To the Editor:

There are tremendous amounts of fear tactics and just plain “donkey dust” being tossed into this debate about dissolving the village -- mostly by people who have so much to lose if it happens -- the “empire” might just fall if it actually occurs. Gee, what a tragedy!

So, let me ask a few questions of all of you -- business friends & individuals alike:

1) Did all of you (along with me) truly enjoy making your last payment on your 2011 June village taxes?

2) Do you look forward to paying the 2011 school tax that will arrive at almost any moment now that September is here?

3) Bottom line. How would you like to have a year in which you paid taxes on the same piece of property only twice a year (like our lucky out-of-village friends) -- January (Town) and September (School). Imagine -- a wonderful summer not spoiled by a village tax bill arriving on June 1.

That last dream can come true, but only if we use our noggins and pay no attention to the “fear folks” who will use everything they can think of to persuade us in keeping things “the way they are.” In November, vote for candidates who publicly favor dissolving the village, and, secondly, vote “yes” on dissolution. Our future is at stake, and frankly, I do not want it in the hands of the “Old Guard” and all the mistakes that they have made. It is time for them to go into the out-of-date sunset.

Dick Hutchinson

Potsdam