Now in a child’s dream

I’ve always been an avid reader of Public Lives. I like the way Randy David’s opinions are presented. He usually supports them with facts and unquestionable pieces of evidence.

In his Jan. 13 column titled “Help,” his lead sentence is striking: “Next time our political leaders in the Senate and the House of Representatives find themselves awash in so-called ‘savings’ at the end of the year, they might want to drop by any of our public hospitals.” I hope it struck the consciousness and sensibilities of our distinguished senators, too.

Upon hearing the news about the generous cash giveaways, I immediately thought, “This is where your taxes go.” I am a taxpayer and so are the thousands, if not millions, of industrious yet underpaid workers in our country.

Aside from dropping by any of our public hospitals, our eminent senators and congressmen might want to visit public schools, too, especially in the rural or remote areas where students have no school materials (e.g., pens, pencils, paper, erasers), only a few or no textbooks and, worse, no classrooms.

I salute public school teachers who provide the things their students need despite their small salaries.

Well, I hope our public officials have watched heartbreaking documentaries which reveal the state of our country’s educational system. The cash gifts could have been spent for the country’s “needs.”

I’m afraid one of these days I would hear this response from a child when asked what he would want to be when he grows up. “A senator … so that I would receive cash incentives.”

—GLADYS MINTU,

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