Politicians can't keep hitting up taxpayers

Note to politicians: Physician, heal thyself.

How about, instead we start with a 50 percent across-the-board, no-exceptions, cut in the state's budget (operating expenses, pensions, welfare-everything), as was done by the Secretary of the Treasury, Andrew Mellon, which ended the 1920s depression in months not years.

All would be affected, but aren't we all suffering now under onerous tax burdens? I would, albeit grudgingly, even accept the same level of reduction as the tax increases being proposed.

While we are at it, how about we start with our arrogant, know-it-all, hereditary political aristocracy. Stop funding the lascivious salaries, perks, reimbursements, and pensions. You are not entitled to live the grand lifestyle at my expense.

Next we could move on to a bloated, obdurate, and overpaid bureaucracy - starting with upper management. For all you social-engineering types who want to legislate or compel income redistribution, set the example, start with yourselves.

You can then move right down the food chain to overpaid and over-pensioned educational administrators and (where the shoe fits) teachers, then on to the greedier, bullying service unions (public service or otherwise).

There will be the inevitable hue and cry about hurting the kids' education. We've heard this song forever, mainly by the greedy who siphon off the money for themselves or are too incompetent to do the jobs for which they were hired, then overpaid.

Stop the cowardly hiding behind the kids.

If you had any humility before the people who gave you the privileges you have, you would stop treating us like your personal piggy-bank or indentured servants. In our form of government, you work for us, not we for you. Go out and get a real job. Talk to your co-workers, and you will quickly hear the disgust and hatred your arrogant profligacy has earned your class. Physician, heal thyself.

Timothy Taylor

Mount Prospect