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Viewpoints Our Opinions U.S. should be prepared for a hardliner take-over in Russia Almost every indicator within Russia warns of a hardliner takeover two years from now, or sooner. The government of Boris Yeltsin has been unable to end soaring inflation, which has priced food beyond the means of millions. To expect the average citizen to accept this-in the name of democracy is expecting too much. What is of more concern to the West than a new government in Russia is the threat from hardliners to again seek control erf former satellite nations. Therein lies the threat of military confrontation; for this reason, it's imperative the United States maintain its military capabilities at a high level. Washington may be confronted with the dangerous question of what to do about renewed Russian expansion in the future—unless living conditions inside Russia show quick improvement In many cases these days, lawyers are the only winners Legislatures in some states have moved to limit lawyer's fees—the idea being they shouldn't consume all the money, or most of it, in jury and negotiated awards. While most Americans believe in minimum government regulation, lawyers' fees in some cases have been transparently unreasonable, even legal stealing. The answer to the predicament is complicated. They're too many lawyers, so many seek to create court cases-whether legitimate or not Others jack up fees. Big firms dealing with big corporations can charge about what they like. Often legal fees eat up a large part of settlements. In a recent Missouri case, Sprint agreed to pay S2B million to stockholders for (unadmitted) harmful practices affecting stock prices. New York lawyers fees totaled about $lO million! The average stockholder, it’s estimated, will receive Si 1. Lawyers and law firms feeding on such cases often reap a reward that could mean early retirement for some, fat earnings for entire firms. In many cases these days, lawyers are the only big winners. Today’s scene of lawyers (and doctors) could eventually produce a reaction strong enough to bring about some mandatory limits on fees. Whether this happens in the future, probably depends on the conduct of lawyers and doctors in the years ahead. Deadlines For Submitting New Articles and Photographs 5 pm Monday for Wednesday Edition 5 pm Thursday For Saturday Edition *7i*fte&-fl<uin*t<xt ‘Ti/elcMtet 'tyowi Aetten *7&e £cUt&i. 'Pt&z&c rfcUOtebi, Editor Houston Times-Journal P.O. Drawer M Perry, GA, 31069 Houston Times-Journal P.O. Drawer M • 807 Carroll Street • Perry, Ga. 31069 Phone: (912) 987-1823 Member Georgia Press Association- National Newspaper Association u<AtU4> (Vi tfi.- fn«4r<la4Tv o* tf««-oa p«o|jf«/ t© o*ul to julilton tC.-S.v «'m«n«ni j'o'i- a of- Your right to read this newspaper is protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Our Goal The Houston Times-Journal is published proudly for the citizens of Houston and adjoining counties by Houston Publications Inc.,Perry Ga. Our goal is to produce quality, profitable, community-oriented newspapers that you, our readers, are proud of. We will reach that goal through hard work, teamwork, loyalty, and a strong dedication towards printing the truth. Bob Tribble Daniel F. Evans Julie B. Evans Mitch Tribble President Vice-President Treasurer Secretary Our Staff Brigette Loudermilk Editor and General Manager Eddie Byrd Advertising Director News: Brenda Thompson, Pauline Lewis Sports: Veto Roley Advertising Teresa M. Gavilan Composition: Stacey Shy Classified Advertising: Melanie Bullington Bookkeeping: Judy Hubert Circulation: Donnie Forehand Our Policies •Signed Letters to the editor welcomed. Please limit to 300 words and include address and phone number. •Liability for an error will not exceed the cost of space occupied by the error. •We cannot be responsible for return of pictures or material unless stamped return addressed envelope is included. The Houston Times-Journal (LISPS 000471) is published semi-weekly for SIB.OO per year by Houston Publications, Inc., 807 Carroll Street, Perry, Ga. 31069. Second Class Postage paid at Perry, Ga..POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Houston Times-Journal, P.O. Drawer M.PerryGa. 31069. 155N.1075-1874 One of the two things guaranteed in this life-taxes THE DREADED day has come and gone. April IS, the day that puts dread into the hearts of most Americans. It used to be March 15. the infamous ideas of March, which Shakespeare warned us to beware. But a kindly (?) congress sometime ago decided to give us an extra month to fret over our income taxes and make the final payment In return, of course, the same congress tacked on higher rates and less deductions so that we could get by on less while our inefficient, wasteful government could get by one more...plus, of course, hundreds of billions more that would be borrowed, putting all of us deeper and deeper in debt No fools, those congressmen. Don't you get elected by raising taxes on the wealthy (as they explain it) and borrow more to spend on the hopeless fools who keep sending you to Washington? Of course, you do. History proves it * * * ACTUALLY, what they are doing in Washington is done with mirrors. And, of course, lies, lies, lies. For example, the claim repeated over and over the past year that the largest tax increase in history affected only two percent of taxpayers. What a lie! Of course, it affected just about every taxpayer in the country. 