Oklahoma Gazette Letters to the Editor: For the public good

So just what does Jason Reese think that is taught in public schools that undermines our children’s faith? Is it real science, evolution and not the debunked and religiously motivated intelligent design? That earth is very much older than 6,000 years?

Perhaps it’s real anatomy and sexual relations. Maybe it’s real history. Maybe he prefers that his and most other children should be exposed to his religious beliefs 24/7 instead of just all the rest of the time available for his religious teachings except during school.

Obviously, he does not care that most people do prefer public education and they know that it would be hurt by the vouchering of public funds to support religious schools.

Would every religion have a school?

I bet Jason Reese hopes they do not. I read his article because of the title (“Education as a common good”), which I wholeheartedly believe is true. Were I childless, I would still avidly support education, which we will depend on as a country when today’s children will become our leaders. This Jason Reese and I agree on.

Let’s put every bit of the money we can spare in educating all the children we can with real science and history. That will be to the good for all of us. That will not happen if the money is siphoned off for private and privatized schools.

—Chadwick Cox
Norman

Oklahoma Gazette provides an open forum for the discussion of all points of view in its Letters to the Editor section. The Gazette reserves the right to edit letters for length and clarity. Letters can be mailed, faxed, emailed to rcollins@okgazette.com or sent online at okgazette.com, but include a city of residence and contact number for verification.

09.22.2011 at 08:48 Reply

omgbear

Jason Reese's article did nothing more than publicly show the world that what he wants should trump what is a "common good."

I don't have any children, but you don't see me piching a fit about paying taxes for a service I do not use. Why is that? Because I got educated in a public school, and it wouldn't be right to not pay-it-forward. Being an attorney Jason is clearly someone undoubtedly better of financially than most, and yet he feels some financial pinch for supporting a common good that much poorer people never balk at.

These days, I am amazed and sickened by the haves that pretend to be the have-nots. Jason Reese is no better than Rep. John Fleming (R-LA) who recently bellyached recently on MSNBC that after he pays his taxes and expenses on his LLC's that he's left with a paltry $600,000, which apparently becomes $400,000 after he "feeds his family." And as anyone like Mr. Reese would know, LLC's open up a multitude of exploitable tax loopholes, so I have a doubt that Rep. Fleming is getting destroyed by taxes with regard to his private businesses.

I'm so sorry that Mr. Reese whom probably charges $60-$200 an hour for his services can't afford to pay for something that much poorer people can pay for. Perhaps he should rethink how much he spent on his car since I doubt it's in a sub $50,000 price range. Priorities Jason, priorities.