Illinois 2018

I am not a resident of Illinois, but, having been born there, still have an interest in the state. My entire lifetime has witnessed the dominance of politics in that state by Chicago and Cook County. Over the past couple of decades, the influence of Democratic Congressmen have resulted in an incredible tax burden upon it's citizens. Residents of that great state need to sit up and take notice of what has been going on in the State House under Mike Madigan's "leadership".

Now, almost nightly, ads appear on St. Louis local television promoting the candidacy of J. B. Pritzker for the Democratic nomination for Illinois Governor. J. B. has big plans and big promises, the same ones espoused by the left-wing for many years. The promises appeal to the ears of the public: equal wages, government-provided health care, free college tuition, etc., etc., etc. Of course, to bring all of these promises to fruition, more money is required. And exactly where is that money going to come from, Illinois resident? You, yes, you.

Now J. B. says he has a way to pay for all of his promises and I quote:

“You’ve got to ask yourself this question: How are we going to pay for the things that we really want?” Pritzker told reporters at Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church. “And if you ask me, we’ve got to start by saying, before we ever get to raising taxes on the middle class, we’ve got to ask millionaires and billionaires, people who can afford to pay it, and that includes corporations, to step up to the plate.”

In other words, by raising taxes. This is the same mantra that has placed the state (as well as the country) in such a hole. If I lived in Illinois, I would never qualify as a millionaire. But, how long will it be until J. B. needs more money than he's getting from the so-called upper class for his programs? How long before some of those upper class individuals take their money to other states? Come on, J. B., more taxes is NOT the solution.

Illiniois needs to cut their taxes as does every state as well as the Federal government. It is not the government's responsibility to fully provide for the needs of their citizens. As our Federal Constitution reads, the government is "to provide for the common defense, promote (note: "promote", not "provide") the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty".

In fact, I want J. B. or any politician to explain to me why one citizen should pay a higher percentage of their income than another? The government provides for the common defense of all citizens equally. No millionaire is given extra protection through their extra taxes. No millionaire has more votes than other citizens. The government, effectively, does nothing extra for those who pay a higher percentage of their income. The reason government taxes them at a higher percentage is because they have MORE MONEY than others. J. B. says we must "ask" such people to pay more. No, what he means is the government must DEMAND they pay more.

I have no issue with an American citizen contributing to our government more than their required share. But I disagree that any American should be COMPELLED to pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes than other Americans.

Hey J.B. (and others like you), why not pass a flat tax rate for all citizens? Even better, why not eliminate income taxes all together?

No, I am not an Illinois citizen, so how you run your state is up to you. But I must confess I believe you are either naïve or foolish to believe any politician who promises to give you "the moon" simply by increasing the taxes on the wealthy. If they want more money from their people, they really are not for their people.

That's my opinion.