We are trying to decide how to answer the call for local control. We who live here know best how to govern, educate and see to the welfare of those who live here. That was the intent of our Constitutional Forefathers. We know this. There can be no doubt. We’ve been told this by any number of established politicians and wannabes. How can we question this political intellect?
If this Utopian condition is to become realistic, we must change our current tax certainty. It is certain that that our federal government has the broadest form of collecting taxes. Agreed, it may not be as efficient as we deserve, but it is as efficient as our political system allows.
Then there is the state system of tax collection. I have no idea as to whether it is more or less efficient then the federal system. I do know that it has the second most power and diversity.
And finally we arrive at local control, which will probably be county control. If this is the case we surely need more than three elected officials making decisions that are so greatly affected by national and state uncertainties.
I spent some time today looking over our property taxes that will have to be paid by Dec. 20. The total for the annual bill is more than we will pay in federal and state income and FICA taxes, not considering the Medicare deduction from our Social Security.
The only answer I can see is that our politicians must create a new federal and state system that will decrease their taxing authority and increase the county or other local authority a sufficient amount to allow local control to work.
If they don’t, it won’t.
Ray Shannon,
Iola, Kan.
