Brady platform for governor appeals to simpletons

GOP State Governor candidate Bill Brady's campaign literature reads: 1. "Lower taxes" (where have you been - we have a $13 billion deficit). 2. "Cut taxes for working families." (Oh yeah! Everybody nearly is "working families." That has to be geared to "real" working families, not elite Republicans). 3. "No tax increases." (Come on now, where is the money going to come from?)

Republicans talk out of one side of their mouths yet love to borrow to pay for things like state pensions. Irresponsible? Yes! "Fiscally conservative" Republicans is an oxymoron! 4. "Balance the state budget." (If you don't initiate a tax increase how are you going to balance the state budget? Hypocrisy.) 5. Also, Brady is against the minimum wage increase!

Gov. Pat Quinn, State Sen. Michael Noland and State Rep. Keith Farnham are realists. Noland voted for a 2-percent state income tax increase to "balance the budget." Gov. Quinn wanted an income tax (responsible) increase.

Mr. Brady, you are in a real estate firm you own. What would be the repercussions of a 2- or 3-percent increase in real estate property taxes? Perhaps you could institute an addition to county taxes a state tax section so real estate taxes could pay for the state deficit and/or to pay for state obligations if you become governor with the consent of the General Assembly. This is not any more stupid than your campaign literature. Obviously you want to appeal to simpletons.

M. Barry Birchfield

Elgin