Previous | WC Home | WC Index | AGA Home | Next

"What should the federal government do with its $70 billion surplus?"
(asked at the Kirkland Library on 09-30-98; published in the EJ on 10-04-98)

Meghan Campbell, Travel agent, Kirkland

"Spend it to make more jobs, make the United States better. Or give a certain amount to each state. They'll know what to do with it to make their state better."

Edna Mewton, Hospital & hospice volunteer, Kirkland

"It should go to save Social Security. And of course, at my age, I'm very conscious of Social Security. And it should go towards improving schools all over the country because the younger generation is going to be running this country one of these days. And the last thing is we need to be sure that our armed services are kept up to appropriate readiness."

Bruce Jensen, Schoolteacher & caregiver, Seattle

"To somehow channel that to the people, to the welfare of the people. Get it out of the hands of the elite rich and powerful. The most practical method is existing channels of welfare -- but realistic welfare, a practical system that helps people help themselves."

Loyci Stockey, Software administrator, Bellevue

"We have too many poor, too many hungry, too many without. That's why we should reinstitute the public welfare system, social services, all of the areas in which we had cut back during the last eight years, the last two terms of President Clinton."

Bob Stickrod, Consumer products sales manager, Kirkland

"Somehow channel that money back to the states -- better roads, airport and port commissions, that kind of thing. Find some way to provide more services to the people. And not provide any assistance to the President's defense attorneys."

Chad Lind, Home-based business recruiter, Kirkland

"They could focus on giving it to the teachers because I think they're underpaid. I wouldn't give it to welfare because I don't think we necessarily need welfare. I think we could develop a system to get people off welfare. Also, research and development for cures for cancer. Stuff like that."

© 1998 by the Bellevue, WA-based Eastside Journal (née Journal American) newspaper.

If you'd like to comment on this Q, you can e-mail EJ Editorial Page Editor Craig Groshart by clicking here. Please be sure to include the following in your message:

1. The title you see at the top of this page.
2. The question to which you're responding(!).
3. Your name, home (aka snail mail) address and daytime phone number.

Thanks for stopping by and reading "The water cooler"!