In response to Andrew Villeneuve’s editorial in the Dec. 10 edition, the issue is not a reluctance to pay taxes in order to collectively accomplish those things we could not do individually.

The real issue is what should government do versus what should the private sector (for-profit and non-profit businesses and individuals) do. We have repeatedly seen our government officials at all levels waste our taxpayer money while increasing their intrusion into our lives.

An example of the former is that taxes have been collected for a new State Route 520 bridge for years, yet no construction has begun and we will also be forced to pay a toll. Examples of the latter is the current ban on certain detergents (those that actually clean clothes) and the coming ban on the incandescent light bulb.

If our governments would focus only on those items that Mr. Villeneuve points to, such as infrastructure and security, the taxes we already pay would more than suffice.

Meishelle Haverkamp, Redmond