Facts are clear: We need tax hike

As I read in your paper and see on the news, stories of those in need and (there but for the grace of God go I) those less fortunate than many, I cringe. I will save you all some ink and time and not list the many personal stories about those who are suffering because of our state's budget woes that you have documented in recent days. Thank you, Daily Herald, for that.

Do we need to weed out corruption and bad government? Yes, but somewhere over the last dozen or so years, something has drastically changed with the state's revenue stream. It is a problem we have to deal with. If we are truly a state and society that believes that we are obligated to look after the poor, disabled, and sick; if we are obligated to balance budgets, pay bills and fund pensions, we have to come to the realization that while we need to cut the budget, we cannot cut (or gamble) our way out of our budget problems. Those measures are only part of the solution.

For far too long, we in Illinois have been living a dream, a fairy tale that we can fund our obligations with a repressive 3 percent flat tax. If you go to taxfoundation.org you can compare what we pay in income tax to the other 50 states. We in Illinois get off so easy! Especially if you are wealthy. After you take away 3 percent of a lot of money do you know what you have left? A lot of money! Our tax hits poor people hard and barely touches the wealthy.

I have a message for our lawmakers. Examine how our revenue stream has changed over the past 20 years and adjust. Yes, clean up government, cut waste, be more efficient, be innovative, modernize and save money, put everything in the budget on the table. But we can't do it on the backs of those people with an I.Q. of 39 that need our help. We don't live in the State of Illinois, we live in a state of shame. For God's sake, RAISE MY TAXES!

Scott Frillman

Antioch