Let’s Fix This Country Ourselves

To the Editor:

To both Mr Vitarbo and Mr Karnoff, I must agree that name calling won’t help, so instead I intend to address the concerns raised by Mr Vitarbo [“The Majority’s Mistake,” Letter Hive 11/21/28].

Education: Instead of vouchers for better schools, we should be focusing on making schools better for all that attend. The poor quality of inner city schools can largely be attributed to issues of racism and classism. Neither of these problems will be solved with school vouchers. As far as lining the union pockets, I’ve never heard “Are you going to be a teacher for the money?”

Tax Policy: If anything is causing class warfare, it would be capitalism itself, not tax policy. The only way capitalism works is if individuals work to obtain more power and resources. Democracy, which relies on equal distribution of power and opportunity to resources, can’t really exist with a capitalist system already slanted towards certain groups of people (white, straight, male, financially secure). Clearly we need to find more compatible systems.

Abortion: Some people will always believe that the right for a woman to choose the direction for her own body and life trumps any right an unborn fetus may have. I believe that it is unfair to ask women to shoulder the consequences of an action when we do not require the same from men for the same action. The point is that there is a fundamental disagreement here and it is time to focus on issues that might have more attainable solutions. This, unfortunately, is probably not one of those issues.

National Security: Firstly, it is not an infantile notion to believe that we can talk to people who hate us; it is the more mature course of action. The US propped up Saddam Hussein for years and then, with the same disregard for Iraq’s sovereignty, we decided to violently remove him. Quite frankly, they deserve a diplomatic apology. Secondly, you’re right; many Democrats supported invading Iraq. I would argue that they were intentionally misguided by our government. Perhaps more of us should practice “flip-flopping” because, in any business other than politics, it’s called “re-evaluating the circumstances” and is considered responsible, not treason.

Same Sex Marriage: There are 1,345 rights offered through marriage not offered through civil unions. Whether or not you agree with their morals, it is your duty as an American who believes in freedom to ensure the same freedoms for everyone. If we start limiting rights for some, there is nothing to stop people from limiting the rights of anyone, anytime, perhaps even yours Mr Vitarbo.

Clearly, it is not the politicians, but the system that is corrupt. We cannot simply sit back and hope the country survives, as you suggest. It is the duty of every person to recognize the problems in our society and take personal responsibility for them. My greatest hope, Mr Vitarbo, is that you and I can come together and fix this country ourselves, instead of having to rely on politicians to do it for us.

Alison Berk

430 Garrigus Suites, Storrs                                     December 5, 2008