- November 23, 2024
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+ Cutting government is not the way to promote growth
Dear Editor:
The conventional wisdom is that tax cuts will inspire the government to become more efficient, but this view is unrealistic. A tax cut will simply reduce the services the county provides to its citizens.
Reducing revenue to any government entity is counterproductive to the goal of growth. We are seeing the result of reducing government spending around the world, and what we’re seeing is economic stress that is hurting the objective of growth and the people in those geographies.
On a microeconomic basis, we see successful companies like Intel and Apple increasing their investment in research and development and infrastructure to grow. They know that growth cannot be inspired by continuous cost-cutting. Yes, sometimes entities get “fat” and a period of cost cutting is required to re-balance. But continuous cost cutting leads to failure.
Despite the popular Reagan line, government is not the problem. Nor is it the solution to all problems. We need government. Some problems can only be solved by we, the people, working together — the role of government.
Our stormwater problems, education, police, firefighters, libraries, parks and recreation, etc., are legitimate government functions. The government needs money to perform for the people. Without sufficient revenue, our community will shrivel, and you can forget about growth. Who will choose to move into a seedy neighborhood?
The goal must be growth, and growth comes from revenue growth in both the private and public sectors of our economy.
Our population and economy are growing, and most people would like to see even faster growth. This will not happen if we starve our investments in infrastructure and people. Let us now stop the emphasis on even more cutting in our necessary government services and provide the revenue we need to accomplish this. Let us look to maintain the revenue the government needs to provide baseline services, but look closely at any attempt to increase services until our growth rate increases.
Albert R. Tetrault
Palm Coast
+ Race report insults educators
In response to the story, “Race study targets Flagler,” which you ran on Saturday, Aug. 11, please allow me to voice the following observations: First, the complaint filed against Flagler County School District was filed by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The source must be considered.
The SPLC has accused many over the years of such things as “discriminatory” or “racist” practices. Their website even lists organizations as racist or hate groups, according to, I presume, their own set of criteria. It even lists one organization for simply saying that it “exists to represent the political interests of white Americans.” Really? Consider the many organizations that proudly support the interests of black Americans. For this, no one is suspicious, nor does anyone accuse them of being racists or bigots. Instead of extending the same courtesy to those groups, the SPLC simply deals the overly played race card and accuses them of spreading hate. An organization formed to promote “tolerance” seems only to tolerate those who hold the same beliefs as they do. This is called fascism, not tolerance.
With that said, the SPLC has accused Flagler County School District (and four other districts within Florida) of “vague and ambiguous disciplinary procedures which leads to more suspensions and expulsions of black students compared to white students.”
It also claims that Flagler County School District maintains an educational environment that is “hostile to African America children and deprives those students of equal access to educational benefits and opportunities.” These are harsh words considering only three case studies were cited as reason to investigate the “hostile” school district.
The SPLC points out that even though black students make up only 16% of the student population in Flagler County, they make up 31% of out-of-school suspensions, districtwide. Why the disparity? Is there a conspiracy, from top to bottom, within the district of Flagler County, to discriminate and thus disenfranchise African American students from the educational process? In order for this to be true, there must be cooperation from the School Board, principals, school administrators, school staff, teachers and others with access to students within the district. Without this cooperation, such numbers could not exist.
Is there a conspiracy? Is there a plan set in place by those whose vocational goal is to see African American students suspended, removed or dealt with in a way not extended to other student population?
There must be another answer.
However, the only discussion that the SPLC wants to have is its accusation that employees of Flagler County School District are racists.
In my many years of experience working in school districts in Florida (including Flagler), I have never experienced a situation where African American students were treated any differently from every other student. Education professionals earn their degrees and dedicate themselves to a life-long vocation of educating children — for a small amount in compensation. No one has ever accused educational professionals of going into the field for the money. So, one would have to ask: Why would anyone go into education?
Twenty-four years of experience tells me that they go into the field because they have a passion for educating students and giving them the tools to succeed. It is their own inner drive that keeps them going amid the piles of paper work and requirements and mandates by both Florida and U.S. departments of education. The recent influx of new requirements handed to teachers and administrators could only be accepted and endured by the most dedicated among us. And all for a salary that most would scoff at.
I also must say that I am disappointed that more district representatives have not immediately come to the defense of the hard-working professionals within our district, as did Flagler County School District attorney Kristy Gavin.
Are there those working with our students who may have prejudices or preferences that spill over into their jobs? I am sure there are, just like in any profession. Yet, to propose that this is happening as a districtwide practice is absurd. It is insulting to these fine people who give 100% each and every day with our kids.
Not only does it insult those here in our county, but it insults every educator in the state of Florida when the SPLC says it could “probably” file a complaint against every Florida county, and that “the entire state is bad.” Such blanket statements cannot go unchallenged.
Now, either educators from Tallahassee on down to all 67 counties are involved in a statewide conspiracy to discriminate against African American students, or there is a real answer for the disparities. The real reasons are discussions that should be had. However, for the SPLC to point the finger at Flagler County and even the state of Florida as a whole is preposterous. If that be the case, why stop at Flagler County or the state? Why don’t they just accuse the entire country of a nationwide conspiracy?
Wayne Alonzo
Palm Coast
