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PAGE 8-PLAINDEALER-FRIDAY. JANUARY 21.1983 . --'PLAINDEALER-^ Editorial Opinion Mass Production Mass production has brought many benefits to Americans; in some cases, however, it has reduced the quality of American life. Most of those who survived Christmas rat racing look back to melancholy moments trying to assemble some of America's mass-produced toys, gadgets, appliances, etc. The instructions are illiterately done, parts left out of the package, screws the wrong size, or the parts don't fit properly--in too many kits. And the big stores go in more and more for selling boxes of parts-instead of goods ready to enjoy. It's time for consumers to rebel against the steadily escalating sale of parts. If it takes an hour or two to assemble the toy, appliance or household gadget, the price really isn't what one paid. Instead, the buyer becomes the retailer, who traditionally assembles his goods, furnishing traditional labor. The seller is today often actually filling the traditional role of manufacturer - selling mass produced parts. Emergency Relief U.S. workers in the traditional Great Lakes industrial belt and h*. the Midwest are suffering high unemployment partly because of import policies which allow Japanese exporters to capture an annually higher percentage of the U.S. market. Other exporting countries also take advantage of liberal U.S. import laws. . Negotiations have produced limited progress but not enough to solve the problem in today's emergency conditions. The latest example of the problem was the announcement by Bethlehem Steel that it planned to close two steel mills in Pennsylvania arid New york in. J983. The steel industry is already hard hit. So is the automobile industry and other traditional American industries. The Japanese are manufacturing an ever- increasing share of television sets, video receivers, computers, time pieces, appliances, etc. - in addition to automobiles. Some of today's problem is to be attributed to the recession. Some is to be {attributed to an historical trend in the nation to a service-oriented society. But much of it is due to increasing imports in the fields cited, and others. Congress can take emergency action to ease the plight of afflicted regions. i President Nixon slapped a temporarylee of 10 percent on imports more than a decade ago. That nelped save jobs, balance international payments and restore integrity and stability to the U.S. dollar. It produced wails of protest from abroad, of course, but these protests,in the end, added up to nothing. I One of the first orders of business for Congress and the Reagan Administration in 1983 might be a similar form of relief, or selective relief, I perhaps, for American industry, and workers losing out to foreign imports. It's a case of survival for American jobs and families. Whatever the merit of trade theories and ideals, emergency situations which confront Americans warrant emergency, temporary rescue efforts. State-Local Taxes Which states and communities charge their citizens most in state and local taxes? The figures for 1981, the latest available, show that among the continental 48, the District of Columbia charges residents most-an average of $1,771. Wyoming was next, at$l,704 and New York third, at$l,630. Fourteen other states are expensive to live in, from this measurement, citizens being assessed, on average, more than $1,100. They are: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Nev Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon and Wisconsin. States where the local and state tax bite are lowest? The low eight (under $800) are: Alabama, Arkansas (lowest of all states at $678), Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Tennessee. States where these taxes raise the Neatest sum of money are California ($29.8 billion), New York, Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Michigan, in that order. -- P L A I N D E A L E R " ^ Letter to the Editor Public Pulse t (The Plaindeoler invites th« public fo use thii column at an expression ot their views on subjects of general in teres! in our community. Our only request it thot Iht writort givt signature full address and phone numbtr We ask too thot on* individual not w;itt on th« tamo subject mort than one* a month. Wo reserve the right to delete any moteriol which wo contidor libolout or in objoctionablo totto.) WATER RATES "Editor: "Public Pulse letter dated Jan. 12, 1983, did not provide readers with complete facts regarding the proposed water rate increase, r "Effective Nov. 4, 