Higher taxation coming to Illinois in the name of benevolence

OK, let me get this straight. Tax and spend politicians love to hype the mantra of government aid to those who can't help themselves, or any number of pet projects. That hue and cry is especially loud now with the state of the economy. Most every household is concerned about the economy and the reduction of cash flow. Thousands of people are losing their jobs each day across this nation. People are spending less money and this nation's consumer driven economy is reeling. Everyone can agree that the average citizen is highly concerned with their individual money flow.


And it's rather common knowledge that most states are concerned about the lack of money in their coffers and the prospect of less money in the coming year due to less income and purchases. Look at California with nearly a $40 billion deficit. My beloved North Carolina is facing a nearly $3 billion shortfall and here in Illinois the state is facing a $9 billion deficit.

So, we have to truisms - the people are hurting financially and the state is hurting financially.

But here is where things get so stupid that only tax and spend types seem to understand. The state is hurting financially, so in order to pay for existing programs )and usually new programs) the solution is to tax the people who are hurting financially. So, take money from people who don't have money, only to return a tiny portion of that money in some kind of service.

Sounds crazy, but that's exactly what Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, is proposing. In an interview with the Daily Herald, Cullen said everything from a 16-cent gas tax hike to taxes on Internet purchases and an income tax increase is on the table. Count on that gasoline tax hike being passed. Illinois currently has one of the highest gasoline taxes in the nation, and it's going to get higher - especially since gasoline is down to around $2 a gallon. The Democrat controlled legislature is counting on the people to just accept the tax hike on gasoline since it's more affordable now. He even said so to the Daily Herald:

"After it is imposed, I bet people are not even going to know," Cullerton said of the fluctuation in gas prices.

Sadly, he's probably right. People will roll over and take the tax increase without so much as a whimper. It's up to the people to rise up and prove this arrogant tax and spend politician wrong. Rise up and vote these tax and spend villains out of office.

Government can provide excellent services, but that doesn't mean it should financially rape its ever increasingly poorer citizens to pay for these services. It only increases the numbers of people who will become increasingly dependent on the government.