4 Free Press - Wednesday, Sept. 23. 1987 . Page 2 Sales tax for newspapers violates press freedom The Utah Legislature is considering adopting a measure which would eliminate the sales tax exemption currently given to newspapers. The results might be up to $2.5 million added revenues to the state coffers - and the improverishment of an entire state. The newspaper business has historically been exempted from collecting sales tax for a good reason -because it is different from other businesses. Instead of selling goods and services, the newspaper business deals in ideas - and the founding fathers recognized that ideas merit special treatment in a free society. That's why several states refused to ratify the Constitution until a Bill of Rights was promised and foremost in that document, in the First Amendment, is a guarantee of freedom of religion, speech and the press and the rights of assembly and petition. The First Amendment protects our rights to share information and ideas and the press is a principal provider of both information and ideas, as well as an - open forum for a community to participate in the process. In taxing newspaper sales, state government is taxing the exercise of First Amendment freedoms making them conditional on the payment of the tax. Such a tax also puts government in a position to control what information is and isn't diseminated. It is not a proper role for the government in a free society. It also classifies the acquisition of news and information as a taxable privilege when, in fact, it is a right which should be subject to as few limits as possible. There are countless other reasons to oppose such a tax. Because of the way newspapers are marketed -through subscriptions, news stand sales, newspaper carriers collecting such a tax is more costly than it is worth. Also, increasing the cost of newspapers results in decreased circulation and creates a chain reaction - - - Constitution has withstood test of time you better The 200th centennial celebration of the Constitution has been wonderful. The television presentations have been exceptionally stimulating, and local programs have been equally as good. I feel believe it that we're the luckiest people in the world to be able to live in this country and experience the freedoms and liberties known only to us. And most of those freedoms have come about as a direct result of the U.S. Constitution. It's amazing that a group of men could have put something as monumental as our Constitution together in such a way as to be as workable now in this jet age, as then, when the country was in it's fledgling years. I heard that when Benjamin Franklin was in Europe he sent boxloads of books home for his statesman friends to study while contemplating the Constitution. We know that it took countless hours of study, cooperation and bargaining before the Constitution was sucand cessfully completed documented. n We also know that it is a instrument given to insure the freedoms needed to make America the diamond amongst all the gems of God-give- T . ) By BETTY FOWLER countries from ocean to ocean. Because of the Constitution we have the right to vote for the leaders who will perpetuate the freedoms that given by inspirational document. We also have the right to choose our leaders from the . grassroots most political figures on local and level that's why it's so important for us to attend our political connational levels, in spite of their best ventions. If we aren't there to efforts, let themselves in for comments and nominate and select our future humiliating leaders, how can we be angry about degrading criticism because it's who runs for public office? tough to please everybody. That's Have you accepted the responwhy it's so hard to get people to run sibilities of being citizens in this for office. great nation? It doesn't mean that Those folks who win nominations, you should vote once a year for the most part, have expressed for is means on the ballot it whoever to bear the burdens of willingness that you should help choose those decisions, and make past unpopular on the ballot. who are new laws that effect the life style of Our responsibilities as citizens do every citizen they represent. They'd not begin and end in that voting have to love their communities and booth. We should help determine country to accept that kind of for who our candidates public office responsibility. are, and if they are qualified to run I have deep admiration for these for that particular office. They, like the founding people. That responsibility means that we who framed the Constitution, fathers conshould attend our political are brave, patriotic, and caring. ventions and make sure candidates and intellectual with integrity the somehow, Somewhere, maladies that bother great cities ability are selected - not just anyone and nations are neutralized by great who will agree to be candidates, although most candidates agree to leaders who care enough to study the run for office for one reason - love of issues, come to logical decisions and answers, and then proceed to imcommunity and country. There isn't a lot of money inplement workable solutions -rvolved. In fact, it's laughable how egardless of the politics involved, little most of our community leaders "f The solutions usually work - as receive for the hours of work they , proved by our founding fathers and tbe invention of the most fantastic '' 1 put in.' It isn't public acclaim