Today's Weather

Click for Sierra Vista, Arizona Forecast

What was lost in vote was focus on education

Published/Last Modified on Monday, Nov 24, 2008 - 05:16:33 am MST

Font Size

To the Editor:

Our constitution guarantees the right of free speech under the law, and I appreciate and respect that freedom. But I take issue with the scare tactics and tone of unwarranted government intervention Tony Wenc chose to propagate on his Web site, www.stoptaxabuse.org.

Without considering the overall value of education, he hoodwinked property owners into thinking this most recent initiative was nothing more than Cochise County government and the Sierra Vista school board reaching into taxpayer pockets for more money to fund wasteful programs. How many times does it have to be pounded into his head and that of Ron Murray that this is about education? Without preaching morality, has it occurred to him or anyone else who voted against the override measure that as citizens we all have a duty to foster and promote the growth and education of our younger generations? Not just for the time in which we raise our own children, but also throughout our lifetimes for the benefit of all the children in our state and community. People say, “Not my problem, I raised my kids, I paid my taxes for education.” I reply, “OK, what about when you need medical care in the coming years? Did you continue to help plant the seeds which would ensure that we have an adequate population of well-educated medical professionals in our community to care for you?”

Arizona consistently ranks 50th year after year in overall public school performance. Why? Because the state of Arizona does not consider education to be a priority. “Open up more charter schools,” they say. “I don’t want to be responsible. I pay enough in taxes as it is” seems to be the cry of the beleaguered rabble who you pandered with your claims of government tax abuse.

In the previous override, the members of the CQE, my wife Besty and I fought tooth and nail with Wenc and Murray. In the end, education prevailed, but not before Wenc and Murray petitioned a judge to review the results of the initiative. Wenc made accusations of fraud and illegal voting poll practices. Even after that Murray went as far as claiming supporters of the override “voted other peoples’ property” and “sold the override like carnival hucksters sell snake oil.” Here again, my wife and I voted in favor of the override/increase as parents, concerned citizens and property owners.

Society, culture and religion teach the moral lesson that people come before things, and personal honor comes before anything else. The former I think Wenc, Murray and the people who voted against the override can figure out for themselves. As for the latter, I will leave that for you to consider while celebrating a victory that does more harm than good.

Michael D. Schwers

Sierra Vista

Print this story Email this story

Font Size

Use the form below to post a brief comment to this story, or respond to other readers. Please use the word count tool to assist you in keeping your remarks to 100 words or fewer.
Comments appear once they are approved. Your thoughtful contribution to the online discussion is appreciated.

Michael Schwers wrote on Dec 29, 2008 11:27 AM:

" 80's era neo-cons will remember the comment made by then Young Republican strategist Howard Phillips; "By what moral principle do you have the right to require me, through exercise of your political power, to subsidize the education of your children?" If you wish to label me with the epithet "sore loser" in attempt to hinder my editorial submissions regarding the state of public education, please come up with something more biting or sarcastic. As you are most likely a product of the SV school system, please thrill me with your true political and social acumen. "

To First Svian wrote on Dec 6, 2008 2:07 PM:

" I submit to you that renters are paying the tax and if a property owner isnt charging the renters at a minimum their cost of service wich includes bank note (or common market rental value if paid for), provided services, taxes, insurance and contingency they are morons! I would submit that renters are actually paying above and beyond the cost of ownership to include taxes, perhaps not directly but they pay them none the less! "

Enough wrote on Dec 5, 2008 7:52 AM:

" Enough already, the vote is over the override failed, get over it and start figuring out what to do. All I see and hear is how bad things are but no suggestions for a solution, I sure hope the school district has a plan B. "

first svian wrote on Nov 28, 2008 7:03 AM:

" While I agree that we need public education, I do not agree it should fall to the backs of property owners...I would bet there are far more renters with children in school, therefore there should be some vehicle for them to contribute to the education of their children. I think we should ALL contribute, not just property owners. As to the children themselves, they all seem to afford ipods, cell phones, let them makes some sacrifices and learn to contribute to those programs they wish to participate in...just as the adults have to. "

Charge tuition to illegals wrote on Nov 26, 2008 1:12 PM:

" Pouring more money into a school district with no plan to fix the problems is wasteful. Had the SVUSD proposed building a new High School to relieve the overcrowded classes at Buena, I might have supported a bond or tax override; however, adding more teachers to existing facilities won't fix the problems. It will force us to vote for additional overrides in the future. Keeping Buena HS overcrowded just to maintain some 5A rating is preposterous. The school can't compete in sports at that level anyhow. "

To Skeptical wrote on Nov 25, 2008 9:23 PM:

" Aren't you just the smart one? Your views are so stymied. I bet you went to public school too. You folks really need to be writing to the legislators. Send them your brilliant ideas to fix everything. Our children are paying the price. "

To Taxed Out wrote on Nov 25, 2008 9:18 PM:

" It's incredible to me that you can talk like that when it's "children" we are talking about. Public education has been a part of this country forever. Everyone in this country is entitled to a free education. Who paid for yours? You are such a loser and a coward too. "

To Just an idea wrote on Nov 25, 2008 9:12 PM:

" As a former art teacher, I asked the school district why they can't charge a fee for activity classes. Turns out... it's illegal for them to charge a fee for activity classes in the lower grades. They can do it at the High School only because the classes are electives. But keep trying with your preposterous ideas. You "NO" voters just keep spouting off with these great ideas that you really don't know anything about. How 'bout this guy who thinks we shouldn't even have public education. Wow!!! Where did he come from??? "

Obamer Lover wrote on Nov 25, 2008 6:06 PM:

