Comments on: Governor’s Budget Proposal Targets Golfers

By: Leonard Muise

Leonard Muise — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 22:43:03 +0000

i won’t try to defend the tax structure or the current crop of cowardly and incompetent politicians. nonetheless, the simple fact is that we’re not funding public services adequately. and most people object to being taxed in any way at all.

i think most of the opinions expressed in opposition to this tax are consistent with the anti-social philosophy expressed in opposition to every other tax: it should always be someone else’s burden to bear.

spare me the phony victimization.

By: Linda G.

Linda G. — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 21:47:08 +0000

I am not a golfer. This is my perspective. You who golf have extra. You are not scrimping or you would not be on the course. I do not say banish all courses, enough to replenish the habitat you say is being (saved). Come on. We are in dire straits here. We are not going to give up roads, yet. We really are uncomfortable with the presence of beggars (those out of work). Maybe, we don’t want to give up unemployment.Oh, yes, those pesky government people (us) who regulate everything from the way we build our structures to daycare for our youngest and least able to protect themselves. So, Tony, which taxes should go? All of them? We are a most fortunate people. We need to quit belly aching (as my father would say) and look for the ways to help all of us. Yes, I will pay my entertainment tax only too gladly. I would have a greater respect for you who love golf if you could be a bit less self centered. Oh, the charity idea? Lots of PR with many “successful” charities. What is the “outcome”? The charity still exists or the humans empowered? Hasn’t worked so well over the past. I still do give plenty to charity. Plenty being 10% and I am not looking to get it off my federal income tax. I think Mr. Madoff is a golfer and so is President elect Obama. I enjoyed my few games of golf but not the above it all attitude that is still mine and many other peoples perception of those who golf. Didn’t vote for Schwarzenegger but think he has a great idea here.

By: Ed Merlin

Ed Merlin — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:49:12 +0000

It seems shortsighted on the Governor’s part to tax only golf. Youth soccer is where the real money is. Look at all those rich kids who play soccer, with all their rich parets and new SUVs lined up at the private school fields where they play. And the Governor should take a hard look at lawn bowling. Those old coots aren’t on fixed incomes — not with all the new white clothes they’re buying in downtown Carmel. And horse racing is long overdue; don’t just tax winnings, tax everyone just to place a bet. Then you can get them coming, and going. Which is what the government is trying to do to us all the time anyway …

By: Bogey Dan

Bogey Dan — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:25:38 +0000

Everyone has an opinion on what is “enough” here, but your votes have to represent your outrage. Taxing golf is like budgeting on “future lotto sales”, only they are going after a portion of society that has been or is still productive. We have a large group of people who have been elected to office that are more interested in throwing cash at welfare programs and the correctional industry. How much money could be directed to education and other aging population social programs if there was no “school administrative costs”,new prison studies, and the union’s use of education money on political campaigns?? VIOTE THEIR A__ OUT OF OFFICE!! Don’t ask for change after you have allowed this crap to continue, be proactive and get them out of Sacramento.

By: Tony

Tony — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 01:38:10 +0000

OMG! there is something very wrong in California! Some would like to leave the state just for the reason of too many damm taxes as it all ready, I agree with those that taxing other vices, come on this is ridiculous.
Here is a “little” list that culminates the states taxes in it’s entirety:

>Accounts Receivable Tax
>Building Permit Tax
>Capital Gains Tax
>CDL license Tax
>Cigarette Tax
>Corporate Income Tax
>Court Fines (indirect taxes)
>Dog License Tax
>Federal Income Tax
>Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
>Fishing License Tax
>Food License Tax
>Fuel permit tax
>Gasoline Tax (42 cents per gallon)
>Hunting License Tax
>Inheritance Tax Interest expense (tax on the money)
>Inventory tax IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)
>IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
>Liquor Tax
>Local Income Tax
>Luxury Taxes
>Marriage License Tax
>Medicare Tax
>Property Tax
>Real Estate Tax
>Septic Permit Tax
>Service Charge Taxes
>Social Security Tax
>Road Usage Taxes (Truckers)
>Sales Taxes
>Recreational Vehicle Tax
>Road Toll Booth Taxes
>School Tax
>State Income Tax
>State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
>Telephone federal excise tax
>Telephone federal universal service fee tax
>Telephone federal, state and local surcharge taxes
>Telephone minimum usage surcharge tax
>Telephone recurring and non-recurring charges tax
>Telephone State and local tax
>Telephone usage charge tax
>Toll Bridge Taxes
>Toll Tunnel Taxes
>Traffic Fines (indirect taxation)
>Trailer registration tax
>Utility Taxes
>Vehicle License Registration Tax
>Vehicle Sales Tax
>Watercraft registration Tax
>Well Permit Tax
>Workers Compensation Tax

By the way if those of you who haven’t heard, now he want’s to increase vehicle taxes!?

By: Mark O

Mark O — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:19:28 +0000

It’s unfortunate but maybe he should also consider taxing over weight people,I believe their are more of them than there are golfers and after that we can include people that own animals,” I’m sorry sir but can I see your license for that parrot,snake,rat,rabbit,etc……

By: Gotta Play

Gotta Play — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:44:12 +0000

As already stated, it’s not the need for more money that’s the problem, it’s the SPENDING of our “leaders”.

California represents %13 of the United States GDP. That’s HUGE! Depending on when you look, if California was an independent nation our world rank in terms of GDP would be between 7-10. That’s right, all by itself, California would be in the top %10 of countries in the world.

So, let’s see.

We are one of the richest states (or countries) in the world.
We have one of the highest tax rates in the United States.
Although we do give more to the Fed than we get, we do get some of that back through federal assistance programs.

And we can’t figure out how to balance a budget and run a state with our current finances?

More taxes on *any* California citizen is an obnoxious failure. But it should be pretty clear to anyone with even a small clue that taxing golf is not the answer to our states problems.

By: Manuel

Manuel — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:28:43 +0000

Maybe we should tax Gym memeberships. There are far more people who go to the Gym and that would give the state more spending money. But of course that wouldn’t happen. That wouldn’t even be considered but yet it is essentially the same thing.

By: Scott R.

Scott R. — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 06:19:58 +0000

The State should have to run it’s business the way we run our Home Owners Association(HOA), we can only spend what we take in and if it isn’t enough then the project gets postponed while we save up for it. The other option is to have a special assesment (TAXES) and as an officer even I won’t vote for that. I have to make due with Soc. Sec. levels of money so I’ll never shoot scratch if I don’t have any left. The other writers are correct, we need to dump the entire bunch in Sacramento and start over, or at least pay them what their worth. I think we’d all be due a big rebate from that idea and we could spend it on golf.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 05:07:06 +0000

Unfortunately, the way times are heading there may not be many more things available to tax as business continue to go under and the ranks of the unemployed soar. Our legislatures believe the solution is tax only things that don’t impact the rich. You increase sales taxes and it doesn’t bother the rich and only impacts the middle and low income. Our reaction to any consumer tax is to stop buying the products and of course once that occurs too much then they will start taxing food and medicine and finally if that don’t work then they will pass an income tax increase. What we are looking at is the modern decline of the great nation of California to a third world country. Our roads will decay, our education system will operate at the minimum, all social services will cease, police and fire protection will be at the minimum and crime will increase.