1982, the \ McHenry City Council, with a J unanimous vote, went on record as t 'formal objectors' to the proposed' ' water rate increase for Lakeland • Park and McHenry Shores Water J company. I "Also, McHenry City Council I authorized City Attorney Bernard j NaruSis to file these objections with I the Interstate Commerce Com- J mission, and to appear at these i hearings to represent our objections. "The first of these hearings is scheduled for Jan. 27,1983, at 10 a.m., to be held at 160 North LaSalle street, Chicago. "For additiional and correct in­ formation feel free to contact the alderman in your ward. "Ronald Meurer "Cecilia Serritella. "Ward 4 Aldermen" FAMILY SERVICE MEETING The Family Service and community Mental Health center for McHenry County will hold its regular Board of Directors meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 1983 at 7:30 p.m. in the McHenry office; 4302-G W. Crystal Lake road, McHenry. The public is invited to attend. I m CAMPAIGN TRAIL UNCERTAINTY Tighter Food Stamp Redemption A special effort began Jan. 1 to monitor redemption of food stamps at commercial banks and reduce the potential black market value of the stamps. Samuel J. Cornelius, ad­ ministrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition service, said an expanded nation-wide monitoring system will help his agency tighten the rules grocers must follow when redeeming food stamps at the banks. Expanded monitoring alsb will help authorities keep better track of the $11 billion in food stamps spent each year. Cornelius said the monitoring system will heljrput an end to "the redemp­ tion of food coupons from grocers without the required doci&nentation." "Because of this practice, it is possible that illegally obtained food stamps have been redeemed for dollars at some banks," he said. USD A designed and tested the expanded monitoring system in cooperation with the Federal Reserve bank. While the vast majority of stores and banks comply with requirements, "the system will give investigators the information they need to pinpoint quickly any stores or banks that are improperly redeeming food stamps. It will also help identify any stores that are trafficking in illegally obtained food stamps" he said. * > Cornelius said the new. monitoring system will provide a better record of how many food stamps are spent at 225,000 stores and redeemed at 13,000 banks." The USDA Food and Nutrition service computer center in Min­ neapolis stores and compiles this information and makes it available to program managers. Cornelius said the expanded monitoring system will directly affect stores and banks but will not affect the 7.5 million households using food stamps. As the first phase of the system is initiated, commercial banks and federal reserve banks will make administrative changes in the han- Springfield Report By State Rep. Dick Klemm TAX INCENTIVES - A USEFUL TOOL Can new businesses be lured to a state through generous, aggressive tax incentive programs? Or, are such incentives ineffective giveaways that don't offer a significant savings to businesses, but do undermine the state's tax base? Illinois legislators have wrestled with these questions for the past several years, but declining state revenues have now made an answer crucial. Every future tax cut will have to withstand close scrutiny since the recession has made it difficult for the state to provide sufficient money for all the services it offers. Anti-business critics of tax concessions a?te already saying such concessions are unsuccessful and should be withdrawn. In most cases, tax incentives are touted as a way to lure new business to the state. Companies which agree to locate within Illinois, or which expand existing plants in the state, are encouraged to do so by a variety of tax cuts. For example,"' last year we approved an investment tax credit which gives employees aiax break if they invest in new equipment and expand their Illinois workforce. / Another bill gave local government the authority to reduce or abate property taxes for any industrial firm locating within the county from another state, territory or countn These incentiveCas wi&as others, were approved to encourage firms that are looking for a new indusfej&Hlte to consider Illinois. Taxes are just one exjf&psfe that a business must consider when it sets the price of the final produ^tf igher taxes mean a higher price, which can hurt a company's ability tcnewipete in the marketplace. A cut in the taxjjurdep, then, should be reflected in lower prices and better ability to compete. Using that