Letters                                                     

Editor: I read with interest Therese McGuire's article "Reconsidering Illinois' flat rate income tax" in Illinois Issues (October 1993). Her inference that the state is backward or unprogressive because it does not have a progressive income tax strikes me as quite arguable! To the contrary, perhaps the state is in the forefront, a leader! Why is a tax rate that is the same for all, regardless of income, unfair? Why is it not fair? In a flat rate system the tax burden increases as income increases. That is fair! The poor or low income person benefits more proportionally, and therefore more significantly, with the $1,000 personal exemption.

Why should one that earns a higher income through his/her hard work and initiative be taxed at a higher rate than others? Is that an incentive to achieve? Is the federal income tax a progressive model that Illinois should duplicate? I think not! If a progressive income tax is appropriate and desirable, should we have a progressive sales tax whereby those that earn more pay more?

The flat rate income tax is not something for which we in Illinois should be ashamed. If a primary purpose of the progressive tax is to increase revenue, might we try to reduce or minimize spending? I hope Ms. McGuire has not been overly successful in indoctrinating her students with this economic reasoning!

"Kleppner of NIU speculated suburban factions eventually could splinter, with those whose districts have come to mirror urban areas forging alliances with the urban Chicago caucus. But a future that involves more class warfare in public policy debates between the haves and haves-not in the state could have surprising consequences. Suburban communities that increasingly reflect the diversity, problems and promise of the larger society could find themselves on the losing end on the legislative battlefield, scrambling for money to support basic services taken for granted."

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In this magazine we again invite you to participate in our special "Question of the Month." See the card inserted in this magazine. This is no lengthy survey, but instead the question is concentrated on a single issue we think so important that we are very interested in your opinions. The special card with the question — once you've added your answers — is ready for mailing to us.

—The editor

December 1993/Illinois Issues/7