I remembr hearing about Kansas and their taxes. Back then, I watched more of the liberal shows. Sometimes very liberal. My impression was that Kansas was pretty far right, but I knew that already. To some exent, my home state of Wisconsin was also pretty far right (think education). It was also interesting that we had the chance to live in boh Oregon or Kansas in the same year. Both of these states are in the middle of a social experiement, and both will likely fail, but I guess I can admire Kansans for making an effort.
The reason I know Kansas will fail is because of my neighbor. I call him Farmer Jim. Actually, I'm not positive what his name is, and he's not really a farmer, though he does wear overalls. Anyhow, Farmer Jim says it's gone too far. He told me he's always been a Republican (and I believe he has), but he said the experiment is failing, and he's trying to raise awareness.
Granted, he's a retired gentleman who is more than likely losing benefits (entitlements, according to his party). Of course, he's retired Navy, so some in the party might agree he deserves them. So Farmer Jim says Kansas needs more moderates. And he gave me one piece of evidence that would certainly make up my mind if it's true.
Not that I plan on voting this year in Kansas. I kind of want to see where I stand. But if Farmer Jim was right, I won't have to vote to end the Kansas Experiement, since Kansans from all over will take care of that.
Now, I'd already heard the sales tax vs income tax arguments, with people saying a high sales tax is unfair because it taxes the poor and the rich at the same rate, based on necessitiies. Farmer Jim might be OK with that part of the law, and it obviously passed in KS.
But it's the lack of a corporate tax that bothers Jim, and it's for a specific reason that can't even help me avoid taxes here: Jim told me that when Kansas went to no corporate tax, most doctors and lawyers went and incorporated themselves. The reason I can't benefit is that I will be a sole proprietor, not a corporation. That's something that takes wealth to do, which is why wealthy doctors and lawyers can afford to incorporate and then skip out on paying their fair share to help the rest of us.
But they buy stuff. Lots and lots of expensive stuff that needs installers, mechanics, and salesmen. And all that money ends up in the hands of hard-working Americans who want to work rather than get government entitlements. Like Jim, who was in the Navy and now limps. He probably thinks he's entitled to his country or state helping to take care of him.
It's the typical pay-to-play political scenario, but it's been made transparent for all conservatives to see, and some, like Farmer Jim, don't like what they see. Of course, I'm new to Kansas, so this could be all wrong. Maybe all the doctors and lawyers did not incorporate, and it's just negative spin. The point is that lifelong Republicans are starting to believe it, which makes it true in Kansas.
So I have to agree with Farmer Jim that this is going to be an interesting year for politics in Kansas. Moderate conservatives have a chance to win because of policies many would say need to be reeled back in a bit. The bigger question is whether Donald Trump would also close similar loopholes in the federal government. Some say he can and will. Others disagree. It certainly would be an experiement in its own right. Sometimes these experiements fail, but I'm no scientist or pastor, so I cannot hypothesize whether or not Trump is the Apocalypse.