Letter: Big families getting an education entitlement

Sen. Pat Jones would limit personal income-tax exemptions to two, making more resources available for education ("Senate panel OKs bill requiring big families to pay more for schools," Tribune, Feb. 10). She said, "Those that use the public-education system most should share responsibility for paying for it."

Interestingly enough, Rep. Jim Nielson, who proposed a tax increase on gasoline to benefit highways, wrote in an email, "I think it's a very strong conservative principle that the ones who use a resource should be the ones who pay for it." However, when confronted with the same logic about education, his response was, "Suggestions that those with larger families carry a greater burden of funding public education in many cases means collecting more taxes from those least able to pay."

If you can't afford it, you don't buy it.

Parents should pay their fair share for their children's education, because when they don't, it negatively impacts the education of all children. Arguments for a population replacement rate are shortsighted, ignoring negative impacts to resources, the environment and quality of life. If you decide to have a large family, are using the public education system and not paying for it, then you are receiving an entitlement. Entitlements are inconsistent with "conservative Utah values."

William and Lezlie Kelley

Salt Lake City