To the Journal editor:

Grandpa’s generation, under Truman a Democrat, united together and raised taxes in World War II to keep America free.

Dad’s generation, under Eisenhower, a Republican, raised taxes because the returning veterans needed education and jobs. Eisenhower used taxes to initiate the G.I. Bill for education and create our super highways. He had seen the value of rapid transit during the war and road construction plus home construction would provide critical employment.

My generation now sees bridges falling down, pot holes in abundance, old water mains breaking which results in geysers spouting up through the streets, decaying neighborhoods, fewer jobs and higher poverty. But the political ads of our day cry out, “Elect me. I will lower your taxes.”

I am thankful to pay taxes. First, because Jesus tells me to, “Render unto the government the tax due the government and unto God that which is God’s.” (Matthew 22:21) And second, because both myself and my fellow American’s benefit.

Taxes pay for the kids to have a great school system, for the elderly to be helped in the Medical Care Facility, for the grader to level our roads in the summer and plow our snow in the winter, for police and fire protection and for personnel to oversee the larger needs and manage them.

Is small government the answer? Our son is a township supervisor in North Dakota. Their legislature meets only two months out of the year. The state is flooded with money due to the oil boom. But the grain truck I was driving during harvest collapsed a culvert.

The township infrastructure isn’t getting adequate funds to fix the roads. Small groups control the cash and there is no political clout to distribute the bonanza. Privatization is as unresponsive and unethical as political units. Small government is no more of an angel than big government!

So, raise my taxes to meet the critical needs of today and give me a wise government to use them properly.

Rev. Robert Langseth

Calumet