LETTERS: Small district consolidation and more
Economics isn't the only consideration
In "Better one or many?" [Opinion, Nov. 29], Professors William Bianco and Regina Smyth get it wrong.
When Long Island's hundreds of firehouses have almost four times more fire trucks than a similarly sized population in the suburban region of Northern Virginia, where is the economic rationality? When our 124 school districts divide students by race, ethnicity and economic class, which results in widely varying opportunities, where is the equality? When our water, fire, police, sanitation - take your pick - elections are poorly advertised and few residents have the information to vote, where is the democracy?
On Long Island, rethinking our structure of fragmented government would provide dramatic benefits.
This is not just about economics. Ultimately it is about whether the region has a long-term sustainable future. Professors, reread your history, sociology and anthropology. Economics will not reveal everything about what makes sense in a region as complex as this.
Ann Golob
Garden CityEditor's note: The writer is director of the Long Island Index at the Rauch Foundation.
Rule by religion
could become a risk
"Kennedy shouldn't take Communion" [Letters, Nov. 29] raises a number of questions. Does the writer believe that every elected official should "vote on bills that are favorable to their religion and church"?
Jews? Muslims? Hindus? Mormons? And all the other Christian faiths?
Would that not have the United States become a theocracy, ruled by which religion had the most elected officials? And, wouldn't different areas of the country have different laws, depending on which religion was dominant, much like tribal areas in the rest of the world?
Quite a thought to ponder.
Jerrold J. Schreibersdorf
DouglastonRespect all families who bring gifts
Children in my son's middle school received a flier encouraging them and their families to donate toys to the needy. The school is then conducting a raffle in which each child who donates a toy receives raffle tickets based on the value of that toy.
Is this not penalizing the children of less fortunate families? Should children whose families can afford to donate only an inexpensive toy be appreciated less for their thoughtfulness?
Colleen Satter
FarmingvilleRadical reality show
How about a reality TV show featuring politicians making decisions to vote their conscience rather than the direction of their party leaders? No one would ever believe it!
Robert Carnesi
North Babylon
