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Show Consider The 'Hidden' Issues OUR READERS WRITE Is there enough "fat" in Utah government pens to be before that political body at the to equal the estimated $329.7 million in revtime, whether it be the U.S. Congress, a enue losses anticipated if Initiatives A, B and state legislature or a local city council. C are approved? The initiative process, while ostensibly Or, do the initiatives "go too far," and if seeking to implement "the will of the peopassed, will we be "throwing the baby out ple," circumvents that spirit of compromise with the bath water?" by offering only a "yea" or "nay" option. On the surface, these are the questions There is no room for filing down rough edgfacing Utah voters Tuesday when the three es before an initiative becomes law. tax initiatives finally come before them for a While there is no question that tax reform is desperately needed in this state- ,- the indecision, Utah's "tussle over taxes" has been one of equities of the taxing structure have been the bloodiest battles in the state's political pointed out time and again by the debate the real question that history, and because the issues have been over the initiatives they have polarized the should be answered In the mind of the voter state during the past few months, inciting a before casting a ballot is: "Do I have confwar of words which will probably continue idence in representative government?" If the answer is long after Tuesday's balloting. "yes," then legislators on to know what people really think about both of sides the issues have need Opinions hot only been heated, but facts have been taxes whether the initiatives address the distorted, numbers' inflated and a lot of real concerns people have about fairness in "mud" has been slung. Proponents and optaxation and who should carry the burden ponents alike have been guilty of presenting of supporting government. With a number biased views based primarily on selfish con- of those supporting the Initiatives doing so cerns. in an attempt to "send a message to govPutting all questions of the merits or conernment," these concerns may not be adsequences of the initiatives aside, there are dressed even if the initiatives pass. a number of other casualties of the initiative On the other hand, if the answer to this campaign. In addition to sacrificing "truth" on question of confidence Is "no," perhaps we the altar of personal greed, this battle has should change Utah's Constitution, do away taken its toll in other areas. with representative government; and go Confidence in one of our most precious inback to governing ourselves the way the our elected form of government Greeks did 2,500 years ago with "town stitutions low. Politihas been eroded to an meetings" called to decide every question. cians, who normally carry a measure of misThat system of government planted the trust as part of their office, have become "a seeds of democracy, but the United States to an increasing number has never been a true hiss and a democracy, but a of Utahns. democratic republic in which the trust of the With wildly differing figures based on dif- people is given to representatives to vote for fering ways of calculating what the impacts them. If voters are unhappy with their might be, the average voter is left to wonder represenis feathto who and is ,who trustworthy trying tatives, it is far simpler to "throw the bums er his own nest. No one on either side can out" and change representatives who vote be perceived as being totally clean or honest the "will of the people" than to change forms and the voter is caught in the middle. of government ... Another casualty has been the erosion of In the final analysis, the initiative process faith and trust of the citizenry in the legislaitself goes against the grain of the traditions tive process itself on which this nation was founded. If we can the spirit of "compromise" which has been a part of the way this no longer live under the traditions estabnation is governed since the writing of the lished by the Founding Fathers, then by all Declaration of Independence. means let's try something new, but if the laws have the been Traditionally, product principles on which the United States has of many minds, with lawmakers of differing evolved still have meaning, we should trust political philosophies contributing to the final our elected officials to vote for the welfare of wording of whatever piece of legislation hap- - all Utah's citizens. - highly-charge- d, - - all-ti- by-wor- d" - M-l-C-K-- I guess Tuesday ld Get Some Votes Will E-Y my best choice will , be that Mouse down in Disneyland as a write-i- It is easy to understand why some people stay home from the polls, but ifs also a mistake. It may seem as though one vote isn't worth very much. But if enough of us feel that way, then our leaders are elected by a minority and this .' bv M ray, UL 841 07. ' J Preserve Our Library If we Sandy residents are