Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-12-29
NEWS
BEHIND
The NEWS
By Paul
MaHon

W ANiii.N' ''.Nf l''''
" young lawyer friend Of
mine IN Che southwest decided
io enter politics a, a career
llc started Tho night way. at tho
bottom sct,mG himself elected
10 a county board of super
NISotS.
~ once however. no raised
Tho TAX Icvy on An real estate
i'm thc county. caused an IN
crease m the valuations and lust
about doubicd the tax bill ON all
Tho people. though thai would
nip his political career pracii-
caiIN M embryo But. immcdi-
atcy ne ran for the state loCi>-
ldiurc and Was elected almost
unanimously
Both he and found that not
llgle taxpayer resented or
remembered his perm ancnt
doubling ~ ihcir cost of living
~ nl> community but a small
group OF individuals whose lands
were benefited by building a
SJUc1 rrTUuEt1 tUCu property
thereby increasing rs value.
and certain farmers Who OBJ
famed county ROADS through
their property clearly rcmcm-
hcrod has work IN their in
forests Development of the
County" suppose they would
call i and they Whoopod up
almost unanimous sentiment for
him.
L WAS somewhat startling
L for me 10 realize that this
-Drrut1ar condition. of-NmoEiean-
poITJiCS applies 10 The federal
GOV eminent rs 4 whole have
never known = congressman 10
he defeated tor voting a tax
upon his people
hundreds have been elected
because they Succee cd IN
set ttftss federal expenditures FOR
several people Of their district
war contract for one, roads
ho-olS. appropriations for
others
-II-Aa4- a-a-+4-a wise man, or
prudent one, can hardly succeed
except by accident UpdCr our
political system As now prac-
tccd. Success obviously requires
tho lcNNinC OF ever increasing
tribute upon all the people for
tho benefit 1.-the few
Is this moi the defect Of this
political era Indeed. Is ~ not
-tfrr'- rrrITT1 CTrTSC OF OUT fUnda-
mental political trouble?
This current practice Of gov
eminent started only 20 years
or so ago when political leaders
dJScol cred that tho use Of tho
AUTOMOBILES and the building OF
good roads contained a Surc-fre
political fiila-Peorfe- ssotttd-
nc Naddlod with great debts IN
thou cities, states and federal
governments. IN return for the
convenience and pie sure OF
Il rlVlng over Ghe country on
hard roads
NOT unth then did any gov.
" eminent dare lcNN taxes Of
more than minor lnconSoquen-
iTsl nature upon Ii> people IN
decd The revolution IS supposed
10 have been fought in resist
ance Of minor stamp taN
The formula expanded Hike
balloon. until tho government
furnished moro and more funds
for more and more conYcnienccS
for people increasing taxes and .
debts apaCe
T c 9 expenditures were
found 10 furnish good business
10 contractors. road building
concerns, brick manufacturers.
--+..+-.---.-.---4-A-.-
hccn justified tho theory that
the government has a primary
right tO Z part OF a man IN
como oven before he gets IT
withholding taxi.
To get elected 10 tho preSi.
dcnCN or even 10 Congress. n
has hccn customary for amhl-
fi0u~ mon 10 ContriNc ncW pro-
po>al~ ot expenditures never
mentioning taxes. rarely ,uc-
costing prudent management
and c1on when they do. agree 4
ing tONotc fot private personal
expenditures 70 othci groups.
thu, nulhf\rg rhcU primary IN
teHtdnS.
( 'AN q nation >,uNivc on such
an c'cl expanding balloon
'hNog>N The expansion cannot
onfnuc much further m tho
1co oi tho S2O0uOO 600 600 or
more federal debt NC arc ac-
'umI'afnc
What should hc done about
t.? The answer must hc IN The
field Of making the politician
,pHNe 20 hc prudent 10y creating
condition which Viii make 1t
.o hl, personal advantage
tir~' necessary step is AN
weakening of iho TAXPAYERS 10
Use facts of government lie,
Whom they sec and know those.
bcs may find avenues for ca
PRESSING themselves .oaC!c~ of