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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 8, 1983)
Thursday, December B, 1C33 PC33 4 DiJIy Ncbrcsksn itona II - , sales to. slaonnld emdl No one probably b too surprised that some members of the Legislature already are making plans to back out of a commitment they made last spring. During the last session, Gov. Kerrey convinced the Legislature to tack a temporary 0.5 percent sales tax on top of the regular 3.5 percent levy. The spe cial tax, which Kerrey said would be collected for no more than nine months, is being used to create a $30 million cash-flow reserve fund. Now, some people think it wouldn't be such a bad idea to continue that tax. The Lincoln Journal and Star reported Sunday that some senators and lobby ists want to extend it to provide property tax relief for Nebraska citizens. Sen. Tom Vlckers of Farnam already has said he wants to use the tax to increase state aid to education. It the 0.5 percent levy is continued, the state could raise an estimated $50 million for property tax releif for fiscal year 19S4-S5, the Journal and Star reported. Lower property taxes would, without a doubt, be welcomed by every Nebraskan. But when property taxes are lowered, local government units either have to start spending less money or the state has to provide additional aid, paid for through higher income or sales taxes. Sales taxes used to be a relatively painless way for states to raise revenue. Because it is paid by the consumer in such small increments, it used to go almost unnoticed. But because of higher tax rates and inflation, sales taxes have begun to take a big bite out of the . pocketbook, especially when consumers purchase expensive items such as automobiles. More importantly, if property taxes are reduced in favor of higher sales and income taxes, schools and other local government units will be forced to depend on the state for a large portion of their budget. When the folks at home are shelling out the bucks to keep their schools and villages going, they have a say in how that money is spent. But when the sena tors in Lincoln are in charge of dividing up the money, you can bet they wont always have the best interests of the citizens at heart. To his credit, Gov. Kerrey has vowed to fight against having the temporary tax extended. State senators should do likewise. Local government units should seek ways of flow ering property taxes through reduced spending but the state's tax structure should remain as it is. Unsigned editorials represent official policy of the fall 1983 Daily Nebraskan. They are written by this semester's editor in chief, Larry Sparks. Other staff members will write editorials throughout the semester. i ' - ' r ;w v nTT ox '11' U. l f - v ,. . - .it V ! :, . r &0-JtviiriV I mC5 7IS!I 1.1 LUCK" The Quest for the President's Ear Herewith another chapter of that erudite anthro pological work, "Weird Sex Rites in Washington and Other Savage Lands .. ., i. L,... mm. ...... Unhappily, this chapter deals not with sex in Washington, of which there is precious little, but with The Quest for the President's Ear. The primary reason for the lack of sex is that the various primitive Washington tribes which dwell in the swampy enclave the Solons, the Pentagoni ans, etc., are among the most quarrelsome on earth. When not squabbling among each other, which they invariably are, they are squabbling among them selves, which they invariably are as well But of all the endless intranecine battles, none can compare with The Quest for the President's Ear. By far the most bellicose of all the blood-thirsty Washington savages are those who occupy the White House. Every several years, amid orgiastic rites that last several days, they install a new leader to whom they pledge undying fealty. Then, as soon as he is securely in office, every member of the tribe devotes all his or her waking hours to attempting to steal the President's Ear. ' These primitive people believe, of course, that The President's Ear is the repository of awesome magi cal powers and the native who has it in his posses sion i3 venerated beyond all others. Oddly enough, the native who has the Ear does not wear it on a string around his neck or otherwise proudly display it as do the Bushinga headhunters with their trophies. Instead, he apparently stashs it away in the most secret of spots for fear that it will be stolen from him by an insanely jealous fellow which it inevitably is. Yet never in the memory of a living anthropologist has The Quest for the President's Ear been so bit terly contested as during the current regime. And woe betide the wretched native who loses The President's Ear! Forgotten already i3 poor Allen, who was showered with previous gifts by Oriental potentates because they believed he had The Ear. If he did then, he doesnt now. For he was driven from the tribe menace. cecaFoS