reasoning, companies should study the tax incentives available and, all other things being equal, choose the state with the most attractive incentives. But, critics of business tax incentives say all other things are seldom equal. They point to studies showing most firms making new investments in states with tax incentives are unaware that the incentives exist. Other studies show the decision to locate a plant in a particular state is based on so many other factors that tax structure seldom becomes a serious consideration. In most industries, business taxation has little or no effect on where plants are located and few companies ever consider locating in any state other than their final choice. The critics also argue that tax incentives can do more harm than good because they erode the local tax base. Without the taxes, important services must be cut. Yet, schools, highways, parks and police can be more important to a company seeking to relocate, than tax structure. These criticisms do illustrate some of the problems that can occur if tax incentives are used carelessly. But for the most part they miss the mark. True, tax incentives alone may not bring new firms to an area, but they do send a positive message to companies. It shows that state and local officials want new bujskwsai"Jwd lure willing to work to lure:new companies. The incentives also are the only realistietopl government may have at its disposal. We canhot keep it from snowing in Onicago. We cannot move the state closer to one coast or the other. We cannot force utilities to cut all electricity bills in half. We can't tell the state's unions they must all accept $2 an hour pay cuts. But, we can lower taxes. In many cases, "incentive" is a misnomer and "reform" is more accurate. I view an incentive as a tax break that is supposed to lure new firms. It's bait, and it's only available to a select class of companies, such as out-of-state firms locating in Illinois. t A reform, on the other hand, applies to everyone in a specific class of taxpayers. For example, a cut in the state sales tax for farm and manufacturing equipment was a reform. Everyone buying manufacturing equipment, from single-owner shops to multinational corporations, benefits. Reforms not only lure new business, they help retain existing firms also. Incentives for new companies have been criticized because they sometimes help new firms at the expense of existing companies. If one corporation receives a 10-year property tax abatement, other firms in the same taxing district can end up paying more taxes to make up for the lost revenue. Of course, some firms are more than happy to do so in exchange for the new market and stronger economic base that a major employer brings to the community. But, if the existing companies must compete with the newcomer in a limited market, it's unfair to make them subsidize their competitor. In the Illinois General Assembly we must consider all tax incentives and reforms, but move with caution so we don't undermine our existing industrial base. Tax incentives are not a cure-all, but they are also not the wasteful, ineffective giveaways their critics claim they are. They are merely tools--one more resource which we can use to improve the state's business climate. We must use them with caution and wisdom, so we make new friends, but not at the expense of our old ones. dling of food stamps. These changes will facilitate the flow of information on food stamp redemptions to the USDA computer. Next, over an 18-month period, new food stamp redemption certificates will be issued to all grocers par­ ticipating in the program. The new forms will be easier to fill out than the old forms, and they are designed to reduce the incidence of error. Commercial banks will be issued new forms that will immediately flag any commercial bank that has redeemed coupons without documentation. Then, the USDA food and nutrition agency will install a sophisticated optical scanner that will automatically read the 2 million documents processed by the agency's . computer center each month. ^ "We have tested the new system in Georgia with the cooperation of the Federal Reserve bank of Atlanta since April, 1981. We know it works,", said Cornelius. "For example," he said, "using the new system, we determined that a number of banks had redeemed a significant amount of food stamps without proper documentation. When we informed the banks, they quickly stopped the practice." State Employees Decrease By 315 There were 115,449 state employees in November, Comptroller Roland W. Burris has reported. Burris