Voters have a lot to say

Re “Governor sees a voter mandate for his plan to slash billions,” May 21

I do support raising taxes on the highest-earning 5% of Californians. I do support raising funds from large corporations that remove oil and other resources from our land.

If the ballot measure had been worded like this: “Would you be willing to pay an extra $5 a year in taxes if it went directly into the classroom?” I would have voted yes.

If the ballot measure had been worded: “Would you be willing to pay an extra $5 a year in taxes if it went directly to housing for the homeless?” I would have voted yes. If the ballot measure had been worded: “Would you be willing to pay an extra $5 a year in taxes if it went directly to public healthcare?” I would have voted yes.

And I would have voted yes if the ballot measures had specified that extra taxes would not come from low- or middle-income families.

Christine Offutt

Los Angeles

There was no room on the ballot for comments.

I did not vote to slash billions. I voted against the no-tax suicide bombers who would rather blow up the state and themselves than increase taxes by a penny.

Abolish the two-thirds rule and Proposition 13.

Susan Addington

San Bernardino

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We were not given the option to vote on generating revenue that, with a little imagination and innovation, can be something other than raising taxes.

Clearly, Californians have shown by our ballots that we are not willing to balance the budget by sticking it to people who are sick and vulnerable, and to kids who need our nurturing and protection.

We do need to make “difficult, painful choices,” but there are healthy and wealthy among us who can better absorb that pain.

Kathleen Burnside

La Habra

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Let me make it clear: This voter is in favor of raising taxes to meet the needs of the state.

What I am opposed to is a state government that will not do what is necessary to restore this state to solvency.

We have tried the easy path of lower taxes and excessive borrowing to burrow our way out of trouble.

Now is the time to accept that we need to increase revenues to pay for the services that we expect.

Bob Zwissler

Manhattan Beach

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On the same day a special election was held to back their ideas, the governor and several legislators went to Washington for a “photo opportunity” and talks with lawmakers.

What is the betting that the cost to the taxpayers for this trip was more than the yearly pay of a teacher?

Peter Knight

Saratoga, Calif.

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If the yacht tax were reinstated, probably three teachers could be rehired for every 10 yachts docked in California, and my daughter could get her job back.

If taxes on the upper 1% of Californians were restored to their levels under Gov. Ronald Reagan, we might, possibly, act like a society and admit that starving the schools damages everyone, rather than maneuvering like teenagers trying to get someone else to pay for gas and repairs.

Karen Greenbaum-Maya

Claremont

I was a child during the New Deal and never thought I would turn as cynical about those who govern as I am today.

To our governor: I vetoed your propositions because of your backroom deals, allowing corporations to evade a fair share of state taxation, and because of your whacking away at social measures designed to strengthen all of society rather than just the upper echelon.

Lynne Shapiro

Marina del Rey