7H£ PiMot f I fSB) I welcome Pnj? I 1 Sica'S) © Mvuu W I JMrv* ~ Tf Your Opinion Protecting our environment Dear Editor: This week is a time set aside each year in the United States to recognize our responsibilities as stewards of our natural resources. It is "Soil and Water Stewardship Week." For many of us, we grew up thinking it was the responsibility of the farmer to practice stewardship of our natural resources. In recent years it has become obvious that it is now the responsibility of all citizens, farm and non-farm, to protect our earch and working together we can do much to assur our children and our grandchildren that they, too, will be able to live in "America The Beautiful." What are some of the things we can do to protect our environment? We can recycle newspapers and aluminum cans. We can let grass clippings fall back on our lawns when we cut the grass. We can clean out the trash we tend to collect under our carports. We can use our water resources more carefully. We can plant a tree or two in the yard. We can work with our friends and neighbors to keep our neighborhoods litter free. And we can thank God periodically that he has blessed us so abundantly. Sincerely, Jim Worrall, Mayor AARP thanks staff for service Dear Editor: This year, as in the past 19 years, the Perry Georgia Chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) sponsored the Tax Assistance program in Perry. The Tax Counseling services provided by volunteers (certified by the IRS) are free to the elderly and to those persons/families in the low-to-modcrate income range in Perry and surrounding communities. At the beginning of the income tax season both the Perry Times and Houston Home Journal participated in publicizing our program. The publicity included articles and inserts in "Local Calendar of Events an<s Houston Times-Journal Some more than others. But to say 98 percent of taxpayers were unaffected takes a lot of gall, which is abundant in Washinton, too. For many there was the move into a higher tax bracket. For some there was elimination or reduction of deductions that have existed for years. For eveyrone there were hidden taxes. On gasoline, for example. And on many other products before we see the. And there were many, many fees. Nobody escaped the opportunity to make these "investments", as they were described by our president * * * MILLIONS of taxpayers received refunds when they filed their income tax returns this year. They were thrilled. This, of course, makes them feel good and our representatives in Washington smile broadly. These people forget that any money they get back is money taken from their pay throughout the year. The president and members of congress would not have the guts to discontinue withholding and estimating income taxes. Not because the money is needed all year long. But because there would be a massive taxpayer revolt when people learned how much they are paying if they had to do it all in a lump sum on April 15. Taxpayers who have to make a final payment each April 15 growl and blame the IRS. Many people ■ Wednesday, Apr! 27,1994" H0u5t0n Times-Journal Page 4A send nasty notes along with their taxes. They really give the IRS a fit. Of course, these people are ignorant. The villains are the men and women these same taxpayers elected and sent to Washington to represent them. Even members of congress join in the tirade against the IRS at tax paying lime. It's great to have someone else to blame for your misdeeds. They're no dummies. Just like they come home and run for reelection against the villainous Washington establishment when in reality they are the Washington establishment. That’s how the game is played. And it works. * * * ONLY A few days after the passing of infamous April 15 Rep. Dan Rostenkowski, who has the job of shepherding President Clinton's health care plan through congress, has said that it will call for massive new taxes. He didn't even call it an "investment." By the time you add income taxes to taxes paid by business to taxes paid on products while they are in the pipeline to state income taxes and excise taxes to taxes and fees paid on so many products far less than half the money we earn is available to buy services and products. What can be done? Maybe nothing. Maybe it will get worse. Senators Nunn and Domenici have similar columns . During the season a merger of the two newspapers occurred which included the utilization of some of the employees of both newspapers. Some of these individuals along with the Editors had and continued to contribute in some way the publicity needed to keep the public informed about our program. It is to these individuals as well as YOU CWSPaPCr 3S 3 Wh °' C 1 S3y ' n behalf of thc local chapter THANK A special thanks to Brenda Thompson who thought about our program and took time to visit our work site at thc Public Library in order to write a very timely article. Needless to say without the support to the media, persons in private and public services, and thc response by the people the Tax Assistance program would not exist. During the period of April 6, 1993 through April 15, 1994 348 taxpayers received assistance with their tax returns, this assistance consisted of counseling and advice, preparation of federal and shite returns, and helping taxpayers resolve problems with the IRS or thc Georgia Income Tax Division. We appreciate this service and want you to know thc response continues to be favorable. Thc completion of 20 years of tax counseling and preparation of tax returns is a strong indication that our free tax assistance has become an acceptable and reliable service to those persons in need of tax assistance. Sincerely, Paul K. LeVan Tax-Aide Coordinator Debate tradition in our county Dear Editor, As the Debate Coach for Northside High School for nineteen years, and President of the Georgia Debate Coaches Association for the last nine l ear l s ’ * " avc a s P cc ' a * interest in the tradition of interscholastic debate in the Houston County School system. Each year when I attend the Barkley orum hosted by Emory University (the most prestigious invitational debate tournament in the United States), I stop to admire a gallery of placards honoring those schools who have won the Barkley Forum since Please see LETTERS, page 10A I proposed replacing the income tax with a form of consumer tax. It is gradually gaining support. Another proposal that is so simple it makes sense is a flat tax on income. It has been reported that a fiat tax of only 12 percent would raise more money than the present income tax system that requires thousand of pages just to put into a code. Of course, both of these ideas lack one ingredient that most congressmen count on to get reelected. There would be no way to claim they are soaking the rich to help the poor. Class warfare is a staple of most politicians in Washington. There would be no loopholes for friends and financial supporters. It would be fair and this certainly would not be acceptable to thousands of special interest groups who count on the tax code to protect and reward them. ♦ * * SO DON’T expect any relief in the foreseeable future. Brace for new and higher taxes...some easy to recognize, many hidden. Prepare for a lower standard of living. The government certainly won't make any effort to get by on less...but you will have no choice.