The Spirit of Capitalism
Ray Hartmann’s challenge to St. Louis–area business leaders regarding tax breaks (“Just Say No to Corporate Welfare,” January 2010) is something that needed to be said. You might have to still negotiate with companies that threaten to move out of the area or dangle a large number of jobs or a plant expansion in front of our elected officials. For individual communities to use tax breaks to entice a large retailer from a neighboring community, however, is a senseless waste of taxpayer dollars. I don’t believe that the people approving some of these smaller developments have a grasp of the dollars involved and the ultimate cost of the abatements to the community.
That said, it would be great if the spirit of capitalism would infect some of these companies that try to squeeze a few million dollars out of the communities they operate in while professing to be good corporate citizens.
Bob Watson
St. Louis County
Why is your letter to business leaders, who are not obligated to you, rather than to state and local government representatives you support and elect? But I know the answer. Since voters expect governments to provide jobs, it’s no wonder they feel pressure to provide incentives to corporations to relocate or remain here. Your letter should ask voters to stop demanding that governments “create” jobs.
I can only judge the deal given to Express Scripts by how much total tax they pay minus how much they cost the taxpayers to operate here. We still come out ahead. Otherwise, elected representatives wouldn’t make these offers. Express Scripts is obligated to its investors (the people who took the risks) to make a profit. Is the company really obligated to provide “leadership” to our community, and are we entitled to its profits? By the way, if you didn’t like the Civic Progress leadership from business leaders, a logical conclusion is that “leadership” is just not an appropriate role for unelected business leaders.
In a free country, governments must also compete. You are correct that “this is out of control”—as it should be. Limited government is limited by how much it can control. Citizens and corporations always have the option of moving away or not moving here at all. That should never change. Not all voting is at polls. If other governments can provide quality services with lower taxes, we should expect to see relocation.
Scott Reetz
University City
Comments from the Web
“My only response is, wow, I have a reader. You know what I mean, a real reader. I am understood. You can’t imagine, or maybe you can, how rare that’s been. Many thanks.” —Curtis White, 12/31/09, responding to the Look/Listen post “Staff Shelf: The Barbaric Heart by Curtis White”
“Bellacino’s is an Italian name, which means the ci is chi. I shouldn’t have to indulge their approved mispronunciation.” —Kim, 1/12/10, responding to the Feast post “Local Restaurant Names & Their Mispronunciations”
“Ooh! Nordstrom Rack! Get your elbows ready, ladies!” —@DesignSpeakSTL, 1/14/10, responding to our tweet about Nordstrom Rack’s imminent arrival in Brentwood
