Think who's responsible for state's big hole

Usually my junk mail contains nothing more repulsive than photos of toenail fungus, but in the last week I have received flyers from an outfit called "Think Big Illinois." One of these circulars shows a gaping hole in the ground. SAME BAD TAX SYSTEM - notes the flyer in bright letters - SAME BIG HOLE. Its message is that Illinois' current flat tax is "unfair," and that a progressive income tax system is needed to fill the state's budget "hole."

Being a silly taxpayer, I asked myself, "Gee, who dug this hole in the first place?"

Politicians of course; they're in charge of spending our money. They spent more than they received in revenues, and rather than spending less, they've now opted for a larger shovel. Wasn't it just a few years ago that our income tax rate increased from 3.75% to 4.95%?

Yes - but according to "Think Big Illinois," this next, new shovel will be different. It will have the wealthy class's name written on it, like a monogram. Under the "Fair Tax Plan," the group explains, 97% of Illinois residents would not see a tax hike - only those making above $250,000 a year would be affected. In reality, of course, once a graduated income tax scheme is in place, it will be child's play for politicians to tinker with the top rate.

In five years, why, an annual income of $175,000 could be the new target. Eventually they'll come for me. Or what's left of me and the top 40%.

"Think Big Illinois," bent on amending the constitution, should more aptly be named "Think Big Government Illinois." One of its flyers shows a mansion, meant to depict the rich. But whose house is larger than the Capitol in Springfield? What hole is hollower than the vacuity of our politicians' ideas?

Alexander Lee

West Chicago