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Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesYOUR VOTE CAN HELP THE CHILDREN & THE TERRITORY

YOUR VOTE CAN HELP THE CHILDREN & THE TERRITORY

Dear Source,
Tuesday Rotary East went to the elementary schools in St. Thomas and gave the first graders a "First Day of School Pack," consisting of pencils, notebook, reading book and other school needs.
While sitting around chit-chatting with the students at Dober Elementary School, west of Market Square, one of the Rotarians asked the kids if they were going to go out and play after school. One child responded that her mother said she couldn't go outside. Another said her mother told her not to go outside because people get shot out there.
We have a chance to do something positive about this government if we act now. We can make it safe to go outside, even in Market Square. We can help these kids to grow up to be part of the solution and not to be part of the problem.
The government has lots of money available to it: U.S. government grants, services, and other support, local income tax, local property tax, gross receipts tax (4 cents every time a dollar changes hands), rooms and meals, Customs duties, entry tax, etc. etc. etc.
But, as you know, we are getting poorer and poorer and poorer. This would not happen if our money was being used wisely. Let's not waste this opportunity to have a positive effect. Every time I ask a candidate how we can help this Territory the response is "Get involved" and "Demand better government." Many of them say this, secure in the knowledge that we will not do it. Most of us can live very comfortably here without paying much attention. If it gets too uncomfortable we can just move.
Many thousands of us cannot "just move," and many thousands don't want to "just move."
Let all demand good government and make paradise as good as it can be.
Contact the voters, contact the candidates; let them know you want a change.
B. Greg Miller
St. Thomas
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