CapeCodToday Blog Chowder

Re: Temp Successor. It would be a betrayal of the public trust to name a successor for the convenience of furthering the agenda of pending legislation just like it was betrayal of the public trust to change it before to further the Democratic agenda. Deval Obama falls right in the party line. Disgusting.

Great letter editor and Steve. Government is run by those who show up. Too many tax and spend types. Time to unelect them all. Posting contact info for local officials would be helpful. Local hotel tax from 4 to 6% is a 50% increase which when added to the states tax of 5.7% would make the total tax 11.7%.

"Insanity is doing the same this over and over and expecting different results" Albert Einstein. So why do MA voters continue to reelect crooks who tax and spend our money in a bloated and inefficient system? Why do we allow the government to take our money and give it to someone else? Why do we allow government to be more and more intrusive in our lives? Government has gotten too powerful. I am not impressed by charasmatic speeches and promises to "spread the wealth" That should scare you!

Perhaps you would like to share your opinion on the .75% local option meals tax increase and the local option to increase the rooms tax from 4% to 6%which represents a potential 50% increase.

You hit the nail on the head Walter. I too am surprised at your "right" opinion. In better years "they" continued to spend, spend amd spend. Revenues are down now they want "us" to pay even more when we can afford it less. After the rebound will they lower the tax rate? Yeah right. There is a disconnect between our state leaders and the public. They have lost the common touch. Yes, we let them. Where is the outrage?

Or you could stick with one of the fine hotels on Cape Cod. Who wants to cook and clean on vacation anyway?

Matt. Your'e comparing the Sagamore Flyover to the Big Dig? So you support a gas tax "somewhere in the middle" to pay for the big dig.

Do you support puting micro chips in our state inspection stickers to track how many miles we drive? If we drive too little we will get a bill because we havn't paid enough gas tax? If we drive too much will we get a bill for that or will we get a rebate for paying too much gas tax?

People are driving less, gax tax revenues are down as a result. By your own admission increasing the cost of gas will result in less driving and lower gas tax revenues further. Will you continue to increase the gas tax as a result?

No more intrusion into our lives. Get out of our pockets. Stay out of our cars.

Before you even think about increasing taxes make REFORM the system. We are all doing more with less and cutting expenses when revenues are down. Government needs to do the same.

Before you attempt to solve the "climate problem" start with basics of correcting the unfair lottery money distribution formula and the school funding formula.

Ask a lawyer for the time and he'll tell you how to build a clock.

Do you support raising the gas tax by 28 cents which would make MA gas tax the highest in the country? Yes or NO?

Cape Codders and the people you work for should not pay for the Big Dig and it's benefits to Boston. I think you need to think about that.

If you want to expand public transportation, let the users pay for it.

BTW where's my real eatate tax break the governor promised?

You could abolish the room tax as an alternative. Not very likely so let's apply it in an equitable fashion. The tax is not evenly and fairly applied to properties that are in the lodging industry. The current law was created prior to condominium ownership. The unfair loophole is that a condominium or other form of ownership complex can function the same as a Hotel or resort and avoid the 9.7% room tax. 4% goes into the Towns General Fund. How much are the taxpayers loosing each year because of a flawed law?

The Police and Fire Chiefs know who the chronic offenders are and it is well documented. The providers are in denial that there is a problem. Who was it that decided Hyannis would carry the burden of the social services cast offs for Cape Cod?

The Police and Fire Chiefs who deal with the documented problems on a daily basis outlined the problems. Residents said they have cause for fear and want the problem solved. Merchants have experienced the negative impacts of the problem as well. Of the more than a dozen agencies represented there, not one got up and acknowledged that there is a problem. One actually suggested that residents who are concerned about people living in the woods next to their homes and have had their homes broken into, should invite them in and feed them. The concentration of social services is having a negative impact on our quality of life and the abilty of merchants to run their businesses. Councilor Barton in her role as a Town Councilor failed to do her job by saying we understand your concerns and problems and we will work together to fix it. All the providers could address was defending their roles, they totally missed the point.