Federal Program to Wire Schools

Re “White House Set to Put Libraries, Schools on ‘Net,” May 6:

I was disgusted to hear that our government is whining about the cost of wiring our nation’s schools. The projected cost of $2 billion pales in comparison to the production, maintenance and flight costs for one stealth bomber.

Ensuring the proper education of our children should be the highest priority. I hope one day to see the emergence of an educational-industrial complex, designed to manufacture the technological needs of our schools, providing jobs as well as hope for this country. One that holds the same political clout as its military counterpart. Only then will I consider us to be a civilized race.

JEFF PADILLA

Los Angeles

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The Clinton administration wants to spend millions of dollars wiring schools and libraries for the Internet. Will someone please tell me where the federal government gets the authority to spend my tax money on local school districts and libraries for this project? As noble as the goal might be (and it is certainly debatable), local schools and libraries have traditionally been the province of local authorities and local voters.

With federal involvement come federal requirements and control, not to mention the federal bureaucracy that will administer the program. How much better it would be if the federal government would lower taxes (and limit its spending to those areas which the Constitution specifies) and allow local entities to decide if and how much to spend on such initiatives.

JAMES A. BAUR

Green Valley Lake