THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 29, 1995 TAG: 9501270041
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 34 lines
Most of us believe there is some waste, excess, abuse and just plain silliness in the spending of our tax dollars. But that's been going on for some time now.
One need not be a liberal or even a moderate to recognize that the reduction or elimination of worthwhile social programs such as Head Start and the school meal programs will have serious long-term effects. Where is it written that we can't step back and take a long look and make some adjustments?
We should be doing even more than is being done now to help direct our children toward having an opportunity to participate as first-class citizens. If we start early to address the ills of hunger, illiteracy or instability in their small lives, just maybe we could manage to keep them out of the many prisons that are being planned for them now.
Years ago in high school in Portsmouth, I remember reading a poem in literature class about the wisdom of building a fence at the top of a cliff rather than parking an ambulance at the bottom. I wish I could find a copy of the poem. I'd send it to all my lawmakers.
Common sense is such a rare commodity these days.
N. K. CRUTCHFIELD SR.
Suffolk, Jan. 20, 1995 by CNB