He Doesn't Get It

After 27 years of service, Matthew P. Valenti still just does not get it. Mr. Valenti, I would like you to make a fist and lightly tap your noggin and say to yourself, "I shall receive ten times and listen." In your letter [Helping Teachers for the Future, November 2] you state that the Connecticut Department of Education has made a huge mistake by not considering increases in teacher salaries to help cure shortages, when in fact they made the right call. If towns get into a competition against each other in offering higher salaries, there will be no winners, and only losers—and they will be the taxpayers.

Taxpayers and local businesses that pay taxes can no longer afford higher taxes for education, especially in rough times. Yet whenever you talk about education, you never consider the ability of the taxpayer to come up with the skyrocketing costs of education. It's been proven that pumping more money into education does not work, yet the teachers’ union will always be there pounding their fists on the table for more money, as if Torrington taxpayers are all relatives of Bill Gates.

This attitude must stop. It's time to start concentrating our efforts elsewhere, like cutting taxes so residents in this town can put more money in their pockets and help this economy grow.