Editor,
A CDN letter-writer called those who voted “no” on Proposition 5 selfish. Selfish?
I have many generous, community-minded friends and acquaintances who did not support the so-called healthy kids levy because they believe Prop 5 is vague in its vision, unrealistic in its promises and myopic in its implementation strategy. Some voters expressed concern that the Prop 5 promoters cobbled together a half-baked plan as quickly as possible to beat the deadline to get it on the November ballot.
When the executive director of a local foundation claimed in an opinion piece, had Prop 5 already passed, the tragic starvation death of an infant could have been prevented, that was a bridge too far for what this initiative would reasonably accomplish.
Big-hearted voters would likely have said “yes” to a Prop 5-like initiative if the promoters had not used a 10-year property tax levy as its source of funding. Despite the great promise of early child care and education, connecting its financing to property taxes would perpetuate and drive inequality.
In the same CDN issue where the letter-writer called us selfish, John Dunne, a retired child and adolescent psychiatrist, wrote, “Ideally, state-funded early childhood education programs would be the norm.” (“Can We Reduce Poverty in the U.S.?”)
Yes, state funding could be one solution. But, businesses need high-quality child care for their employees. Yet, typically, businesses do not contribute a cent to dedicated funding for child care. Child care needs are more intensive when kids are young — care programs are essential to work support. Businesses should step up and do their part.
That said, as of this writing, we still do not know whether Prop 5 passed or not. If it doesn’t, our kids would benefit if the Prop 5 promoters would redirect their energies to more realistic, sustainable, equitable solutions.
Delores Davies
Ferndale
Editor,
Re: Thanksgiving 2022
The following verse, “Grace,” was written with sincere consideration of the countless hungry souls worldwide for whom there’s nothing to be thankful:
I say pass me the holiday turkey, peas / and the delicious stuffing flanked / by buttered potatoes with gravy / since I’ve said grace with plenty ease / for the good food received I’ve thanked / my Maker who’s found me worthy. // It seems that unlike the many of those / in the unlucky Third World nation / I’ve been found by God deserving / to not have to endure the awful woes / and the stomach-wrenching starvation / suffered by them with no dinner serving. // So hand me the succulent corn / the cranberry sauce, fresh-baked bread / since for my grub I’ve praised the Lord / yet I need not hear about those born / whose meal I’ve been granted instead / as they receive naught of the grand hoard.
Frank Sterle Jr.
White Rock, B.C.
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