Selfishness--or Reaction to Behind-the-Scenes Tax Hike?

So it’s the “politics of selfishness” if we taxpayers try to hold on to our hard-earned money? The editorial “After the Storm, Schools Remain Needy” (Aug. 14) was an insult to Times readers.

I’ve got an excellent idea. Let’s privatize our schools. While we’re at it, let’s privatize every government agency except our armed forces. How successful have our public schools been at educating our young? Not very! How about the constant postal rate hikes? Privatize. How about the never-ending “war on crime”--are we winning yet? If the government won’t let the cops do their jobs, then let the people deal with it. Bring back vigilantism, and I guarantee there’ll be no more gang murders, no more dope pushing and no more rapes!

When I was a kid, I thought government could solve problems--then I grew up. It’s time The Times gets off the ultraliberal bandwagon and does some growing up of its own.

FRED J. HERMON, Santa Ana