Letter: Liberal or conservative?

The Department of Homeland Security calls me a right wing extremist. My County Commissioner, Lisa Wiek, calls me a liberal.

I am a “right winger” because I believe in lower taxes.

I am a “liberal” because I believe that one of a county's traditional roles is to use some of its tax monies to provide funding for the youth of that county and one way is through the 4H program.

Now when they were rendering their verdict on this, much was written about the cost vs. what the program, and through the program, the Washington County Fair brought to the area.

For the 2009 Washington County budget, 4H is allotted .0008 of that budget. This is not a large percentage considering the wholesome, goal oriented activities the 4H program offers to our children.

Youth gone astray lead to higher costs in law enforcement, the courts and the Department of Corrections.

Yet four out of five of our county commissioners, (Ms. Wiek wanted to give the program a stay of execution until December), have found 4H to be an unnecessary expense for Washington County.

Therefore, this is the last year they plan to fund the program.

Many county-run programs duplicate those run by other segments of government. Fiscally, it would save more money to cut the duplicate programs and keep the 4H program.

The county commissioners suggest the members go begging to businesses for sponsorship.

Perhaps they think our children can join the "Obama Youth Brigade", officially known as the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, referred to in D.C. as GIVE ?

When I challenged Ms. Wiek on the County Commission's bad decision she said mine was a "liberal" position. I ask: If they all voted against 4H, are they all Conservatives? What does that make me? I must be a woman without a party.

Christine Salmon

Woodbury

Tags: letters to the editor, opinion, salmon, weik, liberal, conservative, 4h