All things considered, local shopping is a bargain

I agree. The local businesses are the ones that provide jobs for our friends and family. They are the ones paying taxes to support the local governmental agencies. They are the ones donating to help local charities and local clubs, teams, church and school events. If at all possible, shop locally.

What about those individuals that work for companies outside of McCook and live in McCook. Do they count? I mean they are bringing money into the area and robbing it from some other community. Bottom line is competition is good for an economy and it is the best consumer advocate we have, instead of a politician deciding what we should pay. Local companies still have to compete and at this time they cannot expect the government to force people to buy from them, unless it is healthcare.

Go online and make a purchase with Apple today or any company that has a location in the state of NE. They charge you 7% sales tax even if you do not reside in the city of McCook. If the local economy isn't getting that revenue then I am sure there is a lawyer somewhere "dennis" can hire to make sure it gets into the city coffers.

Shop local to support the local economy, not to help pay the city sales tax so politicians like "dennis" can look good as they increase the local government spending. I swear that supporting the government is all this guy thinks about. It can't just be "support the local economy" with this guy because the local government under his watch is taking a much larger portion from the economy. Don't worry though he will point out plenty of tax cutting he has done or frozen the city property tax since who knows when. If they have done such a masterful job of holding taxes down, then why has the spending by the city increased so much? All revenue to the government is in the form of a fee or tax.

I would hope that folks support Dick Cappel's trailer sales. I am sure that business works hard to support the local charities and local fund drives plus provides jobs for the area. I think Dick and Kathy are good Christian people. It is correct that some online purchases do charge a sales tax. That tax however does NOT help the local economy. I still say buy locally, including from Dick's trailer sales. (And spending in the city has jumped because of the city seeking and receiving grants to bring the money back home from Lincoln and Washington.) The city holds multiple budget sessions prior to the three readings on the budget. To my knowledge folks have not approached the city to cut services to the senior center, the parks, streets, and other projects. Generally people request more services. If people want reduction in taxes. which means reduction in services, then please attend the budget sessions and make your wishes known on what services you want cut.

I am not saying don't buy locally. I am saying buy locally to support the economy and not a bloated local government. Taxes and government spending is all "dennis" understands.

Too bad you don't even know who owns Cappel Sales or what we do. Dick Cappel's trailer sales, now that is funny. At least do a little research on your opponent, "dennis". A simple web search would reveal that my wife and I purchased the business outright from Dick and Kathie over four years ago and what we do. This man used to be a public school administrator!!!!! I would suspect that my parents would be offended of your injecting their religion into this debate but that is what shallow bureaucrats like yourself do. You try to redirect or take the reader elsewhere by inserting religion so people will think that you have good intentions. How about your religion, "dennis"? I see you as one that use religion as a tool to help you maintain office or strive for one. Yes, let's go there please because I can really see that one going into a very embarrassing place for you.

"dennis" like I have said before you are so ignorant of the business/private sectors of this community and yet you are the first one with your hand out to them with all of your government programs and projects. This man has absolutely no respect for the taxpayers and at times ridicules them because they don't hold the offices that he was elected to. Look at the majority of the local politicians now. Not very many business people are there and that is because people like "dennis" make the government so complex and burdensome that a businessman wouldn't have time for it. The only reason the council needs to meet twice a month is because of all the increase money they are spending now. Check the budgets people and you can see what the local government has done under the wise leadership of "dennis" Spending is through the roof and the population is declining. Those are the facts.

Hopefully the new council, less his insight, can chart a path of less spending and more honesty about what they intend to spend the sales tax on. I did attend sales tax meetings while a resident of McCook and what a waste when people like you are going to just do what you want anyway like with the sales tax and re-naming the airport after your favorite politician, Ben Nelson. Now there is a model one can strive for, fool the voters that put you into office so you can help take away their freedoms. Makes me wonder where your supporters will place a statue for you and for all the great things you have done. That is the problems with this type of politician, they are in it to make themselves feel better not serve the people. Nice.

People request more services because politicians like you make it to darn easy for them to ask. We are not just talking about poor people here, either. There are plenty of organizations and business in the government trough right now too. You want to please everyone that needs the government more and more so you can get re-elected. The only problem is you are always going to be spending other peoples money and not you own. Politicians like you and Ben don't do good works with your own money it is always with others money in the form of spending tax revenue.

You can call me angry again and pray for me, you phony. I am just a simple man voicing my opinion on this forum. I am neither angry or in need of prayers from you, but this is rewarding calling you out on things I disagree with. This country needs more people confronting politicians like you to get the power back to the people not in bureaucrats hands such as yourself. Keep going because I can go all day on this with you and I for one am not afraid to debate a professional politician such as yourself.

I was think of purchasing a shop heater, and preferably locally. Now, that's not my plan. Thank you Dennis for taking the high road with this hillbilly.

I am OK with that Chunky and yes, "dennis" the former mayor of McCook definitely is taking the high road by commenting on the Gazette blogs, even in stories that he is the subject.

I do not have the power to raise taxes or spend the government revenue like "dennis" did and I simply disagree with his statement to please shop locally to support the local government sales tax. If in his previous statement that the sales taxes from online sales that are collected a placed in the city coffers does NOT help the local economy, then why is he such an advocate for more of them all of the time and increasing the sales tax on internet purchases?

Thanks for clarifying that for me.