Missing the point

The Boston Globe's main editorial today urges Bay Staters to vote against state question #1 which would eliminate the Massachusetts' income tax:

Voters are understandably anxious about their futures, and angry at institutions that have allowed the economy to deteriorate. But eliminating the income tax is not the way to strike back at greedy Wall Street brokers, high gasoline prices, double-dipping public employees, or crashing home values.

There's a certain "don't kick the dog" aspect to this argument. Take note, Boston Globe, that I'm not trying to punish the world, or the oil companies, or the Wall Street executives. I'll be voting "yes" because it's time to send a message to Beacon Hill that we're tired of a government unresponsive to the will of the people:

In 2000, voters approved a phased rollback of the income tax rate from 5.75 percent to 5 percent. The Legislature froze the rate at 5.3 percent in 2002, permitting further reductions only if economic conditions allowed.

Some voters who wanted taxes lowered to 5 percent have decided to support Question 1 to show their anger at the state, said Barbara Anderson, director of Citizens for Limited Taxation, which advocated 5 percent but is now producing bumper stickers that read "Hell Yes! Question 1."

Polls show the ballot question going down to a narrow defeat because most people understand it would unleash chaos in Boston. Deep down, I hope it loses by a single vote.