Letters to the Editor, Sunday Nov. 9
The Government's Revision of January 6 History
Two federal prosecutors have been placed on leave by the Justice Department after references to the January 6 Capitol event were removed from court filings (Justice Department strips Jan. 6 references from court paper and punishes prosecutor who filed it, pressdemocrat.com). This suggests the government is trying to erase the event from official records.
Countries like Russia, Hungary, China, and Germany have also altered or forgotten parts of their histories. What else might the Justice Department want us to forget? For me, it would be the idea of the United States as the “land of the free and home of the brave.” What happens when that ideal is discarded?
Opposition to Another Audit for Santa Rosa Schools
Teachers and staff at Santa Rosa City Schools are requesting another audit of the district’s finances (Teachers union rallies for outside audit, Nov.). However, audits only verify whether spending and balances are properly recorded—they don’t assess whether the spending is necessary or effective. Audits also require significant time and funding, which the district lacks.
Having reviewed the district’s finances myself, audits consistently report near-perfect records. These formal audits typically take about six months. A few years ago, I acquired detailed financial records through the Public Records Act and thoroughly examined the numbers.
"An audit only determines whether spending and balances are properly accounted for. An audit doesn’t determine whether spending is needed or effective."
Summary: Attempts to erase significant historical events risk undermining core values, while calls for more audits in Santa Rosa City Schools overlook the thorough financial reviews already conducted.