Askov American., 1933-11-16
are his personal obligations that he
is aroused to protest and to action.
Externally Vigilant."

|
Externally Vigilant."
But the cost is crushing him, anC
thus we see the epidemic of tax re-
volts in recent years, and the spring
ing up of taxpayers associations II
nearly every state and in almost ev
cry county. This activity expresses
the desire of citizens to exert some
organized pressure that will bring
relief. The movement is an eXempli
| fication of vigilance in an emergency
yet, we realize that there can be nc
permanent results until the public is
"eternally vigilant."
The state needs the guidance anC
the unselfish labors of public-spiriteC
citizens, men and women from the
ranks, who try to be useful to theil
government and their generation. il
is now being quite well proved out,
think, that taxpayers associations
have their definite place in creating
and maintaining this citizen-interest
in governmental affairs.
1t would be simple matter to keer
the average citizen alert to the prob
lens of government if we knew off
hand how to read the mind of the
average man.
Take your place on a street corner
in any city, large or small, and watch
the parade of people pass by. Each
individual has his own personal prob.
lens, each his own way to make. All
classes are represented in this pro-
cession. But in the brain of each
person the subjective interest pre-
dominates.
Human Interest Contact.
The average man obviously is in
terested in the world about him: in
sports, in politics, and in the news
of the day. But, above all, he is in
terested in himself. His interest in
government can be cultivated. But
there must be a human interest con-
tact, plus a systematic appeal that
ultimately will cause him to become
more or less absorbed in this subject
primarily because he is interested in
himself. Since the subjective appeal
comes first, then the contact must
reach him at this point. The appeal,
whether talk, news story, or d
point of contact.
Naturally many people devote some
thought to politics. 1t is obvious, how
ever, that the laborer's biggest in
terest centers in government plans to
make jobs and increase wages; the
farmer is vitally interested in farm
relief legislatiOn; the exporter hopes
the government will extend the mar
kets worldwide; the eX-service man
watches the pension news; and so on.
| mention these things to show that
when man has personal stake in
any governmental policy he becomes
very much absorbed in all public pol
icies that are likely to affect his par
ticular personal interest.
Sustaining Interest.
Now, the third point l wish to dis
cuss is how taxpayers associations
can hope to cultivate sustained in
terest in government. 1t is evident
that they must base their contact, not
on guesswork, but on a direct appeal
to the citizens own self interest.
(a) Dramatizing the appeal.
The routine functioning of govern
ment has very little human interest
appeal to the average individual.
When one phase of public activity is
dramatized, it temporarily may be
taken out of the dead-level of medi-
ocrity, but so long as this activity af-
fects the immediate welfare of large
percentage of the people does it con-
tinue to hold attention.
The struggle of a municipality to
balance the budget" is just common
run news until the difficulties encoun-
tered call for rise in the tax rate;
until it affects the income of the man
who will be required to meet the def
cit. Then, however, the problem of
the city council becomes the topic
of the community.
(b) Brevity in stories and talks.
People take their information ION
the fly" these days. Brevity is a first
essential in securing interest. A con-
densed article attracts infinitely more
attention than a lengthy epistle. The
striking points should always be
featured There should be put into
the subject cold facts as we'll as some
red blood Presentation of the intri-
cate taxation problem should be given
in the simplest terms. The examples
should be taken from everyday life to
illustrate the points to be emphasized
There should be continuing program
that would unfold itself consistently,
month after month, like an absorbing
serial story.
Know What Is Going on.
Citizens have a right to know how
their money is spent. They have a
right to know whether their officials
are using good judgment in parceling
out the hard-earned fruits of their
toll. If one is to be rated an intelli-
gent citizen one must have a compre-
hensive report of what is going on in
the village and the county.
When a depOsitor places money in
bank, he expects to see statement
of the banks condition published in
rWyl