To the editor:

I am constantly amazed as a fairly new resident in Kansas (among the top 25 percent of highly taxed states) how public officials fail to understand the basic economic ramifications of continually increasing taxing. Sources of this public financing can and will gradually disintegrate if taxes become too punitive. Of course, magic words like “fairer” are used to underwrite their intention to take and use money – in this case “the (few) pennies” created, earned and wisely saved by some – to create sophisticated monuments to themselves, a sense of beholdenness to them by those truly in need and improved opportunities for friends and acquaintances, in other words increase their control over public life.

What about someone teaching these highly educated persons the meaning of the concept “to save” so that the essentials are done economically and there are existing funds for sound new and needed ideas?

What about the idea of floating a municipal bond issue so that those who have created, earned and saved (a few) pennies could make their own choice about funding these “fair” local officials and their plans?

Barbara Cook,

Lawrence