This is in response to William Felkner’s Jan. 13 commentary, “R.I.’s ‘education-first’ welfare system,” in which he advocated ending training supports for low-income families. To place such low importance on education and training is shameful, hypocritical and unacceptable. His column is one of the many examples of how we live in “the two Americas.” There is one America for the wealthy and well-connected and for whom education is a birthright. The other America belongs to those who are born into poverty; they do not have a right to quality education or meaningful employment.

The problem with dialogue about public policy is that few are willing to share the full story. Finding a job in Rhode Island that pays enough to support a family without more than a high-school diploma or its equivalent is impossible. Without some form of post-secondary education or training, minimum-wage jobs are the only option (thanks to many of the manufacturing jobs that are now overseas). According to the Poverty Institute’s published document, the 2006 Rhode Island Standard of Need, the cost of basic necessities, food, clothing, health care, transportation, housing and child care for a family of four requires an annual income of $60,000, or $28.85 an hour.

However, we are not just talking about dollars and cents here; we are talking about fellow Rhode Islanders. Please keep this in mind during the debate on budget issues.

AMANDA EYES

Providence

The writer is a candidate for a master’s degree in social work at Rhode Island College.