Why is government immune to downturn?
What I absolutely marvel at: Increasing taxes on a shrinking taxpayer base. ICC approving Nicor and ComEd rate increases. County taxes being held at a level that was immorally high already. Show me government employees taking 25 percent or better reductions in their pay to "keep their company alive." Why I am going to pay more to reimburse the government employee retirement plans that lost money in the market downturn? Show me how the Nicor and ComEd service will improve. Show me all the services the county offers to the suburbs, who are paying the exorbitant county tax.
The "government" is not a thing. It is a collection of people who are put in place to best serve the interests of its constituency. Not any more.
Government is unregulated, with the ability to create full protection from this whole financial mess for themselves, leaving it up to the idiots like me who pay the state, municipal and county taxes; pay the car and pet licenses, and their true federal taxes. I vote in every election. It obviously has had no effect.
No wonder so much money is spent to try to buy an elected position.
Here's my thought: Let's all us idiots declare bankruptcy and default on our mortgages and all our debts at once. Maybe we can get some of our tax money back from the stimulus.
Tom Ratkovic
Arlington Heights