When will the long run arrive?

In regards to the Sept. 18 article, “Deficit talks held behind closed doors,” for the life of me I can’t figure out how the state has such a large deficit. After all, haven’t we’ve been promised by generations of politicians that their grandiose programs would save us money in the long run? Obviously the long run hasn’t yet arrived — otherwise we’d be awash in cash.

The corollary to that political palaver is the oft-heard promise that “every dollar invested in (pick your own great-sounding proposed remedial program here) will save $5 in (pick your own great-sounding existing failed program here).” If this were true, then all we would have to do is put $3 billion in that new program and BINGO! we would reap 1.5 billion in savings that would wipe out the deficit.

I hope I live long enough to see the “long run.”

Dave Reich
Perry Hall

Examiner: Mind your grammar

While reading “More generals confess to mistakes” (Sept. 18), I was shocked to read, “Pace said if he could have foresaw the Iraqi army’s lack of cooperation ....” “Have foresaw?” Good grief! The only way I can understand such an egregious assault on the English language is that the reporter is a singularly unqualified minority who was hired because of affirmative action, or is one who slept through high school English, or both.

Given The Examiner’s conservative political and social views, I should think it would require its reporters to write articles that conform to standard English.

By the way, I am an African American who experienced a separate and unequal education. I assume I never would be hired by The Examiner because I am “unqualified.”

Leonard C. Simmons
Columbia

Public officials malign parent-teacher group at Mount Hebron

Despite repeated efforts to correct the situation, the Howard County Public School System leadership and the Board of Education have repeatedly misstated and misrepresented the goals of Help Mount Hebron. Officials consistently respond to questions from the Mount Hebron High School community in regards to the current condition of the building and the committee’s role in it with: “All they want is a new building.” This false statement is then continually and inaccurately referenced in the press. So one more time for the record, Help Mount Hebron will again publicly state our purpose. We want a safe, code compliant building where the educational programs, as provided for in HCPSS’ 1999 educational specifications, can be delivered effectively without compromise in a positive building environment.

Without this comprehensive approach, solutions will be incomplete. Problems and deficiencies will be swept under the rug for future government leaders to discover and resolve and for taxpayers to pay for. Not only will these unresolved issues have a negative impact on the education of students, the accumulated cost of a piecemeal approach will prove to be an ineffective use of our tax dollars.

Along with this goal, it has been Help Mt. Hebron’s continued request that a complete and proper cost analysis be prepared and provided for public viewing. To date we have no idea what it will cost to eliminate all of the Mount Hebron High School’s deficiencies noted in several HCPSS reports. Without this information, it is not possible to determine if remaining in the existing building is a financially wise and responsible decision or if a replacement school is a better expenditure of our tax dollars.

The process we are calling for is logical and reasonable. It will result in an equitable and safe learning environment and will provide for the wise use of Howard County’s tax dollars.

Bruce Anderson
Cindy Ardinger
Tony Culler
Linda Dombrowski
Elizabeth Haynes
Steve Lucchesi
Elizabeth Lucchesi
Nancy Smith

Deanna Trask

Ellicott City

No rats to report

Howard County school officials are baffled by the Sept. 14 article, “Rat problem is out of control,” which reported that “six rats fell from the ceiling” in the Mount Hebron High School cafeteria on Sept. 12. We have thoroughly investigated this alleged incident and can say positively that it never occurred.

Members of the Mount Hebron administration were in the cafeteria throughout the lunch periods that day and say that nothing of this nature took place. The school system’s Integrated Pest Management Specialist and Howard County Health Department inspectors examined the cafeteria on Sept. 14 and found no indication that rodents of any kind had been in the ceiling or any other area of the cafeteria.

Patti Caplan
Director of Public Relations
Howard County Public Schools