[Vision2020] Boycotts
Saundra Lund
sslund@adelphia.net
Tue, 21 Oct 2003 13:49:11 -0700
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Hi Dale,
You wrote:
"So let's not let the discussion turn into "if you don't support
government education, you don't support education." That was a line that
Vera used in her Ink Spot a while back. For the thinking members of this
list, that distinction won't be lost."
That wasn't my point at all, and I'm sorry I didn't express *my* point
in a clearer manner. For the record, generally speaking, I do *not*
believe that those who want to opt out of taxes for public education
don't support education at all, just as I do *not* believe that those
who don't support all of the ways tax dollars are spent in national
defense don't support national defense at all.
I'll try again: my point *is* that public education, national defense,
clean air, etc are public/collective goods meeting certain criteria.
No matter how good the coffee & pastries are at any specific
establishment, they do NOT meet the criteria of public/collective goods.
Apples & oranges . . .=20
And, further, because coffee & pastry aren't collective goods to which
we all must contribute, I'm free to spend my dollars where & how I
choose.
Now, if you decided *not* to patronize a topfree carwash (or any other
establishment not meeting the criteria of a collective/public good), I'd
fight for your right to spend -- or not spend -- your money as you
choose :-) I'm consistent.
Let's not turn this discussion about the right to use our individual
economic power with respect to non-public goods *back into yet another
debate* about the merits of an established & majority recognized
collective good like public education.
=20
Saundra Lund
Moscow, Idaho
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to
do nothing.
Edmund Burke
-----Original Message-----
From: vision2020-admin@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-admin@moscow.com]
On Behalf Of Dale Courtney
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2003 1:18 PM
To: vision2020@moscow.com
Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Boycotts
Sandra,
The issue isn't about wanting the best education for all of our
children.=20
=20
The issue is about whether the government should be providing that
education.=20
*=09
Can government provide the best education?=20
*=09
Can government provide the cheapest education?=20
*=09
Can government even provide an education that honors the beliefs
and goals of the children's parents? Not without moving to the lowest
common denominator.=20
So let's not let the discussion turn into "if you don't support
government education, you don't support education." That was a line that
Vera used in her Ink Spot a while back.=20
=20
For the thinking members of this list, that distinction won't be lost.=20
=20
Best,
Dale
=20
_____ =20
From: vision2020-admin@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-admin@moscow.com]
On Behalf Of Saundra Lund
Sent: Tuesday, 21 October, 2003 13:03
To: 'Gregory Dickison'; 'Vision 2020'
Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Boycotts
Mr. Dickison,
=20
While I'm sure others could answer much more eloquently, I'll bite
because it seems perfectly clear to me: the majority (remember, this
*is* a democracy) has determined that providing education to children
(and national defense, clean air, etc) is important enough that it's a
collective or public good to which we all contribute. Otherwise,
there's the free rider problem (I pay for national defense, for
instance, which cannot be withheld from my neighbor if (s)he chooses not
to pay), of course, but there's also a significant benefit we as a
society receive from public goods. We *all* benefit from having
national defense and educated children and clean water, etc.
=20
As much as you might enjoy coffee and pastry, those items don't meet the
criteria for public or collective goods, and that's the difference.
=20
But, you're a smart man, and I suspect you already knew all of that . .
. so, what was the purpose of the question? Surely you weren't just
trying to be contentious, were you???
=20
=20
Saundra Lund
Moscow, Idaho
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to
do nothing.
Edmund Burke
-----Original Message-----
From: vision2020-admin@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-admin@moscow.com]
On Behalf Of Gregory Dickison
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2003 10:48 AM
To: Vision 2020
Subject: [Vision2020] Boycotts
Dear Visionaries:
=20
While I am all for your right to boycott Bucer's, Zume, Nate Wilson's
Kids' Lemonade Stand, etc., I am wondering why you think this right is
so one sided. When several of us expressed our desire to boycott the
government's schools by withholding not only our children, but our
shekels as well, and for the exact same reasons you give for boycotting
coffee and pastry, you replied, loudly and emphatically, "NO!"
=20
What's up with that?
