Letters to the editor: Education, air travel, the Jan. 6 insurrection, dark money
Education
Idaho is ranked 40th in K-12 education, 33rd in the U. S. in teacher pay, according to some estimates. Our state Legislature is cutting millions in funding to universities to “remove state support for social justice programming.” Even more alarming, one out of every 6.9 residents of Idaho lives in poverty.
Do you want to know what China did in the early 2000s? They expanded education to produce a new labor force. Millions of children and young adults were enrolled in intense education programs. China set out to purposefully build a substantial technocratic urban elite as well as train a new generation of skilled workers. Before that, in the 1990s the government had moved millions of people from rural to urban areas. Poverty virtually eliminated for many 100s of millions of people.
We are mired in divisiveness and fighting over the wrong things... while Rome burns. We’re supposed to be an innovative people. Why can’t we act like it? For us to solve any problem we need to forget about “other” and work together. Or we can all just hole up in our little fortresses as we slide into the trash heap of history. It isn’t going to be pretty.
Roy Johnson, Boise
Air travel
The last couple of weeks have been challenging for people traveling home after holiday visits,especially on airplanes. I imagine it was even more difficult for the people who work on airplanes and in airports.
I was super impressed with the Delta and American agents at the Boise Airport right after Christmas. Flights were being cancelled or delayed right, and left but the agents were calm, professional and doing their best to help temporally stranded travelers.
While a Delta agent was rescheduling my sister’s flights, we overheard an American agent helping a woman with an overweight bag. There would be an extra charge of $100 if a solution could not be found. They discarded some shampoo and solved the problem.
We’re pretty spoiled in the United States to have our transportation methods almost always function smoothly and on time. During challenging weather and other disasters, we see the best come out in our fellow humans from both sides of the aisle.
Kayla Dodson, Boise
Jan. 6
I am deeply disappointed that the Idaho congressional delegation chose silence and cowardice on the anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack on our democracy. Instead of having the moral fortitude to denounce the attack as wrong or even to condemn political violence, Reps. Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher and Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch have chosen to hide in silence.
The actions of these men are deeply shameful. All four have put their own selfish interests ahead of the interests of this country or the people who elected them. Rather than bravely speaking up for what is right, they’re hiding in silence to further their hopes of reelection. Their cowardice does not align with the values of Idahoans, and they do not deserve to continue to hold public office.
Ben Roberts, Idaho Falls
The big lie
Sens. Jim Risch and Mike Crapo,
The Trump regime must be held accountable for the violent attempt to prevent the lawful transition of power. Republican representatives who did not vote to impeach and continue to support “The Big Lie” are no better than those who folded when Mussolini and Hitler came to power through outrageous lies and violence. Rather than continue on this ruinous path, I sincerely hope that you and responsible members of Congress will adhere to your oath of office to preserve, protect and defend democracy and the Constitution.
Sheila Robbins, Boise
Dark money
Voters elect legislators to write laws necessary for our safe and peaceful co-existence. But that’s not happening. Instead, laws are being written by unelected, unaccountable people with untraceable money — dark money — funding their own agenda.
For example, the Idaho Freedom Foundation, led by Wayne Hoffman, works for a small number of Idahoans. Yet, Idaho Freedom Foundation’s influence dominated recent legislative sessions. Doubt that? Take a closer look at Idaho Freedom Foundation tactics.
Idaho Freedom Foundation’s “flagship project” scores lawmakers based on their vote on bills, claiming it holds representatives accountable. But the “index” is not based on the law’s necessity, potential to solve problems or contribution to our safe and peaceful coexistence. As Wayne explains, representatives score higher when favoring private industry and lower when supporting some government service.
Wayne boasted, “… lobbyists, who once scoffed at the Index, beat a path to our office seeking assistance to improve their legislation.” But the word of law should come from the consent of the people, not a dark money organization. Idaho Freedom Foundation’s “index” misleads people into believing it serves the public when in fact it serves to advance a private agenda.
Lobbyists are multiplying Idaho Freedom Foundation’s influence. That approach diminishes the voice of we the governed.
Victoria M. Young, Caldwell