Would we give up right to education?

Walter Williams has an interesting view in his March 11 Opinion article that "the rights of some should not have to be paid for by others," in justifying his reason to oppose health care as a right. After all, he claims, having that right would be "stealing." The way to go, he feels, is to count on donations to help pay for people's health care. Well now, there's something we could count on, right?

I pay over two-thirds of my property tax to support the Batavia school system. "Free" education through grade 12 is a right in this country. Well, I never had a child in any public school system, so according to Mr. Williams" sense of justice, I guess I shouldn't have to pay that portion, correct? Believe me, coming up with that tax amount each year is indeed a huge obligation. May I choose to stop "donating" to the school system?

In reality, I have never complained about paying taxes for education because I sincerely believe that healthy, educated people are our best hope. But I do have complaints about hypocritical attitudes people espouse regarding "stealing" their money for health care, yet they are all too eager to "steal" my money to educate their children and their children's children and ... well you get it.

Mr. Williams needs to double-check his own "sense of moral decency." I wonder if he thinks it's decent and moral for prescription drugs to cost many people thousands of dollars per month, on top of an astronomical monthly premium? If you want to take up a cause, Mr. Williams, how about that atrocity?

Until then, I'll keep paying for education, but please stop complaining about returning the favor to me. After all, it's the "decent and moral" thing to do in a civilized society.

Julie Waterman

Batavia