The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1962-01-12

racy? Do I have an obligation to
anyone besides myself? Am | salts
fled with the distribution of my small
contribution out of my patty finan-
cial wealth to this great nation, state
and county in which | live?
Well. not entirely. The benefits
are not as widely spread as l would
like to see them. I am sure there is
waste that might be eliminated. But
for maximum efficiency | would not
change the process. l think about
the comment of DIR. Fisher of MISC,
who said you can not operate gov
eminent like you do business. If you
did you would collect all the traffic
would bear and give as little in re-
turn as possible. With all the de-
| ficiencies of the method we have
there are two built-in safeguards.
We can speak out and we can change
the administration, and that is some
thing we can't do with any business
enterprises we may deal with.
If l were willing to give every
cent I have paid in taxes to indi-
vidual efforts to do what my state
and federal taxes do, the results
would be catastrophe. And how many
of us would contribute voluntarily
to these efforts?
This is the meaning of govern
ment to maintain an orderly
society >. to collect taxes, grudging-
1,, nayan hr~o11nhf
to bear the element of fair and equit-
able distribution, to be used to pro-
mote the general welfare. There are
still would-be Kings and Pharaohs
who can enhance their kingdoms only
by creating an atmosphere of antag-
onism in you and me over taxes we
pay. 1t is not only the taxes we pay,
but what we get for them that counts.
l am working to have my taxes used
to promote the general welfare, to
bring some degree of sanity to bear
on world problems, to feed the hun
cry people of the world and to help
them progress so they can enjoy the
benefits of democratic society.
All of my taxes are not going for
the things I would like to see them
go, and l shall continue to battle on
these issues, but if lower taxes mean
curtailing domestic benefits 1 would
not pay one cent less.
Those people who fight taxes hard
est and loudest, concentrate ON deny
ing those things that affect the peo-
pie of this country the greatest, such
as education, public health services,
development. health insur-
ance for the aged. At the same time
hey ignore the real waste in govern
nent and the items that take the
argest share of the tax dollar.
In closing / would like to quote
from letter we received from a son
who had been home for Christmas
md was expressing his gratitude for
owing care and attention while he
vas here. He said, in part: "I was
asked when | returned, What did
you get for Christmas, and thought
If the many fine tokens of love and
affection which makes this family
Ian one of the closest and most
And | felt sorrowful knowing that
n the world, the feelings which shine
ON Christmas quickly dis
ppear as society resumes it's cease
ess pace +. 1t is too bad that def
litions cannot be expanded from the
Individual to his total society. For
when we give of ourselves,
specially when we give something
which we cherish for any reason, it
called self-sacrifice and is con-
idered good; but when as a nation
re give that which we hold for any
eason, and sometimes truly or falsely
her1sh +. it is bad And what
the individual? A part of family,
community, society, a nation,
'orld, any one of which can not
xist without the rest, yet we would
lsk destroying at the expense of all
ne others. :"