Michiganders favor higher taxes on everyone but themselves

Michigan citizens are in favor of raising taxes.

Did you just spill your coffee?

Don't worry.  That's only if the higher taxes are paid by somebody else.

A survey done for the Michigan Economic Center discovered that 83 percent of you favor restoring the so-called Polluter Pay tax that pro-polluter legislators eliminated years ago -- 15 percent opposed it.

If someone else smokes, drinks, or gambles their social security check away in a smoke-filled casino, 65 percent of you favor taxing those folks. Obviously all the no smokers, drinkers and gamblers make up that figure.

How about taxing all those industries that suck the water from our aquifer, bottle it and make a tidy profit or other companies that "extract resources" from state lands?  65 percent say tax them, too.

You getting the picture here?

It's the "don't tax me, but tax that guy behind the tree" syndrome all over again.

Well then how do folks feel when asked about a sales tax on services?    On this one the margin of support is not nearly as high because everybody gets their hair cut, or pays for other personal services.

In fact it is right down the middle 49 percent favor; 47 percent oppose.

And finally this next one would seem to go against the notion that taxes are OK but only for the other guy; 63 percent favor a graduated income tax.

If you earn more, you pay more.

But when you think about it, this one fits the theme, too.

Very few folks around here are rich, so what's wrong with socking it to those who earn more?  Answer: Nothing.

And finally, and this seals the deal, asked if they would support a local tax imposed by their local government to repair roads or improve services, 63 percent said get out of here.  Only 31 percent of those favored such a notion and they were probably the local officials hoping to pass that tax.

These findings are Pure Michigan: We want Cadillac services but want somebody else to foot the bill.