When people like State Sens. Avel Gordly and Max Williams start teaming up, look out. And they're both now officially pushing a sales tax.

Meanwhile, another camp offers a "business tax" -- a flat-rate tax imposed on the gross receipts of all businesses. But since businesses pass that tax on to consumers, it's just a hidden sales tax. And for better or worse, it may manage to tax internet sales and out-of-state sales of some Oregon companies in a clever way.

More importantly, sales taxes (up-front or hidden) are regressive. They shift the tax burden from the wealthy to the poor. Proponents always say there'll be exceptions for the "essentials of life," but then the list of "essentials" winds up not to include things like underwear, toothbrushes, school supplies, and toilet paper.

The Trojan horse is now at the gates. By manufacturing a schools crisis, right-wingers have got even the soccer moms crying out to let it in.

You'll be sorry.