AMERICA WANTS FAIRNESS IN THE NEW FISCAL POLICY

How will the Clinton administration's tax intentions affect you and your business? Will the "shared sacrifice" he espouses truly be shared? Will spending cuts find a place on the agenda of revenue enhancements? Good questions. Unfortunately, the answers are illusive and the time it takes to settle on new strategies does little to calm a nation's collective anxieties. Still, most Americans demonstrate remarkably good judgment in the face of these uncertainties, wanting only to be treated even-handedly when final determinations on tax policies are made.

The Southeast Missourian sat down with a half-dozen people last week with the purpose of discussing tax proposals and the impact they might have on each of them. This group boasted no special expertise on national fiscal policies and shared no common agenda on political implications of the new president's recommendations. Instead, these were just folks who pay taxes, like millions of their fellow citizens. And despite the relative anonymity of each of them in the grand process of funding our nation, every individual in the group stands to feel a mighty personal impact by what happens in Washington during the coming weeks and months.

Among the things this roundtable felt concern about was President Clinton's proposed energy tax, a revenue enhancer that would pack more than a single punch; in addition to feeling the initial hit in higher pump prices and heating bills, consumers of most goods would see prices rise as companies try to offset these new and inflated expenses. One manufacturer in the group said his company was wary about publishing a product catalog just now because new tax requirements and corre~spond~ingly higher production costs could leave his firm short a profit margin.

All involved in this discussion said they are extremely interested in seeing what spending cuts Congress will effect. Some bemoaned "pork barrel" spending on frivolous projects, while one believed salaries of government officials and their staffs were draining the treasury. Several in the group remained apprehensive of the president's program, but others seemed willing to buy in because "something has to be done" to resolve the nation's massive budget deficit. However, all indicated that for such a program to work, a "level playing field" has to be established, where no competitive advantages are dished out to certain businesses and all sacrifice is apportioned equitably.

Two of the people in the group suggested that prayers be said for the nation; even if America's fiscal health was rosy, this wouldn't be bad advice.

The Americans who reside in this area are little different from those in any corner of this nation: alert to the approaching changes, a bit circumspect about what they will bring ... and completely dedicated to wanting to see federal budget policies made right. Above all, people want to be treated fairly as the new guidelines evolve; as Americans, they should expect no less.