FIREWORKS: Small tax, big result

I was fairly amused at Mike Patrick’s most recent editorial titled, ironically, entitlement. Mr. Patrick railed against those who had not donated to pay for the fireworks saying that they seemed to think they were entitled. Pfui. You all think you’re entitled.

I retired here from the St. Louis area a decade or so ago and before I retired I worked with Premier Pyrotechnics of Richland, Mo., setting up and shooting shows in the St. Louis area. There are three billion little towns surrounding St. Louis all packed together. Richmond Heights has 7,000, cross the street and you’re in Clayton with 10,000, cross the street and you’re in Maplewood with 8,000 and so on. Most of ‘em had pyro displays on the 4th and, as a general rule, they had no problem paying for them.

They didn’t feel entitled like the city of Coeur d’Alene who seems to think that they’re entitled to lean on businesses and random people to raise the cash for the display. They allocated a few bucks from everybody’s property tax bill to pay for the display and that way everybody in town who would benefit kicked in a few bucks. One of the functions of government is to provide for the common good and there, my friends, is an example of the common good and how it’s provided. No entitlements.

JEFFREY HARRISON

Worley