Media

Literacy Key to Economic Development

By Morton Marcus

I cannot do it. I cannot write another column about property taxes. I want to, but I must control myself.

I must not discuss the gullibility, the stupidity of a public that believes politicians are doing them a favor by lowering government expenditures, or shifting funds from account to account, in order to cut property taxes.

For the problems about which a few people are complaining, as they feel the effects of a long-delayed equitable property tax system, are not resolved by cutting the total amount of funds raised by the property tax.

The problems those few are decrying, and which the newspapers are magnifying, have to do with the redistribution of tax burdens among taxpayers. In other words, Jimmy was paying little, he now pays more. And where Susie was paying more, she now pays less. If you lower the total amount of taxes collected, you ease Jimmy's pain and give Susie an even larder reduction in her taxes.

Yet we know that taxes are not the total story. What happens to the quality of public services? Any politician who says we can cut spending and maintain public services is admitting that the use of taxes in the past has been inefficient.

Why did it take an uproar over the redistribution of the tax burden to make those office holders find their inefficiencies?.

But I am not going to write about property taxes. Instead I'll write about the most important economic development program Indiana could have. It's so simple, and it will cost so little, that no one will do it.

We need to increase the level of literacy in the state. Hoosiers of all ages must become better readers and they need to read more. If you are reading this column, you are in a very small minority. You are in the minority who read newspapers. Within that minority, you are willing to read more than the comics, sports page, obituaries, horoscope, and lonely hearts column.

Could (would) your children and your neighbors read and comprehend this column? Too many of our citizens cannot read and understand the content of newspapers, even if they have high school diplomas. Often they cannot learn complex processes and they cannot make progress in a world that requires learning.

Yes, they can still develop important skills and crafts, but they will be limited to jobs that are persistently challenged by competitors who create machines and products to replace those skills.

Computer icons may be used on the screens of fast food restaurants, but words are the means of learning new concepts.

Our current workforce is filled with people who read poorly. Their children are equally unprepared for an even more demanding world.

What do we do to change this? The answer lies in the private sector, not in our schools. Indiana's churches are well-prepared to do the job.

Millions of Hoosiers attend church each week. How many of the congregation can stand and read from scripture as well as from the local newspaper and explain what they are reading? Churches could provide tutors for adults and children.

Churches could make their mission the salvation of their own members and their neighbors from the darkness of illiteracy.

Isn't this what the Presidents Bush have encouraged? Isn't this what a caring community would do? Isn't it time to stop complaining about the schools, time to step forward, time to help just one person to read?

Isn't it time to buy a child a dictionary rather than a high-powered water gun?

We'd love to hear from you! You may call us at 800.348.7798 or use the Contact Form to send us an email.

Our Programs:

Literacy affects everyone. It's people like you who can make the difference. Why not become a volunteer and work to stop the spread of illiteracy? You'll make lots of new friendships that will last a lifetime.

Home ¦ About Us ¦ Family Literacy ¦ GED ¦ Help with Reading ¦ Help Learning English
How to Help ¦ Membership Form ¦ Volunteer Form ¦ Literacy Programs Near You ¦ Calendar of Events
Spelling Bee Info ¦ Entry Form ¦ Pledge Form ¦ Past Bee Winners ¦ Time Out for Reading ¦ Put Your Nose in a Book
Mini Grant Info ¦ Grant Application Form ¦ Past Recipients ¦ Affiliates ¦ Media ¦ Contact Us ¦ Site Map