The real cost

Wednesday’s “We can’t wait for a responsible budget” rally at the Illinois Statehouse was called an “anti-Tea Bagger event” because thousands of people turned out to demand a tax increase.

The attendees were employees of agencies that serve Illinoisans who need help from their government, as well as many those who receive services from the state.

With Illinois facing a $13 billion dollar budget deficit in the midst of a recession, attention appropriately is being paid to the issue of state spending.

But discussions that focus solely on dollars miss the point by a mile. Governments are not like businesses; when times get tough, the demand/need for services increases.

Most members of the General Assembly stayed away from the rally.  Too bad.  They need to be reminded that failing to raises taxes to save state programs and services has a tremendous cost.

The state has a  revenue problem and there is never a good time to raise taxes.  However, no issue is bigger than the impact on people when government fails to provide needed services.

Should we cut loose the people who need help?  Is that who we are?

Watch this brief video Then, copy this link and send it to a friend. –  http://bit.ly/ck4cKu

People need to know about the real cost.

(Thanks to Sarah Antonacci, Mark Ritterbusch and Janette Weatherall)

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