Dear Oregon:
You must really think I’m stupid.
Apparently, you don’t think I see through your manipulation of my emotions.
Well you’re wrong cause I’m on to you now.
Early in our romance I used to fall for your sob stories about why my kids aren’t getting a good education because we weren’t spending enough money, so we had to tax the rich and corporations who weren’t paying their fair share.
And I fell for it…
I believed you when you said it was unfair to me and my kids that the rich fat cats and out of state corporations weren’t paying hardly any taxes while I’m paying almost a third of my income in taxes.
So I got really, really angry.
And because I was upset I fell for your line that it would make my life better and more fair if I just voted for the candidates and the initiatives that would right this wrong and really stick it to those guys who were taking advantage of me.
So I did and guess what?
My life got harder and I didn’t feel any better.
My take home pay didn’t go up… but my cost of rent, groceries and gas did.
And at the end of the month… I had less money than before, because I was paying more in taxes and fees for virtually everything.
I didn’t feel any safer because the new taxes I was paying didn’t put more cops and firefighters on the streets. My kids education didn’t get any better because those new taxes didn’t go into the classroom, reducing class size and giving my kids more attention.
So where did all that new money I was paying go?
According to news stories, it went to pay for the benefits of public employees who were already retired.
How come you didn’t tell me that was going to happen?
And you know, after thinking about it, I realized something…
You lied to me… again.
Slowly it dawned on me you were manipulating my emotions with your lies and distortions. You were making me envious of others who had more than me and you said if they just paid a little bit more everything in my life would get better. I realize now it was the same old, destructive class warfare argument that never makes anything better.
You were just using me, plain and simple.
Now, I’m really hurt and I don’t trust anything you say to me anymore. You see, I really wanted to believe you loved me and had my best interests at heart. You knew I was vulnerable and yet you took advantage of me.
What kind of a person does that?
A deceitful, manipulating and devious person, that’s who.
Yeah, it took me a while to figure out that you were just diverting my attention from your lazy, incompetent and complicit behavior. You never fix any of the underlying problems why government costs are exploding way beyond my ability to pay for it and maintain my lifestyle, let alone buy a home and live the American dream.
You never told me that state government in Idaho spends 59% less per person that Oregon does, Washington 40% less and California 39% less.
You just expected me to be too distracted with life, social media and your manipulation of my emotions to ask what am I getting for all this extra money I’m paying that is supposedly making my life so much better than somebody like me in those states where they spend less.
You just expect that I’ll keep falling for your lies and keep you in my life so you can keep using me.
Well, I’ve figured it out now because I’m not stupid like you think I am.
I’m warning you…
If you don’t change your ways and start being honest with me, I’m gone.
