Second attempt a lower amount

To the Editor:

There may be good reasons not to vote for the school override on August 14, but the reason proposed by my friend Keith Harding in his letter of July 20 is not one of them.

In his letter, Mr. Harding asserts: "This latest perversion of democracy illustrates the glaring reality that ours is not a government of the people. It is a government of the special people and the special interests."

Nonsense! Reading this you would think the School Committee and the school administration had asked for the same amount that was rejected by the voters on June 12. Instead they have reduced the amount requested by about 35 percent, and are asking the citizens of Ashburnham and Westminster if they will support this lower amount. It would have been irresponsible of them not to offer the voters this choice.

If you believe this increase puts too much of a strain on your household budget, you may feel you have to vote against the override. Or you may have questions about the school budget and how the money would be spent that you want answered before you vote. But whatever you decide, I urge you not to vote "no" because of the flawed argument put forward by Mr. Harding.

George Lane

Westminster