=20
Gregory C. Dickison
Lawyer & Counselor at Law
Post Office Box 8846
208 South Main #2
Moscow, Idaho 83843
(208) 882-4009
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<DIV>
<P>Hi Dale,</P></DIV>
<DIV>You wrote:</DIV>
<DIV>"So let's not let the discussion turn into "if you don't support =
government=20
education, you don't support education." That was a line that Vera used =
in her=20
Ink Spot a while back. For the thinking members of this list, that =
distinction=20
won't be lost."</DIV>
<DIV>
<P>That wasn't my point at all, and I'm sorry I didn't =
express <SPAN=20
class=3D020182720-21102003>*</SPAN><SPAN class=3D020182720-21102003>my* =
point in a=20
clearer manner. For the record, </SPAN><SPAN=20
class=3D020182720-21102003>generally speaking, </SPAN>I do <SPAN=20
class=3D020182720-21102003>*</SPAN>not<SPAN =
class=3D020182720-21102003>*</SPAN>=20
believe that those who want to opt out of taxes for public education =
don't=20
support education at all, just as I do <SPAN=20
class=3D020182720-21102003>*</SPAN>not<SPAN =
class=3D020182720-21102003>*</SPAN>=20
believe that those who don't support all of the ways tax dollars are =
spent in=20
national defense don't support national defense at all.</P>
<P>I'll try again: <SPAN class=3D020182720-21102003> </SPAN>my =
point *is*=20
that public education, national defense, clean air, etc are =
public/collective=20
goods meeting certain criteria.</P>
<P>No matter how good the coffee & pastries are at any specific=20
establishment, they do NOT meet the criteria of public/collective =
goods.</P>
<P><SPAN class=3D020182720-21102003>Apples & oranges . . . =
</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=3D020182720-21102003>And, further, because coffee & =
pastry=20
aren't collective goods to which we all must contribute, I'm free to =
spend my=20
dollars where & how I choose.</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=3D020182720-21102003>Now, if you decided *not* to =
patronize a=20
topfree carwash (or any other establishment not meeting=20
the criteria of a collective/public good), I'd fight for =
your=20
right to spend -- or not spend -- your money as you choose =
:-) I'm=20
consistent.</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=3D020182720-21102003>Let's not turn this discussion about =
the right=20
to use our individual economic power with respect to non-public goods =
*back into=20
yet another debate* about the merits of an established & =
majority=20
recognized collective good like public education.</SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Saundra<SPAN class=3D020182720-21102003> Lund</SPAN><BR>Moscow,=20
Idaho<BR><BR>The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for =
good people=20
to do nothing.<BR>Edmund Burke<BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=3DOutlookMessageHeader lang=3Den-us dir=3Dltr =
align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DTahoma=20
size=3D2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> =
vision2020-admin@moscow.com=20
[mailto:vision2020-admin@moscow.com] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Dale=20
Courtney<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, October 21, 2003 1:18 PM<BR><B>To:</B> =
vision2020@moscow.com<BR><B>Subject:</B> RE: [Vision2020]=20
Boycotts<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><SPAN class=3D113151320-21102003><FONT =
face=3DArial=20
color=3D#800000 size=3D2>Sandra,</FONT></SPAN></DIV><SPAN =
class=3D113151320-21102003>
<DIV dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800000 =
size=3D2></FONT><FONT=20
face=3DArial color=3D#800000 size=3D2></FONT><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3D#800000=20
size=3D2></FONT><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800000 size=3D2></FONT><FONT =
face=3DArial=20
color=3D#800000 size=3D2></FONT><BR><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800000 =
size=3D2>The issue=20
isn't about wanting the best education for all of our children. =
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800000=20
size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft></SPAN><SPAN =
class=3D113151320-21102003><FONT face=3DArial=20
color=3D#800000 size=3D2>The issue is about whether the =
<U>government</U> should be=20
providing that education. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<UL dir=3Dltr>
<LI>
<DIV align=3Dleft><SPAN class=3D113151320-21102003><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3D#800000=20
size=3D2>Can government provide the best education? =
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<LI>
<DIV align=3Dleft><SPAN class=3D113151320-21102003><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3D#800000=20
size=3D2>Can government provide the cheapest education? =
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<LI>
<DIV align=3Dleft><SPAN class=3D113151320-21102003><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3D#800000=20
size=3D2>Can government even provide an education that honors the =
beliefs and=20
goals of the children's parents? Not without moving to the lowest =
common=20
denominator. </FONT></SPAN></DIV></LI></UL>
