A great deal of reporting has focused on public health. In 2006, the CDC reported that over 2.4 million deaths occurred in the U.S.  Nearly half of these were attributed to two causes, 631,636 due to heart disease and 559,888 due to cancer. Stroke was ranked third at 137,119 deaths and chronic lower respiratory diseases fourth at 124,583 deaths.  Although arguably, there are costs associated with poor lifestyle choices, Constitutional freedom limits government's control of citizen behavior. 
 
An article published in ‘JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association,’ by Dr. Barbara Starfield, MD, MPH, of the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, states that 80,000 Americans die each year from infections in hospitals. 
 
The CDC lists Accidents as the fifth largest category at 121,599 deaths. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports 38,648 were auto related, 1.6% of all deaths in 2006.
 
Free Americans enjoy active living from their earliest years. Team sports, skiing, skydiving, hiking, boating, bicycling, air travel and walking, all have associated risks and rewards.  Likewise, Americans own and drive cars. Driving also has risks, requiring citizens to drive defensively, maintain and periodically update their cars and purchase auto insurance.
 
Today, nearly all Americans drive cars. Government has found that the regulation of driving can be a major source of revenue. States license both drivers and cars and charge fees annually. As the price of cars increases, citizens pay proportionately more sales tax. For every year cars are owned, counties tax them again as personal property.
 
There were 17,000 murders in the US in 2006. Citizens driving in traffic may make bad judgments, but they are not criminals. Patrol cars parked or moving in traffic reduce traffic speed and increase safety, but they don’t generate revenue. Hidden radar equipped cars generate more tickets and revenue.  Municipalities and counties have discovered another way to increase revenue. They joint venture with traffic camera companies. Improved safety is not the main purpose of these cameras. They represent a mechanized means of generating unlimited revenue.
 
Five years ago Arnold MO, began issuing $100 stop light camera tickets. They have generated $1.9 million in revenue. Cameras offer more revenue from citizens at reduced costs, since they eliminate the need for police officers and patrol cars.
 
Traffic surveillance cameras are sweeping the nation, promising a windfall of government revenue. Profits are split between local government and companies like ATS, American Traffic Solutions, in Scottsdale, AZ. No jobs will be created in Missouri.
Hard pressed, families facing unemployment and cutbacks in a near depression are calling for reduced government size and spending. That call is being ignored.
 
Some members of government, chosen to serve citizens, are building municipal monuments and serving themselves instead. Elected officials, determined to raise revenue when people are hurting, should be forced to job hunt themselves, come November. Until then, you have a duty to preserve freedom for the next generation. Call you public servants in office, both state and local, and let them know what you think. 
 
We, the People own this 'Land of Freedom'. We have a long history of pain, hardship and achievement that proves beyond a doubt. We paid for it!

 
Nick Ivanovich
Constitution Party
www.ConstitutionPartyMO.org