INDY'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTING ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

Where’s the tea

Remember U.S. history, how the colonists finally had enough of the king taxing them without benefit? Skip to Indianapolis, 2007 and witness the same lack of representation from those “in power” levying taxes today (News, “Daniels Orders Business Tax Reassessment,” Aug. 1-8). Remember how the colonists protested? Time for another tea party! Let’s dump tea in the downtown canal, waking up the elect! The Indianapolis Star reported Mayor Peterson as saying, “The fight against crime is the most important battle we have once we’ve straightened these property taxes out ...” New taxes to fight crime? If crime is so out of control, why haven’t previous taxes on top of taxes been spent on it? Why wait until now? What’s the excuse? The biggest crime taking place is this administration repeatedly STEALING money out of our pockets. I’m tired of it and ready to press formal theft charges against this entire administration! But do we need to raise taxes again to afford it?

I support paying my share of taxes for the social services they are intended to provide such as police, fire, etc. Providing food for the homeless, repairing our children’s schools ... wait, we’re not doing THAT with tax dollars. We bought a football stadium! What kind of social service is that? Advocates of the albatross downtown claim the funds come from different sources. Sorry, NOT BUYING THAT! Spin it however you want, the bottom line is all taxes come from our pockets! Had restaurant taxes gone towards fighting crime would we need another tax increase?

Mr. Irsay, you proudly stand up after winning the Super Bowl and claim it’s for Christ. Are you kidding me? Is blackmailing Indianapolis with the threat of leaving, provoking them to increase taxes to support your own self-interest, wealth and ambition representing Christ? How many homeless are you feeding? Will you buy the homes we can’t sell because no one will live here anymore? You really want to represent Christ? Try business without blackmail. Have the guts to be different than the other team owners! Buy your OWN stadium. You’re a stand-up guy, you can do it.

Why is every privately owned business in this state self funded except football? Sure, give them a tax break, but NOT tax dollars. I wasn’t represented in that decision, nor on this latest tax increase. Were you?

Where’s the tea?