Math-Impaired Liberal Says One Percentage Point Means 1%

When I posted the following story on Illinoize, I got to comments.

Read the story first, then the comments.

When Is a 33% Tax Hike a 1% Tax Hike?

When the media says it is.

Until the tax deductions begin.

Friday night, WTTW “Chicago Week in Review” host Joel Weisman asked four tax-hike leaning panelists whether they would go along with a “1%” state income tax hike.

Come on.

If the General Assembly and Pat Quinn hike income taxes from 3% to 4%, that is not a “1%” tax hike.

It’s a 33% tax hike.

Tell me why reporters can’t figure out the difference?

This is my second “Good Grief” in seeing coverage of an income tax hike effort. The first happened after hearing Governor Jim Thompson’s flacks succeed in convincing the Capitol Press Room that increasing the income tax rate from 2 1/2% to 3 1/2% was a “1%” tax hike.

Not!

= = = = =
2 Comments

Rob_N said…

Cal,

4 – 3 = 1 … It is a proposed increase of 1%. Period.

If you add a nickel to two dimes do you walk around saying you got a 25% increase or 5 more cents?

You sound like new Republican chairman Michael “I pay campaign funds to my sister under the table” Steele while trying in vain to spin negatives on Obama’s jobs bill… “Work is not a job.”

No wonder Americans are fed up with the conservatives’ spin.
8:35 AM

= = = = =
Anonymous said…

The “New” Math is at it again I see. Here’s a better formula for you Rob.

Before corrupt Chicago politicians raise the income tax a poor person is paying $600 this year on their $20,000 income.

After corrupt Chicago politicians raise the income tax the poor person will pay $800.

That is 33% MORE than the previous year, what do you know. They aren’t going around telling people I’m only paying 1% more, because 1% more would only be $6 more, instead of $200 more.

So Rob, will poor people be giving 1% more than they did previously to enable the likes of Rod Blagojevich, or 33% more than they did to enable the likes of RickEy HEndon’s after-school programs?

Anyone calling this a 1% tax increase is purposefully being dishonest and fraudulent and therefore can not be trusted to provide accurate information on any other aspects of the tax increase. They simply can not understand basic math enough to have a credible opinion on tax policy and taking more of poor families’ income.
10:03 AM


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *