FISCAL WOES: Put blame on taxpayers

The financial straits experienced by states and cities is the fault of the taxpayers. We made a terrible mistake. We gave public servants the power to tax us, then allowed them to set their own salaries and benefits. This was a stupid thing to do.

We gave them a blank check and they overdrew the account. Their compensation should be set by local commissions made up of non-government wage earners, the people who pay those salaries. This should be an amendment to the State Constitution.

BRUCE McKAY

Hayden