Election spending, democracy, dual-language instruction, and more

Campaign money can be better spent

The American electorate deserves better. A record $9.3 billion was spent on the congressional midterm election [“Wave or tide? Voters decide,” News, Nov.  7]. That doesn’t include the amount spent on state and local elections. Never in the history of American politics has so much money been ill spent.

The editorial “Wanted: Communication on crime” [Opinion, Oct. 30] decried the lack of discussion on the crime issue. There was little or no discussion of most issues. Neither political party made much of a case for its position on a particular issue.

Both sides resorted to 15-second sound bites: “My opponent will ban abortion” or “My opponent will free (or has freed) rapists and murderers without bail.” Is either allegation true? Often, a political office being contested does not even have jurisdiction over the issue.

The advertising money would have been better spent informing the people of the candidate or party’s position, rather than citing half-truths and lies about the other’s position.

 — Mark Tarantino, Freeport

How do we survive as a democracy?

Dan Janison’s column is 99.9% spot on [“Questioning authority means just that,” Opinion, Oct. 28].

Sadly, though, the faux populism that is overtaking rational, educated thought has lurked in the shadows for a long time, maybe centuries. Political power has now openly become the major driver of almost all decisions, not common sense or the will of the majority.

This became much more pronounced with the last administration, along with assists from social media and a significant portion of traditional media.

Unfortunately, Janison’s closing “sane proposal” is too little, too late, in my opinion. The horse is already out of the barn. It is truly unclear how, or even if, we can fix this. Every little bit helps, so people should read his column and contemplate how we survive as a democracy.

 — Denis O’Driscoll, Westbury

Dual-language program a triumph

Kudos to Our Lady of Guadalupe School for its soaring attendance by creating the first dual-language scholastic program on Long Island [“Specialized school is a big draw,” Long Island, Oct. 31].

By teaching all subjects in both English and Spanish, students become fully bilingual by the eighth grade. This has become increasingly important with dozens of Long Island’s 124 school districts currently majority-minority. In fact, Long Island’s white student population overall has dropped below 48%.

Dual-language skills will help these students be better prepared in a society which is growing more diverse each year.

 — Gary Anderson, Smithtown

Grief never ends for Parkland survivors

After more than four years, the trial and sentencing of Nikolas Cruz, the shooter at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, is over — at least for him [“Families unleash grief, anger at Parkland killer,” Nation & World, Nov. 2].

Society, however, must never forget the innocents who lost their lives in this massacre. The family and friends they left behind must bear the consequences of this assault in perpetuity. Some of their names are familiar and some are not.

As I watched emotional families speaking directly to the defendant about the anger, disgust and even hatred they have toward Cruz, my focus was on a teacher who spoke: Stacey Markow Lippel, a 1985 Huntington High School graduate and longtime family friend.

Her classroom was next to that of Scott Beigel, a teacher who grew up in Dix Hills and did not survive the assault. Although Lippel’s quick thinking saved lives, she says she wishes she could have done more. She bears the emotional (and physical) scars of that day as do her husband and children. It will never be over for them.

 — Jo  An Gaudreault, Northport

An announcement for  Cannon — really?

Seriously, another announcement of a Nick Cannon expected birth or birth announcement [“Cannon to be a father for 11th time,” flash!, Nov. 7].

It seems the only things keeping him “relevant” (term used loosely) and in the news are pregnancies and/or births. Does anyone care?

Pregnancies are announced and babies are born every single day.

Why not have a section with happy announcements for “regular” people?

The world is full of more important news.

 — Alisha Rubin, Belle Harbor