Professor Robert Reich plays a game in his classroom titled “Wealth & Poverty” where he splits students into pairs and imagine that he’s giving one of the students in each pair $1,000. “The pair can keep some of the money only on the condition they reach a deal with their partner on how it’s to be divided between them.” Ostensibly, the point of the exercise is to infer that the wealthy get their money by luck and those in poverty are suffering through no fault of their own and the remedy is “distributional” economics.
I’ve written before how I suffer reading Reich’s editorials. Now he is simply insufferable. Let’s get a reality check here. How about describing the game this way? One of the partners in each pair, at great risk, starts and builds a successful business providing a desirable product thus earning $1,000 and hires his partner to expand his business to grow and hire other employees all of which become productive taxpaying citizens. Gee! Just the opposite of Reich’s zero-sum game view of the world.
George Gilder wrote a seminal book 30 years ago titled “Wealth & Poverty” explaining reasons for haves and have-nots. If Reich wants the scales to fall from his eyes, I’d suggest he read it.
KEVIN SCHNABEL, CENTERVILLE
Retired firefighter: Reasons to support police and fire levy
I am a retired firefighter from the City of Dayton and a Jefferson Twp. resident for over 42 years. Let me explain why it is so important to vote yes for the renewal of the police and fire levy in Jefferson Twp.
• First, it is no additional cost to residents; the taxes are for a renewal.
• The police protection is provided by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, headed by Phil Plummer, whose department is rated very high in the accreditation list for law enforcement in the state of Ohio.
• Our fire protection is provided by a group of dedicated individuals. They put in a lot of man hours in various fire houses, which enable them to respond sooner to the different emergencies such as fire protection, emergency medical treatment and ambulance service.
• The fire department is headed by a very capable public servant, Chief Sexton, whom I have known for many years.
I employ you to vote along with me in the affirmative for the renewal of our police and fire levy on May 6th. Remember, it will cost nothing additional out of pocket.
GEORGE ANDERSON JR., JEFFERSON TWP.
Teacher: Levy needed to improve facilities
Having taught elementary music in the Bethel Local School district for 37 years, I have always supported the school and continue to do so. The levy on May 6 is vital to improve our facilities. The music programs at Bethel have received fantastic community support, often have standing room only, and sometimes have people leaving due to lack of available seating.
The levy would provide a cafetorium that would seat 700 people nearly triple the size of the present auditorium. The stage would be almost three times as large as our existing stage. How great would it be to see a whole grade level or choir up on a stage? The new band room would be approximately 75 percent larger. The existing band room and auditorium would continue to be used for musical activities, but the new rooms would accommodate our growing school population. Space was always an issue for my programs as the students were so eager to do dances, movements and play instruments as well as sing.
These new spaces would help so much. I have always felt that Bethel had one of the finest music programs from first grade to high school of any school no matter the size. Please support this levy and help our students.
DEANA HOYT, TIPP CITY
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