.bodytext {float: left; } .floatimg-left-hort { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right: 10px; width:300px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 12px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} tr.d0 td { background-color: #ccccff; color: black; }
Ordinary citizens are worried about the cost of living as gasoline and food prices skyrocket. In a climate like this, “more taxes?” brings an instant “no thanks.”

Still, it’s unfortunate that voters rejected the proposal to refurbish the Polk County Courthouse and add space with a new building. Someday the county will have to do something about the inadequate courthouse, and the cost is sure to go up, not down.

Quite a split is developing between the attitude of the business leaders of Central Iowa and that of the taxpayers. Corporations have shelled out millions for projects designed to spruce up the area’s appearance and make it a more pleasant place to live. Principal Financial Group Inc. is spending a bundle on the Riverwalk project, for example.

These companies benefit by creating a more welcoming environment for job-seekers, but they’re doing more than their share.

Private efforts have made a difference, too. John and Mary Pappajohn gave downtown a wonderful boost by donating the “Nomade” sculpture, for example, and there’s more to come in the form of sculptures for Western Gateway Park.

Those who draw the highest salaries in this town also draw a steady parade of visitors requesting a donation for this project or that. More often than not, they come through.

In the meantime, the voters said no to the “Say Yes to Destiny” tax proposal, and now they’ve turned down the courthouse idea. They avoided $23 in extra taxes on a $100,000 house, and yes, they can buy some food for the kids with that.

But it’s easy to find $23 that’s being wasted in almost any household’s budget, so the question becomes: How much are cultural amenities and respectable government facilities worth?

At some point, you have to start wondering if Americans are becoming so wrapped up in their own interests – sports, entertainment, hobbies – that they feel no obligation to help pay for larger concerns.