Liberals should have learned, at least 20 years ago, that many people change their behavior, because of taxes. In about 1991, the New Jersey legislature passed a new tax on farm machinery, including tractors and combines. As soon as the tax went into effect, many New Jersey farmers bought their tractors and combines in Penn., causing the New Jersey vehicle tax revenue to decrease.
Cook Co. Board President Preckwinkle beat Todd Stroger, in 2010, because he approved increasing the county sales tax rate. Since she did the same thing, she should agree that she should lose. Who will run against her in 2018? No one ran against her in 2014.
They could have found that out by visiting my old neighborhood in Chicago, which borders Indiana. There are no gasoline stations for miles—but you can see abandoned buildings where stations once were— and few convenience stores. Why pay high prices for gasoline and cigarettes, etc., when you can drive a couple of miles or less to Indiana? When you cross into Indiana, it’s a different world — plenty of gasoline stations, tobacco shops, convenience stores, as soon as you hit the border. Years ago when I smoked cigarettes, I could get Pall Malls for $2.50 a pack. They were $9-10 in Chicago. Gasoline usually was at least a quarter a gallon less than anywhere in Illinois. The Dominick’s closed years before the chain went under, and the Jewel closed a couple of years ago. Probably done in by Walmart, Aldi’s and Strack & Van Til in Hammond.