To the editor:

The Oct. 10 front page headline reads “What now? Economic options are dwindling.”

No surprise. We are the sole source of the government’s operating capital. Pogo would say they have broken the bank and he is us. What a dilemma. How to give the bank (taxpayers) the money back that was taken from them in the first place when all is squandered. The bailout is for Congress, not taxpayers. Congress’ attempt to give us “something” is only a red herring to divert our attention from the real frivolous spenders.

Our own city is no different. Previous commissions reduced property tax mill levies and increased expenditures. The “rainy day fund” has been reduced from $14.5 million to $9.5 million to maintain and increase the size of government. According to Commissioner Hack, the public plea was not to raise property taxes. This is not because we do not want to pay them; it is because we have no additional disposable income to pay them.

The bailout plan will require more government entities with thousands of additional workers. But what do we citizens know about making ends meet?

In 1964 Ronald Reagan said, “No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we’ll ever see on this Earth.”

Dean W. Penny,
Lawrence