There appears to be a lot of hasseling going on these days About Gov. Riley’s $1.2 billion tax plan.

In less than a month (Sept. 9), a statewide election will be held to determine whether or not the bill passes.

The big land owners and their agencies (such as farm bureaus)

already are spending enough on anti-Riley advertising – money that could make a hefty contribution to the education poriton of the bill should it be so directed.

On the other side of the coin, you have your poor, your many ordinary folk who would like nothing better than to fare well with the bill’s passage.

Both sides, the proponents and opponents of the Riley plan, together have spent bucketsful on advertising that, if redirected, could provide lots of cash for the state’s general fund.

There is a certain divisiveness evident on the vote ‘no’ and the vote ‘yes’ people.

Currently the pollsters seem to feel the ‘nos’ have the advantage.

The public should be able to educate themselves on all facets of the Riley proposal.

The Advocate, thanks to publisher Dennis Palmer, makes all facets of the complicated proposal abundantly clear for the folks who &uot;want to know.&uot;

Our suggestion: Get the past and future copies of the Advocate to get all the &uot;ins and outs&uot; of the Riley plan.

Then go out and vote your conscience.

A cursory survey of folks on both sides (landowners and those with little or no resources) has found some contradictory results.

Several of the impoverished people, for instance, have said &uot;nix&uot; to the government’s proposal. They were, by no means, in the majority of their fellows.

The freeholders, on the other hand, mirrored their poorer brothers leanings.

Whether or not such findings will impact the end results remains to be seen.

Buster MacGuire is copy editor and columnist for the Greenville Advocate.

He may be reached by calling 334.382.3111.