John Fund on Social Security Reform

When John Fund says that Social Security’s IOUs have no real assets behind them, he forgets something [“Above All, Try Something,” Opinion, March 15, 2005]. Namely, that the federal government owns vast amounts of real estate, including most of the land in several Western states.

If the feds need money to pay future Social Security beneficiaries, they can simply liquidate these properties. I’ll bet that a smart developer like Donald Trump would pay a pretty penny for a building site as beautiful as Yellowstone National Park.

CHRIS WIGERT
Manhattan

Hillary Clinton for President?

Having just returned from abroad, I was quite surprised to see that people were discussing the possibility of Hillary Clinton running for president [“Clinton Presidential Bid Bolstered by Appointment of Ickes,” Josh Gerstein, Page 1, March 11, 2005].

I was not aware she was still a senator in New York. I thought she had retired to write a book. Can anyone tell me what she has done for New York that has made her worthy of even being considered a candidate?

JOSEPH DISTLER
Manhattan

‘Losing Choices’

What is missing from The New York Sun’s otherwise excellent editorial regarding school choice and the sponsorship by State Senator Martin Golden, a Republican, of a bill that would allow a small tuition tax credit for parents who choose parochial schools over public schools, is the fact that this tax credit would apply to all the religious and private schools, not just the Catholic ones [“Losing Choices,” March 14, 2005].

What is also obvious is that politicians such as Anthony Weiner, who has presented himself as the savior of the closing Catholic schools and has been quick to put himself in front of television cameras, is merely posturing: He does not and has never supported funding of religious schools either through vouchers or tax credits. Neither does Gifford Miller.

The only mayoral candidate who truly supports school choice is Republican Thomas Ognibene, who will be challenging Mayor Bloomberg on the Republican line.

ALICE LEMOS
Woodside, N.Y.

Watching Democrats in New York continuously fight the idea of school vouchers gives New Yorkers yet another example of the conflict of interest that runs through the education system.

I find it interesting that the party that supposedly prides itself on the idea of redistributing wealth would blatantly reject the one time when it makes sense.

Though Democrats could argue against theories and ideas that are good for the city, they cannot argue against statistics like the one in the editorial, which explains that 99% of Catholic high school children graduate versus only 65% in public school.

The Democratic Party likes to claim how they are the champions of the low-income families of this great city, yet refuse to give those families the equal opportunity to send their children to private school that higher-income families currently enjoy.

It would behoove the Democrats to support any opportunity that allows a child from a low-income family to attend a private school, where they can more effectively learn skills that will lead to higher-paying jobs and stable careers, creating a legacy of wealth for future generations.

Looking back at my own private-school days, I wouldn’t trade it in for the world. The discipline and work ethic it taught me has had a lasting effect that I will always be grateful for. I can also vouch from experience that the friends of mine who graduated from private schools have found themselves in better careers than those who went to public schools.

How long will it be before the low-income families of this city wake up and realize the tremendous opportunity that they’re missing because of the conflict that’s present between New York Democrats and the teachers union?

When will these families realize that it’s impossible for the teachers union to look after the interests of its members and the interests of the students at the same time?

City Democrats have once again chosen the side of the teachers union, who are afraid of a mass exodus of students for good reason, instead of the side of the students. And that leaves me to ask, finally, when are we going to start holding these Democrats accountable?

NICHOLAS J.VERTUCCI
Finance Chairman
New York Young Republican Club
Manhattan

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