Churches should again pick up the slack Re: “We are our brother’s keeper, not the federal government,” Sept. 15
I very rarely, if ever, find the musings of Cal Thomas consistent with my own ideologies. However, in this column Mr. Thomas speaks of a time “when families, neighbors and churches cared for each other” and espouses the premise that government should not be the entity that takes care of individuals.
I, too, am old enough to remember when that was the case. Unfortunately, for a myriad of reasons, that time seems to have passed us by.
Local neighborhood churches used to be on point with their altruistic and philanthropic ministries. But with the proliferation of mega-churches, they seem more concerned with perpetuating the lifestyles of their leaders, some of whom reportedly receive annual salaries and perks in excess of $1 million.
Granted, there are churches and church-affiliated organizations that continue to do outstanding work on behalf of the downtrodden (Catholic Charities readily comes to mind). But I maintain that if our churches once again took the lead, others would follow.
Marvin E. Adams
Washington
Stop blaming teachers and address child poverty
Re: “Teacher competence counts more than teacher credentials,” Sept. 15
Marcus Winters joins the “blame the teacher” crowd that overlooks the fact that teachers account for only a small portion of a child’s success in school. They conveniently fail to note that a very large percentage of school failure and school problems is due to poverty and its concomitants.
If our society can even the economic playing field for families and children first, then we can work on improving the teachers. But stranding increasing numbers of kids in poverty, slashing public school budgets, attacking teacher unions, and diverting public funds to private schools is harming our kids, their future, and our society’s future.
Edd Doerr
Silver Spring
Americans need to get nation back on track
Instead of listening to bloviating about the meaningless madness of today’s petty and vile politics, voters ought to be thinking about how to return to the pride they had in America two or three generations ago — before socialism sank its teeth into our public education system, our government and our liberty.
The only way to recover our heritage is to privatize education and restore moral self-reliance in the people. To revitalize capitalism, reform taxation, eliminate all anti-economic regulations, and reduce the size, scope and power of government.
Tea Party-minded Republicans and independents can do that. Democrats won’t.
Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley, Calif.
