Citizens must be willing to pay

In response to our unprecedented budget crisis, state legislators are faced with choosing one of three difficult options: 1) cut services, 2) increase revenues or 3) some combination of these. In the area of social and health services, further cuts would amount to an abdication of our collective responsibility to care for our most vulnerable citizens, especially the poor and those with disabilities.

Increasing revenue, on the other hand, would be an opportunity to demonstrate the moral courage to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in need, those who for one reason or another cannot help themselves. It is this kind of solidarity — embracing the tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to be free — that has always defined our greatness as a nation.

As recently as 1964, the wealthiest among us paid a tax rate of 91 percent. Yes, that’s right — 91 percent! This rate plummeted to a low of 28 percent in 1988, and is currently around 35 percent. A heavy price is being paid for this dramatic regression, and the burden is falling on the weakest among us.

Please join me in calling your legislators at 1-800-562-6000 with this message: Raise my taxes… Please! Together we can get through this crisis with our heads held high and our integrity intact.

Jim Strickland

Everett