Let's look at another side of this stimulus money some people think we are throwing around.

Suppose the wealth of a resource were to earn its way through the economic stages of its life. As it moved from the Earth, each person who touched it seeks a profit. They now invest some of their earnings into more profit at that level. Each business does the same. Each seeking a profit. By expanding their growth now becomes the strength of our economy. The stronger we become, the less taxation is required to maintain that growth. The more people we have making a profit, the larger the tax base.

We now have many safe and beautiful highways and beaches. Our forests are equally as beautiful and can be maintained while still using an unlimited amount of lumber. Just look at all the beautiful buildings, schools and hospitals all paid for through their use. We all get to use these things and we all pay for them. This is the ideology of free enterprise.

Now let us look at the dream of President Ronald Reagan. We give our corporations free reign over our economy and let the chips fall where they may. Of course, he called this a trickle-down economy wherein corporate profits would someday find their way back to Earth and its people. But did they? This occurred only after huge profits were made at a level of taxation to the CEO's dictation. We now reward this same person for robbing Peter to pay Paul.

A nation's wealth depends on that which comes from the Earth. For some countries this is oil. For others it is opium and still others comes in the form of food and fiber for its people. Each of our many needs can be filled at a profit. If each of us seeks that profit, we can be a strong and healthy nation once again.

Gene Rake, Columbus