You are exactly correct, many states and cities are lying to their people to cover up their misapproriation of money for their pensions, because if the true scale of it was known they would revolt and throw them out. Oregon has been doing it for a long time, and makes up a story each time, and the peasents buy it. The "tobacco tax" craze of the early 200's was one example, where they raise the taxes 25 cents, 50 cents in increments until they got 3.00 or more a pack, it is now about 6.00 a pack in Oregon, and about 9.00 a pack in New York. That money was said to go "for smoking cessation programs" (all of 100K of 20 million) for 1 year,. The tax is still in place for the general fund, and pays for their shortfall in PERS. Long enough for an election cycle, where they let the Republicans say "We need to fix PERS" (which everyone knows) and then the Dumbocrat howl "They will gut your pensions" and get elected. It is lies, misappropriation, theft and manipulation of the highest order, anyone would go to jail, except politicians. This tax is no different, little will go to the homeless and the rest will "disappear". I posted another article where the useless deputy in Florida retired on 8800 a month, courtesy of the people, after 32 years of what? Military people face a lot more danger in their careers than a Florida deputy, and get 20% of that. Lies, lies and more lies.

I vaguely remember NYC proposed or passed? a "head tax" on employers or employees because they claimed so many worked in the city and used the city's services, but weren't taxed for them because they lived elsewhere and commuted in and out. Any Gulchers remember or care to comment? how did that work out?

Let's call it what it is: Cancer.
Much like cancer, the homeless are "living beings" as are the productive employees and residents of Seattle. However the homeless produce nothing -- and since they are subsidized, their ranks will only increase.

One of my friends hosted a lunch from the top floor of his Seattle apartment complex -- a beautiful view of the City was enjoyed. He pointed out a few of the city blocks that had been purchased by Amazon ... as well as the towers that were under development. As has been pointed out already -- the Tax on Amazon will be passed down to the consumers as well as a reduction in the growth of the company's vibrant work force.

I have a few friends in Seattle -- their property values have gone up a great deal over the past few years. I do hope that they sell and take the profits before the eclipsing of the high-water-mark in home prices. In everything there are cycles -- Seattle will be no different.

I recall the "sugar tax" in Washington and how my neighbor made the statement "The State really needs that money." I had no comeback ... as Rand would say, I don't speak that language. However, in retrospect, what she was really saying is that:
1. Her 24 karat gold State Teacher's Pension needs that money.
2. Her husband on SSDI needs that money.
3. Her unemployed son on "Obamacare" needs that money.

Indeed... Cancer has needs... and keeps on exacting those needs... until the host is dead.

Ha! Me dino can freaking believe that!
Bet there's plenty of college graduates who can't tell you who the Washington Monument is named after despite the king-sized hint that comes with such a question.
That I base on having seen Watter's World and Man On The Street interviews.

Here's a video of some comments from a business owner in Seattle affected by the changes. And I'll bet he's not your typical right-winger...

https://www.theblaze.com/news/2018/05...

Right. When they take the money from other people who earned it, they get to decide how that money Is redistributed and they get the benefits of being praised for being so generous.

Which "charity" taxes are just redirects of public funds to lobbyists and insiders. Obama's terms were full of this in Solyndra and other solar companies as well as a host of other boondoggles.

I was in Seattle recently, really looked like a shithole compared to the last time, about 5 years ago.

Union groups, in Seattle, were already suing Amazon for halting construction on a planned expansion, until the vote came out on the "Head Tax".
So far as making laws against businesses fleeing a failing economy...that was Venezuela, about a year ago, I believe.

Exactly the scenario in AS. I remember the last couple of pages, where all the lights went out (including in the President's Oval Office) because there was nobody left to put out the fires.

