Who's really cause of increased taxes?

It amazes me how gullible people are when it comes to listening to the Republican mantra that Democrats will increase your taxes.

Here are some real world observations.

As the federal government reduces incomes taxes (individual and corporate), it also has to cut spending.

Along with the Reagan tax cuts, there were cuts for education and health care.

The Bush tax cuts brought more of the same, including the federally mandated "no child left behind" laws, with no money to pay for them.

These tax cuts resulted in reduced revenues for the states, education and health care.

So the states and local governments have to raise property taxes, state sales taxes, license fees, telecom taxes, and so on.

College tuition has skyrocketed. And health care costs ...! The net result is that working class people have to pay more in net taxes, while the rich reap the rewards of reduced federal income taxes.

CEOs and others with obscene annual earnings save multimillions (each) in reduced income taxes but could care less about other taxes, which are tiny in comparison.

A CEO does not have to worry about the sales taxes on their food and clothes, since he does not consume 10,000 gallons of milk and 5,000 loaves of bread per week.

Nor does he buy 12,000 pairs of jeans and 15,000 T-shirts per month.

Who gets tax break benefits? Look at the massive bailouts for the financial industry. The dust hasn't settled and it already received hundreds of billions, with more to come.

What about the people? When was the last time you got a 10-year real estate tax break on your home when you had to move?

When was the last time the government bailed you out because your employer cut your pay or your working spouse lost his or her job?

Klaus Trieb

Hoffman Estates