<DIV dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><SPAN class=3D113151320-21102003><FONT =
face=3DArial=20
color=3D#800000 size=3D2>So let's not let the discussion turn into "if =
you don't=20
support government education, you don't support education." That was a =
line that=20
Vera used in her Ink Spot a while back. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><SPAN class=3D113151320-21102003><FONT =
face=3DArial=20
color=3D#800000 size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><SPAN class=3D113151320-21102003><FONT =
face=3DArial=20
color=3D#800000 size=3D2>For the thinking members of this list, that =
distinction=20
won't be lost. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT color=3D#800000><FONT size=3D2><FONT=20
face=3DArial>Best,</FONT><BR></FONT><FONT face=3D"Vladimir Script"=20
size=3D5>Dale</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT> </DIV><FONT face=3D"Vladimir =
Script"=20
color=3D#800000 size=3D5></FONT><FONT face=3D"Vladimir Script" =
color=3D#800000=20
size=3D5></FONT><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
style=3D"PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #800000 2px =
solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=3DOutlookMessageHeader lang=3Den-us dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft>
<HR tabIndex=3D-1>
<FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2><B>From:</B> vision2020-admin@moscow.com=20
[mailto:vision2020-admin@moscow.com] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Saundra=20
Lund<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, 21 October, 2003 13:03<BR><B>To:</B> =
'Gregory=20
Dickison'; 'Vision 2020'<BR><B>Subject:</B> RE: [Vision2020]=20
Boycotts<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D090175517-21102003><FONT face=3DArial>Mr.=20
Dickison,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D090175517-21102003><FONT=20
face=3DArial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D090175517-21102003><FONT face=3DArial>While I'm =
sure others=20
could answer much more eloquently, I'll bite because it seems =
perfectly=20
clear to me: the majority (remember, this *is* a democracy) has=20
determined that providing education to children (and national =
defense,=20
clean air, etc) is important enough that it's a collective or =
public good=20
to which we all contribute. Otherwise, there's the free =
rider=20
problem (I pay for national defense, for instance, which cannot =
be=20
withheld from my neighbor if (s)he chooses not to pay), of course, but =
there's=20
also a significant benefit we as a society receive from public=20
goods. We *all* benefit from having national defense and =
educated=20
children and clean water, etc.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D090175517-21102003><FONT=20
face=3DArial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D090175517-21102003><FONT face=3DArial>As much as =
you might=20
enjoy coffee and pastry, those items don't meet the criteria for =
public or=20
collective goods, and that's the difference.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D090175517-21102003><FONT=20
face=3DArial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D090175517-21102003><FONT face=3DArial>But, you're a =
smart man,=20
and I suspect you already knew all of that . . . so, what was the =
purpose of=20
the question? Surely you weren't just trying to be contentious, =
were=20
you???</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D+0><FONT face=3DArial>Saundra<SPAN =
class=3D090175517-21102003>=20
Lund</SPAN><BR>Moscow, Idaho<BR><BR>The only thing necessary for the =
triumph=20
of evil is for good people to do nothing.<BR>Edmund=20
Burke<BR></FONT></DIV></FONT>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=3DOutlookMessageHeader lang=3Den-us dir=3Dltr =
align=3Dleft><FONT=20
face=3DTahoma size=3D2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>=20
vision2020-admin@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-admin@moscow.com] <B>On =
Behalf=20
Of </B>Gregory Dickison<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, October 21, 2003 =
10:48=20
AM<BR><B>To:</B> Vision 2020<BR><B>Subject:</B> [Vision2020]=20
Boycotts<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Dear Visionaries:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>While I am all for your right to =
boycott Bucer's,=20
Zume, Nate Wilson's Kids' Lemonade Stand, etc., I am wondering why you =
think=20
this right is so one sided. When several of us expressed our desire to =
boycott=20
the government's schools by withholding not only our children, but our =
shekels=20
as well, and for the exact same reasons you give for boycotting coffee =
and=20
pastry, you replied, loudly and emphatically, "NO!"</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>What's up with that?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Gregory C. Dickison<BR>Lawyer & =
Counselor at=20
Law<BR>Post Office Box 8846<BR>208 South Main #2<BR>Moscow, Idaho=20
83843<BR>(208) 882-4009</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>
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