Mailbag

As Thomas Friedman explains in his latest book, “Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution — and How It Can Renew America,” the world is becoming crowded, thanks to rising population. And the problem is not just that the raw number of people is increasing; it’s that many more are gaining access to an American level of consumerism. This means more pollution and a soaring global demand for energy. The jobs that were once available for all Americans are now being shipped out, and I do not blame companies for shipping them out because the level of education necessary to fulfill these jobs or to create new technology is no longer available or affordable for an average American. We are no longer a nation of researchers, scientists and producers, but consumers.

So what do our leaders come up with? More teacher layoffs. How can we set an example for other countries in new and green technology if we are cutting education?

There is no doubt that in order for our economy to catch up with the emerging markets like India and China, we must invest more in education. A higher educated America means better paying jobs, a higher gross domestic product and less dependence on foreign oil and technology. America has always been the pioneer in new technology, and today, in a world ruled by globalization, we can no longer effort to cut education.

We must stand with our teachers and demand for more funds to be invested in education so we can produce future scientists and researchers who will create new and green technology so we once and for all can cut our dependence on foreign oil and technology.

We also need to send a clear message to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and our local and state and federal representatives that we no longer need temporary bandages to fix this problem, but we must once and for all realize that in order to maintain the quality of life we Americans have been enjoying for so long, we must invest more in education.

ARMOND AGHAKHANIAN

Burbank

Listen to community on winter shelter

There was standing room only at the Burbank Fire Training Center on March 19 (“Groups battle over shelter,” March 21). It was a community meeting for the Burbank winter shelter.

As expected, the turnout was heavy with factions both for and against continuation of the program next year.