Targeting public workers does little

I am amazed at the vitriol being directed at our nation’s public school teachers. The loudest critics seem to be made up of two groups. The first group is those who send their children to private schools and resent having to pay for public schools their children don’t use. This same group often would also like for their children to attend the top universities without having to compete against possibly more-qualified children of the less wealthy who are able to attend only because of scholarships and other government aid.

The second group is made up of those who are struggling to pay their bills amid unemployment or diminished salary and benefits because of the pressures of the global economy and corporate greed. They envy teachers’ relative job security, modest benefits and pensions.

One group is motivated by selfishness and the other is motivated by personal pain. These two diverse groups’ anger, directed at public education, is a microcosm of nationwide anger directed at government in general. This animosity is often directed at public employees in general. The wealthy often resent paying for services that they will not personally use. They see little gain in helping to provide funding for services for everyone, rich and poor alike. Those who are not wealthy often resent paying taxes to provide salaries and benefits for public employees that are better than they enjoy themselves.

Americans who are well off should realize the importance of funding infrastructure and public services that benefit all and thus improve the economy for everyone. Those who are not so well off should fight to improve their own salaries and benefits. Bringing others down will not solve their economic problems or those of our nation.

Karen Wagner

Rolling Meadows