Political parties don't control all members

Editor, Townsman:

I found the logic of Kevin Cuff's letter to the editor last week ("Union decision highlights what's wrong with Mass. leadership") a little puzzling. He seemed to be saying he can't be a Democrat because the Andover teachers union blocked "Race to the Top" funds for Andover and teacher unions tend to support the Democratic party. But the same logic could lead me to say I can't be a Republican because greedy Wall Street executives have gravely hurt our economy and Wall Street executives tend to support the Republican party. The fact is that no political party can control the actions of its supporters.

If Mr. Cuff is really concerned about the state of our public schools, he should be aware of a few facts.

First of all, the decision of the Andover teachers union is purely local. I just read that the Melrose teachers union has accepted the rules and regulations of the "Race to the Top" program for Melrose.

Second, the "Race to the Top" program is part of a federal law (the 2009 stimulus bill) that was passed by a Democratic U.S. Congress and signed by a Democratic president.

Third, the Massachusetts Education Reform Bill of 2009 allowed Massachusetts to qualify for funding for the "Race to the Top" program. This state law was passed by a Democratic state legislature and signed by a Democratic governor.

There is little doubt in my mind that the Democratic party has been and continues to be a huge supporter of the public schools. In fact, I am sure that if the public school system in this country did not already exist and someone today proposed creating a free educational system run by the government and funded by taxes, the modern-day Republican party would quickly condemn it as socialism and fiercely fight its very creation.

Andrew Rouse

5 Cattle Crossing