As most of you already know, I am STRONGLY opposed to any "reform" that brings with it new taxes for ANYONE. All of us are paying too much.

On the table here in Texas is a proposal to increase the state sales tax. We are being hit with runaway inflation in real cost of consumer goods (my family and I no longer eat red meat, because we can't afford the $5.99/lb. cost of a roast, or the $2.99/lb. cost of ground beef; while our sales tax hasn't hit grocery items YET, it's only a matter of time before some legislator proposes it). At one time, housing used to be the major expense for a family to survive; costs of goods such as food and other items are gradually overtaking housing in that department.

I remain firm in my contention that NO man, woman, or child in this country remains immune to the effects of taxes; they hit us at every corner, and take on a number of names. I read in a LP publication that the "real" cost of a $26,000 vehicle, without added taxes at every step, is about half that total. That's a pretty steep increase if true, even if the number is "spin", there still has to be a measure of truth to it.

I figured out on another article, that the per capita expenditure for my section of Texas, figuring federal, state, and local taxes (but excluding county; I had difficulty finding that number) comes to over $13,000 per man, woman and child. That signifies to me that the problem isn't insufficient revenue, but rather inefficient expenditures. Increased taxes won't fix that problem, they will only lead to increased expenditures, and we'll soon find ourselves in the same boat. It will NOT STOP until we spend less than we take in.

The US seriously NEEDS to adopt a "pay as you go" system. Our current spending habits are far too reminiscent of a teenager with a newly acquired credit card. Fiscal management and responsibility should be our government's primary buzzwords, NOT "revenue enhancements", "rollbacks", and other euphemisms for tax increases.

Our future depends on it.