Don’t believe everything you read about rich and poor

Don’t believe everything you read about rich and poor

EDITOR:

In a recent column (Vindicator, March 27), George Will attempts to advance the preposterous notion that higher rates of charitable giving by conservatives confirm they care more about the poor than liberals. He relies heavily on data showing that people in “red” states — those voting for George Bush in 2004 — give more generously, and hence are more compassionate, than those in “blue” states voting for John Kerry.

Actually, very few charitable dollars go to the poor; most go to churches — conservatives giving to conservatives — and private universities, hardly bastions of the poor.

As to how the poor actually fare in the states Mr. Will congratulates for their generosity, we conducted a study of child well-being in 2007 using 10 commonly accepted indicators — poverty, infant mortality, incarceration, insurance coverage, teen pregnancy, etc. — and found that all 20 of the bottom states were red and 9 of the top 10 were blue. In turn, these outcomes were highly correlated with a state’s total tax burden: higher taxes were associated with the best outcomes, lower taxes with the worst. Tax revenue is divided up by elected legislative bodies which are charged with serving the greatest good, including the needs of the poor. Private donations are important, but donors direct funds to what is important to them personally.

On a per capita basis the mostly red, poorer states receive far more funds from the federal treasury than they put in. Where does this “surplus” money come from? Yes, from federal taxes collected from mostly blue, richer states, which are then transferred disproportionately by Congress to poorer states in order to do things like — help the poor.

MICHAEL PETIT, president

Every Child Matters Education Fund

Washington, D.C.

Tired of hearing about levies

EDITOR:

I am sick of the Youngstown Board of Education trying to jam the levy down my throat. It seems that they are just trying to wear the voters down instead of trying to find out why it keeps failing. I for one am fed up with these tactics.

One would think that the board would be trying to find out why the voters are so negative. Dr. Webb keeps saying that we have better schools. I submit that we only have better school buildings. With the same administration, the same teachers, and the obvious lack of discipline we have the same schools.

We are told that cuts have been made, but where? How many have been made at 20 W. Wood for example? I for one am interested in how the budget is distributed. What percentage is spent on salaries and benefits for instance? There should be a great deal of savings on heating, cooling, and other costs when operating fewer and more modern and up to date buildings.

Why were cuts not made as the student base was decreasing and not waiting and now crying wolf? I don’t think the problem occurred in the last couple years.

I say enough is enough. I must live within my budget and so must the Youngstown Board of Education. The well is deep and rapidly going dry.

CARL WORKMAN

Lowellville