Tax dollars keep some museums free

Regarding “It’s a Grim Picture for Museum Lovers as Entry Fees Climb” [Travel Insider, Oct. 12]: My husband and I just returned from a week in our nation’s capital. We were surprised and delighted that admission to all the public museums and monuments was free.

What a pleasure to be able to spend a few hours one afternoon, then return a day or so later and not think about the entrance fee. The tours of the monuments were also free.

Earlier this year we spent three weeks in the Netherlands and paid to see every one-room display and/or major museum. It added up and influenced our decision on what to see.

Our system of taxation does not allow us to designate where funds are spent. We have no school-age children, and some of our taxes go to fund schools.

That’s fine. We go to museums, and someone else’s taxes (and ours) pay for our admission.

Not only does this provide a benefit to Americans who take advantage, but it also presents an extraordinarily positive image to those who visit our country.

Roz Salzman

Los Angeles