Vote yes on 3

Question 3 on Tuesday's ballot asks voters if they want to reduce the state sales tax from 6.25% to 3%. There are ads all over TV saying the sky will fall and children will be reduced to eating sawdust for lunch. But the reality is, the state has plenty of money, they just choose to spend it on hacks and pensions.

Margery Eagan of the Herald agrees:

I’m voting for Question 3 because I’m tired of bleeding-heart do-gooders begging for legitimate programs but lacking the courage to say why their programs are always threatened. It’s to scare people. It’s also because funding Beacon Hill, friends of Beacon Hill, and certain wired unions matters more to Beacon Hill than any program. Otherwise, when times get tough, legislators would not take a 5 percent pay raise (they did) or keep their outrageous per diems (gas money to drive to work).

It’s small change but a huge symbol. It says it all, actually.

The reason we’re broke has to do with government patronage, pensions, health care and early retirement. The lucky ones make it to 80, even 90. And in between they go back to work at second or third government jobs and collect still another government salary on top of the pension they’re already collecting.

Our fearless leaders tell us voting yes on Question 3 is totally irresponsible. OK. They want responsibility from voters? Let them show some first.