For the first time in 150 years, North Carolina has a republican controlled government. It should surprise no one that republican favored agendas are being passed into law.
[ It should also serve as a stark lesson to all liberals who rejoiced in massive democratic majorities following the election of Obama that such majorities are not always good ]
One of the priorities of the republican legislature is to pass a voucher bill:
The House budget set aside $10 million for vouchers this year for families meeting income requirements, and $40 million next year. Parents would receive $4,200 per child to help cover private school tuition. Vouchers are in play in the negotiations between House and Senate budget writers.
Such “hatred of poor kids” is, of course, the subject of Moral Monday marches in Raleigh. For as long as I can remember, the concept of vouchers in specific and private schools in general have been a special hatred of the left.
And I can’t understand why.
I get that the state has a vested interest in the education of its children. And in so far as the state is interested in said education, I would suppose that how that education was delivered would largely be inconsequential. What MIGHT be of importance is who is best able to deliver education that results in the highest levels of quality. That is, if the state can do it better than the private school, then I get the argument that the state should provide education.
However, our public schools are horrible, yes? And if private schools are able to deliver at least equal levels of education at prices that are dramatically cheaper, ought we not go where it makes sense? And there is little evidence to suggest that public schools are superior to private ones.
So why the outrage over private school vouchers?
Is it because the left feels that parents of the most at risk students don’t care enough even to apply for and receive such vouchers? Or is it because the democrat machine is dominated by the most powerful lobbying force in the country – the Teacher’s Union?
The hatred is driven power and ideology. As kids leave, the unions lose power. It also represents an effective vote of “no confidence” in their indoctrination centers.
The standard arguments are false:
“It’s for the children!” — it should be obvious that most parents will know better and know what works for their children without the obvious conflict of interest that teachers have. I know the Ford dealer thinks I should buy a Ford — I’ll use my own judgement, thanks.
“The schools will lose money!” — they actually *gain* money on a per-pupil basis since voucher programs only ever transfer a fraction of the per-pupil spending. As Obama once put it, “you’d think they’d be *thanking* me!”