Talk Chess, Not Taxes

No taxes--this seems to be the single most important family value in America today.

Good schools, safe communities, the health of citizens and a clean environment stir little concern. The No. 1 concern is that raising taxes is like drug addiction--the government always wants more.

The chess club with a gym in a library in Woodland Hills gives people the opportunity to participate in family and community affairs. Although the family membership at this club is just $50 for six months, no one is refused the use of the facilities.

However, too many of the members with a mansion and a Mercedes have stories about why they can never pay their dues or return library books or even find time to play chess with their children; but almost all of the members with a prefab house and a pickup truck somehow find a way to pay their dues, bring back what they borrowed and play chess with all of the children at the club.

Rather than reacting to the fear of more taxes, it is vitally important for people to understand that for too many, their wealth leads to a never-ending craving for more wealth with no time for anything else. The government would be doing a valuable service for these people if it took some of this mad craving away from them and spent it on their neglected families and communities.

DAVID J. ESSER

Woodland Hills