" If you think throwing money at schools will solve the education problem in the US, just wait until you see what the new President and His Congress will do. While the taxpayers that work, or that have worked and saved, struggle to keep their noses above water, our government will throw our money at any problem, real or perceived. "

harold sanders wrote on Nov 25, 2008 4:46 PM:

" You sound very bitter about something, but I don't think you can be bitter at only two people who spoke their mind and worked at something they believed in. This is not the end of education for our children and others it is a fight to empower and boost the pocket books of aministrative staff chosen only to ally the powers to be. The teachers are the ones that will suffer not the affluent group in the loop. You should ask yourself if an administration can not operate in budget then something is wrong. "

Skeptical wrote on Nov 25, 2008 11:48 AM:

" Oh my, all the bleating of the override losers and the defensive rhetoric of the winners! Would you believe you've both been led away from the real problems of our educational system by their sing-song "more money" mantra? Since our K-12 system became broken almost a half-century ago, teachers and administrators responsible for breaking it have imagined that only more money would fix it. Doctor LBJ accommodated these misguided folks by creating entitlement programs for just about everyone, including education. Since then, the "more money" crowd has become chronically myopic, unable to see or care about addressing the real problems. "

Taxed Out wrote on Nov 25, 2008 9:54 AM:

" As I recall, the major battle on the current override was between Jack Blair, who spent a lot of time giving "conditioning" briefings to a wide variety of groups well before the general public was aware that an override vote was coming, and the Wenc/Murray team who focused on countering the hype in the Blair briefings. Wonder how Jack views his efforts then and what he thinks of the recent override effort? It's obvious that the same low standing of Arizona schools hype is still trying to be sold. Sore loser Schwers needs to get over it. "

SierraVistan wrote on Nov 24, 2008 10:44 PM:

" In the end it's the elitists and their kids who win. Private schools, charter schools and home schools are doing fine. If you can afford one of those your kid is going to be ok. If you depend on your community then your'e out of luck this time. Believe me, I don't like taxes either. IMHO the few pennies a day this would have cost us homeowners would have been well spent. "

P. Abel wrote on Nov 24, 2008 10:20 PM:

" Michael, you need to get a grip dude. It's over and you lost. Stop spending your time writing letters about what rotten people we are and start looking for ways you can give all the extra money you apparently have to those poor children and the school system. Oh, and don't forget to get all the parents involved in giving their extra cash as well. In fact, save all the money you plan to spend this Christmas and give that to the school system. I know they will be greatful. "

CJ Abraham wrote on Nov 24, 2008 8:52 PM:

" Overrides are tremendously hard to sell to the general public. The school board, teachers, and staff, who are best equipped to explain the reasons for an override have their hands tied legally. I was very concerned about the effect a no vote would have on the children's education. I did as much digging as I could in the week prior to the vote (when I found out about it) to find out the facts about this override. I got my best information from SVCEC.org and plan on helping them educate others about future overrides. "

Mikey wrote on Nov 24, 2008 12:32 PM:

" Murray and Wenc's actions didn't affect my vote and I'd bet they didn't affect the vote of thousands of others. As others have said the district will enact cuts that will cause folks to rethink their no votes and consequently change to yes for the next override election. The current override passed the second time around by a 75-80 vote margin but since the no vote margin was much greater this time perhaps a second override election won't pass. "

Just an idea... wrote on Nov 24, 2008 10:54 AM:

" Why keep beating this dead horse? If the students need money for programs, the parents of those students should foot the bill. Is that a preposterous idea? Then why don’t they go out and EARN the money? I know that is a radical idea with the “me” generation, but it is time for them to realize that life isn’t all about them and money will not just be handed to them in the future, they will have to earn it. The Buena student council should be planning bake sales, yard sales, babysitting gigs, lawn gigs and things liek that. "

Guilt Trip... wrote on Nov 24, 2008 10:35 AM:

" Please stop with the "as citizens we all have a duty to foster and promote the growth and education of our younger generations". Great students and teachers are the ones who can find ways to overcome any shortfall of the system (poor money management in this case) and still excell. Trying to lay a guilt trip on those who don't support your views just seems childish. "

Michael Schwers wrote on Nov 24, 2008 9:20 AM:

" Yes, the schools are still open as you point out. They have to be. The citizens of Arizona want to put a price tag on education and appear to be up in arms about the salaries paid to the assistant principals. These are educators who spent the early part of their career working for a pittance and providing our young people access to knowledge which last a life time. This whole issue can be summed up like a MasterCard commercial. McDonalds coffee: $1.00. All you can eat at Ivey’s: $7.00. Education and the desire for knowledge that lasts a lifetime? "

Leonidas wrote on Nov 24, 2008 8:28 AM:

" The snake oil salesman is the government school system itself. It is unAmerican to have the government foot the bill to give a Soviet-style state worshipping, union-organized, mediocre training regimen in how not to think straight. The problem is not the size of the budget but its very existence. There should be a separation of school and state. The govenrment will always have the incentive to breed subjects instead of citizens. "

Right on wrote on Nov 24, 2008 7:23 AM:

" It is Murray and Wenc who are the slick snake oil salesmen. "

No Voter wrote on Nov 24, 2008 7:16 AM:

" It failed, get over it and move on.
Do as usual, and start working to bring this up again next year, with a different spin on it, or just keep telling us how the children suffered, but no suffering for the assistant principals. "

No Votes Against Education wrote on Nov 24, 2008 7:10 AM:

" The issue was never for or against education as the pro-overriders want us to believe. The bottom line is always about money, and the proper management of those funds. There comes a point when services and demands on the public (taxpayer) are exceeding the revenue that is available. Just as everyone else is competing for the last dime out of taxpayers, they want more and more. It is a matter of making use of what is available, not continually upping the ante. Cutbacks are here, and the schools are still open. "