Who’s Stealthier?

Who disrespects the public more? The private sector or the politicians?

Private sector: Years ago an online brokerage operation promised me free trades for life. Cool! Despite mergers and management changes, I'm still getting commission-free trades. But I began to notice that each trade was costing me a $2 "fee" for processing or whatever. By last year the fee had doubled, to $4 per trade. This year? Six dollars.

Politicians. This morning's news tells us the Democrats still seek to phase out itemized deductions. Republicans will agree to this, the theory goes, because voters won't  notice that the phase-out increases some people's income taxes. The Wall Street Journal terms it A Stealth Tax Hike.

Can we trust anybody these days?