The proposed county income tax should be immediately scrapped. Taxes undercut business development and diminish consumer saving and spending. Taxation discourages expansion and job creation. The results of a tax increase not only will be fewer jobs in Porter County but also a dwindling tax base as businesses pull out and homeowners leave the area.

Our local and state governments need to revisit Economics 101. Any competent economist will tell you that raising taxes in a recession is very bad policy. It's not a revenue crisis; it is a spending problem.

Unfortunately, the complacency of the citizenry allows government to grow unabated. We must curb the spending of career politicians who always consider taxes "their money." Here are a few questions: Why do our officials always discount the will of the people they are supposed to represent? Were you asked if the lavish new jail was a good use of your tax dollars? How about the juvenile detention center? The new government complex? What about the many beautification projects? And whatever happened to that supposed state surplus of a short time ago? Have you already forgotten the substantial pay increases our state legislatures passed for themselves just last year? Can you simply vote yourself a raise?

Gov. Frank O'Bannon already plans on raising the state sales tax and certain excise taxes. How soon before he proposes increasing the state income tax as well? Apparently, the extra revenues from the gaming industry, lotteries and federal tobacco settlements just don't begin to squelch the government's insatiable appetite for our money.

If we allow the already high and increasing tax burden to be compounded by a county income tax, then we are foolish. We must stop the "spend first and pay for it later" mentality of Indiana bureaucrats.

While we're at it, here's a revolutionary thought: Why not dump the state income tax all together and greatly reduce and eliminate other taxes as well? Think it's not possible? Think again. Seven other states do not even have a state income tax. How do they survive? Better management of available resources, that's how. Unfortunately, good economic sense is alien to the minds of Indiana's career politicians, whose real job seems to be staying in power at our expense.

We need leaders who understand that reducing regulation and drastically slashing taxes creates a better business climate, attracts industry, empowers the consumer and actually generates greater revenues over time. We need officials who understand sound financial principles and who can execute strategies that will give Hoosier taxpayers a better value. We must demand that our local and state governments finally become open, responsible and responsive.

We encourage you to exercise your civil liberties and join us in opposing these tax increases. Your involvement is the most vital part of representative government. Remember this: Your silence on these important issues is always heard as a ringing endorsement for every spending scheme and tax increase the politicians can come up with. Now more than ever, we need to reinvigorate an active grass-roots political culture in Indiana. If you understand the benefits of a minimalist government and believe that Hoosiers deserve a competent and frugal administration that respects the taxpayer first, then why not join us? Write your lawmakers, councilmen and newspapers today.

The Libertarian Party stands for individual freedom and personal responsibility. We are working hard to restore a limited, non-meddling Constitutional government -- a government that upholds the Bill of Rights and respects the founding principles that once made America great.

Darrin Young is secretary of the Libertarian Party of Porter County.