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Excerpts of Letters of Pennsylvania Governor Ridge
Here are excerpts from a few of the many letters from people from other countries and other states who have written to Governor Ridge, sounding out the alarm against Senate Bill 2 and informing him of their great interest in having Pennsylvania continue to be their guiding light in leading the way with the truly significant progress being made in the earthsharing approach to local community finance:
Dear Governor Ridge,
"I am an English Quaker and live a short distance from William Penn's burial place and have long looked to Pennsylvania as an examplar corner of the globe when it comes to financing local and government projects and have learned with dismay of the proposal to decrease revenue from property tax and introduce taxes on income and sales.... Your proposals (SB 2) will inevitably result in increased speculation in land, marginalise lower income groups and entrench their poverty. By comparison with the negative effects of income and sales taxes, the application of the principle of funding public expenditure by collecting land rents is positive, efficient and just."- Gordon Rudlin, Witney, England
"Such a change (from property to sales and income taxes) will increase the cost of land due to speculation resulting in
- people being unable to run a business after meeting property costs
- people in business will need to increase sales of goods or services to meet property costs
- people will need to save longer for deposits on homes
- increased bookwork for business and the general population
- tax avoidance and evasion which is impossible with a land value tax. Please look at sales and income taxes for what they are- inequitable."
- Russel H. Jones, Eden Hills, Australia
"As an interested spectator of the progress in the economy of the state of Pennsylvania and in particular of the achievements of the 15 cities that over the years have decided to adopt the two-rate system for their municipal taxes, I am disturbed by the recent news that there is now a move against this program... Here in Israel there is so much work being done to promote peace and provide security that little energy remains for more domestic problems...Instead of the light shining from Jerusalem it seems that we are too occupied in stopping up the cracks. So it is up to some of our friends to show us the way. May the State of Pennsylvania continue to illuminate and shed light on what otherwise appears to be a darkening world, by the support that it has previously given to causes such as this, with the aim of economic justice and greater prosperity."
- David H. Chester, Israel
"I was greatly disappointed to learn recently that moves are afoot in Pennsylvania, in the shape of proposal SB 2, to give local authorities the power to decrease revenue from the property tax and to bring in sales and income taxes. There is a good deal of empirical evidence to suggest that those communities which have in recent years lowered, or better still abolished, the building element of the property tax while raising the land element, have experienced significant economic benefits. I would therefore urge you, Sir, to intervene in this matter on behalf of the great majority of Pennsylvania citizens who would be disadvantaged by the enactment of SB 2."- George Morton, Germany
"I write you as a researcher and teacher in land policy and land use matters, and because I have been told that in your state plans have been made to shift taxation from property taxes more into sales and income taxes. I see such a change as going into wrong and harmful direction which diminishes the well-being of most citizens and local communities."- Pekka V. Virtanen, Helsinki University of Technology, Finland
"Recent press reports indicate that the Pennsylvania State Senate is considering adopting a proposal (SB 2) that would decrease revenue from property tax and introduce new sales and income taxes.... The effect of such moves would be to increase the tax burden on young families and the less well off... The Scottish Ogilvie Society campaigns for the development of social and political economic systems which bring justice to society. The proposals now before you will not have this effect. We trust that on behalf of the citizens of Pennsylvania you will intervene and thoroughly examine these proposals, and then reject them as misguided or iniquitous."- Peter Robertson Gibb, Scotland
"For some years now a number of cities in Pennsylvania have been able to effect a property tax, providing the opportunity to raise revenue from land values. Such a tax hurts none who contribute their labour, nor does it inhibit those who employ labour because a tax on the rent of land cannot be passed on in raised prices, enhances profits, is therefore job-creative and non-inflationary. America was founded on the relinquishment of punitive taxation. Do not let Pennsylvania put the clock back, but let the "Liberty State" remain a beacon to those who hope for more enlightened policies from their governments."- Anthony R. Currington, London, United Kingdom
"Recently I received the sad news that the state of Pennsylvania might rejoin the other backward states after being our illustrious leader into the economic future. You were giving all of us hope... now you are toying with returning your state to the past to be like us in Missouri. What a shame...We certainly hope you retain your leadership status by not only keeping the gains you have made in the past but accelerating the move to the site (land value tax) method in the future.- Donald J. Killoren, St. Louis, Missouri
"Pennsylvania is known in many quarters of the world as one of the few places that has sought to tip its fiscal system towards equity.... I do very much hope you will ask your colleagues ...to raise the hopes of all of us who are watching what happens in Pennsylvania."- Nicholas Dennys, UK
http://www.earthrights.net/archives/pftc/ridge.html