Source: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-state-tax31-2009oct31,0,2028140.story

Starting this Sunday, California will begin withholding up to an additional 10% of workers pay as a stop gap solution to their continuing budgetary shortfalls. The LA Times reports this isn't a tax increase as the tax payer will get their money back when they go to file their tax returns,  as the LA times notes this is a forced, interest free loan from the tax payer to the state.

This is vitally concerning as a case for the loss of liberty, and property rights in times of need determined by the state.  When the government needs your hard work, they just take it, when you just need to feed your family and you just take it, you go to prison for many years. 

This amounts to nothing but widespread legal confiscation of Californians hard work, left with a promise to give it back.    

What I ask is, where will this money come from once the state claims and spends it?  10% less money in the hands of the people sure doesn’t help the spur on a spending spree to save the economy.  Looming on the horizon is the ever pivotal holiday season, with rumors of an improving economy; this couldn’t have come at a worst time.

Good luck to those barely making it, your state just made it 10% harder on you.

Since reading further into the liberty movement, the one lesson I have learned to truly appreciate time and time again is that centralizing power, offers one easy target for special interests.  One strong reason lobbyists push to make as many decisions as possible settled on the federal level is one target to bribe, and push in their favor.  I whole heartily believe this is the primary reason for the erosion of state rights over the past 50+ years.

When we as a nation take the decision making powers away from the states, and centralize them in Washington, we make it easier for special interests to focus their funds, and maximize their ROI on donations.  When the issue is decided at the state level, imagine the logistics of trying to convince local legislators in all the states to rule in the favor that benefits the lobbyists clients the most.  In today's corporate America, it's far too costly and risky to spend the money on states, when you can simply spend it on one group, that has the power to force everyone in the nation a certain direction. 

For me, this is what Healthcare reform will ultimately accomplish: one fat, bloated, tax wasting target in DC to corrupt and bend to their ways, and trust me, it will become corrupt. 

Although Healthcare is not currently handled on a state level in the local state governments, the same idea can be applied to the numerous private insurance companies out there offering an insurance product.  While we remove the ability for the corporate insurance giants from playing dirty, we are opening up our well being, and general healthcare to the lobbyists in DC. Centralizing our care and the decisions made on our health direction to lobbyists with armed with millions of dollars ready to ensure their clients get the bulk of the tax money, and your care, an afterthought. 

Now I am no fan of the insurance industry, and they have brought this upon themselves.  Refusing to insure some people and the pre-existing condition issue has created this problem for them.  Everyone has a family member that has been treated unfairly by the insurance company; this is what has caused the outrage for healthcare reform.

We do need reform, but we must resist the urge push legislation that will add to the size of government, and reduce our freedoms via higher taxes, less choice, and more centralized power in DC.