To the Editor:

My real estate taxes have doubled since I built my home 20 years ago. They went up 10 percent this year, while the value of my home has plummeted in the past five years. The average U.S. real estate tax is 1 percent nationwide. Our area is just short of 2.5 percent. There are dozens of new foreclosures in the newspaper every week. I wonder how astronomically high real estate taxes contribute to these mortgage failures, not to mention the depressed resale values of our homes.

While I continue to hear about conservative values and tea party platforms, no political pressure seems to be put on any of our out-of-control local taxing districts. If you are a taxing body official, here is your assignment. Any businessman can do it. Cut your tax levy 10 percent each year for the next three years. Save your neighbors and save your community.