This letter was written on May 12, 1993.

Peg Spangenthal - Chair
Child Day-Care Council
730 E. Broad St.
Richmond, VA 23219

Dear Ms. Spangenthal,

I trust this letter finds you well. I write regarding further government intrusion into the private lives of the citizens of Virginia.

I will start by saying that I know how much government folk like to have statistics to use for or against a topic of interest. However, I have not the time or the inclination to search for such statistics to support my case. Why?, you may ask. It is quite simple really, so simple that many in the government either cannot or will not accept it. The reason is that statistics are not necessary to support my point regarding this matter.

It is simply a matter of freedom. Freedom from government intrusion into the private decision making process of the parents of Virginia children. I do not need nor do I want the help of big brother to choose and keep a particular child care provider. To have the government continue to usurp such responsibilities from the parent is to create a climate in which the government ultimately makes all decisions regarding the rearing of our children.

After all, whose children are they? The government’s or the parent’s!? This may seem like a silly question to some, but if one but looks at the world we live in today it is very easy to see the hand of big brother government reaching into every aspect of our daily lives. Where will it end?

I could continue to address the issue regarding freedom, but as I have stated, if you don’t understand by now it is because you or others do not wish to acknowledge that aspect of my argument.

Let us address another aspect of this aggravating topic. Increased cost to the parents. Increased cost in taxes to support government sponsored day-care, even if you are not using that day-care. And the increased cost passed on by day-care providers to the parents because of government regulations that must be met. Are we to believe that we are not already overburdened with taxes? Are we to believe that increased costs to providers will not be passed on to the parents? In order to believe either of these scenarios one would have to have lived in a cave for the past thirty years. For the love of God, can we hope that sanity will, at some point, be allowed to prevail?

I will have you and any others who care to listen know this one simple point; I LOVE MY CHILDREN MORE THAN ANYTHING I HAVE OR POSSESS! Therefore, their health, safety and happiness are the most important things in my life. As a result I make every effort to assure that they are well cared for while my wife and I are at work. By the way, the reason we both have to work is not by choice, but out of necessity. If our wonderful government, that is so concerned about us, would not tax us so heavily maybe we could get by on one salary. Just something that our friends in the government might like to consider.

I DO NOT NEED OR WANT THE HELP OF THE GOVERNMENT TO SELECT OR SCREEN A DAY-CARE PROVIDER FOR MY CHILDREN! How much simpler can I make it for you? I hope to attend the meeting scheduled for June 3 and would like to have the opportunity to speak before the council. Please advise me if this will be allowed.

Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to sound-off. I can only pray that my concerns do not fall on deaf ears. In closing I am, Madam,

a loving parent,

Floyd C. Bayne