Letters to the Editor
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‘The Schools at a Crossroads’
The New York Sun is correct in concluding that “the best way to provide choice and quality would be to unleash some market forces with vouchers” [“The Schools at a Crossroads,” Editorial, October 15, 2004]. However, the benefits of a voucher program extend beyond those of choice and quality.
The Milwaukee voucher program, in effect since 1990, is the nation’s oldest and largest. Among choice parents, what had been a high level of dissatisfaction with public schools has been transformed into considerable satisfaction with private schools. Reading and mathematics scores of participating children have increased, while competition has even had a positive effect on the productivity of the Milwaukee public schools.
Notably, Milwaukee’s vouchers are granted at less than half the cost of public education, providing a savings for taxpayers. One would think that a better product at such a hefty cost reduction would be of interest to the rest of the nation. Yet, the use of vouchers is uncommon.
If the facts were known, such drastic cost savings could provide the impetus for reform.
Were vouchers in widespread use in New York City – or anywhere, for that matter – a multiple injustice would be partially alleviated. Taxpayers would pay lower taxes, parents would be able to choose the education they deem appropriate for their children, and the quality of education in general would rise.
EDWIN R. THOMPSON
Manhattan
Iran and Fatah
The New York Sun presented a useful piece of news via The Daily Telegraph by Anton La Guardia [“Iran Believed To Be Taking Control of Fatah Cells,” Foreign, October 15, 2004]. But I think his assertion inaccurate that Hezbollah “successfully drove the Israel Defense Force out of south Lebanon.”
The statement implies that Hezbollah was winning. Actually, it was losing. The problem was lack of Israeli political resolve.
The United Nations and world public opinion restrained the Israeli war effort (as it still does), because Israel often lacks sufficient resolve to stand up for its national survival.
Israel was suffering some casualties in Lebanon, in order to prevent greater casualties in Israel. The immediate risk to the troops in Lebanon was more than some mothers of soldiers could bear. They mounted a withdrawal campaign that received funds from foreign sources that favor the Arabs. They were joined by the powerful, appeasement-minded left. The prime minister buckled.
Illustrating the Israeli lack of resolve, Prime Minister Barak turned the withdrawal into a panicked rout. His troops abandoned heavy weapons and forts. Not consulted in advance, his South Lebanon Army allies had to leave their possessions behind, try to bring their families out, and run to the border penniless and dependent upon charity from an Israel that had made no plans for their aid.
Mr. Barak might have given the South Lebanon Army sufficient arms to hold off Hezbollah and perhaps declare and expand a Free Lebanon Zone. That is speculative, of course, but it was not even considered.
Also not considered by the withdrawal campaign, but suggested by the right, having little access to Israel’s mostly leftist press, was the aftermath. The terrorists would be heartened – indeed, the example in Lebanon led Arafat’s terrorists to redouble their efforts. Enemy forces would be emplaced on the border – indeed, Hezbollah now has about 13,000 rockets ready to blanket northern Israel with who knows what types of explosives. Israel still is taking casualties from Lebanon, though not as many now, but with a greater potential when Iran and Syria give the green light.
Another factor in the withdrawal, besides timidity, may have been Mr. Barak’s military incompetence. He was the most decorated Israeli soldier, largely for combat in the lower ranks. As a general in the earlier war in Lebanon, however, his lethargy undermined his mission that would have rolled up Syrian forces and gained a strategic victory. Instead, forgetting to reconnoiter first, he led his troops into a deadly ambush.
RICHARD H. SHULMAN
Manhattan
Libertarians Win a Hearing
In regards to “Libertarians Win a Hearing in Debate Case,” I’d like to thank Josh Gerstein for his nonpartisan and well-researched report [Page 1, October 11, 2004].
This is the first election I’ve had the right to participate in and I’ve felt a great deal of cognitive dissonance between the issues that seem so important and newsworthy to me and the issues that have actually been published.
It’s nice to see someone reporting on the important issues of the day.
MICHAEL HATFIELD
Beaufort, S.C.
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