Bay Area Quake Aftermath and Freeway Safety

So our elected officials are in a quandary about how to come up with the money necessary to help the victims of the San Francisco earthquake to repair the damages, and repair the roads and freeways and to make them safe. I read and hear the same old thinking--put the burden on the backs of the people. I mean talk of a higher sales tax and a 25 cent per gallon increase in the gasoline tax--also a sales tax. This is the most regressive kind of tax which puts a disproportionate burden on the poor and on low- and middle-income people.

May I suggest a few fairer alternatives? To begin with, how about using the state’s billion-dollar emergency fund, which Gov. George Deukmejian insisted upon at the expense of social programs such as mental health care and family planning? Maybe this is not an emergency. Then we could divert the $9 million to be sent to influence the election in Nicaragua. The Pentagon could contribute a few billions from its unspent funds. We could withdraw a few thousand troops from Europe, Japan and Korea and use the funds thus saved--we spend over $180 billion a year to “defend” those countries. I’m sure our ex-presidents will be glad to contribute the $1.8 million recently voted to them by our generous Congress. Need I say more?

SOL LONDE

Northridge