Consider higher taxes

I would like to thank Shawn Vestal for bringing our attention to, what appears to me, a very obvious solution to our state budget shortfall (“No capital-gains tax?” Nov. 19).

Our state (and our nation) is faced with dangerous financial crises. Yet, the only solution we hear offered is the tunnel-vision proposal to cut spending to a level that will negatively affect our very way of life.

As Americans, we enjoy some of the lowest tax rates in the developed world. We must be willing to consider higher taxes, as well as spending cuts, to deal with this very real emergency.

I am shocked and saddened to see that our elected officials possess neither the leadership nor the courage to make the case for increased taxes to a foolishly tax-adverse American public. Instead, their overriding concern is getting re-elected while Rome burns.

Judy Trigg

Cheney