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Show Letter to the editor Reckless cutting no cure for state economic troubles Editor: I am writing to applaud the editorial comment about the initiatives on the front page of your Sept. 14 issue. The comments in opposition to the initiatives reflected many of my feelings and concerns. I too, feel that reckless cutting is not a cure for the economic problems of this state. It also seems to me, after reading through the initiatives, that they will benefit the rich, with more expensive homes and higher incomes, in-comes, more than they will benefit the' average struggling family. It seems to add up to a regressive tax rollback. I have yet to see any specific facts and figures from the proponents of the initiatives about where exactly the "fat" is and how much should be cut from the different areas of government. The proponents keep saying that the rollback will not effect education or other programs in any drastic way. I would like some facts and figures to support that conclusion, instead of emotional manipulation. There have already been many cuts in the educational programs in recent years and efforts have been made to make it more efficient. Our junior high is on one such "productivity" program to the extent that my son is in several classes that are so big they don't have enough desks for all the students. I don't see much fat left there. Last week one of the proponents admitted on TV that they had probably made a $100 million mistake in calculating the effect of the initiatives. Frankly, that doesn't give me any confidence in their economic leadership, but I'm afraid that as a state we have proven gullible to any scheme, however ill conceived it be, that will promise us quick cash. Our children represent the economic future of our state. I hope as voters we are not so shortsighted short-sighted that we mortgage their educational opportunities just to put a few extra dollars in our pockets today. I hope that initiative proponents will do their homework and address government waste responsibly on a case by case basis. -Carilee Harper American Fork |
