements while you pull up your ramparts and keep your own cash is extremely selfish. The result will be complete gridlock, which will affect Cobb and everyone else.

New Hope for T-SPLOST? — Peach Pundit

September 26th, 2011
3:18 pm

[...] to Jay Bookman on the op-ed pages of the AJC, the poll “…found that just 29 percent of metro voters are even somewhat familiar with [...]

TruthBe

September 26th, 2011
3:39 pm

Vote NO for this transportation tax because it is wrong and not needed in this obama economy. NO new taxes for any reasons. If Counties want Marta than they can fund it themselves. Marta wastes so much money and hires their leadership on race (Black). And if you call Marta on their wasteful spending than the Marta’s leadership calls you a racist because of their corruption. Too much spending and not enough cuts in wasteful corruption. Look people the government state or federal SPENDS TOO MUCH PERIOD.
WE PAY TOO MUCH IN TAXES, PERMITS, AND FEES.

Bryan -- MARTA supporter

September 26th, 2011
3:58 pm

bull

September 26th, 2011
2:14 pm

“Please point to ANY high-density development in Atlanta that occurred because of close proximity to MARTA”

Now this is laughable. Can you say downtown, midtown, buckhead, perimeter, lindberg, the plans around the doraville and Lakewood/Ft. McPhearson stations, the possible hapeville like for the planned development there, the number of condo building that were built along the Green and Blue lines on the east side of town and those that build them within walking distance to MARTA stations.

Really bull.. you made this comment?

Bryan -- MARTA supporter

September 26th, 2011
4:06 pm

Please read the post of ATF September 26th, 2011 2:52 pm. This is why we can’t work together as a REGION and be successful. To worried about your own area and not the region. Cobb is not paying for that line. The region is paying for it with the tax.

Also don’t complain that the rail and the cost and the time. This may take 20 years because it has to be paid for and built in stages. Who you should be upset at are the leaders and citizens of Cobb from the 70s. Didn’t they vote not to pay for MARTA? Let’s see, if they constructed the line in 1975… add 20 years…. 1995 MARTA rail…. and HEAVY rail, would have been built and at a cheaper rate than this proposed LIGHT rail. I guess if the people of Cobb would have had a better vision for the future that 856 million could have been spent somewhere else….

Bryan -- MARTA supporter

September 26th, 2011
4:19 pm

Common Sense

September 26th, 2011
1:58 pm

I guess it isn’t common sense that running those buses and adding additional rail cars cost money. If you didn’t notice we are in a reccesion and unfortunately MARTA’s funding is based on a sales taxes.

Also, you should know that the Red line was not orginally put into the MARTA plans but because of the population growth it was added. Again, no money and no state help or local help from the surrounding area means no rail to Windward, even though it is needed.

Maybe do your research rather than use your “common sense”…..

Billybob

September 26th, 2011
4:26 pm

polls….schmolls…..useless info unless you are the media trying to shape public opinion instead of ACTUALLY reporting it…..next

Grob Hahn

September 26th, 2011
4:52 pm

Are people REALLY willing to overlook MARTA’s crime problem? That’s the real question isn’t it? It’s the same for most mass transit in the US. Until people can have more than lip service security this system will continue to be a waste of subsidies. It’s also very telling who they had in mind when they created the routes. Few of them service the areas where non-subsidized riders might originate.

I like the bike rack idea, but I think we all know what would happen to an array of locked bicycles in downtown Atlanta.
Grobbbbbbbbbb

Jay

September 26th, 2011
4:57 pm

And we have a winner in the “Euphemism of the Day” contest:

“unsubsidized populations”!

Crime

September 26th, 2011
5:15 pm

Crime has gotten very bad on MARTA. I had my iphone stolen right from my hand enroute to the airport and have since heard many similar stories. I’ll never ride MARTA again. Disclosure: I’m a white guy from the northern suburbs. If you choose to ride MARTA: HOLD ONTO YOUR PHONE TIGHT!

forget rail

September 26th, 2011
5:18 pm

rail is way too expensive, not feasible and marta is totally corrup and inefficient. Just build more lanes on the freeways to handle more cars. This is not NY or DC–rail lines will not work.

New Hope for T-SPLOST?

September 26th, 2011
5:23 pm

[...] to Jay Bookman on the op-ed pages of the AJC, the poll “…found that just 29 percent of metro voters are even somewhat familiar with the [...]

