School vouchers are a bad idea

To the editor:

Let me explain that I am an undeclared voter. I vote for the person, not the party. This letter is to Gov. Sean Parnell.

School vouchers are a bad idea. This is a Republican, national directive. I first heard about this several years ago and thought it would die off. As a Mat-Su School District retiree, I am insulted that anyone would support this. Anyone who has spent any time in a public school classroom knows what kind of an education children get.

Is it perfect? No, one size does not fit all. So, there are options parents can choose— charter, private, religious or home school. Your choice!

But that choice comes at a cost. I should not pay for your choices! Public education is already paid for. If you choose something else, then you can pay for it. Politics should not dictate to me to pay for your choice to send your child to a private school.

And what about that pesky state constitution? No problem, just change it! Notice how quiet Mr. Prevo is about all this; he’s seeing dollar signs.

I want to know who we as taxpayers are paying to oversee the lights on the Glenn Highway and how much money this person is making per year. We can save a lot of money by eliminating this person’s job, because he or she isn’t doing the job. On several trips to and from Anchorage, my husband and I counted lights that are out. Would you believe that between JBER and Trunk Road there are 98 non-working lights? Give us drivers a fair shot at getting home.

We all know how much Sean is sitting on in savings that is our money, let’s spend some of it on bulbs. On the Knik River bridge alone there are 20 lights out or broken. Those are old lights, so maybe are no longer available. This bridge can be a problem in the winter, but let’s fix them. Now, isn’t this highway federally funded? I wonder how the feds would feel if they knew we weren’t taking care of their investment.

We all know how we want their money, but don’t want them to tell us what to do! It took two years before anyone went out on the flats (southbound before Eklutna) to fill the large potholes! Please someone, let me know whose job this is, because I want to apply!

Sean, be a leader, not a party follower! We the voters will remember at the ballot box!

Janette Garrison

Palmer