This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
It's time for the people of Utah to go back to our old tax system and give up the failed 5 percent flat state income tax that is responsible for a lot that's gone wrong with the state the past few years:
• Lack of school funding: Why not be among the best instead of the worst?
• Lack of money for the state Division of Air Quality: Why suffer bad air when a few more dollars could find a fix?
• Constant changes in bus and TRAX schedules, lack of operating capital and higher ticket prices: Why not let everyone in the region contribute to really low prices for transit, for much better air and much less traffic?
People, there is no free lunch. You get what you pay for. If you don't pay enough, it's impossible to get "the good life" here. Pay on the cheap, we get cheap — not enough judges and teachers and no health insurance for all.
We can have these things. I'm willing to pay for them; I bet you are, too. Tell your elected officials to look at the big picture, not follow the herd.
Linda Johnson
Salt Lake City