Donna Shalala

Re “The Instant Formula for Poverty,” editorial, July 16:

It’s laughable that we’re revisiting the Murphy Brown controversy again and giving time to book-shill (and possible presidential shill) Dan Quayle, who was rightly lambasted for blaming a national problem on a fictional character. What Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala said in comment to a ridiculous question was the safe political answer which, rightly or wrongly, has become obligatory.

But what is amazing is that you and Dan Quayle keep focusing on this issue of marriage, which, if one looks closer at Shalala’s comments, seems to obfuscate the real cause of the problem. “Approximately 80% of the children born to teen parents who dropped out of high school and did not marry are poor.” She further cites “8% of the children born to married high school graduates . . . are poor.” Do you really think that not having said “I do” had more influence on these people’s economic status than not finishing high school?

The answer isn’t a moral crusade that can’t possibly be legislated. To paraphrase the President’s campaign theme: It’s education, stupid! We can’t find a husband for every unwed mother but we can help those that need to get educated and thereby get jobs.

BRYAN SNYDER

Los Angeles

One of the few items standing between pregnancy and Mother Nature’s creative target, the teen-ager, is the condom. Even that is not 100% fail-safe. Shalala’s hope of abstinence (July 15), with or without Murphy Brown as role model, is one of a dreamer. JACK BRUKMAN

Van Nuys