In response to Lowell Grant”s March 4 “Alternate Current” on insisting that higher taxes are in order I feel the need to respond.
Our crumbling infrastructure, starving schools and near bankrupt governments are not the result of insufficient taxes. These problems are instead a direct result of federal, state and local governments misappropriating and wasting tax dollars along with unbridled expansion during profitable times.
Do you remember when we Californians voted for the lottery under the premise that excess funds would produce a windfall for our schools?
Any government, business or family which spends more than it takes in is economically dysfunctional.
With federal and state income taxes, property, sales, gasoline, DMV, fees and surcharges, etc., a large portion of American taxpayers actually pay out more of their income in total taxes than they are allowed to keep.
Simply put Mr. Grant, a rapidly growing portion of American workers feel over burdened with taxes. We would like to keep at least half of our income for our own families. This is why we work.
As for yourself and other like-minded individuals, I wish to remind you that volunteer donation forms accompany both federal and state tax preparation documents and are yours, free to use.
Craig Stankiewicz
Kelseyville
