Al Gore’s Plan

Re “Gore Details $115-Billion Education Plan,” Dec. 17: I didn’t need to read beyond the headline to know that I was adamantly opposed to this proposal. Al Gore’s education proposal has little to do with education but everything to do with expansion of federal control over local issues and local decisions. The federal government has no constitutional authority to be involved in local education.

Federal money comes with many strings (no, chains) attached, which limit or eliminate the rights and decisions of the local people. How much better it would be to return the $115 billion from the federal surplus to the taxpayers who have paid it and let them decide how to spend it, rather than have some federal bureaucrat decide what a local school district needs.

JAMES A. BAUR

Green Valley Lake

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After reading about Gore’s plans for public education, I can only conclude that it is more of the same; increase federal involvement and spend more money. Isn’t that what has been happening for the past 30 years? If one is honest and looks at the facts, these things have not worked. The academic achievement of most students is abysmal. It is unfortunate that Gore does not have any other solution to the problem. And he wants to be president?

DAVE FISCHER

Irvine