because. tool of our time - the Constitution. Science project electrifying experience I knew I was in trouble when Erin asked me to help with her science project. In the first place, it involved Itiilding something - you know, hammers and nails and things, all the kinds of things I'm not equipped -- the editor's column for. ( )ur ha m mer lost its rubber handle sometime before recorded history, so we have to grip the slick metal tube to pound nails. I don't own a saw. manual or electric. Alter all. fingers are very important to a person who makes a living at a keyboard. I can run a screwdriver if I have to. but I don't doit well. Hut the biggest tip off should have leen the type of project Erin was interested in - electromagnet ism. That last time I got involved in electro anything was such a turn-of- f that I had sworn off power plays for a lifetime - and here was this sweet, innocent face staring me down and demanding: "Dad. you have to help me with my science project." It brought back a rush of memories of childhood, chicken cookers and bright flashes. 1 was about e 13, and working summers in my father's grocery store, when I had my first real course in the physics of electricity. oh. there had been usual childhood shocks that come with inserting a tongue in an electric socket - something you only do once in your life. But this was more advanced. At some point, my father had installed a large rotisserie with three spits on which we would cook chickens on a regular basis, as well as an occasional roast. We would sprinkle the chickens with a barbecue powder, roast them whole, up to four on a spit, pop them in an aluminum bag and sell them whole. In the davs before the ex- full-tim- By MARC HADDOCK plosion of fast food restaurants, the chickens were big sellers. The rotisserie had been installed in the wall, and the workers had left an opening underneath so the wall space could be accessed and used for storage. We kept packing materials for the meat department there. One day when I was supposed to be getting some foam trays for the hamburger, I started looking at the wiring to the rotisserie, and found this bare wire. What was it doing there? Why hadn't it been hooked up? I tentatively touched the wire (I wasn't too smart at 13) and nothing happened. I grabbed some trays and went about my business, but the wire had ignited my curiosity. Each lime I returned to the storage space, I would examine the wires, wondering what went where and why. Then one day I noticed, tucked in the maze of wires, another bare wire. What would happen, I asked those two wires myself, if I touched ' together? bad, I something Probably decided. So I left the wires alone. But my mind couldn't let go of the idea. Day after day, I thought of those bare wires, and wondered why they were there, why they hadn't been wrapped, and what would happen if they were touched together. My curiosity built until I could stand it no longer. During a slack time one day, I went to the storage space and crawled underneath. I looked at each wire, then grabbed them, being careful to not touch the exposed metal. Watching intently, I moved the two ends together until they touched. The brilliant flash of blue light and accompanying loud "crack" were simultaneous - and I found myself dazed but unharmed against the back wall of the storage room. I couldn't see much except this bright blue light which I knew no longer existed, but which had been etched on my retinas. I would see it for a long time. And I could hear a lot of commotion outside the storage room. Everyone had heard the minor explosion of electrical power, and while I was seeing blue light, they were seeing darkness. I'd blown a fuse in the store's antiquated wiring system. The fuse was replaced, power was restored and I was rescued by some very concerned adults who wondered what the heck had happened. I showed them the wires, the ends of which were now black, and explained that I had touched them together. Then I sat back and felt stupid as they told me I was lucky not to be barbecued along with the chickens. Someone got some electrical tape, and the problem of exposed live wires was solved forever. I still don't like electricity much, and electromagnetism didn't sound much better. OUR fQWM But what's a father to do when those eyes ask for help so many times that you know you will admit yourself for treatment if you have to hear it again? We checked out a library book ("Safe and Simple Projects with Electricty"- - you betcha), found an idea and then headed for the scrap heap of a nearby construction site, where we picked up two blocks of wood just the right size - no sawing required - and some scrap metal. A few nails and screws, some wire and the tin snips, and we were on our way. Oh sure, I smashed my thumb with a hammer trying to put a hole in the metal strips, but a thumb is only good for hitting the space bar, and I usually use my right one anyway, so it was no loss. Erin and I took turns wrapping the wire around the nails, and I would take over the screwdriver when she ran out of steam. She was at school when I bought a battery and decided to try the telegraph key and receiver out - just to make sure it would work when she tried it. I connected the wires to the two terminals on the battery and nothing happened, nothing at all. Then I noticed these two bare wires - the circuit had not been completed. I looked at each wire, then grabbed them, being careful