interested in a new "Whitmore-capability- library in Sandy, we must " take the time to go and vote against Tax Initiative A. Initiative B would also affect liberies funded through general revenue funds. If Tax Initiative A passes, the Salt Lake County Library budget would be cut by approximately 40 percent Cut, but the county library director has we definitely could not build, lease, or stated, new a operate library in Sandy City." Let's preserve the possibility of a wonderful Sandy Library facility for the benefit of our children and all of us and vote against the initiatives, especially Initiative A. "... . Dennis Tenney Sandy City Councilman . Not A Politician A few weeks ago I attended a gubernatorial debate with our three candidates. All three candidates were asked what they would have done with the tax surplus from 1987. Merrill Get's stop government from spending so much money) Cook said that he would have spent it. Sounds like he has a double standard. Anyone that has driven through Sugar House lately realizes what a mess that area has become. It takes 5 to 10 minutes to drive south along 1100 East in the afternoon. This has driven customers away from that area and businesses are constantly moving out. How did all this happen? It is due to the expensive beautification project that was done while Ted Wilson was mayor of Salt Lake. The businesses that were there at the time were socked with a hefty bill to pay for it. This drove many of them out of business. And now because of the narrow streets, customers don't come to shoji their anymore, so it is J droves. Not so here in Utah. Because of the tax initiative issue, well go, You perhaps in record numbers to put in our two cents worth. Thafs as it should be. m be there and I probably won't be voting for Mickey and Donald and the rest of them. But believe me, HI be tempted. 'Cause either way it kind of looks like I'm gonna be marking a certain number of ballots for Goofy. and Your Child: Succcoo wj William Clyde Behunin "'. Murray MM If TMvl WhSI! . Nf")W ' - - hv.S by JIM CAMPBELL Utah Education Association President Nauseated by mindless TV shows that provide a succession of casual killings, sleazy scenarios, forced humor, contrived car chases and hopelessly predictable plots? Then try something different. It's called public television, and it provides a hew experience for many of us programming. .- '- intelligent - TV has Besides, public from something for many concerts to science symphony from snows for World War II documentaries to George Gershwin specials; from a on nature the production ' desperate plight of African Hippopotami to an English mystery story; from a series aimed at increasing children's interest in reading to a news presentation that digs deeply into whatever it digs into. That last item is the - sixth-grader- . s; P.tabli.h.d th. x ...vA some & i? SSJTSffl J McNeill-Lehre- r which features News Hour, skilled interview- ers who get at the day's issues with intense, probing, interviewing. Kids' shows? Beginning at 2:30 p.m. each 'weekday on KUED (Channel 7) is Contact" a science program; at 3 p.m. is "Zoobilee Zoo," a show that teaches children social skills; 3:30 p.m.; "Sesame Street", which needs no explanation; 4:30 p.m., "Today's Special," an entertainment-teaching presentation for tots; and "Square One TV," a new entry that teaches math skills to ' Utah's other public TV station, offers KBYU 11) (Channel viewing of comparable quality. here's a families, Okay challenge: Swear off commercial stations for a week and watch nothing but the two public TV channels. I dare you. "Three-Two-On- pre-teen- e, s. U.S. SAVINGS DOfJDS SffS Bangerter has .already implemented Te?ilsons f ?m "" vu,"i'",v heard much about haven .We t blueprint so that voters could make up their minds be. jZ i UIS gUVClllUl UUCOIl k gU CUUUMU VIOggUJK CUUWUk MID and results like most politicians. That's what I like about without the obvious distortions, tear tactics (much with the Norm Bangerter, he is the governor, not a politician, taxpayers own money) going on so that their victim's will remain open to the pocket-book- s (taxpayers) Skip Stark continued raids and depredations that our masters West Jordan vpublic servants?) wish to inflict on us. As a veteran of WWII, I have watched with amazement as my generation, and succeeding ones, have raided the future earnings of their posterity for I would like to compliment Ralph Goff for his fine their own purposes, leaving those yet to be born to work in giving both sides of the tax initiative issue. the bill for their excesses. (Just look at the pay the tax In an emotionally charged issue such as national debt). To me, the affluent society, initiatives, it is very hard to be unbiased. Mr. Goff the politicians who obviously know particularly has certainly done a fine job. what is best for them, no us, have become the Now, however, comes the time when decisions effluent and their stench nauseates me! I need to be made. To