Vouchers misinterpreted

Unfortunately, Marissa Rasmussen, like so many others, has misinterpreted our constitutional rights as well as the proposed voucher system, in comparing schools to big box stores (Readers' Forum, Aug. 22).

First, we do not have the "right" to shop at a store we cannot afford, having our pocketbooks or gas tanks subsidized by the government.

Second, if the government provided gas money for people to shop at other stores, still only those who could afford to own cars would be able to shop elsewhere. The rich would once again shop at Nordstrom while the poor would not even be able to use the government money allotted for gas to buy groceries at Wal-Mart.

Under the voucher system, those who cannot afford the transportation, uniforms, books, etc., will still not be able to attend private schools. The only people helped by the voucher system will be those who already have the "cars."

Beverly Burdett

Orem