Newspapers / The News-Record (Marshall, N.C.) / July 9, 1987, edition 1 / Page 4
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fi mp ^ ? ? ? ? ^ ? it* *llh m, Editorial Only Serious Candidates Need Apply Although November 1968 is still 16 months away, the nation is already turning its attention to the race for the presidency. Democrats galore have announced their plans to seek our country's highest elected office, and a handful of Republicans want to move into the Oval Office after Ronald Reagan and company move out. But 12 months before November 1968 comes November 1967. That's the month when voters will go to the polls to select the men and women wholl be governing their respective towns for the next couple of years. In terms of advance publicity and interest, municipal elections are a far cry from the hubbub of presidential elec tions. But, in terms of importance, muncipal and national elections are on equal footing. In fact, when it comes right down to it, municipal elections could well be considered more important than the presidential race. After all, the folks who serve as mayors and aldermen are the folks who set your property tax rates, who figure out how much youll pay for water and sewer service, who determine what streets will be repaved and which ones won't and who decide whether the police department will get a big enough slice of the town budget to purchase a new patrol car. In terms of immediate impact on the life - and wallet - of the voter, municipal elections win by a landslide. The time for candidates to file for municipal office is now upon us. Some folks currently serving wont be running for re election, and that means there will be some seats up for grabs. Here's hoping that folks who throw their names into the hat have the proper attitude about the Jobs they'll be seeking. Here's hoping that they, unlike some current office holders, see their monthly meetings not as a time to do some con structive work for the betterment of their town, but as an annoyance and a conflict. Would-be mayors and aldermen who don't have the time to attend monthly meetings because of "conflicts" - be those conflicts a son's little league baseball game, a new job with late hours, or an episode of "ALF" - shouldn't waste the space on the ballot. Marshall, Mars Hill, Hot Springs and Weaverville are full of intelligent people with good ideas about where their towns should be going and how they should get there. Here's hoping that several of them throw their hats into the ring. Governing a town is simply too important an endeavor to leave to those suffering from apathy. Plan A Fair Solution To School Woes Weeks of legislative posturing and maneuvering, pawing and snorting have paid off with a plan that would inject reasonable amounts of money into the construction of new schools. If the plan becomes law - and if the General Assembly maintains its resolve to impose higher business taxes over the next several years -North Carolina's crowded, public school systems will make welcome progress toward respectability. Aa endorsed by leaders of the House and Senate, the proposal hinges on a rise in the corporate income tax from 6 to 7 percent That is a sound choice. Income taxes pass the equity last because they fall most heavily on those most able to afford them. And using a corporate tax to fund school improvements would be appropriate. Many companies profit from the state's economic growth, yet fail to do their share to meet the costs of lhil|n?wUi Ini liwliuir himl i i|iniiiilnsi iia pain of an income tax hike would be somewhat offset by eliminating a longtime hnahwws bugaboo, the tax on in held by manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, tewntory tax has been worth keeping so long as the THE NEWS RECORD corporate income tax remained at 6 percent, its original level. But if the income tax is increased, the inventory levy can prudently be jettisoned. The chief virtues of the compromise are that it would rely on a progressive tax and that it would provide substantial new revenues to the schools - $830 million over 10 years - instead of merely borrowing from Peter to pay Paul. None of the other plans launched during recent weeks of Jockeying could meet both requirements. Other features in the package would push the MKyear total earmarked for new s&ools to $3.2 billion. The $1.5 billion bond propopsal supported by Gov. Martin would have made low-interest state loans available to counties for school construction. But unless counties wanted to slash other spending, they would have had to raise taxes to repay the loans. How likely is thft when all along, the counties' inability or unwillingness to tax themselves adequately has been a root cause of school building deficiencies] At the debate's other extreme has been the one-cent sales tax increase favored by House leaders. Although such an increase would have yielded the billion over four years -it r on ordinary i a tax paytt - |1.75 ?: ^ri.; THE NEWS RE Heard And Seen By POP STORY Fourth Of July Was A Real Blast By POP STORY Hie customary Fourth of July celebrations in Marshall, Mars Hill, Hot Springs and other cotters were successful, with plenty of fireworks, outside attractions, contests, country music, etc. As usual, the festivities again proved to be popular en tertainment, despite the torrid temperatures. Personally, I enjoyed just sitting up home where it was quiet. That is, until nightfall when loud firecrackers and mountain music filled the air, which could be heard clearly while I sat outside. The rodeo in Marshall again proved to be a popular at traction, and the spectators evidentally enjoyed the show. So mftch for the Fourth of July celebrations. EVERETT'S JOKES Here are several jokes submitted by Everett Barnett: In a small Southern town, there was a boy who had the reputation of being not very bright. People had fun with him several times a day by placing a dime and a nickle on the open palm of his hand. Whenever they told him to take his pick, he . would always pick the nickle. The crowd would always laugh. One day, a kind-hearted woman asked him, "Dont you know that the the dime, though smaller, is worth more]" The boy answered, "Sure I do, but they wouldn't try me out on it if I ever took the dime." LODGE SECRETS A man and his wife were sitting by the fireside in their cozy home. He had just returned from a lodge meeting. "You're always asking nw to to tell you a lodge secret. Well, I could tell you one now, but you wouldn't like it." "Oh, George, do tell me. I would like it. Tell me!" the wife nagged on. "Okay," said the husband, "here's the secret. I just paid my dues so you wont be getting a birthday present this year." SHORT AND SWEET A speech should be like a woman's skirt, long enough to cover the subject ... but short enough to be interesting. PAINFUL DELIVERY Speeches are like babies . . . easy to conceive, but hard to U.S. Constitution Not Part Of Plans At 1787 Convention By RHODA BILLINGS Former N.C. Supremo Court Justice The ibi?g?t?? to the Constitutional Convention in 1717 weren't supposed to write a constitution. After declaring independent sovereign states, encti was governed by an individual state government by a ?W Daring the Revolutionary War, those states had banded together for their "common defense" In an alliance that would provide for a closer working relationship among the itltM Because the new "federal" government would exist only if the states agreed to create It and to relinquish certain of their sovereignty to it, a written con stitution was necessary so that the people of the states (or the state legislatures) could read and un derstand the nature a f this new government and the scope of to didrM - a list of the govern HHm _ thefoon
The News-Record (Marshall, N.C.)
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July 9, 1987, edition 1
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