all of those who have read the hated andsociety still hate LBJ's theme song "Deep in the columns over the last few months, you have the Heart of Taxes" and wish that his "Great Society" facts, now is the time for decision. had passed into limbo with him! I have made a firm decision, based upon he According to the National Tax Limitation information which I have received, that if the tax Committee's report received last week on who cuts go into effect they would cause a very real our big problems in congress are, our own Wayne catastrophe to occur in the State of Utah. Here are Owens rates pretty high. A conservative as he would ' the facts. have us believe? I could laugh myself silly! We have 1) Peoples' jobs will be lost You cannot cut almost enough states signed up on federal tax millions of dollars from a budget and not have to fire limitation (only one or two more are needed) to force people. Salt Lake County alone estimates that "over the issue on the federal level. e 680 positions" will be lost Where are these And now our own liberal with our money - Utah people going to find work? politicians and bureaucrats are fighting to keep our 2) Education will be hurt seriously. Murray pocketbooks open as if their very lives depended on District, alone estimates that approximately 15 it. Voters, get your heads out of the sand and use percent of the operating budget will have to be cut your own reasoning powers! A 6 percent maximum With 80 percent of the budget going to teacher cut would not ruin Utah's budget any more than it salaries, there is no way to make these cuts without would ruin yours and you well know it!! You may firing teachers. What is this going to mean to a never get another chance to let your ' know that they don't htve unlimited access to quality education? your 3) Utah's bond ratings will be reduced. Moody's pocketbook. Think it over. If not now, when? Investor Service says "passage of these initiatives would have negative consequences for the holders of John Jarvis debt issued by (Utah) and (its) municipalities" and Sandy that they "will weaken the credit worthiness" of the taxing entities. What does this mean to the taxpayer? Higher taxes to pay off bonds. If this is the case, will the taxpayer really gain anything? Will 4) Large corporations will gain the most with Since 1972, when I was first elected to reoresent Since tax limitations. main of the the passage areas of Kearns, Taylorsville and Bennion as a the to initiatives tax of limitation the is help purpose of the Granite Board of Education, I've member taxes we cut for low income people, should found to afford most can myself voting upon hundreds of that pay? corporations 5) Utah is not like any other state in the union, matters. Some of those decisions have been easy, including California and Massachusetts. Our birth others much more complicated. During my many rate alone means that we are supporting twice as years in this position when trying to decide whether many children per taxpaying adult as the national to cast a vote for or against a proposal under average. If we don't pay for their education, who consideration, I've always asked myself the same will? question: "Is this in the best educational interest of Upon answering these questions, you will see why the school children of Granite District?" Every vote the majority of Utahns, including myself, will be IVe cast has been guided by my desire to do what's voting for a prosperous Utah by voting against the best for our young people. Now I'm nearing the completion of my tax initiatives. many years as a board member, and yet ahead of me awaits what is probably the most important and significant Bruce R. Cutler, vote that I will ever cast. This will not be cast in an Murray open board setting with maximum visability. It will be made in a tiny voting booth on General Election Day, Nov. 8. Still keeping in mind what is best for our children (and grandchildren) I will be voting 365 texes on a pair of Fifty years ago there were against the three tax initiatives. shoes. Taxes tend to multiply through the years so ' there would be many more now. When anything is Sincerely, manufactured there is a tax on each step in the Gary C. Swensen for anything you process. This results in high prices money-spendin- g Time To Decide - - - -- - rs Vote 'No' school-relate- d Urges Yes' Vote I if 1- read not too many years ago that the Salt Lake County Commissioners rised their own salaries. Also that the State of Utah came out with a surplus of money. state and the federal Town, city, county, government seem to give money away to various organizations devoted to art, writing, etc. Haven't seen a word about this type of thing being cut. Why should money be given to the League of Utah Writers, for example, when social agencies need money to carry out badly needed services? Why give money to redevelop part of a city and make, residents move? Let's have a little common sense used in where things are cut and