said the number of em­ ployees in the regular state agencies increased by 339 from October, while the employees in the state university system decreased by 654 for a net decrease of 315 state workers. i Compared to a year earlier, the number of employees in the regular state agencies declined by 2,082 in November, 1982, while the number of university employees increased by 624. -- Payrolls for all agencies totaled $174,326,033, a decrease of $96,998, or .05 percent, from October. The payroll for all agencies, except educational institutions, was $123,290,815, an in­ crease of $1,021,921, or .8 percent. The average American grower's efficiency has helped reduce the share of income the average American family spends for food from 23 per­ cent, 30 years ago, to 17 percent today. Examine Over-Counter Drugs Before Buying Before purchasing an over-the- counter drug, consumers should examine Che product's packaging to be sure it hasn't been tampered with, the National ^fety council said. Larry Yale, a safety specialist with the council, said that if you notice a product which has been tampered with, report it to the store manager immediately. He advises persons to examine all products before purchasing them. In particular, check for broken seals; plastic wrapping which appears to have been retaped; a damaged outer contained; missing pieces of packaging; different closure; odd sizes, shapes and colors; peculiar odors, or alteration of any kind. In addition, the council supports recent actions taken by the Food and Drug administration to require tamper-resistant packaging for most over-the-cbunter drugs. The regulations, which will become effective Feb. 7, establish packaging requirements and require a statement on the product's label explaining the specific tamper-resistant features of the package. ^---Vl Q~ Here's a flag waving appetizer--a Peppery Cheese Spread. Cream together 11 ozs., cream cheese, one- third cup dairy sour cream or 2 tablespoons half and half and teaspoon each Seasoned Salt and Seasoned Pepper. Serve with a variety of cr'ackers. Know •£ THE Weather Does a falling barometer always mean bad weather ahead? A falling barometer is never an indication of good weather. It may mean that a storm, or rain, or gusty, changeable weather, is on the way, but it seldom pro­ duces clear, cool weather. Should good weather fol­ low a lowering barometer, it would be only temporary, unless the lowering pressure was a slight movement, cor­ rected almost immediately by a rise. If the wind is blowing from the east direction mov-. ing north, and the barometer is falling, look out for severe weather-a storm with heavy rain is a good bet. If the glass is falling and the wind is from the south or southeast direction moving to east, rainy weather should follow, but it will not be prolonged. You can usually count on the rain ending in a day or less. A weather vane, used with a barometer, will greatly improve your fore­ casting. And, like the baro­ meter, more can be deduced from the direction the instru­ ment is moving than from the reading itself. Easy Way Are you looking for an easier way to measure short­ ening or other solid fat? As­ suming you want half a cup, fill a measuring cup half full of cold water. Add the fat, bit by bit, until the water measures one cup. Pour off the water and you have half acupoffat. from HISTORY'S SCRAPBOOK DATES AND EVENTS FROM YESTERYEARS January 20, 1949--Harry S. Truman in his inaugural address announces his Point Four program for aid to underdeveloped countries. January 21, 1901--Carrie Nation wields her famous hatchet for first time and hacks away at $4,000 worth of liquor and furnishings at Wichita, Kansas, while her followers sing "Onward Christian Soldiers." January 22, 1944--British and American troops land at Anzio in attempt to outflank Germans in Italy. January 23, 1854--Congress establishes first Tuesday following first Monday in November as national elec­ tion day to choose presidential electors. F o r Y o u r I n f o r m a t i o n Dear friends, It's a misconception that being male necessarily means being tough and self-reliant. A man needs a lot of sup­ port at the loss of his wife-support from family and close friends. He should feel that he has not been forgotten-that he is not a social out­ cast. Respectfully, ? J V V PETER M.JLJSTEN & SON FUNERAL HOME ARE YOU NEW IN The McHenry Area? Do You Know Someone New? We Would Like To Extend A Royal Welcome To Every Newcomer To Our Area!!! CALL LORRAINE MONAHAN 385-5475 t MM WHCIHl KfCIHMHMI IISIHISS 06i/G Nq Ar'OM atm *rnct*t nsmrsffs