$392 Stipend for County Board

I am a single, working parent of two small children, with one about to enter the crumbling public school system. I pay more for child care than for food and clothing. With only $1,200 per month, my boyfriend helps pay my rent and lets me use his car.

Every day, we are deluged by news of school budget cuts, health care cuts, cuts that affect every single one of us personally. Well, the supervisors gave themselves a $392 raise.

I am disgusted, furious and completely flabbergasted--$392 per month would be a windfall for someone in my position. Better yet, what about someone less fortunate? What could mothers on welfare do with that money? The homeless? The sick? Our children? What kind of future are our so-called leaders planning?

When will government officials realize that this is their future, too? When are they going to realize the ripple effect is more far reaching than they seem to be able to understand? More important, when are the people themselves going to wake up and put a stop to this farce of leadership and do something about it?

We need to believe our voices and our votes count. That’s the only way we can rid ourselves of this fat, self-serving bunch that has led us so far down such a bleak path.

HEATHER K. STEPHENSON

Glendale