Where will the money come from to provide assistance?

To the Sun,

I have read with some alarm several recent articles and letters that all seem to have an underlying point: we need to spend [more] money.

While I can appreciate the natural human emotions that spur people to help people who need assistance, there is often something missing from these pleas: where will the money come from?

There was a letter supporting mandatory lead testing for 1 and 2 year olds. The mandate was OK because medical insurance would pay for it. Where does their money come from? Policy holders (or taxpayers).

One of the state rep candidates wrote about dealing with opioid overdoses. Where should funding come from? The state. Where does that money come from? Taxpayers.

There is the ongoing effort to renovate the Colonial Theater in Laconia. There have been private contributors (the best source), local tax dollars, and state tax dollars thrown into the kitty. What about the rest? Federal monies. Where do those come from? Taxpayers and inflation (or quantitative easing, if you prefer a euphemism). I can’t think of a valid reason to ask Oklahomans to pay for Laconia’s project.

My “Frugal Four” State Rep colleagues and I realize that people should be entitled to the fruits of their labors. Ideally, they should have some say about the uses of their money. We acknowledge that there are Constitutionally-mandated functions of government that need to be funded. However, we are unhappy at the size and inefficiencies of government. If we are elected, we will always keep in mind who “pays the bills” in Meredith and Gilford.

Rick Notkin

Candidate for State Rep, Gilford and Meredith

Gilford