My Opinion:Personal Income Tax Increase? Now I Get It!

Governor Ed Rendell says his proposed 16 percent increase in the state's personal income tax is fair for everyone. The unemployed, the poor, and senior citizens won't have to pay it. It'll just be average Pennsylvanians who will be helping out their less fortunate neighbors (and helping to pay for the increase in spending he's proposed over last year's budget) during the Commonwealth's financial crisis.

The GOP says this increase – which would only be for three years like the Johnstown Flood Tax – means the average Pennsylvanian will pay $500 more a year in taxes. An ad of theirs talks about what $500 means to the average family in Pennsylvania. One example: They say that's the $500 you were going to use to take your family on vacation.

[Light bulb over my head]

Now I get it, Governor Ed! C'mon you frugal, penny-pinching Republicans. Can't you see the bigger picture here?

Sure that family can't go on vacation, but they have to stop whining and look at the bright side. If they were planning on driving to their vacation destination, now they won't have to pay the gasoline tax. They won't have to pay sales tax on their hotel rooms, at restaurants or for any souvenirs they were planning to buy. Just think of all the money they'll be saving by not paying all those taxes!

I guess it all evens out in the end, and that's what makes it fair for everyone.

Of course gas stations, restaurants and souvenir shops may have to lay off some people or cut their hours because that family won't be spending money on the goods and services that are being taxed. But, actually, that makes those employees/former employees double winners in this scenario. The unemployed and the poor don't have to pay personal income tax, and they won't have to pay as much gasoline tax because they won't be driving to work.