Why should students care about college anymore?

In the op-ed piece, “Give every student a chance for success,” [Opinion, Jan. 29] Microsoft executive Brad Smith ignores the fact that is facing high-school students. Why should they strive to achieve success when there is the extremely likely outcome they will not be admitted to a college?

The continued “selling” of college placements to foreign students such as the Chinese precludes any fair chance to most Washington students.

— John Christensen, Edmonds

Apply the Warren Buffett rule to corporations too

How thoughtful of Brad Smith, general counsel and executive vice president of Microsoft, to support education in Washington state. However, Microsoft has a lot of tax-avoidance preferences granted by the state.

Perhaps if Microsoft paid its “fair” share of taxes the state could do a better job of funding schools. Perhaps it is time to apply the Warren Buffett rule to corporations?

— Joyce Kormanyos, Sammamish