In a June 21 article in The Leader, “Housing crisis prompts levy talk,” Kathy Morgan, a housing programs director for Olympic Community Action Programs, stated that everyone deserves a house to live in.

I guess that she must have been reading Karl Marx writings such as “The Communist Manifesto” and “Capital.” Communism does not work. If you provide and work is only voluntary, then a large part of our people will not work.

While I agree that there are homeless in the county and they do need help, I do not agree that a tax of 36 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation for seven years for all of Jefferson County to provide housing for low-income and very low-income to be located in Port Townsend makes sense.

It seems that county officials have bought into LBJ’s “Great Society” philosophy – welfare without work. That did not play out too well, did it?

Free housing, or at the very least, very reduced housing, paid for by those who have worked and saved, does not solve the problem of the homeless. Yes, some must be rescued at taxpayer expense. As I approach 93, I have seen times in our country that are much worse than we have now.

I have seen the bums that came to the door to ask for something to eat and worked for it. Many people can only be helped if they wish to be helped. Others don’t want to put out any effort themselves. Don’t take away from those who have worked and saved their entire life to give to those who will not try.

Only help those who really need it and are unable to help themselves.

Don’t forget that we have many who are retired and living on fixed incomes who worked and saved but cannot afford any more taxes.

ART MOYER

Port Ludlow