[Vision2020] RE: [Vision2020] Re: [Vision2020] Idaho Public Schools 15-year Trends
Sunil Ramalingam
sunilramalingam@hotmail.com
Tue, 13 May 2003 12:16:14 -0700
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<P>Dale, </P></DIV>
<P>I will leave it to Mark Rounds and Dan Carscallen to address the issue of whether they have backed off their principles by supporting public education. For myself, I find it interesting that on the one hand, you say "The term "liberal" is, unfortunately, a very generic term; and it leads to the unproductive "left-right" game in discussions," but on the other hand are so willing to use it.</P>
<P>You describe your definition of a 'liberal' as standard:</P></DIV>
<P>'Bottom line: my term "liberal" is used in the standard sense of someone saying they want to allow for personal self-determination, but they want to tax everyone else so that they can control how self-determined others may be.'</P>
<P>I think there are plenty of liberals, and probably at least a couple of conservatives, that would argue that this is not a standard definition. That you consider it standard explains how you end up taking your positions. The use of that definition certainly makes it easier for you to set up straw-man arguments, though all you can really do then is set up false dichotomies.</P>
<P>I think the bottom line is that 'liberals' and 'conservatives' in this country and in our community generally support public education. They fight about how the schools should be set up and funded, and over what should be taught in them, and over who should be on the school board; if you're saying that all conservatives must oppose public education, then your quarrel with them is going to be fun to observe. </P>
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<P>Sunil</P>
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