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The funny thing about taxes in RI is that, once enacted, no one pays much attention except pols who incessantly seek to raise them. Take the state sales tax. It began as a "temporary" 1% tax in 1947. Eventually, it was raised to 5%, then another "temporary" hike to 6% in the early 70's, then another "temporary" hike to 7% in the early 90's. As Reagan said, nothing is as permanent as a temporary tax. The state income tax was also a "temporary" measure when it was introduced in February 1971. By July of that year: Permanent. The problem is that Rhode Islanders are too willing to pay these taxes because they don't see them. They are taken through payroll deductions and built into the final price of a purchase. If taxpayers had to write a check for their tax levy say, quarterly, there would be an uproar. Mr. Gardiner is correct. More people need to pay attention. Then again, if more people paid attention, RI would have neither a sales nor income tax to begin with. And the state would be infinitely better off.