Dear Editor, This is in response to Ms. Bailey’s complaint of A.C. Cargill’s concern of putting Holly Springs deeper in debt by spending millions on a new community center. I also share this concern. The real question is: why are such facilities the responsibility of government? No, seriously. When has it become the “right” of a “majority” to tax the wealth and property of others, and put us all deeper in debt, just because a few want “free access” to a new community center?

If Ms. Bailey wants a community center for exercise, she could persuade enough friends, family, and citizens in the community, to voluntarily form a private association together, and use their own money and property for exercise and play. Ms. Bailey’s “needs,” or a councilman’s desires, do not justify strapping our community with greater debt and taxes. My life, work, property, and wealth do not belong to anyone, or to the state, despite any “needs.”

Because one cannot afford something is no justification that they have a “right” to take the property of others to get it — locally, statewide, nationally — and then rationalize that it’s our politicians’ job to tax and create community debt without constraint. That’s what this is about: one person’s “needs” trumping the rights and property of others, and electing politicians who agree. How terribly arrogant, in my view.

Rights do not mean that one has a “right” to the things they want at others’ expense. A Right is only a right to action, not a right to a “thing.” Individual rights mean that a person has the freedom of action necessary to pursue their needs and desires — a job, food, shelter, library, art or community center — without violating the rights and property of others.

Whether it’s a community center or a federal bailout, it is not the government’s job to take its citizens prosperity and put them into debt against their will, so some can have their “needs” provided for. Government’s only purpose is to protect rights and property, not to “get things done.” Community “things” should get done only through private, voluntary association, not by government force.

As with any elected official, Mr. Dickson’s desire to spend community funds should be constrained through citizen vote. It is, after all, our money and debt. It is not a politicians’ job to arbitrarily spend money without oversight. A new community center should be voted down, and more funds directed to our police and fire departments, which they desperately need.

How far we have moved away from our Founding principles of recognizing and protecting individual rights, property rights, and self-reliance, to thinking that “we” as a people have a right, a claim, to the life, work, wealth, and property of our fellow Americans. We have no right to the property or wealth of others without their consent, trade, or charity, regardless of our own position, and worse when we use government coercion to take it. Enough already. John Dick

Holly Springs resident