to not touch the exposed metal. Watching intently, I moved the two ends together until they touched. There was a loud "clunk" as the strip of metal made instant contact with the heads of the nails which had been turned into magnets by the wire coiled around which means reduced advertising, reduced retail sales, and, in the long run, reduced revenue to business operators and to the state coffers. At a time when so many newspapers operate on a marginal profit, sales tax added onto other costs could well mean the demise of some newspapers and while that may not be state governments problem in the case of some businesses, it is where the newspaper industry is concerned. - ? Society benefits from a greater number of editorial voices, and it suffers when those voices are quieted. But beyond all other arguments, it is simply wrong to force people to pay the government so they can exercise freedoms. constitutionally-guarantee- d That's why Utah granted newspapers an exemption from sales tax in the first place, and why the exemption should continue. Impinging our First Amendment rights is too costly for all of us, regardless of what revenue might result from such a tax. Some of the things that I don't like few days ago I read an article n celebrity. It was entitled "All the Things I Hate." The word "hate" is a nasty word and I can say that all through my life I have never hated anyone or anything, with one exception. That one exception was snakes. When I was a boy I visited a relative who lived way out in the country. One day I hiked down to where the railroad passed through. I liked this place for a number of wild rabbits made their home in the steep bank that bordered the tracks and I enjoyed watching them play. This one day I was about to climb a fence so I could get closer to the rabbits. I was about to jump down on the opposite side when right below was an adder all coiled up ready to strike. I was so scared I hurried back to my relative's home. If I had jumped down, that snake would have bit me. There I was half a mile from home, and even if I had made it, there wasn't a doctor available for several miles. For many years I hated that snake and all other snakes. But as I grew older the realization came to me that I was invading the domain of that snake and he was only protecting what was rightfully his. Since I came to Utah I have come across a few rattlesnakes, but I have learned that if I left them alone they would do the same thing. So, I haven't hated, but there are a few things I don't like. Oysters are one. One time many years ago I was invited out to supper where the main dish was oyster stew. It was tasty enough but on my way home I became violently sick and threw the oyster stew out on the ground. Since then I cannot stand oysters. I am grateful for the term I served as a bishop for I learned a lot about human nature. For example, whenever we had a death in the ward I would meet with the family to arrange the funeral service. With a few exceptions they would ask that the service be not too long, not more than one hour. I would so notify those taking part on the service. However, the main filwr9 A by a f el'ft f 9Mwg I well-know- m' 1 A By TOM GRIFFITHS speaker, who was a talented orator would get wound up and didn't know when to quit. When he was on the program, the service would go on for an hour and a half. He was scheduled to speak at another funeral and I notified him of the time limitation. That if he went beyond his alloted time I would pull on his coat tail. Again he got wound up and didn't know when to say amen, so I yanked on his coat tail. He turned around and looked at me and I pointed to my watch. In a few minutes he said amen. One of my pet peeves is the person who will stop and take 10 minutes of discussion in a viewing line while a long line of people are waiting to express their sympathy to the mourners. It would be far better for them to visit the family later when their visit would be appreciated. I realize I am not young anymore, but I dislike overweight women who go to town in shorts. Female knees are not the prettiest things in the world, but on fat women, ugh. And you men, it's OK to grow a beard if you keep it trimmed, but some of the beards are allowed to grow wild just like sagebrush. How a woman could live with a beard like that I'll never know. So, I don't hate anyone or anything. It's September, with cool nights and mornings, but warm days. Nature is beginning to color the mountains and vales. It's no time to hate but a time to love. letters to C the editor Thanks for paint Editor. We'd like to thank Jones Paint & Glass of American Fork, for donating the paint used to paint the bleachers at the Lehi High School football field. We'd also like to thank Joe Elmer of the Lehi Booster Club who secured the paint for the project and Ken Pierce (KP) of the school faculty and his students who provided the brushes and manpower to get the job done. We'd also like to thank the students who helped put the "L" on the Freeway hill. It looks good and helps to generate school spirit. Linda Bushman and the high school PTA workers them. The project was a success! Maybe this electricity stuff isn't so bad after all. You just have to use the right voltage. by. ED SANDERSON If STARTEP WHEN TWEY. LIT frlANK fa 200 AWlQlA B Homecoming royalty for Lehi High School: First Attendant Shantell Smith (left), Queen Danaca Palmer and second attendant Krissy Evans.