In the wake of today’s repeal of the Cook County soda tax, I’d like to give a shout-out to the Cook County Board commissioner who’s been speaking the most sensibly on the issue of the county’s need to pay its bills.
In this case it was more like, Omigod, soda costs more! Gatorade, too?! That’s an outrage!
But we’re apparently incapable of imposing a graduated income tax—with the added revenues helping to fund county operations. So we’re stuck with the flat state income tax.
The state can’t get it together to create a LaSalle Street transaction tax. And it’s too cautious to legalize marijuana and tax that. Meanwhile the county’s too chicken to raise property taxes. As much as I bitch and moan about paying them, I must concede the property tax is less regressive than a tax on beverages. So here we are—stuck with regressive taxes like soda.
The attitude of state, county, and city officials toward funding government reminds me of those Hollywood players who chose to ignore evidence that Harvey Weinstein allegedly was sexually abusing women.
