Your Opinion: Funds redirected to intimidate taxpayers

Dear Editor:

In the immortal words of Mr. Spock "Logic clearly dictates that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few."

Apparently our elected officials do not understand this. Today, I heard a news report on the radio that there is a consideration in the state Legislature to reduce taxes either by targeted tax breaks or lowering state income tax across the board. Next there was a news report about how limited funds will be having a negative impact MoDOT service levels.

Now, I am in no way against tax cuts and I think that there should always be an effort to limit and/or cut taxes. But, any tax cuts should be across the board, for the many, not targeted tax incentives, for the few. This becomes social, political and/or economic engineering.

However, how in the world can in one breathe, politicians say they are considering tax cuts and in the next say there isn't enough money for one of the basics of our commerce - roads. As I pointed out in the past, over the last five years (or so) state revenues grew at a rate of about 2-3 percent annually, while MoDOT's budget has been slashed every year totaling a 30 percent annual reduction.

This last fall there was an initiative to impose a road tax which was resoundingly rejected by the voters. Since and during those discussions there was much talk about toll roads as an alternative.

Let me be clear, it is my opinion that the politicians are intentionally intimidating us, the voters, to waiver on our commitment to lower taxes and optimal return on our tax money. Where did that 30 percent and marginal annual increases go? I submit it was redirected to serve the few rather than the many. What larger service (other than police and fire) should the government provide than that of roads which all taxpayers use? Again, the punitive tactics are transparent. They are trying to punish us all to the point where we will submit to the pressure of authorizing toll roads so they can obfuscate one of their primary duties, infrastructure.

Fellow taxpayers, the politicians are our employees, don't let them get away with this. Contact them and insist they redirect the 30 percent back to MoDOT and serve the many, taxpayers, rather than the few, special interests.