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Over The Coffeecups
Warren Mitchell - Editor
TODAY'S PROGRAM
Bill Scarbrough
will introduce Dr. Henry A. Frazer, a native of
Montgomery and the founder and president of Drug Research and
Analysis Corp. here in Montgomery. He has a B.S. in
Pharmacology from Mercer University. His company and staff
conduct the research on new drugs before they are released by
the Food and Drug Administration for availability in your
pharmacy.
He is married to the former
Mary Y. Oliver. They have 2 children, John and Susan, both
grown.
He was honorably discharged
from the U.S. Army in 1966; later he was with the U.S. Public
Health Service until 1968. While with the U.S. Health Service
he was detailed to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration,
Bureau of Medicine in Washington, D.C.
He has been active in civic
affairs with the Montgomery Kiwanis Club. His topic will be
"Care of the Uninsured, Underinsured and Underserved".
LAST
WEEKS
PROGRAM
Vince Cox
introduced Lt. General Charles Cleveland, who retired
as Commander of the Air University after 35 years of service
in the U.S.A.F. Also mentioned was his many years of civic
and government service in Montgomery and Alabama.
General
Cleveland said he was asked to speak or maybe he had to speak
to us. He was glad to introduce Marty Sullivan, a big cog in
the machine that is trying to get the tax accounta-bility,
reform, or whatever you want to call it. A fair statement no
matter what you call it, is raising taxes. Marty was well
informed about Amendment 1 and was available for questions.
He's
seen signs that say we are taxed enough. He doesn't know how
that can be said, when we are so far in debt. Our tax
structure is the lowest in the U.S. A state that lacks
accountability for every tax dollar spent. The state has a
fiscal straight jacket in the form of 89% ear marking of all
its funds. A state with a tax system, structured, the lowest
in the nation and the most unbalanced, and unfair in the
nation. Those are the problems facing Governor Riley and the
Legislature. He wonders how low taxes have to go before
opponents say they are low enough.
Numbers
to him mean policy and in the 50 states plus the District of
Columbia, the tax burden of Alabama rates 51. All taxes per
person are included. The numbers go like this; our tax burden
per person is at $2,100 per year. The maximum that is paid in
any state is $4,600. The national average is $3,000 per
year. Our neighbors in the Southeast average $2,550. When he
retired in 1984, he bought a house but could not believe the
property tax. The first bill he saw, he said
Alabama taxes
are so high. He was looking at the yearly taxes, not monthly
taxes. He couldn't believe he could get away with having a
nice house in a nice neighborhood for such low taxes. (About
$700 per year)
Opponents say we are one of
the poorest states so we rank in the middle of those when you
factor in the ability to pay. That is wrong when you factor
in the ability to pay, the percent of personal income that
goes to pay taxes. We jump from 51 to 49, ahead of
Tennessee. We've gotten use to the low level of public
service that is provided by taxes. The level is so low that
some look at it as a badge of honor. No longer can we say
"Thank God for Mississippi". If taxes are raised we would be
in 45th position, which is a bad position.
Education has improved in
the city, but further improvement is needed. Accountability
in educational funding is needed. About 48% of the budget in
the Special Education fund goes to other purposes. Past pork
gets most of the money. A legislator will call a large
organization and tell them he will vote for their budget
(adding to it) if part of the money goes to a smaller
organization; his pet project. This will not be allowed with
Amendment 1. There are 19 bills included in the amendment.
It reflects points of views from all points on the compass.
It will require every item in the budget to be open to the
public; etc. An oversight committee will examine the budget
and make a report. Pork will not be eliminated unless
legislators are shot.
The amendment in the first
year raises $2 billion that will go to a fund, where the money
will go to where it is needed; eliminating ear marking the
second year. The first year money will go to education and
improving schools. A few states ear mark 20% of their
budget. Alabama has 82% of the budget ear marked. Only 2
states in the U.S. have 50% ear marked.
A Massachusetts think tank
says Alabama will lose 24,000 jobs. Alabama research says
just the opposite. It also says there is a 95% relationship
between education and productivity taxes.
Poor people, west side,
don't believe any white bill will help them.
This is a one time
opportunity to improve the state.
LAST
WEEK'S
GUESTS
John Roddan, from the
Houston County Club was John Burch's guest. He has
moved to Montgomery.
Donna George from the
Faulkner Club was Scott Powell's guest.
Marty Sullivan
accompanied General Cleveland to assist him.
RSVP LUNCHEON
Wednesday,
September 10th
members
will meet at the Civic Center to help seniors on and off
buses.
ENTERTAINMENT
Al
said we have to think
about the following: If Fed-Ex and UPS merged it would be
called Fed-Up. If quitters never win and winners never quit,
what fool came up with quit while you're ahead. What hair
color is put on your driver's license if you're bald? If we
are here to help others, then what are the others here for?
Clones are people too. Since light travels faster than sound,
isn't that why some people appear bright until you hear them
speak?
ANNOUNCEMENTS
President
Wilkinson announced September 20th, will be a work day,
weather permitting, at the handicapped playground
Vaughn
Park.
There
will be a Board Meeting September 22nd at John Burch & Al
McLellan's office.
The
notice of a dues increase will be presented so the club
will be prepared to vote on it.
THOUGHT
FOR
THE
DAY
Mike
Winstead read the
following. A shepherd was herding his flock when out of a
cloud of dust a new BMW appeared. A well dressed young man
leaned out the window and said, "If I tell you exactly how
many sheep you have, will you give me one?" "Sure", said the
shepherd.
The young man umps out with
his Dell notebook. He accesses an MS-SGL database and other
programs. He comes up with a 1,500 page report on his laser
printer. He then said the sheep herder had exactly 1,586
sheep. The shepherd told him to take a sheep. The shepherd
said, "If I can guess your business can I get back the sheep?"
"Sure", said the young man. "You are a consultant", said the
shepherd. "How did you know?", asked the young man. "You
showed up here even though nobody called you; you want to get
paid for an answer I already know; to a question I never
asked; and you don't know anything about my business". "Now
give me back my dog."
DALRAIDA
SCHOOL
Thursday, September 11th,
members will read to students at Dalraida after the meeting.
October 9th is the next time members will read to the students
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