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Show The Enterprise Review, November 24, 1976 Page 15b by Chuck Akerlow The election of Jimmy Carter has. caused many g Americans to wonder about the future of the free enterprise system. To be sure, Mr. Carter is a businessman and knows the problems of marketing a product in a free enterprise economy. But his campaign rhetoric left many of us with the chilling feeling that the special interest groups had him firmly in their grasp which can only mean more controls for the national economy. In this atmosphere of uncertainty the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce last wTeek held a free enterprise breakfast. It was disclosed there that the confidence of Americans in their various institutions had greatly dwindled. For t example, a recent opinion poll showed that national confidence in organized religion was down to in the in organized labor, in state government, press, In the same poll American business stood at 19 which was a dramatic drop from 70 only seven years ago. When people have a low opinion of business, that attitude is reflected in legislation which often results in laws that have an adverse effect on the economy, on our business and on our jobs. It will be observed that the ascendency of people like Ralph Nader has been conversely related to the slide in opinion Americans hold of business. good-thinkin- 24. 30; 20; anti-busine- x 36; ss mm There have been recent moves on Congress to break up the large petroleum companies on the theory that bigness stifles competition which leads to higher prices. In fact, Congress seems to be intent on the notion that if a private company is big, it must be bad. While bigness may lead to abuse in business or labor, it is not always true and, in fact, is the exception rather than the rule. What can be done? As business leaders in this community we must begin to reinforce our own faith in the free enterprise system. This is best done through the application of moral and ethical business practices to our everyday conduct. And we must begin to teach the principles of free enterprise to those who work for us or with us as well as those with whom we come in Summary contact. Be certain to recognize the proper role of government in business. Where it appears to you government oversteps its bounds through legislation or the application of rules by the many regulatory agencies we should actively oppose that type of governmental interference. Remember that the free enterprise system begins with our recognition of its worth and dignity. If we are not sold on the utility of such a system, no one else will be either. The Chambers slogan for free enterprise week is Free sometimes we forget how well it works. enterprise WHO 15 me iWHAT 51ASVf AM? pfcvico S REtfM, Investment WITH TUlkK FWH I HY CHlUPRB- 2 U- UU EL EL MYUFE E FROM 15 A Q) lER STORY- 023 TORIES UeAflsr - W?R 056 ifABSSr V EL MI Pragmatic Dogmatics Can Dunn-Hutchins- on Gean Salt Lake County's House? by Ken Shearer One message can be deciphered from this months election returns. It is that and especially in Utah voters everywhere want less, not more, government. Orrin Hatch is a testimony to that sentiment. Vern Romney, licking his wounds, probably now wishes he had kept his Attorney Generals staff at a minimum. If any unit of government should be receptive to reduction, it is Salt Lake County. Since 1965, the Countys populawhile County tion has increased by 13 employees have leaped by 98 . After 1971 , County emthe population raise is Clearly, the ployees have increased County bureaucracy is overly bloated and utterly out of hand. Now, by virtue of his slim, 2,000 vote win over Bob Springmeyer, Commissioner-elec- t Bill Hutchinson joins holdover Commissioner Bill Dunn to afford Republicans their first Salt Lake County Commission control since 1972. The question naturally arises whether Dunn and Hutchinson have the will and ability to dismantle the monster 9; 65. that County government has become. Their individual capabilities are beyond question. Dunn is the best mayor Murray ever had. Hutchinson had an exemplary record as Assistant Superintendent of the Granite School District. So, talent acknowledged, it is a question of will. And the matter of whether Dunn and Hutchinson have that will is one that troubles me to a considerable degree. On track records, both are not ones to reduce government; rather they are the type of Republicans who content themselves with the belief that they can manage an g bureaucracy better than could have their Democratic counterparts. Except for one factor, I therefore would resign as when myself to the prospect that Republicans controlled County government 1967-7- 3 the only Countywise alteration bureauwould be that the crats in the courthouse wore GOP frowns rather than sport traditional Democratic conviviality. Save for that factor, I doubt that Dunn and Hutchinson have either the discipline or the intestinal fortitude to take a meat ax to the political hangerons who will and whatever in their plead, butter-u- p holy quest for the public trough. ever-growin- ever-increasi- ng The saving factor, however, may just be the continued political ambitions may of Dunn and Hutchinson. Both have suffered electoral disappointments. Dunn ran unsuccessfully for Secretary of State in 1972 and 1976. Hutchinson in 1975 lost his bid to become Sale Lake GOP Chairman. Every evidence is that both of the worthies do not visualize their County Commission posts as the apogee of their political careers. Therefore, neither Dunn or Hutchinson is about to take the steps they judge politically unpopular. In this context, those who would prefer their taxes lowered should call or write either or both of the Bills. The message: at most, discontinue your dabble with the welfare state; at least, cut the roll of the County in counselling the uncounsellable and cut the considerable fat that has accumulated in the County Finance Department. If you dont write or call, youll get the kind of government you oppose. For the pitty is that the two Bills probably think that they enhance their continued political ambitions by taking from you producers and giving that which theyve taken from you to the non-produce- rs. |