Why in the world would we ever want the state to take over the York City School District with their track record of failed government? The state has failed to control spending in its core areas -- the size of state government, public employees' pensions, public welfare, public education and prisons.

The end result of this profligate spending is the gradual diminution of our once top state economy and our personal freedom to spend the fruits of our labor as we see fit. Taxes at all levels of government continue to rise so that they amount to more than we spend on food, clothing and shelter. The over $400 billion debt and unfunded liabilities the state has incurred will be passed on to our grandchildren to shoulder.

Our state government has become one of the most corrupt in the nation. This is a disgrace. So it is ridiculous to think the state can solve the York City schools problem.

We citizens share the blame for the economic mess the state is in because we kept electing career legislators who promised us benefits. We thought we could get these benefits without having to pay for them. We gave up too many of what our Founders considered to be individual responsibilities -- not government functions.

The legislators legalized gambling and eliminated the old Sunday blue laws. Our morals and virtue accelerated their downward trend. Our culture went down hill. We have became a union state. The public employee and teachers unions can shut down this state. Free markets and enterprises that generate profits and jobs are considered evil.

Having the state take over control of York City schools is just another temporary patch that doesn't address the real problem. State takeoverjust kicks the problem down the road. We citizens know that the real problem is the teachers union in conjunction with the legislators preventing real public education reform.

Student achievement has actually gone down while the spending per student has increased exponentially. We citizens know that 16 school districts, the York County School of Technology and the Intermediate Unit administrative costs in York County are unsustainable.

We wonder why we can't save at least $100 million per year in taxes by consolidation that would improve student achievement because the money would be spent in the classroom -- not in administration.

And yes, we could still have our beloved sports team competition in addition to real school choice.

-- Warren C. Bulette is a resident of Spring Garden Township.