Letter: Politicians think of themselves, not our kids

Thursday, Dec. 20, 2007 | 7:11 a.m.

As I read about our budget crisis, I can't help but wonder when someone in this state will take responsibility for his actions. While past mistakes are just that - in the past - we need to identify them and learn from them.

Specifically, wasn't it just a couple of years ago that we saw such a tremendous revenue windfall that money was given back to taxpayers? When that happened I couldn't help but wonder why the money wasn't invested in high-yielding accounts, where it would grow and protect us from future crises. Taxes had already been collected, so make it work for us all rather than gain some votes for politicians who couldn't care less about us. Our politicians just had to give back all the money, make themselves look like heroes, and look where we are now!

When will anyone in this state stand up and take responsibility? Taking more away from our kids and the schools is an easy and disastrous way out. Will someone wake up and realize our children are our future? There is no other investment that can bring about a sure return for the well-being and growth of our state, and everyone in it, than one in our kids. When are we going to understand that and raise the bar on what we expect from our teachers and children, by giving them the resources to teach, to learn and to stay in school?

I have been a resident of Las Vegas for nine years, and it's a rotten shame that I have to be thankful that my children got the basis of their education back East and were not subjected to our schools for long.

Wake up, people, and make our politicians understand that only by prioritizing our schools and our children will this city and state have any kind of future that we all want to be a part of.

Gloria Gorlin, Las Vegas