Lane/Tommy: No beating around the bush and no quotation for this week. A few weeks ago we were being facetious about not being taxed enough. Lo and behold, the news coming out of Augusta about proposals for new taxes is not so humorous. We would love to know how long it took to dream up even more ways to tax us including after we depart this world.

The scary part is that one piece of proposed legislation gives the legislature a pay raise which probably will result in another new tax. Maybe one of the best questions to ask is why do budgets at local and state levels seem to increase without an increase in services. Could it be we take a pay cut to fund annual pay raises for government workers? The so-called normal budget increases are not only busting the local and state budgets, they are forcing Mainers to either abandon ship or cut another necessity of life.

Lane: From broadening the sales tax, creating a disposal tax of $1 on an oil change or taxing us on labor and services, the citizens of Sherwood Forest would be proud of the income our elected officials could bring in. No need for bows and arrows here, just pass another piece of legislation that is disguised as tax relief.

Tommy: To paraphrase a line from a poem, “How can I tax thee. Let me count the ways.” There will be no end to tax increases until we make a significant change to elect new officials. How long do some of our lawmakers go without sleep racking their brains to map out new ways to raise taxes? It has been said before that rust never sleeps, so it is obvious that creating new revenues will never take a siesta in this state.

Lane/Tommy: Is the Day of Judgment coming closer every budget season whether in Windham, Standish, Raymond or Augusta? We were totally shocked at the number of moving sales we have seen in the greater Windham area in the past few weeks. Since state officials claim Maine is doing great unlike the rest of the nation, why are people moving out of this area? Maybe we are being ridiculous but could one surmise they weren’t happy because two of our local officials stated we are only being taxed moderately?

Tommy: So I ask who is the biggest culprit that has caused our tremendous tax burden? It seems the answer depends on who one asks. Both Lane and I have traveled around Maine attending conferences and debates on tax reform. We have asked state and local officials who is to blame for our tax problems. The answer we received is reminiscent of the old Abbott and Costello comedy skit about who’s on first base. Who’s on first base, what’s on second base and I don’t know is on third base. Local officials blame state officials who blame local officials for our heavy tax burden. In other words, it’s everybody’s fault but theirs.

Lane: I feel the voters must have the final say over all budget decisions even though we have a representative form of government. Whether in Windham or Augusta, the track record of elected officials truly shows their overall failure to bring spending under control and we must have the right to remove them from office as we see fit.

Lane/Tommy: Is it time to admit that past legislation for tax reform has been a dismal failure? Has the time arrived to move Maine into a prosperous future by foregoing some local control so that we can think of Maine as one entity moving forward united with a common goal of prosperity for all? The Robbing Hood mentality of narrow-minded provincialism must end in order that all of us can afford to live here. Let’s say goodbye to government fiefdoms.

Lane and Tommy, of Windham, have just finished their latest book, “Living Well On Your Tax Dollars” and are looking forward to their next project studying why any American should have to work in such a rich nation.