text: Right. And I remember 25 cent a gallon gasoline and a brand new car was $3000. Apart from consumer electronics, virtually nothing costs less than it did "back when". Schools cost more to run and people keep moving in. Infrastructure not only needs repair but also needs to be maintained. Police and fire protection must grow and oddly, they will actually want occasional pay increases. Taxes are how we pay for things we all benefit from, even if indirectly.