Use taxes for citizens, not enticements

It appears that our governmental organizations within North Carolina have decided that they must become a provider to the wealthy at the expense of the average citizen. It appears that more and more governmental units are abandoning their central role of protector of our citizens.

We have more and more governmental units at all levels becoming wealth redistributionists. … It is a shame that those involved in our governmental operations have such a low opinion of themselves and their abilities. North Carolina has wonderful people and some of the best environmental situations in the United States. Our people and our environmental situations only need to be promoted by our governmental entities as the attractions.

I pay my taxes with little complaint. When my taxes are used for wealth redistribution I get concerned. I get highly concerned when that redistribution is to some person or company who is already wealthy and not in need.

It is time we the citizens of North Carolina demanded better of our elected officials. It is time that we required them to only use our tax dollars for the operation of a functioning government within our community, our county and our state. It is time that our elected officials took our tax dollars and improved our communities, our counties and our state rather than redistributing our tax dollars to those who are already wealthy.

We must ask our elected officials to use our tax dollars as operational funds and never as enticement funds. If our elected officials correctly use our tax dollars they will improve our communities, our counties and our state. This improvement will better our communities, our counties and our state for our permanent residents. This betterment will open up avenues that will attract others, including employers to all parts of our state.

It is time that our elected officials took steps to stop the misuse of our tax dollars into areas that are not a part of daily operations of the governmental unit involved.

— Ray Shamlin
Rocky Mount, N.C.

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