Find candidates who care about all

Before casting a ballot on April 7, please review what the candidates propose. A candidate with hundreds of political signs posted along roadways may not be the person you want in office.

Without question, school District U-46 is in need of improvement, but we should be concerned with education of all children, not just the children in families with greater resources. Underprivileged children deserve an education that allows them to thrive; we all benefit when all children are educated and allowed to reach their potential; they are the future.

Candidates who talk about improving standards and cutting costs are often couching their true agenda; what they often mean is they want to cut services and programs that provide the extra help needed by some students.

Funneling some children into privatized charter schools would be a first step toward a two-tier educational system. Do we really want to look at teachers' salaries to make budget cuts? Do we entrust our children to good teachers dedicated to education, or do we disrespect their role in society and look for the cheapest day care? We all want efficiency and economy for our tax dollars, but we must take a long view and consider our values and priorities.

Our new governor ran on a platform to reduce taxes - at what cost? Programs and services affecting the most vulnerable are being slashed, but no hint to increase taxes on the most fortunate of society; in fact, the wealthy enjoy the best of income-to-tax ratio.

Reduced income to the state can only result in greater local taxes and drastic cuts in necessary services.

No segment of society is more worthy than another. We are all here together, and we should care that we all have a chance to succeed.

Marie Harris

Bartlett