City officials don’t deserve 20-year tax

“If you drive a car, I'll tax the street. If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet, ‘cause I'm the tax man.” These lyrics from a Beatles song 40 years ago seem almost prophetic today, when you consider the study by the University of Iowa about the possibilities of taxing the miles you drive a car.

Events today change so rapidly we only need to be reminded of the bank and auto bailouts, foreclosures, rising gas prices, along with all the utilities and the groceries. Plus, a sick economy and high unemployment.

Senior citizens, government doesn't blink an eye withholding a cost-of-living increase for three years standing in these difficult times. And local government doesn't even have a conscience asking for a 20-year penny sales tax when we are still on the first tax.

If the city mayor and council's priority is hotel management or giving $500,000 tax incentives to Rockwell to move downtown or a library board that turns up its nose to returning to its former location, this is one senior who is opting out!

Steven L. Herman

Cedar Rapids