Trending
Raising marginal tax rates to 16 percent for incomes over $200,000 for Hawaii residents amounts to a confiscatory tax on success.
Yet Hawaii state senators with one exception voted to do just that. So, a goal of Hawaii is to encourage young physicians to move back to the state, bring entrepreneurs to the state and encourage small businesses.
Well, with policies like the highest marginal tax rate in the country applying to hard-working Hawaiians, not just billionaires or millionaires, the idea of attracting young people to Hawaii becomes a pipe dream.
Also, it destroys the desire to work hard, sacrifice and take risks all in the hopes of succeeding in a career of choice.
Paying a fair share is one thing, paying the highest rates in the country is entirely self-defeating for Hawaii to grow and prosper.
Kurt Wollenhaupt
Wailuku