I greatly appreciate [Morton Marcus’ Jan. 17 commentary, “Daniels ignores deficit of neglect.”] As we have seen our already poor-quality educational system and libraries cut every year, while raising expectations—it is darkly ironic that the same politicians are making these contradictory decisions.

More quietly, we have cut services to many of our most disenfranchised neighbors, while bragging about being one of the few states with a balanced budget. I am not a rich person, yet I would rather pay more taxes for better performance.

Money alone will not solve these issues, yet lack of funding can defeat them. Indiana so often is on “worst of the worst” lists in the nation, that I have become concerned about those who most need these continually dwindling services.

I hope our current and future governors will reflect and broaden their perspectives of how best to prioritize the issues of state government.

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Sharon M. Wardrip