start the cuts with services that are not critical i.e. are. not a matter of life and death to the citizens. If taxes continue to increase it will soon lead to everything a person makes being taken in taxes. Isn't that communism? Is that what is wanted in this country? Vote for the initiatives. full-tim- in School 'x,Vi what has been printed in the paper is all to be cut back, it would total over 200 percent Just use a . simple adding machine. . Granite School District is using tax money to fight the initiatives. If they can do that then they hayetoo much money. And isn't that type of use illegal? This government was founded on the idea that the people were to rule ana aeiernuiw wum -m seems nice wo many agencies uwia. u wnw. to anoui not say should have; anything taxes. Or percentage of their income they pay out in to be spent how their tax money is earn for People do need to keep some of what they to would be interesting food, clothing and shelter. It know how many of the homeless in this nation have no homes because they could not pay all the taxes. Haven't seen a word about any elected officials cutting their salaries but they promise to cut items such as police, fire or other needed services if the initiatives pass. Hopefully all incumbent elected officials will be defeated in the forthcoming election so that as many new people as poiiible will determine how the tax money is to be spent. Did self-servi- 1 wonderful form of government our forefathers dreamed up doesn't work the way it should. The bad news is that this election Presidential hasn't excited very many people. They are predicting that people will stay away from the polls in Then there are the guys who violate the law by hanging their campaign signs on public utility poles. The decisions we make Tuesday are too important to ignore. tise in the' topic about which they write. A brief description of mat expertise may accompany the submission: All submissions are subject to editing for space and clarity. They may be addressed to: The Green Sheet, P.O. Box 71 87, Mur A somewhere. Various government agencies keep telling us how much service will have to be cut if the initiatives are passed by the people. Seems like the cutback is only a small percentage (it should be much more) but if "L!fi!: W In the musical South Pacific Emille DeBecque said it best. "I know what you're against. What are you for?" That's a very valid question. Ted tells us that Norm can't make an intelligent decision. Norm says Ted will bankrupt our children and Merrill says the other two will bankrupt us all. That leaves the minor parties or The Mouse., In Congressional District One the mud has been flying fast and furiously as Hansen and McKay go at it. Howard Nielson hasn't had to resort to nastiness because his opponent hasn't done much campaigning, but Wayne and too been Richard haven't congenial in Distict Two. ' be used as space available basis: Primary consideration will be given to those submitted by people with exper- Vr Mickey. out ;. Longer correspondence may As I See It commentaries on a Co.. busman. Business Liaison Office honestly say that there are very few that I can support without reservations. I hate negative campaigning. It turns me off enough that I often vote for the guy who tells me why I should vote for him, not why I shouldn't vote for his opponent. The way I figure it this year, 111 have to vote for Orrin Hatch and . v and companies buy, the cost of labor keeps going up, nations. Net that can, establish factories in foreign with more result is less jobs available in America and more people unable to find work. Simple economics would lead us to understand that the more people there are in the community the less it would cost per person for government services. For some unknown reason it does not work this way but the more people the more the cost of government There has to be waste or graft wSSST?ji!SL'wrj3 SSSSS I" Initiatives AB&C -- Said for bythe Taxpayer. n. I once vowed I wouldn't vote for any of them either. I know they don't do it themselves, but I feel like they ought to exercise some control over the people who are working for them. That's why I had to laugh a lot when George and Barbara said they didn't really approve of some of the negative things their campaign staff was putting out about Mike. George, if you can't control your campaign staff, what makes you think you can run the country? That's not to say I think Dukakis has run an intelligent campaign. If s too bad we can't feel good about both candidates so that we could be comfortable with the election, no matter how it turns wee, i I've studied the issues, IVe looked at the candidates and I can . The Green Sheet welcomes contributions from readars for either Lettan to the Editor or As I Sea It Letters should be confined to a lencth of about 250 words and not contain libelous comment. They must be signed and must be received in our office no later than 10 a.m. Tuesday for publication that g |