Bill Krupp: Seniors paying the price

I don’t always shop at the cheapest stores. I return again and again to the retailers that respect me and appreciate my business. My money goes to where I feel appreciated.

Now a good chunk of my money is going where I don’t feel respected: state coffers. I feel disregarded and targeted by the legislature.

My vote has been reduced in value becoming almost worthless. I’ve been gerrymandered into a Republican-dominated district. The rules have been cunningly manipulated to give undue advantages to one party as revenge for decades of suppression. Why punish me?

I’m an independent. My wallet has been ravaged by targeted tax reforms. My tax burden has been shifted from the state income tax to the ever-increasing city and county property taxes.

Deductions have been reduced so my retirement income is more heavily taxed while the services I am more apt to use as a senior are subject to new state sales taxes.

It appears that politicians are counting on most voters merely looking at the “D” or “R” by their names and making their selection based on habit, hearsay and hype.

I’m not happy and have a warning for candidates. Seniors remember and vote!

This story was originally published August 1, 2015 at 2:00 PM with the headline "Bill Krupp: Seniors paying the price."