Are we are not our brothers' keepers?

The budget debates in Springfield expose the horrible condition of our state's finances that defies all reason and rationality.

The preamble of our state constitution holds state government responsible for, among other things, to "provide for the health, safety and welfare of the people," to "eliminate poverty and inequality," and to "maintain orderly government, and assure legal, social and economic justice."

One can say that this is similar to the Biblical "brother's keeper" concept which emphasizes a sense of community vs. individualism. Instead, we have a philosophy of government obsessed with no tax increases and smaller government regardless of the effect upon people.

As a result, Illinois ranks 45th nationally in state and local tax burden; ranks 42nd in level of state expenditures; ranks 49th in the portion of education funding paid by the state. To top it off, the current tax system is one of the most regressive nationally with the very wealthy paying 4.6 percent of their income in state and local taxes, where the very poor pay almost 13 percent.

The governor has said he will veto any tax increase bill, and proposed a balanced budget that makes draconian cuts in education, health care, payments to health care providers of the aged and disabled, and many other services to the disadvantaged.

To correct the problems of revenue and school funding, and to provide adequate services for the needy, Senate Bill 2288 has been introduced. It provides for lowering property taxes and funding schools through the income tax, which will be increased, and will enable the legislature to meet the challenges of the constitution's preamble.

If we feel that we are our brother's keeper and believe that we are to help the "least of these" among us, we should demand that our representatives act accordingly.

Darwin Cooper

St. Charles