Make it Fair

from the New York Times on October 17, 1999. Sure 1999 is seven years past, but it just shows that this has been reality for a long time, but little has been done to reverse it.

"The United States is far behind other developed nations and is losing the education race because we are preoccupied with materialism. All of our leaders, including the present ''Education President,'' use a lot of meaningless rhetoric when it comes to reform. In light of our nation's educational shortcomings, we need a greater effort to increase the salaries of teachers and professors. " -ERIBERTO S. LOZADA, M.D.

Teachers are the people who make a difference in our lives. It is frightening to imagine what our world would turn into without educators...but not so terrifying to think of a world without demoralizing celebrities. Shouldn't there be an act passed that states a percentage of entertainment profits go to education?

Is it fair that teachers, working to educate the world's future, are living modestly while celebrities are living in luxury? What of scientists and bioengineers, who are striving to save lives with small commissions and low wages? The people who hold the most promise of saving lives and improving the world aren't given the opportunity to fully unleash their potential. Yet, for being in a chick flick or singing a song written by a professional songwriter, the stars in California are making it big for doing so little. Think about how many lives could be saved by new medicines and treatments, how many lives would be positively influenced by new knowledge and mentorship if half the profits of movies, sports games, concerts, and other sources of entertainment, were given to the government for funding, research, education, and healthcare.