Gina’s Quantum Position on Raising Taxes; Or, “Dual Nature” Doesn’t Just Describe Matter and Light

On Thursday, Gina Raimondo, democrat candidate for governor, held a press conference during which she accepted the endorsement of Planned Parenthood and expressed a desire to lift the ban in Rhode Island law on partial birth abortion. (Yes, to confirm, contrary to what she lied … er, broadly implied at the press conference, Allan Fung does not wish to change the parameters of Rhode Island’s abortion law, she does.)

This has created some controversy, as well it should, especially on the radio and social media.

On his radio show this morning on WPRO, John Loughlin took a bigger picture perspective to make the case that one of the mistakes candidate Raimondo made at her press conference Thursday was the strategic one of getting off message.

That’s probably true. But there are a couple of additional factors that come into play. Firstly, the General Treasurer is probably pleased to get her candidacy any kind of publicity, even if it doesn’t adhere to her campaign script. (Tomorrow’s episode: “Will She Take Communion???”, co-starring a vociferous cast of advocates, some in the ranks of the press, standing by to canonize her if the Catholic Church moves to bar her from communion.)

More importantly, she would probably prefer to divert attention from some notable weaknesses in her messaging – a big one being the conflicting statements that she has made about whether she would raise taxes on a state heavily burdened by tax rates already among the highest in the nation.

We are, regrettably, obliged to turn to quantum mechanics to describe her stance in this matter.

A fundamental tenet of the complex theory of quantum mechanics holds that both matter and light have a dual nature; sometimes acting like a wave, sometimes like a particle, depending in part upon how it is observed.

So, too, does the General Treasurer have a dual nature on the matter of higher taxes. She has stated repeatedly that the state can neither tax nor cut its way out of its economic mess. (Side bar: Really? You’re going on record that cuts are out of the question for the $400+ million structural deficit headed our way in four years?) Yet, when asked recently if she would raise taxes by overturning the 2011 income tax reform, she answered with arguably the biggest waffle of the 2014 election season:

This is too important for yes or no answers

What? First of all, the necessity for a yes or no answer rises proportionally with the importance of the question. So why an oxymoron rather than an answer? Secondly, what made this response all the more offensively absurd was that she delivered it in a low, grave tone, as though she were actually answering the question, and in a thoughtful and profound manner, as opposed to yanking everyone’s chain.

She says we cannot tax our way out of this mess. But she refuses to rule out raising taxes. Where does she truly stand on this matter?

It is fine for matter and light to have dual natures. It is, however, a quality entirely unwelcome in a candidate for public office, especially when it pertains to a matter as important as taxation.

[Monique is editor of the RI Taxpayer Times newsletter and spokesperson for R.I. Taxpayers. Her views do not necessarily reflect those of the organization.]

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in The Ocean State Current, including text, graphics, images, and information are solely those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect the views and opinions of The Current, the RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity, or its members or staff. The Current cannot be held responsible for information posted or provided by third-party sources. Readers are encouraged to fact check any information on this web site with other sources.

YOUR CART
  • No products in the cart.
0