I wonder if there are any "progressives" out there who like Sam Adams beer? (without knowing what Samuel Adams stood for?) :-)

In true free-market capitalism, sure, the socialists collapse as their stupid ideas and policies kill the Golden Goose. I would love to see that happen to Seattle (I live in Washington, but 220 miles east of there). I would REALLY love to see that happen to Moonbeam and his communist state of Kalifornia. My biggest fear is that as collapse becomes imminent (and unavoidable), someone will proclaim Seattle (or Kalifornia) "too big to fail" and will give them all the bailout money they need, no matter how many thousands of billions that may be. We don't have that much money? No problem! Spend it anyway! (Its called "deficit spending!") - And, as just interest on the national Debt exceeds total tax revenue (the "point of no return"), the credit rating of the US gets demoted again (from its already demoted "AA" rating), which causes increases in the interest rates charged for further borrowing, and we get hyperinflation, etc., etc. (Just like Germany in the 1920s.)

I think it was also Seattle that put in an ammunition tax - a penny per cartridge or something like that. It wouldn't be too onerous if you're buying a box of 20 centerfire cartridges for deer hunting, but what about a box of 500 (also known as a "brick") of .22 rimfire? That would be another $5.00 tax on something that is already too high (about 50% higher than 10 years ago). The solution? Buy your ammo outside city limits! The only people that hurt were the unfortunate "mom-and-pop" sporting goods stores that happened to be within city limits (assuming any remaining in Seattle).

It is a vicious socialist cycle. As these “charity” taxes go up and up, people can’t afford to give as much to real charities. Leftists will use this to justify increasing their “charity” taxes.

Problem is that neither Amazon nor Starbucks have the philosophical wisdom to realize the ship of WA state is sinking. They would have to resort to (evil) "selfishness."

The Blaze had a great segment on this just this morning, with their featured speaker being a guy who ran a family-owned movie theatre (third generation). They employed a lot of teenagers and such and donated a lot to a nearby homeless shelter - one which operated 50x more efficiently than Seattle's proposal and housed 4x as many beds.

Pretty soon Seattle itself will turn itself into an urban desert because of their Progressivism. I will watch in eager anticipation and hope it comes sooner rather than later so others can watch the demise and hopefully learn from it.

I was thinking the same thing - at $275 a year, actually, it's about competitive with the annual lease cost of the square footage to "house" the employee - figure around $30.00 / square foot / year, and maybe 10 square feet for a cubicle, so you are very quickly near that tax cost. it wouldn't take much to make the numbers look favorable to just move them. If I was the mayor of Issaquah or Renton, I would be courting every developer in town to get some large office space planned.

I hope Amazon and Starbucks wise-up and just pack up & leave - I'm sure some Seattle suburb would be happy to have them.

Seattle is already in "shock" because their "sugary beverage tax" led to MUCH LOWER sales tax revenue. It's simple, compared to something like $4-$5 for a glass of soda, tea, beer, etc., in a restaurant, the patrons are just choosing water instead. That deflates the meal check, dramatically, and it's going to lead to a large loss of entry-level jobs because that enormous margin on beverages is pretty much the "profit" in a meal for a fast food or lower-priced restaurant. They are not making anything on a $1.00 cheeseburger at McDonalds, they make the profit on the $1.00 for a large soda that costs 2-4 cents each.

That will happen next to protect the ability of the city to tax the corporation. Of course they could move all but one to another location!

I agree, but they have lost their way. Power corrupts.

A true Social Justice Warrior trying to stop Jedi privilege by any means necessary.

Is this any surprise? The looters go after the most $$ per lost vote. That means tax fewer people (or corps) who HAVE money and cant easily leave, and cant exert political influence . Its SICK. Makes one want to be very fluid in investments and never invest in long term things like real estate or businesses that cant easily be sold. Eventually thee will be no more people to loot and the system collapses (check out Venezuela to see how tht works in practice)

Or, you can flee, but the tax will follow you.

The left coast, showing its hatred or envy of business. The fools are destroying their very lifeblood in consideration of persons who contribute nothing. To the contrary, as one can see, they cost the city.What more is there to say?It is like trying to cure a person who thinks taking arsenic is good for you.