Letters to the Editor
Well, that's all for now.
Published Letters: 85 Editor's Choice: 10
-
It's Never Too Early
[Read the article: Chicago preschool economics]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Oh, if only we could emulate the policies I'm told Norway promotes with respect to it's preschool age children and their families. As I understand it, mothers must take one full year of maternity leave at full pay. It was just recently introduced that Norwegian mothers have the option to take a second year of maternity leave at something like 80% pay (with job security guaranteed). Followed by universal preschool staffed by well-trained and fairly compensated personnel. Honestly, even as I type this I can hardly believe such a fantasy-like scenario could be true. Then, of course, I remind myself that our (if you're an American) country has placed its priorities on spending an estimated (ultimately) $2 trillion dollars just on this war alone, not to mention $500 billion annually just on the above-the-board expenses for the Pentagon. Amazing to think what we could provide to and accomplish in our society if we were able to crawl out from under the oppressive greed of those who currently control our political system and mass media. I truly believe most Americans would make the healthy, equitable societal trade-offs if given the opportunity and if they didn't feel like whatever changes were being proposed was just another opportunity for someone to fleece them.
Instead, we're left with an economy in which real incomes have declined since the 1970s and in which, with respect to families with children, both spouses/parents must work just to make ends meet. That reality is coupled with little to no assistance with infant/pre-schooler care for the majority of people in the country, i.e., the middle class. But, take heart new parents! When your child is college age there will be (hopefully still) some societal aid for college, and resident tuition rates at most state colleges. Until then, you'll just have to suck up the fact that daycare costs more than most tuition at state colleges. (Hmmmm, if only I could get my 3-year old enrolled in a university Creative Writing program. Or maybe a Philosophy department. Or better yet, a Department of Early Childhood Development.) And, you might as well leave the shortage-of-workers worries to someone else, because once Social Security is drowned in Grover Norquist's bathtub under the weight of this $2 trillion war and our reckless military spending, you'll still be working when China and India and wherever else get around to outsourcing their jobs back to all of the unemployed U.S. service economy workers. (Other countries will likely be smart enough to retain their manufacturing jobs and capabilities.) But, cheer up my friend, you'll be in good company.
-
It's the most the Bushes have done on the topic.
[Read the article: "Idol" watch: Beat-boxing, Bon Jovi and Bush]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I too was sickened at Fox's insertion of George and Laura into the American Idol program last night. (Imagine the howls of protest from the right wing if there had been a clip of the Clintons, Obama, Edwards, etc.) That said, it was a telling moment when, I can't remember which, George or Laura, mentioned the funds raised for the poor in America. Thanking television viewers for contributing to a telethon to benefit those in poverty here is the most the Bushes have done for those in need. They could have added Barbara Bush and her unsoiled beautiful mind musing about how the telethon really worked out quite well for 'those people'.
The contestants all did pretty well last night, surprisingly. It will actually be too bad to lose two of them tonight considering they're all improving. Still, I'd guess that it will be Chris and Phil or possibly LaKisha taking their final bows tonight. Melinda still gets my top vote as the most consistently good singer on the show.