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Petition to the Ketchikan Borough Assembly and City Council
By Mike Holman

 

March 04, 2009
Wednesday PM


A few days ago SitNews published a letter captioned "Taxes" written by Dustin Hofeling. At the end of his letter Mr. Hofeling wrote: "I've heard that there is a petition circulating around town which people are signing. The petition will be presented to the borough and city about our disgust at paying more taxes. Where is it? And where do I sign?"

In fact there was an effort to gather signatures on such a petition. A number of long time Ketchikan residents who share Mr. Hofeling's concerns gathered signatures for approximately two weeks. During this time more than 700 signatures were obtained. The petition was presented to the Ketchikan Borough Assembly at the beginning of its meeting on March 2nd. It will soon be presented to the Ketchikan City Council.

A copy of the petition is attached to this letter.

Another recent letter published on SitNews, this one written by Mr. Al Johnson, inspired me to review the writings of some of our "founding fathers". During the gathering of signatures I found courage in the following:

"A wise and frugal government ... shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government." -- Thomas Jefferson, First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1801

"We still find the greedy hand of government thrusting itself into every corner and crevice of industry, and grasping at the spoil of the multitude. Invention is continually exercised to furnish new pretenses for revenue and taxation. It watches prosperity as its prey and permits none to escape without a tribute."
-- Thomas Paine

I cannot say I know much more than the rest of you about either of these men. I'm sure they were imperfect. Nevertheless, I would like to think that if they had said these things in my presence I might have bought a round for the house.

Sincerely,

Mike Holman
Ketchikan, AK

 

Related:

PETITION TO THE KETCHIKAN BOROUGH ASSEMBLY AND THE KETCHIKAN CITY COUNCIL
http://www.sitnews.us/0309Viewpoints/030409Holman/PETITION.pdf

Received March 04, 2009 - Published March 04, 2009

 

Related Viewpoint:

letterTaxes By Dustin Hofeling

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