Sales consultant and former startup founder Ron Davis argues that despite popular misconceptions about Washington state taxes, they are not causing serious damage to the commercial sphere. He argues that the state's taxes are relatively low, haven't exploded skyward, and that they are lower than other deep blue states and nine red states. He also notes that Washington's taxes disproportionately coddle the rich, while stiffing working families. Currently, the top 1% of Washington earners pay 4% of their income in state and local taxes, less than either Texas or Idaho, and nearly twice as much as the national average of 7.2%. The only countries with lower taxes in the OECD are Costa Rica, Turkey, Colombia, Chile and Mexico. Despite claims about the growth in Washington’s budget, the author concludes that the tax burden is a myth. Tax costs for government services increase faster than inflation due to cost disease.