M' ROYAL WELCOME Know Your Area-Royal Welcome Does It Best BSE9B S«rficC & Profe*sion° Director JACK WALSH, AGENT EARL R. WALSH, BROKER INSURANCE K BONDS firm, Auto, Farm, Life Rtprtwnfing , RELIABLE COMPANIES SOK W. Elm Sto McHenry MS-M00 DENNIS CONWAY AUTO, LIFE. FIRE State Farm Ins. Co. Ml* W. Elm Street McHenry. Ml. >•$-7111 JAMES M. MclNTEE, LAWYER AVAILABLE TO PRACTICE IN: Personal Injury Trloli Business Corporations Wills/Probata Divorce-Real Estate Workman's Compensation 3436 W. Elm StrMt McHenry II. For appointment phone: 385-2440 Farm Equipment George P. Freund, Inc. Case - New Holland 4103 W. Cryttal Lake Rd. McHenry Bus. 385-0420 Res. 385-0227 MCHENRY COUNTY OFFICE MACHINES SALES. SERVICE * RENTALS Mon.-Sat. 9-5:30 Friday til 9:00 93 Grant St., Cryttal Lake Phone: 459-1226 DR. LEONARD BOTTARI 1303 Richmond Rd.-McHenry Eye* Examined-Contact Lenses Classes Fitted Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. 4-6pm Tues., Thurs., Fri. 7-9pm Sat. 9:30-3 pm Phone: M5-4151 or 3B5-2262 McHENRY DENTAL CENTER DR.C.J. LUDFORD DR. KEVIN WE6RZYN OPEN 3 EVENINGS A WEEK UNTIL 8:30 P.M. ft SAT. . 385-1360 NEW PATIENTS WELCOME WE CATER TO COWARDS I I I ) E L L ? RADIAL TIRES ' FOR ALL CARS Europa Motors, Inc. 120 2318 Rte. 815-385-0700 SERVICE LINE McHENRY CHAMBER OF COMMENCE 385-4300 FAMILY SERVICE 4 MENTAL HEALTH CENTER 4302-G West Crystal Lake Rd., McHenry, II. 60050 815-385-6400 TURNING POINT-DOMESTIC VIOLENCE STRESS LINE McHenry County 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Parents Anonymous meetings on Tuesday. ~ Call 815-344-3944 STATE CHAMBER GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS HOTLINE 217-522-5514 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION 202-755-8660 Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. week days (Ever had a problem involving the federal government and not known where to call? And than been given the runaround or referrals by persons who meant well but didn't know how to help? Ten specialists available at this center.) NATIONAL RUN-AWAY SWITCHBOARD Illinois Phone: 800-972-6004 (For confidential, conversations on problems dealing with run-away children.) MOVING HOTLINE Phone 800-424-9213 (Complaints about interstate moving by companies, buses or trains. Sponsored by Interstate Commerce commission.) NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION Phone 800-424-9393 (Answers questions about automobile safety defects or whether a particular model has ever been recalled. Valuable for those interested in buying a used car.) ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES 24-Hours Child Abuse Hotline TOLL FREE: 800-252-2878 CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION 800-638-2666 (Operates five national lines. Answers inquires about or reporting on the safety of products from kitchen appliances to children's toys.) NATIONAL SOLAR HEATING AND COOLING INFORMATION CENTER 800-523-2929 P.O. Box 1607, Rockville. Md. 20850 (Dispenses information on solar systems for heating and cooling to anyone from architects to home owners looking for a sun-powered hot-water system.) CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION 312-793-3580 Chicago, III. BIRTHRIGHT Pregnant? Need Help? Counseling Service. 385-2999. 24 hours Answering Service. >-(• YOUTH SERVICE BUREAU FOR McHENRY COUNTY 4719 W. Elm St., McHenry Phone: 344-3240 24 hours Crisis Intervention and Confidential Coun­ seling for youth and families. ILLINOIS STATE CHAMBER HOTLINE Phone: 217>-522-J55>l*4 Answer to questions on gover- ment regulations'. MENTAL HEALTH 1-800-892-8900 Crisis Center Line for McHenry Co. 24-Hour Emergency number and professional staff wil answer your call. Sponsoring agency McHenry County Comprehensive Mental Health Service System. NATIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH ASSOCIATION Post Office Box°17400 Washington, D.C., 20041 Phone (703) 471-0404 McHENRY COUNTY CETA OUTREACH CENTER 666 Russel Ct. Woodstock , II. 60098 (815)338-7100 JOB TRAINING OFFERED McHENRY COUNTY ASSOCATION FOR THE RETARDED Robert G. Lambourn, Executive Director Phone: 344-1230 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (815) 455-3311 McHENRY COUNTY SENIOR CITIZENS COUNCIL * 800-892-3272 Monday^through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PRAIRIE STATE LEGAL SERVICES, INC. 800-942-3940 Free legal representation in civil cases to low income persons. Landlord-tenant disputes, domestic violence or improper denial of benefits such as Social Security, Public Aid, Food Stamps, General Assistances Unem­ ployment Insurance *