‘Clinton On Social Security’

As a person who worked for the Social Security Administration for almost a decade and the Health Care Financing Administration (now called Center For Medicare and Medicaid Services) for almost three decades, I know where from I speak [“Clinton On Social Security,” Editorial, February 21, 2006].

The $255 lump sum death payment even in the 1960s was a token payment. People were generally very surprised that it was so little even then. To do away with it doesn’t seem to be a burden on anyone especially if it will improve the administration of the disability program.

In the 1990s, when Senator Clinton was spearheading a nationalization of the health care system of the United States, we in management were regularly briefed on the contents of the proposed law. If what she was proposing had become law, it would have cost the New York state teaching hospitals many millions of dollars in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement. Too bad the voters in New York state don’t know how ill-advised some of her ideas are.

NANCY BARELL
Registered Democrat
Manhattan

‘Bush Vows Fight for Port Sale’

The president is making a mistake by endorsing a transaction that would enable a company owned by the United Arab Emirates to operate ports on the East Coast [“Bush Vows to Fight for Sale of Ports,” Alec Magnet, Page 1, February 22, 2006].

Congressional resistance to the transaction, led by Senators Schumer and Clinton, as well as Rep. Peter King, is warranted.

Increased foreign access to our country only serves to put America at more risk. It is true that the United Arab Emirates is an ally, but we can’t be sure that terrorists, who are funded by Arab interests, will not somehow infiltrate the UAE company.

By denying the sale, we are not sending “a message of bias” (whatever that means). Congress has an obligation to take a conservative approach in matters of national security, and, arguably, the United States is vul nerable along its coastlines.

SALVATORE J. BOMMARITO
Manhattan

‘City’s High School Grad Rate’

As alarming as the recently announced high school graduation rates are the ramifications for the future assessment of our high school population [“City’s High School Graduation Rate Is ‘Unacceptable'” Deborah Kolben, Page 1, February 14, 2006].

For several years now, administrators, fearing Schools Chancellor Joel Klein’s power to fire principals and assistant principals, have pressured teachers to pass more students and badgered them to “find points” for students on the Regents exams.

Exit this chunk of semi-literate students from commencement exercises and the graduation rate would be even lower. We teachers will now certainly feel more heat to pass the unpassable.

The issue should be the value of a high school diploma. Colleges and the business community complain that high school graduates lack complex thinking and communication skills. It’s time for the state to base the earning of a diploma on meaningful measurements.

Prospective graduates should have to take a standardized reading/writing competency exam, one with a healthy portion of vocabulary, grammar, and spelling. As for the Regents exams – besides the need to revamp them and raise the meager passing grades – schools should not be allowed to grade their own students’ exams.

The flight of businesses from New York will be a major issue in the race for governor next year. Transforming a poorly educated workforce ought to be a companion issue.

STUART ROSE
Fresh Meadows, N.Y.