D.C. now can only mean ‘democracy corrupted’

Re: “More transparency for District schools, not less,” Editorial, May 3

The bait and switch in the mayoral school takeover plan has been exposed. Once again, we learn what happens when you give public officials extraordinary or absolute power. Inevitably, that power is corrupted. This is the lesson that The Examiner, other local media, D.C. Council members and assorted boosters of Mayor Adrian Fenty ignored for the sake of expediency, acting like cheerleaders in a game with no rules. Now that the takeover lambs have revealed themselves as a pack of wolves going after the rights and revenue of taxpaying D.C. Public Schools parents, Fenty boosters are surprised. But when effective checks and balances as a basic tenet of democracy were suspended in local governance of the nation’s capital, the mayoral cheerleaders became nothing more than corrupted sycophants admonishing aware citizens who demanded a real voice in the government they fund with their hard-earned taxes.

If elected officials of the District feel we’re truly qualified to be a state with full congressional representation, they need to govern democratically like one. Citizen disenfranchisement from public school decisions and policies is taxation without expectation.

Dennis Moore

Chairperson

D.C. Independents for Citizen Control Party

Don’t cut esidential drug treatment centers funding

Re: “Drug panel chief cites problems at Montgomery drug-treatment facilities,” May 3

I cannot stress my disgust and dismay strongly enough at the suggested cuts to residential drug-treatment programs in Montgomery County. While I understand the need to stay within budgets and remain accountable to the public, these suggestions are not only scary, but ridiculous. As a 10-plus-years recovering alcoholic and drug addict, I am not only saddened by the narrow-mindedness of the so-called labor leaders, but also angered. I lived in Montgomery County for seven years and attended many meetings at the Avery Road Treatment Center. While I am not a product of the program there, I have many friends who are, and although my initial sobriety was not a result of Avery Road, my continued sobriety is.

It is clear to me that these labor leaders have never owned a business or considered the lost hours due to addiction of one form or another (I’ve had employees at two different restaurants suffer from addictions that required a treatment facility) or ever seen someone die from an overdose or pancreatitis. Maybe these labor leaders should take a look at suicide and crime numbers and see how many of them are related to addictions. I understand that treatment centers do not cure addiction, but many people would not be afforded a chance to come in contact with the 12 steps of recovery without them. Without institutions such as Avery Road, we are going to see an increase in deaths due to addiction in Montgomery County.

William Conway

Bristow, Va.

Barack Obama will be judged by friends he kept

Re: “Don’t judge Obama by Rev. Wright’s words,” From Readers, May 5

Let’s put this to rest for once and for all: Barack Obama will be judged by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s actions. Any reasonable person who sat through 20 years of this mean-spirited, anti-American rhetoric and did not walk out in disgust must have either been in a coma or agreed in part to what was being preached. You are judged by the friends you keep, the views you display and the morals you practice. All of which can be influenced at your religious center of faith. If John McCain or Hillary Clinton had been attending Aryan Nation meetings or KKK rallies, you bet they would be scolded and berated. Unfortunately, folks, it goes both ways. Get over it!

This country has finally broken the barrier keeping women and African-Americans from becoming serious contenders for the presidency. But they should certainly count on the fact that they will be vetted — as would any other candidate — on the way they view the world. I, for one, want to know that before I cast my vote.

Marc Sieracki

Springfield

Make pro athletes pay for their West Point education

Re: “West Point graduates must fulfill Army duties,” From Readers, May 5

If I remember correctly, the military academies invest a quarter of a million dollars in each cadet. If the athletes want to turn pro, they should do what every other dropout must do after attending more then two years, and that is to pay it all back. We get compensated for our lost investment, and they get to play ball professionally. Sounds like a win-win to me.

Rob Bradley

Fairfax