From Paul Campbell of the Chillicothe Gazette:

As of 2003 and 2004, each Ohioan was taxed to the tune of $3,419, and that’s just state tax. That’s $65.75 a week. In Ohio, we have allowed our political leaders to indiscriminately hike our taxes as if those politicians in Columbus have a blank check with each of us living in this decaying state acting as the bank upon which government can draw unlimited amounts of funds to do with whatever it wants. No questions asked. No rationale given.How bad have we allowed our elected leaders to pick our pockets and purses? How about considering this. As recently as 1970, just 38 years ago, Ohio was the fourth lowest taxing state for individual and corporate taxes. In 1980, 28 years ago, our state was still seventh lowest. Hang on to your hats, folks, because in 2006, the year before last, we were robbing our citizens in Ohio as the third-highest taxation state behind only Maine and New York.

Another incoming round landed smack in the middle of my bunker this week when I noticed another $35 tax increase in my house payment. Where will this senseless tax and spend habit of government at all levels end? Can we, the American - and Ohio - public do anything about these exorbitant taxes, or are we, like the Pied Piper’s rats, doomed to march right over the edge of the precipice to our death and taxes?

Former Gov. Bob Taft was and current Gov. Ted Strickland is yelling about Ohio’s inability to keep existing business, industry and commerce or to attract new business ventures. Our leaders weep and gnash their teeth because many of our best and brightest get out of Dodge as soon as they realize the grass really is greener on the other side of the state lines. And what do our tax-and-spenders do? They keep raising taxes and making it almost impossible for our state to progress in any way, shape or form.

Doesn’t it make some sense for Ohio’s decisionmakers to begin to realize that when we keep crippling our chances for success with these self inflicted wounds, sooner or later these tax-mortars we keep lobbing into our bunker will become fatal to any future successes we might aspire to.

Excellent points which are perfectly understood by nearly every Ohioan who isn’t also in state government.

Their are 19 brave members of the Ohio House of Representatives proposing to repeal Ohio’s state income tax, which would be the best job-creating stimulus package ever proposed. But who needs that type of healthy climate when we have the brilliant Ohio Department of Development making investments of your tax dollars in new Ohio businesses, such as Skybus! Republicans are far too busy cracking down on payday lenders (even Bill Batchelder, who is a hero of mine) and posturing for their next election to make any serious efforts at improving Ohio’s unhealthy business climate.