March 20, 2006
We were born here and grew up in this community. As tax-paying citizens we are offended that the two buckets that represent division in the community are so prominently displayed on county property. The Government Center and the Klamath County Fairgrounds are both supported by tax dollars - taxes paid by citizens on both sides of this issue.
Contrary to what some local people believe, the members of the Klamath Tribes pay taxes.
Every year the tribe, its members and its employees put millions of dollars back into this community. My family paid more than $19,000 in federal, state, and property taxes this year.
Since my husband and I have both worked for 30-plus years we have contributed a great deal to the community.
We own two homes, which were not purchased by government money, but with our hard-earned income. We shop locally with the exception of one local restaurant whose wait staff refused to serve my family in the height of the “water issue.” We even gave that business a second chance only to be insulted once again when we were not served.
These buckets are symbols of a community divided - a division that was wholly supported by elected county officials who not only praised the acts of division but donated thousands of tax dollars in support of it.
If those elected officials are so proud of this division, they can place these huge eyesores in their own frontyard where they can proudly gaze out at them and pat themselves on the back for working so hard to keep the community divided.
Laurel and Marcus Robinson
Klamath Falls
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Source: http://www.heraldandnews.com/articles/2006/03/21/viewpoints/op_ed/oped1.txt