Despite Bush's tax cut, most people in a AP poll believe their tax burden
has increased:
Half in the poll, 49 percent, said their overall tax burden -- including federal, state and local taxes -- had gone up over the past three years. That's almost four times the 13 percent in the poll who said their overall taxes had gone down [...]
Even when it comes to federal taxes, most in the public don't feel their taxes have gone down over the past three years. Twenty-five percent in the poll said their federal taxes had gone up during that time, while 43 percent said they had stayed the same.
Back in the primary days, a poster suggested the following line for Dean (paraphrased): "Bush put $300 in your front pocket and took twice that out of your back pocket." Kerry should work that similar theme in his stump speech. It's clear that it's a message that would find some receptiveness, and a perception that Bush will be working hard to dispel.
(David Sirota has more.)