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The other day I received in the mail “The official Massachusetts Information For Voters” This is the pamphlet containing all the information concerning the 2008 ballot questions for the Commonwealth. It has the full text of the act and an in favor and against written arguments.

This year there are only 3 ballot questions.

The 1st Ballot question is of the most importance. A yes vote will eliminate Massachusetts personal income tax. This is a sure no vote for me. The elimination of the tax will hit already hurting communities and programs designed to help working poor. The pro eliminators, a grassroots libertarian group, believe it will help working middle class families. I don’t believe this to be true. Regardless of what they say in their argument, revenue will need to be generated somewhere. States have been increasingly getting less money from the federal government. State programs for the working poor and other people in need will be the 1st things to be slashed and maybe not the 1st year or so without state income tax, but sometime soon after taxes in other areas will rise or new taxes will be made. Let’s be serious with the economy as it is the need for social services will rise to take the chance to have these programs budgets drastically reduced is not a gamble the citizens of Massachusetts should take.

Interestingly, under the arguments section a disclaimer reads: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts does not endorse these arguements, and does not certify the truth or accuracy of any statement made in these arguments…. Government looking after its people? or too busy to tell the facts?

The 2nd question concerns the decriminaliztion of marijuanna possesion in cases of 1 ounce or less. It would make such possession a civil penalty of a fine.

The 3rd question involves the banning of Dog racing, which seems to be a reoccurring ballot question (I personally despise dog racing or any foul use of animals, but that is a future post).

I have lived in Easthampton, Ma around 5 years. It’s an old industrial town that has been left to flounder on its own for a while.

Once upon a time there were a lot of buttons made here. There have been some improvements the last few years and some old factories have been reborn as condo’s and art spaces. Every once in a while a new business will sprout up along the narrow strip of downtown.

Easthampton is still a working class town made up of an aging Polish-American population. Lately, there has been an influx of affluent young couples buying houses, which are less costly than neighboring Northampton.

Sadly with a swelling of citizens comes interested businesses. Stop and Shop supermarket chain has high hopes to build a store in Easthampton. All that is left for Stop and Shop to build is an ok by the planning board, which is holding a meeting on September 23. If built, the tax money generated will be good for the town, which has had trouble funding the school system of late.

Unfortunetly it will be in with Stop and Shop and out with the Tasty Top, a tradition in town. Also closing will be the Easthampton Driving range located behind the soft serve ice cream shop.

This isn’t the first time these businesses have been rumored to close. Signs on the Tasty Top still say they will be back next season, but this time feels different.

The tasty top is a shack, the building is nothing special. However eating their ice cream while admiring the view is. The view from the Tasty Top is beautiful; Mt. Tom, Easthampton’s Atlas framed against the sky.

There are already 4 grocery stores in a 5 mile radius of my apartment. It is already too much. A 5th store is unnecessary, but a probable conclusion. Another factor in this situation is the Big E’s grocery store just a half mile from the proposed Stop and Shop. It is the only Big E’s in existence. Another local business perhaps with it’s own eminent fate awaiting.

I had a sundae the day before the Tasty Top closed. Vanilla ice cream drowning in butterscotch with a dollop of whipped cream. Halfway through the gooey delight, it made me sick to my stomach just as it always does. And just like always I finished it smiling as my plastic spoon stood upright, unflinching in the coating of butterscotch at the bottom of the Styrofoam bowl like a flag pole in cement.  I wiped my sticky face and gave one last look at the mountain without an obstructed view.