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Aging baby boomers are retiring in bunches in every state and in every country. The protests in Greece, France and the United States are evidence that the social welfare experiments are unsustainable. Societies simply can鈥檛 afford to pile up debt for inflated benefits for the masses.

Voters in France and Greece have rejected austerity and elected to give power to Socialists. As a result, tax hikes will be levied and people will hope for a no-pain solution to their economic woes.

French President Francois Hollande wants to raise the country鈥檚 top tax rate to 75 percent; presently, it鈥檚 45 percent. France also has a wealth tax of 0.5 percent and a value added tax of 21.2 percent. In all of Europe, only Germany has resisted bailouts and pushed spending cuts.

You may be wondering what this has to do with l businesses in Oregon or Southwest Washington. Surely, our tax system is not nearly so punitive.

But Oregonians, including small businesses, are increasingly being taxed. The state has raised fees on everything from vehicles to fishing licenses. The fuel tax, for example, went up by 25 percent just two years ago.

Most Oregonians have not protested loudly enough over the many fee increases and the effects of Measures 66 and 67. These fee increases are spread over a wide range of services that are not necessarily paid together, so it鈥檚 akin to 鈥渄eath by a thousand cuts.鈥� Some citizens have voted with their feet and moved their primary residence and office addresses to more tax-friendly states.

On May 6, the Associated Press reported findings from the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, a group that lobbies on behalf of small companies in regard to tax-related issues and others. It ranked U.S. states and the District of Columbia, according to how individuals and companies are taxed.

The study (www.dailyherald.com/article/20120506/business/705069957/) compared state taxes on income, capital gains, property, sales, gas and Internet access. Estate taxes also were considered. While Arizona, Michigan and others were easing their state taxes, Oregon was cited for raising taxes on small businesses in a time of financial stress.

On May 5, 80 activists representing labor and community groups met in Portland to discuss the region鈥檚 budget crisis and to fight austerity measures. Portland, just like governments all over Europe, has embraced austerity programs. The attendees, some of whom were victims of the budget cuts, claimed that cuts alone wouldn鈥檛 solve the shortfall dilemma.

Many options were discussed, including a statewide ballot measure to 鈥渢ax the rich to fund education and social services.鈥� But what about the obvious solution: growing small businesses?

Doing so would result in more jobs 鈥� and more taxable revenue. The increased revenues from small businesses would stem further cuts in public services, education, health care, housing, transportation, jobs and safety net services. It seems like a rational solution to governmental budget needs.

The May ballots were filled with new property tax measures with local governments hoping to patch some of their holes. And Multnomah County leaders plan to ask voters in November to approve a permanent tax rate increase to stabilize funding for a new library district.

Oregon is not expected to have full job recovery until 2014. Revenues from personal income tax collections are expected to be moderate, but strong enough to offset the losses from corporate income tax revenues and flat lottery transfers. Growth in small businesses could be the key to boosting the Oregon economy.

Judith McGee is the chairwoman and CEO of McGee Wealth Management Inc., an independent registered investment adviser. She is a co-branch manager of, and offers securities through, Raymond James Financial Services Inc. in Portland. Contact her at 503-597-2222 or [email protected]. Views expressed are not necessarily those of Raymond James.