LETTERS: GOVERNMENT'S JOB IS TO PROTECT RIGHTS

To the editor:

According to the federal government's "A Citizen's Guide to the Federal Budget, Fiscal Year 1999," part of the government's job is to "debate how to use the budget to help the economy grow, or to redistribute income." These are both issues that I, as a Libertarian, object to. It is not the federal government's job to help the economy grow or to take money from the person who worked and earned it and give it to someone else. It is the federal government's job to protect the rights of individuals so they can be free to earn, spend and save their money in any means they choose so long as they do not interfere with the rights of any other individual.

We already know that the federal government, by its own admission, is wasting over $350 billion of tax money each year. According tot he Cato Institute study of the latest tax-cut deal brokered by Speaker Gingrich: "It's a $60 billion tax cut which, needless to say, is puny by anyone's standards. But it gets worse. The $60 billion in tax cuts are to take place over five years, during which time, according to the NTU Foundation, the federal government will take in some $9.3 trillion in taxes."

One of the representatives, who happened to be a Democrat, was speaking in the House last week. The House was discussing taking money from one federal program to help pay for another. The representative was objecting to this. He said, "We cannot rob Peter to pay Paul." I do not know about you, but this Mary is tired of being robbed to pay both Peter and Paul.

We have created this need for federal income taxes by looking to the federal government to solve any and all problems, real or imagined, that can only be resolved by individuals, families, churches and communities. We can stop this need for federal income taxes by just saying no to programs and assistance that we don't really need. I understand why many able-bodied people take assistance, some because they think it's right and other because they pay in taxes and it's the only way they can see to recoup some of their loss. We have to start somewhere. I say it's time to not only send tea bags to Vice President Al Gore regarding the extra taxes on all telephone bills, but it's time to stand up and take care of ourselves. Let's send a message to our Congress and let them know that we want a real tax cut and we want to eliminate federal income taxes.

MARY NALL

Marble Hill