Tax hike votes were not courageous

Some people are characterizing our elected officials as ‘courageous' for passing the largest tax hike in terms of percentage and dollars in state history, saying that raising taxes is the only way out of this financial mess.

While there is some merit to the argument that we must pay for the commitments that our elected leaders have made for us, we really need to look critically at whether we these people are courageous.

If an arsonist starts a fire, and then helps put it out, should they be commended? If your doctor misdiagnoses your illness for years, and correctly identifies cancer at a late stage, do you thank him for his expertise? Of course not! It's obvious that you find a different doctor and do all you can to steer your family and friends away from him.

Why then do voters keep sending the same people who supported deficit budgets for years back to Springfield? Why do voters keep sending people who claim to worried about jobs and want to be “business friendly” and then vote to raise taxes on businesses?

It's because voters are busy, and incumbents have become very effective at giving the illusion that they are working for their constituency when in fact they're driving our state into the ground.

Voters need to pay attention and look at the voting records of their state reps and state senators.

I can think of many words to describe these elected officials. Courageous is not one of them.

Keith Gray

Mettawa