TruthBe

September 26th, 2011
5:35 pm

Untill Marta deals with the black youth thugs in and around the Marta stations and it’s trains than the whole project is doomed. Crime and danger from these people need to be taken serious. Where are the police and the parents of these black youths? Atlanta has a black crime problem and NO ONE has the guts to do anything about it. Not Mayor Reed or Police Chief Taylor. Where is the Black Comunity Leadership? These youths need to be in school, are at work, or in the Military. Not hanging around Marta to cause trouble or get involved in crime. Well???????????

mmm, mmm, mmm, Barack the Liar Obama - BEND OVER, Here comes the CHANGE!

September 26th, 2011
6:23 pm

Count me in the minority. I will NEVER vote for another tax increase. Need an example? Try GA 400 and the SPLOST taxes.

Common Sense

September 26th, 2011
6:25 pm

Bryan Marta Supporter says ” guess it isn’t common sense that running those buses and adding additional rail cars cost money. If you didn’t notice we are in a reccesion and unfortunately MARTA’s funding is based on a sales taxes.”

If you cannot cover your costs when the trains are packed elbow to elbow with riders, then it never covers it’s costs.

What’s even funnier is that you belief Marta is concerned about cost of operations. So what’s the cost of all those buses with one or two riders in North Fulton? Is that more economically feasible than a platform full of paying riders?

Paddy O

September 26th, 2011
6:32 pm

The assumption by Jay appears to be that there has been no planning for transportation improvement and that this process required the reinvention of the planning wheel. The HB 277 bill was a perfect solution: Trans improvements need more capital; it was primarily local elected leaders requesting additional capital; the repubs at the statehouse pledged to NOT personally adopt a tax. So, they came up with a system where the state republs keep thier pledge, and even better, give local elected officials a strong voice in the projects that were to be done with the locally adopted TSPLOST. It predominantly eliminated GDoT’s remote & isolated planners from force feeding projects on local citizens, and should provide projects which help move more people in a safer environment. If the projects selected are completed (80% would be a good number) in the next 10 years, there is little reason NOT to renew it.

Paddy O

September 26th, 2011
6:48 pm

godless heathen – sadly, you don’t know your ass from your elbow. Do you have any idea the scale of the commute in NY? If you drive a car in, your commute will be pure hell. Most take buses or trains, and the mass of people moving is awesome. Everything is a personal decision. Those who gripe about their commute COULD move to close to their work. Remarkably, government does not revolve around the single citizen.

Paddy O

September 26th, 2011
6:52 pm

ragnar – have you looked at the proposed projects? If NOT, they YOU are a knee jerker. Sad, I thought you had a brain where you could contemplate a proposal.

Paddy O

September 26th, 2011
6:55 pm

good little liberal – you have a little operating brain. you don’t have the population density to operate a subway system like NY – you may not have the bedrock to build it either. Plus, here in GA the elected citizens actually provide input into the decisions of their state. The folks back in the 60’s did not want trains everywhere, so you got what you got. If you don’t like it, move to where your job is.

MrSensible

September 26th, 2011
7:55 pm

bull

September 26th, 2011
2:14 pm
“Once the train lines exist, development and density will concentrate around the stations in the same way that development pops up around a new interstate interchange. ”

This is laughable.

Please point to ANY high-density development in Atlanta that occurred because of close proximity to MARTA.

Ever been to Lindbergh?

Ryder

September 26th, 2011
8:03 pm

TruthBe

September 26th, 2011
5:35 pm
Untill Marta deals with the black youth thugs in and around the Marta stations and it’s trains than the whole project is doomed. Crime and danger from these people need to be taken serious. Where are the police and the parents of these black youths? Atlanta has a black crime problem and NO ONE has the guts to do anything about it.

Also a bunch of bull. I ride the train all the time from Buckhead to the airport – at least a couple times per week. I have NEVER ONCE seen any crime on MARTA. If you can’t handle seeing someone that wears his hat a little crooked, or pants a little low, then NOT only stay off MARTA, stay out of the whole @#%* city of Atlanta. There is a really vibrant scene which spans from downtown, to Little Five, to Midtown, to West Midtown and closeminded idiots like you are not welcome.

no more taxes

September 26th, 2011
10:17 pm

the country is in a near depression—people can afford to pay more taxes for some unneeded rail line to nowhere. Taxes are too high–cut taxes, cut waste and fraud in all these government programs and fire about 50% of these lazy government employees doing nothing to get a fat pension.

Paddy O

September 27th, 2011
10:11 am

no more taxes – have any grasp of reality? or just enjoying having a kindergarden temper tantrum?

Adam

September 28th, 2011
7:58 am

TruthBe: WE PAY TOO MUCH IN TAXES, PERMITS, AND FEES.

You’re free to leave this country for another with a better tax code any time!