With some probing questions to answer, I contacted my talk-show host friend Rev. E. Nues for some answers:

LK: So, why did you come out of retirement?

REV: Couldn't afford to relax. I read a story recently that said people will be basically working forever. I had to go back to work just to afford the higher fees and taxes.

LK: I know. Property taxes continue to rise despite home values dropping, many fees such as trash and water doubled, and yet most people, except CEOs getting bailout money and bankers, have seen paychecks stay the same or get smaller.

REV: I feel your pain. But I really despise all of the talk about raising the state sales tax. LK: What do you dislike?

REV: It's wicked counterproductive. With retail sales struggling, how would hiking the tax on consumers help? It's not rocket science to figure out that, with people hesitant to buy anything more than they absolutely need, making those items more expensive won't help.

LK: So, I guess we won't see a sales tax free weekend anytime soon, will we?

REV: We won't. Neither will we see a toll-free weekend this summer.

LK: You've got that right, my friend. That Easter Sunday toll booth fiasco sounded fishy.

REV: It certainly was. I'm not into conspiracy theories, but it seems to me that the head of the agency wanted to make a point about how vital toll collectors are, so he thinned the ranks for the weekend. It's as if he said, "OK, you want a leaner state government, I'll give you leaner state government," and then set out to show the effect of those jobs being eliminated.

LK: What annoys me is the MBTA proposing to charge a whole lot more for a whole lot less service. I mean, it's insulting to jack the fares way up, and then gut the commuter rail lines.

REV: I suspect it's a ploy to extract still more money out of the taxpayers. But it makes no sense to encourage an increase in the number of drivers on Bay State roads.

LK: At the end of the day, what will lawmakers decide on taxes?

REV: I don't know how the debate will shake out. It does seem that, even if the early word is that only the sales tax will rise, many taxes will eventually be increased. LK: The income tax, too?

REV: My gut says no. People are still steamed over the state rate not being reduced from its "temporary" hike of several years ago.

LK: So what new taxes are we likely to see?

REV: Anything and everything that new Head Tax Master Bob DeLeo and his cohorts can come up with. Why, you might have a "silver screen tax" for going to the movies, a "brother can you spare 10 percent for the state?" tax every time you go bowling, an "Evil Empire" tax to see Boston Red Sox-New York Yankee games, a "bring the baseball revenue back home tax" for Massachusetts fans venturing to Pawtucket's McCoy Stadium to see the PawSox - and even a 10 percent existence tax for the privilege of breathing Bay State air.

LK: Tell me you're kidding.

REV: Barely. Are my ramblings any stranger than our esteemed politicians saying that "everything is on the table" for taxes? I don't think so. I don't know where they think people are going to have the money to pay for everything.

LK: How about getting new revenue with slot machines or casinos?

REV: Slot machines are inevitable. They'll start out at the racetracks, but will soon be in every corner variety store and coffee shop.

LK: And casinos?

REV: They're also a safe bet. We already tax alcohol and cigarettes, so expanding taxable vices sounds like an idea our leaders would embrace.

LK: So Taxachusetts is back?

REV: It never went away.

LK: What about local aid?

REV: What about it? It will go way down. How can the state justify throwing more money at cities and towns if it's drowning in red ink?

LK: There's only one way they could do that: By printing money.

REV: Sorry, but only the federal government can print Monopoly money without getting arrested.

LARRY KESSLER is a Sun Chronicle news editor who enjoys a good game of Monopoly. He can be reached at lkessler@thesunchronicle.com.