There are too many instances when the government gets more involved than necessary in private enterprise. The last thing people should do is ask for is excessive regulation of business in a free economy.

    But that is just what the Sunflower Community Action group is doing. They are working -- and have been for two years — to get more regulation for payday loan businesses.

    They are calling for capping an interest rate charged by these institutions, to make it more "fair" for their customers. Yet, when all of the facts are out there, the service payday loans offer doesn't seem so unreasonable.

    Those facts include:

    * the businesses are only allowed to give up to two loans at any one time to a person.

    * they can only give loans up to $500.

    * loans plus interest must be paid back in full before a new loan is given.

    * there is a cap on the interest rate (which is an annual rate of 36 percent).

    That seems like quite a few regulations to protect consumers the way it is.

    A person can go to more than one payday loan facility to get loans, but that would be their choice. And yes, they can pay that loan back and turn around and take it right back out, thus never really being debt free. Again that is their choice. In fact, it is a person's choice in the first place to walk into a payday loan. A person goes in knowing what they offer and that interest also will be due. What should be being advocated here is not regulation but personal responsibility. That seems to be something that is given less and less consideration. A number of people utilize these businesses for a number of reasons, none of which are the business of the Sunflower group.

    After the presentation by the SCA group Saturday, the president of the group started talking to me. She mentioned that getting that $500 cash feels good to people and having it becomes almost an addiction. She also said sometimes people get that money and are so excited to have it they go out and buy a stereo.

    That was the most absurd statement I had heard yet at the meeting. That's their problem, not the government's.People need to have some self control and live within their means.

    It's no different than running up a bill of a credit card, then paying the minimum payment, which often doesn't even cover the cost of interest. If one requires stricter regulation, it would seem the other should as well.

    These businesses keep popping up in communities all across the country. Why? Because apparently there is a demand for them.

    The newest regulation being demanded is a cap of 36 percent on interest rates. At first, that didn't sound unreasonable, until you look at the dollars involved. Since the rate is an annual rate, that breaks down to a little over $1 interest on a $100 loan for two weeks. Obviously, a business would not be able to continue like that. Then again, that seems to be the actual goal of the SCA group, and that should concern everyone who believes in the free market system.

    Once stricter regulations start, there are a number of areas where they could be argued to be needed. Rather, the answer still seems to be that people should be better educated on finances and take responsibility for their own actions. I know I will remember the lesson I learned the next time I go to buy a car.

    If one gets caught up in a payday loan cycle, they should learn from their mistakes, find a way out and remember the trouble it can cause. Others who do use these businesses responsibly when a little extra cash is needed should not be punished because of those who are irresponsible. It these businesses are closed down, that is exactly what will happen.