December 26, 2005

The Presumption

By Nathan Moore

Ben Cunningham, who is eminently more qualified than yours truly to address taxation issues, has just posted about the desire to extend taxation to business software not otherwise taxed - an uber personalty tax, if you will. The State Board of Equalization, which sounds like it came right out of Atlas Shrugged, is attempting to determine just how long tax assessor tentacles can reach. The standard ought to be "should reach", but that goes to the underlying presumption that Ben discussed. The presumption that taxation comes first and personal freedom last is bothersome. That presumption should irk everyone, though I have a feeling that those enamoured with socialism, think corporations are evil, believe that Bush stole two elections, etc., probably don't mind so much.

What's worse is that this presumption strikes at the heart of one of Tennessee's greatest assets. We are a low tax state, and should be intent on keeping it that way. The last demographic any bureaucrat needs to try to tax is business. The franchise and excise taxes here are enough. Let's not add another economic growth sucker to the mix.