TAXED TO DEATH

Since this is written on Election Day, I don't know if Issue 1 passed
or not.

But with the scare tactics and threats made to the people of this
city, I feel that out of terror, most people will vote for it.

This tax will continue to support the failed DARE program, as well as
many other ailing government programs.

To prove the DARE programs futileness, I refer to the article in the
paper a few weeks ago stating that hard drug use is up in our county
and the rehabilitation centers report more addicts.

This program was supposed to be funded with money from seized property
of the offenders.

Throwing more money at the problem won't fix it. We have proven this
with the failing public school system.

Then when cuts have to be made, the first things to go are the
employees.

Maybe administrative costs could be cut, or more fiscal
responsibility. If I don't have the money for something, I don't buy
it.

I can't just go to my neighbor and threaten them for money.

One of the major problems with the budgeting system is this:

A budget is created based on the previous years numbers.

If there are no previous years, then they make something up.

The agency works hard to meet (spend) or exceed (overspend) that
budget so that next years budget is the same or more.

The problem is that the money is spent frivolously toward the end of
the fiscal year.

This is like telling your child that their allowance will be increased
if they spend all of this week's allowance.

It merely perpetuates the problem. Pretty soon your kids will spend
more than you make.

This is the reason why all government programs are financially
unsound.

The U.S. government is the world's largest employer. State and local
agencies are not far behind.

This is big government growing bigger. When we all work for the state,
this becomes communism. The only way to fix this is to shrink it.

Please write your elected leaders and express your opinion.

Brent Sheppard

Lancaster