LETTERS: AS CITIZENS, WE OWE OUR FAIR SHARE

To the editor:

"It's your money." That's a cliche heard increasingly. Recently the majority leader of the U.S. Senate mentioned it several times on "Meet the Press." It's becoming ingrained in the national mindset. I go to work every day, I get my paycheck, it's my money. Right?

Well, no exactly. Much of my pay belongs to someone else. I owe some for obligations for which I've committed. I'm a citizen of this country. With over 200 million other citizens, I owe for programs from which I benefit. I owe for some things that I don't like. But, as a responsible citizen of this democratic republic, I owe my part. What that part is has been negotiated for me by my duly elected representatives, like it or not.

It serves no constructive purpose to argue which programs are worthwhile and which are stupid. The time for that is while deals are being negotiation and at elections. It would be helpful if more thought were given to how all of us benefit from the many programs of which we are scornful. (The welfare recipient driving a new car probably bought it from a car dealer. The food stamps recipient buys at the grocery store. The government is perhaps the biggest customer and employer in the economy.)

Early in the 1950s, a bipartisan congressional committee determined that every American citizen is in a "subsidy recipient posture." (Our own Southeast Missouri congressman at that time was a signatory of that report.)

So, whenever you're told "It's your money" or whenever you think "It's my money," think again. Remember, you signed on as an American citizen for better of for worse.

GILBERT DEGENHARDT

Cape Girardeau