The Unfair Tax

As we approach the upcoming referendum to change the Illinois fixed percentage of income tax, we are being bombarded with supposedly how unfair the system works. What a bunch of garbage. If everyone pays the same percentage, then it is fair. It's when you want someone else to pay more so I can pay less is when it becomes "unfair" to the people paying more.

So, 5% of $75,000 is $3,750 and 5% of $250,000 income is $12,500, seems very fair. Think for a moment of how the more one makes and spends actually helps the lower income earners. Say, a $600,000 house pays $15,000 in real estate taxes and is next door to a $250,000 home with $4,500 real estate taxes. The higher income earner often owns the higher-taxed house yet receives no more economic benefit than the more modest home next door.

Illinois and other high-tax states continue to squeeze more from the people that are already being "overcharged." Just because the "less-wealthy majority" can "vote" to tax the "wealthy minority" does not make it fair; it only continues to drive the "wealthy minority" out of Illinois to lower taxed states. Wake up voters, the tax referendum is not good for Illinois is the long term.

Robert Hoffman

Schaumburg