For nearly 3 ½ years President Obama and the Democrats have insisted that taxes must be raised on the American people if the U.S. economy is to improve.

Though they held a majority in the House and Senate during the first two years of Obama’s term, the Democrats inexplicably failed to introduce any bills to raise taxes. Surprisingly, when Democrats passed President Obama’s signature law, the Affordable Health Care Act, they adamantly labeled it “a mandate to purchase health insurance” rather than a tax.

So Democrats must be happy by the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling, and especially delighted with Justice John Roberts’ explanation that Obamacare is constitutional because it is a tax and Congress has the right to levy taxes.

President Obama and the Democrats should pat themselves on the back for finally achieving their goal of increasing the tax burden on all Americans.

Though Obamacare doesn’t go into effect until 2014, we should expect to have money deducted from our pay checks beginning Jan. 1, 2013, to fund Obamacare. Democrats will get an additional boost that day because the Bush-era tax cuts will expire, further increasing the tax burden on wealthy, middle-class and low-income Americans.

So, hang on America. Jan. 1, 2013, is coming. Thank President Obama and the Democrats for constantly assuring us our greatly increased tax burden will stimulate the economy and create jobs. Thank them for hiring 16,000 new IRS agents to oversee our health care. (We can’t thank any Republicans because they all voted against Obamacare.) Above all, remember that Nov. 6 is Election Day and our chance to respond to “Obama-tax.”

DEBRA ZAWLOCKI South Whitley