Milford chronicle., 1961-08-18

CAN'T MAKE EN- BUY

People have a considerable degree of
control over the amounts they pay in sales
taxes and excise taxes. They can refuse to
buy the commodities so taxed-or buy in
smaller quantity.
That has proven true with the most
highly taxed of all necessities gasoline.
The gas tax, state and federal combined,
now averages more than 10 cents gallon
which is just about equal to the before-tax
cost of the fuel. And new study shows
what the steady increase in gasoline taxa
ton has done to consumption.
There have been 48 separate state gaso-
line tax increases in the past decade. In 81
instances, says the study, the ensuing years
showed a decline in the anticipated growth
rate of gasoline consumption.
The study also suggests that increases
in the federal gasoline tax, which is now
four cents a gallon, have also adversely af-
fected the growth rate. For instance, in
1859, after the latest one-cent federal in
crease, 80 states, according to preliminary
estimates, showed drop in their growth
rate.
Very recently, the soaring sales of COM
pact automobiles, foreign and domestic, in
dictate the trend. A primary appeal of these
cars is reduced gasoline consumption. The
price of gas-which is the result of exorbi-
tant taxatiOn-has undoubtedly sold legions
Of buyers on the smaller, more economical
cars.
What it all adds up to is that taxes like
so many other things, can reach point of
diminishing returns. Governments can raise
the rates to any level-but they can't stop
the citizen from buying less and less. The
gas tax is a fine example Of this truism.
THE PACE GETS FASTER
II
the American way of life, these days, is the
health experts in all fields, that the fast pace
of living in the United States is our most
serious problem.
In the United States, heart attacks, ner-
vous breakdowns and all sorts of nervous
disorders are steadily on the increase, and
the experts know the reason for this tragic
trend is the terrific pace of life we are
setting.
1t is an established fact that the execu-
tives of America are dying in early life
spans which terminate in the early fifties.
This is startling development.
The number of mental disorders, nerv-
Gus breakdowns and I'll sorts of other all
ments has increased strikingly as a result
of the tension of modern living. This ten
sion is brought about by pressure, and the
drive to Out-produce, out-wOrk and Out-earn
our neighbors.
We have reached the time in the United
States when a showdown in the average bus
mess mans daily routine is almost imper-
ative. Some Of those who are reading this
editorial will take decades, or perhaps even
more, from their life span, by not needing
these words.
A number of solutions are available
More leisure time should become a must
with many business men. Forms of recre-
alton and hobbies should be seriously cul-
tivated Lastly, and most important of ALL
ones mental outlook should be adjusted so
that one should not continue to drive him
self toward the attainment Of an idealstic
goal, set perhaps in ones mind and philo-
sophy years before.
Learn to relax and not to worry about
the other man, and you will add years to
your life and thereby increase the years in
which you can earn money and thereby earn
more money Moreover, you will probably
find that, by relaxing and learning to live
all over again, you will be better equipped
for whatever you are doing.