Taxes OK with strict rules

Shawn Vestal recently (Jan. 28) wrote a column about the group Citizens for Responsible Taxation. He said, “Beal, Montgomery and Alton are Citizens For Responsible Taxation, although everyone knows there is no such thing as responsible taxation.”

Mr. Vestal, though attempting to be humorous, does bring up a good point. Is there such a thing as “responsible taxation”?

How does society propose funding government schools or agencies, if not by some form of taxation? State legislators and Congress all seem to believe in taxation. As a matter of fact, so did the Founding Fathers, who wrote the U.S. Constitution. In fact, they believed in “responsible taxation” so much that they set up some pretty strict rules about it, which have been consistently ignored by lawmakers who sponsor pork barrel projects or fund unconstitutional programs, creating a climate of unreasonable taxation at every level of government.

The efforts of three citizens exercising their First Amendment right to free speech to educate the public on their point of view concerning a school bond is equally valid and deserves an equal respect as those who may be in favor of it.

Karen Murray

Quincy, Wash.