YOUR NOV. 2 editorial, advocating further cuts in state aid to cities and towns, makes me wonder whether the author of the editorial actually lives in a city or town in Massachusetts. While I agree that it’s wrong to cut social services, it’s equally wrong to cut local aid. Ever since Proposition 2 1/2 passed, all but the very richest and luckiest cities and towns in the Commonwealth have indeed scoured their school and municipal budgets for savings. They have cut, and cut, and cut, to the point where there’s nothing left to cut except muscle and bone. Last year my town passed an override, and it was still forced to lay off teachers, pushing class sizes to alarming levels. To argue for more cuts suggests a lack of awareness about what’s actually happening in the state.
It would be much fairer, and more responsible, for Governor Patrick to look at increased income taxes on the wealthiest citizens, who have done well in the past two decades. Also, as Al Gore did for the federal government, he could eradicate outdated departments and unneeded state employees. If the Globe wanted to engage in intelligent, community-serving journalism, it would help Patrick find the fat in the Commonwealth’s payroll, rather than point to where it doesn’t exist.
Nathaniel Reade
Florence 
