Fayetteville should vote against library tax
In my opinion, Fayetteville should vote "no" on the Fayetteville library millage increase August 9. Why? There is a better way of funding the library. It would involve donations, fundraising and gifts like those from the anonymous person or persons who paid to have the special election. Why didn't they give that money to the library instead of burdening the working people with even more taxes?
The Fayetteville community can support the library by giving back to the beautiful library, even if it is just a dollar.
Joyce Lackey
Fayetteville
To sabotage a country,
let education falter
If you wanted to sabotage the United States without resorting to terrorism, all you have to do is work to cause further deterioration of our educational system. A lack of a proper education is a primary cause of unemployment since many workers don't have the educational background to be hired and/or to perform the work. In particular an inability to read and understand the material is a big job killer, and a large number of our work force are functionally illiterate. The growing number of people who are unable to support themselves is causing a disastrous effect on their standard of living, which is a great threat to the stability of the United States.
If you can't find a job, this often leads to engaging in criminal activities to make a living, such as dealing in illegal drugs, prostitution, robbery and the rise in organized gangs. We expect law enforcement to take care of these problems, but the numbers of the disadvantaged are increasing, and the police are already overworked and underpaid.
Voters that are under-educated are easy prey for political demagogues who can more easily appeal to anger and frustrations, by performing at rallies like an old-fashioned patent medicine peddler. Those who are better informed and understand the issues of the day are more likely to be more objective in deciding who to vote for. Donald Trump appeals to voters with no more than a high school education, who are not likely to question his long list of unrealistic promises and overlook his many shortcomings.
The breakdown in our educational system is rarely a priority issue with the public so politicians turn their attention to other matters, and as usual, education is put on the back burner. The politicians, along with the help of the media, prefer to focus on more inflammatory issues, such as the so called "bathroom crises," which under ordinary circumstances -- that is, not during an election year -- would not take up so much time in the news. Such an issue helps distract the public from more pressing issues, such as education. The failure of both the politicians and the public to address the education issue is providing aid and comfort to our enemies who want to pull our country down. You know they are pleased to see that the United States' ranking in education among industrialized nations is 14th, behind Poland, Ireland and South Korea.
There is an urgent need to increase funding for education at both the federal and state level, which I hope will eventually take place, but only if the voters and the politicians finally recognize the seriousness of the problem and decide to do something about it. I realize more money alone is not the only answer, but without it, significant change is unlikely.
Just remember the old saying that you get what you pay for.
Bass Trumbo
Fayetteville
Commentary on 06/28/2016