This is something I'm working on for a potential letter to the editor.
Let's say you live in an apartment, and pay $500/month for rent. Your landlord covers gas, heat, and water, and the apartment has a doorman for security.
Your landlord comes to you and offers to reduce your rent by $20 (to $480), but not to pay for heat. Since it's summer, you figure "sure, I'll budget accordingly when the time comes."
But, when winter comes, other expenses have not allowed you to prepare accordingly, and you have to pay $50 a month for heat. Sounds to me like your cost of living went up $30 a month.
Now, here's what's happened with the Bush tax plan:
You play $20 less a month in rent, but are now responsible for your own heat, water, gas, carpeting, wiring, windows, doors, mail delivery, and roofing.
Oh, and your doorman has been sent by your landlord to beat up another doorman across town that has never set foot in your building.
WF