Letters to the Editor: Public Education Didn’t Escape Cuts

Public Education Didn't Escape Cuts
Editor, Times-Dispatch: In your editorial "No Pain," you asserted that "Gov. Tim Kaine spared K-12" in his most recent round of cuts. While our governor did his best to shield K-12, he did cut $103 million in direct aid to localities for public education. This amounts to a 1.7 percent cut.

The cuts are detailed on page 14 of the governor's FY 2010 Reduction Plan, which he made available to the press. Kaine should be commended for doing his best to reduce the impact of the recession on our schools as he brings the budget into balance. You should receive a demerit for failing to do your homework. Robley Shelton Jones, Director of Government Relations, Virginia Education Association.


Richmond.

Many Women Want To Stay at Home
Editor, Times-Dispatch: In his letter, "Propagating Morality Is Not a Public Need," D. Scott McRae portrays gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell as a Christian extremist for his views on family life and abortion.

A woman's "place is in the home" only because that's where her heart is. A woman's primary place in the workplace is a communist ideal promoted mainly by materialism and rampant divorce. There are today many talented, brilliant, productive middle-age women who are frustrated because their only family is colleagues and customers.

Abortion is evil because it is the wanton destruction of innocent human life. The products even of rape and incest are innocent humans. There are a number of talented, productive people who were products of unwanted pregnancies but they are all glad that they were born.

McDonnell's interest is in the integrity and preservation of the family. The destruction of the family is the harbinger of the corruption of society and eventually the disruption of even the greatest of civilizations. Patrick A. Reardon, M.D. Lanexa.

Where Were Cantor's Manners?
Editor, Times-Dispatch: As one of Eric Cantor's constituents, I was quite disturbed by his behavior during the recent speech on health care by President Barack Obama.

I am a working mother with a busy family full of teenagers in Bon Air. One of the hard and fast rules in this family is the rule of respect. It manifests itself in many ways, and one of the least popular is the "no cell phones at the dinner table" rule. Let me be clear -- this includes text messages, twittering, and yes, my own BlackBerry.

We watched Obama's speech as a family. It was a teaching moment in many ways, but most disappointing for me was to see our representative on national television (at least twice), on his BlackBerry rather than paying attention to the president.

I would hope that he, as an elected official in one of the highest positions in government, would take his responsibility as a role model more seriously. Our children need to understand that active leadership and participation in governance is most effective through respectful, engaged, and thoughtful dialogue.

Michele Walter.
Bon Air.

In the 19th century, the United States used the idea of Manifest Destiny in support of actions calculated to exterminate the American Indian while taking his land. The few who are left are presently living in concentration camps called reservations.

Later, during the 1930s, Adolf Hitler claimed he had no more territorial demands in Europe after finishing his last land grab. World War II soon followed. So, in the Middle East we will continue to have perpetual war: a war that has already cost the U.S. close to $2 trillion -- and counting -- since 1948.

Lanny Anderson.
Richmond.