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OpinionFebruary 28, 1992

Publish: 02-28-92 To the Editor: I read with keen interest, frustration, and finally outrage, the Opinion of Monday, Feb. 24. It appears another tax increase without voter approval, has been declared an act of good representative government. And this no less, than by our Illustrious Governor and Lords Temporal, who occupy the thrones of our legislature...

Charles J. Lance

Publish: 02-28-92

To the Editor:

I read with keen interest, frustration, and finally outrage, the Opinion of Monday, Feb. 24. It appears another tax increase without voter approval, has been declared an act of good representative government. And this no less, than by our Illustrious Governor and Lords Temporal, who occupy the thrones of our legislature.

The very first paragraph tell we peons of the tremendous leadership demonstrated by our Governor and Lords Temporal, ignoring partisan lines and the will of the people, so the people will have their "best interests" served. And, the audacity to declare this to be good representative government! I must say, in my benighted and uninformed brain, I fail to see how acting without my input or even the opportunity to such, is representative of my feelings or wishes. While I consider Ollie Amick, my District Representative, to be a good fellow, and even a friend, I don't appreciate him, or anyone else, raising my taxes for any cause without my having opportunity to express my opinion and/or desire. It may be in my "best interest" but, if you and our Lords Temporal don't mind, and will allow, I would just as soon decide what I want for me and mine. And, the monies we are going to so gratuitously receive from the Great White Fathers in Washington, one question ~ "Where did they get that money in the first place?"

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I confess the following remarks to be an expanding of the scope of the Opinion referred to, but it is in the same vein and a part of the whole. To wit: I am sick and tired of being taxed for all the good things that are in my "best interest." I am sick and tired of being bled white to finance programs of stupidity, waste, bungling, mismanagement, ineptitude, fraud and failure. I am sick and tired of the funding without my consent, such things as the Endowment For the Arts, wherein my values and principles are trashed and held up to ridicule, all in the name of First Amendment rights without censorship. I am sick and tired of having to fund school desegregation by forced bussing, building of senseless appendages, mandated by some "out-of-touch-with-reality judge," enshrined in a castle of federal, life-time appointment, accountable to no one. And now I see the school districts are being told to increase their tax levels, and that, without voter approval. (The overwhelming portion of tax dollars are consumed by the schools, while SATs continue to plummet.)

Losing my vote on an issue is an acceptable part of representative government, but, being forced to finance things in my "best interest" without opportunity to express my views, or cast a vote, is not representative government and constitutes taxation without representation. Anyone for a tea party?

Charles J. Lance

Scott City

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