Overburdened DSS can't stop tragedies
It is the ultimate tragedy when a child dies at the hands of his or her mother. But it is disheartening that the immediate response is so often to blame the Department of Social Services for improper monitoring or for not providing an unfit mother with services ("Mother asked for help," Jan. 30).
I don't think the public has a clue about how much responsibility and how many demands are placed on the caseworkers who make decisions about the welfare of abused and neglected children.
As a former caseworker with the Baltimore Department of Social Services, I recognize the constant stress of this low-paying and thankless job. And I have never witnessed harder-working and more dedicated workers than I found there.
It is my belief that in the Vernice Harris case, the mother was responsible for her actions and was given ample opportunity to receive services.
The question we should be asking is: Why are we not providing enough drug treatment slots, accessible mental health services and job training for the inner-city population?
We should take this tragedy as a chance to support the caseworkers of the Department of Social Services, and for us as citizens to assume more responsibility for the welfare of all children.
Leslie Ebert
Catonsville
Wrong time for state to take more taxes
While Congress is making an attempt to get additional income in the hands of American taxpayers to avert a possible recession, Gov. Martin O'Malley and the Democratic majority in the Maryland legislature have seen fit to extract as much as possible from these same taxpayers with their ill-advised sales tax hike and other tax increases ("Rebate alternative gets a lift in Senate," Jan. 31).
Of all times to siphon money from the economy, this could be the worst.
If the governor had some economic sense, he would see that this would be the perfect moment to rescind these tax increases, or at least hold off on them until the current economic slowdown abates.
John Eck
Baltimore
Senate stimulus bill also aids seniors
Stimulus legislation that fulfills the widely accepted goal of being timely, targeted and temporary should not trade creating good policy for speedy passage. And The Sun's editorial "Rescue in slow motion" (Jan. 30) ignores the fact that the stimulus package the House passed excludes millions of American seniors for no good economic reason.
Including the nation's fastest-growing demographic group in the stimulus package just makes good policy sense.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, senior households spend 92 percent of their income each year.
Many retirees live check-to-check and would immediately spend any rebate. And older Americans living on a fixed income feel the pressure of high prices and the slowing economy as acutely as anyone does.
The Senate is right to strengthen the stimulus proposal. Rubber-stamping legislation critical to millions of Americans is never the right way to go.
Barbara B. Kennelly
Washington
The writer is president and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.
Senate still has role in crafting policy
The Sun's editorial "Rescue in slow motion" (Jan. 30) urges quick passage of the economic stimulus bill.
But like President Bush, who regularly ignores the Constitution, The Sun seems to have forgotten that there are two houses of Congress.
If Mr. Bush truly wanted a compromise, rather than a confrontation, he would have consulted with leaders of both houses to arrive at a bill agreeable to all participants.
Herbert Shankroff
Towson
Ending war best way to boost economy
The best way to fix the economy is to end the war ("Rebate alternative gets a lift in Senate," Jan. 31).
The war is horrendously expensive, and the weaker dollar may well be caused by printing money to pay for the war.
And as serious as the war's financial problems are, the loss of life is worse.
Kirk Fallin
Manchester
Bribes can't teach value of learning
Paying students will not teach them to appreciate studying and learning, only to appreciate a bribe ("Which student reward is best?" Jan. 28).
Students need to understand that the value of an education lies in the potential it gives them for the future. And that message needs to come most consistently from the home.
The children who skip classes or just don't care are not getting that message from their home and family, and throwing money at them will do nothing to get that message across.
Instead of squandering these funds on a quick fix that likely won't produce any long-term change (note to North Avenue: taxpayers still remember your egregious fiscal mismanagement from five years ago, and we've had quite enough of that nonsense, thank you), why not use those funds for more long-term goals such as programs to mentor struggling parents or outreach services to chronically truant students?
Surely there's enough creativity left in Baltimore to come up with something better than a flat-out bribe.
Jon Kmetz
Baltimore
The writer is a teacher in Baltimore's public schools.
Warnings needed about lead in toys
The Sun's article "Lawmakers mull ban on lead toys" (Jan. 23) ended with a quote from the testimony from Bruce Bereano, a lobbyist for Safeway Inc., who "argued that parental responsibility should be part of the debate."
"It seems that business is supposed to be the responsible agent for everyone," he said.
But when consumers purchase food or any other product, that product should meet expected and established standards.
Parents fulfill their responsibility when they purchase age-appropriate toys. But how would parents be aware of lead in toys without a warning?
Toy manufacturers warn of small parts, so perhaps it's time for some of them to add this warning: "This toy may contain lead and may be hazardous. Excessive lead can lead to renal failure, liver failure, neurological development problems and death."
Janet Stringer
Havre de Grace
Foie gras production cruel, unnecessary
I hope the letter writers who feel that geese being stuffed to produce foie gras is inconsequential understand that there are many people who don't agree with them ("Is furor over foie gras compassion or folly?" Jan. 31).
And, guess what, we can also care about and work toward improving the lives of humans.
I hope these critics spend some of their time and energy trying to improve things in the world - just as they suggest we do - instead of just finding fault with people who care about animals.
The practice of foie gras production is cruel, inhumane and totally unnecessary.
Gail Koch
Phoenix