Dear editor,

Choices, choices, we all deal with choices. Choices is where the divide takes place in dealing with public funds. Democrats generally believe public funds should be used for more and more entitlements, and bigger and bigger government. Republicans generally believe in small government, personal responsibility and allowing everyone to progress according to their choosing. The party line differences have become contentious at all levels of government. But, it all boils down to collective choices being made by elected officials empowered by our votes.

As a country, we are guilty of choosing our elected officials unwisely. They have abandoned fiscal responsibility and spent our country to the brink of bankruptcy. There is no way out of this deep hole they have dug except by major sacrifices. Sacrifices that will not be pleasant to bear for us, our children and grandchildren. And, still they continue to spend at record rates. It is estimated the deficit for this year alone will be at 1.65 trillion dollars. This is all due to bad choices they have made supposedly on our behalf. It is also our fault for choosing to elect them and allowing them to make a career of their elected positions.

We also feel the affect of bad collective choices in our state and local officials. Better choices will have to be made by our representatives or disaster looms. It is quite clear the cash cow, federal government, is going dry not only for individuals, but for state and local governments. If present trends continue, Selma will not be able to depend on a grant for everything they want or need. It already appears the new high school will be an albatross by the announced decision to close some other schools in order to save money. The money for the high school will have to be paid back, it isn’t a freebie. In my opinion, with rising cost of living expenses, tax-payers are in no mood to collectively choose more taxes for poor choices.

Better education isn’t a matter of buildings or money anyway, but of changing attitudes and desires to learn. Better choices of students, parents, teachers and school officials are the key to better results. In my opinion, the powerful teacher unions have crippled education in our state and nation far too long. It is time to get back to educating. However, it can’t all be laid at the feet of the unions. Parents and students must choose to be more responsible receptive vessels.

James G. Smith

Selma