TEACHERS, NURSES DESERVE EQUAL COVERAGE

Between York Regional Police Chief Armand La Barge's highly publicized
"crackdown" on marijuana grow houses and the York Regional Police
Association's public relations campaign supporting increased funding, our
local law enforcement institutions are apparently taking advantage of all
the media attention they can attract.

Their self-interest is understandable and their tactics are certainly
working. I wonder, however, what prompts newspapers such as The Liberal to
so generously cover an obvious media blitz.

That a York Region constable would urge taxpayers to ante up more cash is
politically interesting, but it does not rise to the level of "news" and
hardly merits a front-page headline.

No one of sound judgement has ever accused The Liberal of being "liberal",
but I don't think it unfair to ask if a similar meeting of teachers urging
increased education spending or nurses advocating larger public health
budgets (to say nothing of groups dedicated to the legalization of
marijuana) could expect similarly enthusiastic support and free publicity.

HOWARD A. DOUGHTY

RICHMOND HILL