[Vision2020] Devisiveness Must Stop

[Tom Hansen]

Yes, ladies and gentlemen.  Dale Courtney and his infinite wit has developed
yet another reason to be thankful as we approach Thanksgiving and the
holiday season.

Thanks for the "warm fuzzy", Dale.

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Work like you don't need the money.
Love like you've never been hurt.
Dance like nobody's watching.

- Author Unknown
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-----Original Message-----
From: vision2020-admin@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-admin@moscow.com]On
Behalf Of Dale Courtney
Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2003 5:47 AM
To: vision2020@moscow.com
Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Devisiveness Must Stop


Visionaries,

I would like to address just one issue that Jim brings up: the use of the
term "government schools".

First, this isn't some code word that people in Moscow have invented. It is
a term that has historical usage, primarily within the Libertarian party and
by economic libertarians for over 50 years. Just Google the term "government
school*" and see what I mean. For a good example, see Lew Rockwell's
Libertarian site. There are 117 articles out there just on the "government
school" system. Greg Perry sums up the Libertarian position well:
http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig/perry4.html. So it's ignorant (though
flattering) to think that we coined this term.

Second, I do not like the use of the term "public" school to mean those
schools that are operated by the government. Their are a lot of schools that
are open to general enrollment that I would consider to be public; so I
discriminate between the two by using the term "government school".

Third, you may find it pejorative, but the term "government school" is
accurate. Virtually everyone uses "public schools" to mean the current
government-owned-and-operated system. Government-owned-and-operated is, by
definition, socialism; but to say so upsets the liberals. The term "public"
schools is effective in persuading taxpayers to support them. The
libertarian economist Milton Friedman has pointed out that government uses
tanks, planes and ships but does not own manufacturing plants. It builds
public buildings and highways but has no construction companies. Somehow,
government eased into owning and operating an education delivery system even
though that required overcoming public opposition and supplanting private
institutions. So what we have is a "free" publicly funded monopoly?

Fourth, you say that we offer "no productive solutions". There has been many
solutions offered for years on how to disassemble the educational-industrial
complex and turn school choice and educational freedom back over to the
parents. Just for starters, see The Separation of State and School Alliance
(http://www.sepschool.org/). They have tons of research on how to do this.
We've seen across the board success in the education of children whenever
you have educational choice restored to the parents.

Fifth, 50% of my property taxes (as of today) go to supporting the
government school system in Moscow -- and the liberals want a levy to raise
it even more in 2004! If you want me to shut up, feel free to stop using
half of my property taxes to support a system that has the highest admin
costs in the entire State of Idaho, the fastest decline in student
population, and who still want more money. I'm more than willing to
completely shut up on this issue -- if you will stop taxing me to death over
it. Give me 50% of my property taxes back and I'll play in my own sandbox.
Until then, you will hear my voice on this matter!

Best,
Dale