Letters To The Editor

Thu., Nov. 21, 1996

Story full of misinformation

The November 7, 1996 lead article in the North Side Voice, “Parent Power,” is testimony to the misinformation being put out by the eductors and willfully spread by the newspapers.

There is one overwhelming truth to which a growing number of parents can testify: parents are only allowed on site-based councils if they go along with what the school wants to do.

The “field of ideas” has just been narrowed, surreptitiously, to “our ideas are the only ones that will be accepted.” Dissenters are expected to “stand aside” and “agree not to sabotage.”

In other words, as true with the “direct democracy” that site-based councils represent, there is “no cure for the mischiefs of faction.”

A common passion or interest will, on almost every case, be felt by a majority of the whole; a communication and concert results from the form of government itself; and there is nothing to check the inducements to sacrifice the weaker party, or an obnoxious individual.

Hence it is, that such democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention, have ever been found incompatible with personal security, or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives, as they have been violent in their deaths. (Federalist Paper No. 10)

Democracy, democratic society and participatory democracy are the antithesis of representative governance, of order, freedom, liberty, and justice; they are the epitome of socialism; they are the catalyst to anarchy. Lynn Stuter Nine Mile Falls

Alberty praise deserved

Thank you, Julie Sullivan for the wonderful article you wrote about Jeanette Alberty (North Voice, Nov. 14) - our Guardian Angel of Audubon! I’ve had the privilege of working with Jeanette for years and you depicted her presence at Audubon beautifully. She indeed is an angel. In my substitute files I always include a statement saying, “if you have any questions about your duty outside, just ask the Queen of Supervision - Jeanette Alberty!” Thank you again for giving Jeanette the praise that she deserves, but so reluctantly accepts. Anyone who knows her is blessed. Patty Cairns, Audubon Elementary Spokane

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