Pols treated as kings while teachers suffer
Our current national health care debate is merely the trigger that revealed the underlying dissatisfaction with American government.
No one questions government in things such as national defense, interstate commerce and emergency services. Many elected leaders have become detached from the voters who sent them there, and have become, essentially, our new kings. Compare two examples of our public servants: politicians and teachers.
A legislator receives a base salary of $174,000, has an average of 14 staffers working for him, receives stipends for housing and transportation, and is enrolled in generous health and retirement benefits. There are cut-rate barbers and beauticians as well as restaurants available to legislators.
Shortly after completing their "public service," they will become overnight millionaires. According to a Huffington Post analysis of Clinton tax returns, the couple has received in excess of $150 million since "retiring" from the White House.
What about teachers? A teacher can expect a starting salary of a bit more than $30,000 depending on locale. Besides having to pay back their college loans, there are required grad school expenses.
There are no perks. Food, transportation, housing, clothing and in some districts teaching materials are a continuing expense while teaching. Some educators work evenings, weekends and vacations in second and third jobs to get by.
Finally after 30 or 40 years there is retirement.
Teachers' retirement in some states is adequate. Retired educators can expect to maintain a modest lifestyle for the rest of their lives. It is a just reward for years of truly serving the community.
Politicians continue to live like European kings of the 19th century while creating massive national debt and countless "boondoggle" projects. There ought to be a law controlling the cost of government, but of course, since they make the laws there won't be.
Ed Stammel
Stamford
Good to see troops helping, not invading
Whenever I've heard my radio news broadcast, "Today, U.S. troops landed ..." I get this awful visceral reaction: Which country are we now invading? To which country that we've already invaded are we now sending more troops?
Then, as the news continues, I realize that in today's context it's about Haiti and about helping people in a country that has been devastated, rather than killing them in order to extend our global grip and dominance of the world. It's nice to know that our awesome military prowess (which all too often masks our national weakness) is being used for doing good. I hope that it will become the preponderant standard of our nation's foreign policy.
After all, a nation that overwhelmingly claims Christian identity and values should act accordingly.
Irwin Gooen
Emmons
