Posted on 03/24/2005 1:21:40 PM PST by SwinneySwitch
It should be no surprise that, in Texas, legislators face a crisis: how to continue funding the public school system.
One key suggestion is to take more from business. It is, after all, currently in vogue to think of business as bad; government as good. It may be too late when people realize their employment depends on the very businesses they love to hate. Business produces goods and services, while government does not produce goods; it only redistributes the goods produced by business and the revenue generated by that production.
Any additional business tax such as that proposed to fund public schools is either added to the cost of goods produced, thus driving up consumer costs, or it is subtracted from someones paycheck. There simply is no free lunch. Well, OK. There are free school lunches, but that, too, is a misnomer. Lunches are free to some kids because the parents of other kids have to pay for them.
Meanwhile, legislators continue to seek new money to fund public schools. Teachers clamor for pay raises. Parents complain their children are not being taught the basics. Employers are worried that job applicants are not qualified in the basic skills needed for productive employment. Teen suicide rates and incidences of abortions and AIDS are up, and no one can figure out the problem.
Thinly disguised hate prevention training is little more than indoctrination of a liberal, political view designed to teach lifestyles which often are contrary to Christian teaching. So much for teaching the basics.
In Houston, 18 schools are under scrutiny for possible cheating on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test. U.S. Rep. Ron Paul has again introduced legislation to prohibit the use of federal funds for universal mental-health screening, as this practice lends itself to forced drugging of children.
Too often, young people are medicated rather than disciplined.
So, in Austin, brilliant minds have come up with new business taxes to replace a portion of property taxes that currently funds education. One thing that these brilliant minds never conceive, however, is to spend less money. But, you see, they have to spend the money to be re-elected. You thought buying votes was illegal? No. Only in certain cases. Look at any legislative agenda, and you will see the various shopping lists, a la pork barrel projects designed to win votes back at home.
So, another idea being floated to help finance schools is an additional $1 tax on each pack of cigarettes. Now, theres a brilliant idea. What an example for our young people! Instead of having the gumption to either outlaw cigarettes altogether (as they are so harmful), legislators placate themselves by saying they are discouraging smoking by adding the tax.
Dont be fooled. They dont want people to quit smoking any more than they want them to quit gambling, as that currently is just another cash cow for government spending and buying votes. Its like a carrot they dangle when they feel the urge.
All this is enough to make people move to another planet. Or at the very least, make parents look for alternative education in the form of private schools or even home-schooling. __________________________
Why is it that when a business want's to build a building for it's enterprise, usually it's an inexpensive metal one or a simple one that does not break the bank, but when our schools and governmental entities build one, it is a work of art...something to behold? Why is that? Could it be that the money tree is off limits to common enterprise while there is no limits to the money fruits harvested by our socialist governing society. Why is it that the sheeple are so stupid that they will pay for it and complain, then pay some more, and complain, and then pay some more and then complain......and on and on and on? There's no end to it!
Throw more of our tax money at it, that will fix it. That is the Rats and NEA solution.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.