Preschool measure makes June ballot (California -- tax "the rich" to pay for public preschool)

SFC ^ | Jan. 14, 2005 | John Wildermuth

[FairOpinion]

Voters will decide in June whether they want to tax California's richest residents to send the state's 4-year-olds to preschool.

Secretary of State Bruce McPherson has certified the "Preschool for All'' initiative, declaring that its backers, led by actor-director Rob Reiner, had collected more than the 598,105 valid signatures needed to place the measure on the June 6 ballot.

The voluntary program would offer a full year of preschool to all California 4-year-olds, provided mostly by local school districts.

The initiative would boost the top tax rate by 1.7 percent on individuals earning more than $400,000 annually or married couples earning $800,000. That will raise $2.4 billion a year by 2010-11, when the measure would take full effect.

The prospect of a tax increase already has spurred opposition to the initiative.

"There are horrible flaws in this measure, both on the revenue and expenditure sides, said Jon Coupal, president of the anti-tax Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. "It would make public preschool available to those who could afford existing private preschools, rather than target efforts to the low and lower-middle class.''

Coupal and other opponents also worry that the measure could put private preschools out of business and leave the state in charge of all early childhood education.

"This would transfer the entire preschool industry to the same behemoth that's failed us in the K-12 schools,'' he said.

[dalereed]

"San Jose, Santa Cruz, San Francisco most of my life"

Having spent most of your live in the sewage treatment facility of California you have no idea of what California is like.

As a 5th generation So. Calif. and my wife a 6th generation So. Calif. we aren't going anywhere.

[wintertime]

"Preschool for All'' ( from the article)

To All,

I will be "voluntary" pre-school for all, then the push will be to lower the age for compulsory schooling even lower. Pre-school will then be mandatory.

Of course, the government is giving away for free the product of pre-school. Private pre-schools will soon go out of business and become scarce. Parents will then be threatened by social workers pushing foster care for the non-compliant, and armed police stand ready to help the social workers.

Once compulsory pre-school is accepted as a right, the push then will be for free infant care ( by highly trained university graduates of course).

It's for the children, of course.

[TheOracleAtLilac]

Having lived in San Jose,Ca. for 12 years

Having spent an eternity in San Jose (2 semesters @ SJS)

I can guarantee that the weather in So. Cal is 10x better than N. Cal

[Kellis91789]

Yes, indeed. Although we could get a jumpstart on improving the conservative ratio if we just deported all the illegals and children of illegals.

Not that they vote, but they certainly consume more of the state's budget than citizens, and their "needs" influence the voting. Take away those needs and the state would probably save 20% of its budget. A lot of the proposed new spending would be unnecessary, and the state wouldn't need to borrow to accomplish the rest. And public preschool wouldn't even be under discussion.

[wintertime]

Studies have shown that kids who go to preschool perform better when go to kindergarten, saying that, though, I do not feel that we should tax the wealthy create this program.
Kimchi

To Kimchi,

Please don't send you child to government kindergarten.

Will you, please, please, please investigate homeschooling?

I promise you that it is the most natural and healthy way to raise up a confident and well educated adult. And,,,please don't fret over "socialization". There is plenty of opportunity for you child to have friends of all ages.

The socialization learned in institutional schools is TOXIC. Most of it must be unlearned to be successful in work and marriage,and with family, friends, and neighbors.

[CheyennePress]

Haha! If you'll notice, I caught it on the second post. But still managed to leave one incorrect.

Busted.

But now that you mention it, whole wheat is lower GI than rye, so we'll go for what. ;)

[kimchi lover]

Please don't send you child to government kindergarten. Will you, please, please, please investigate homeschooling? I promise you that it is the most natural and healthy way to raise up a confident and well educated adult. And,,,please don't fret over "socialization". There is plenty of opportunity for you child to have friends of all ages. The socialization learned in institutional schools is TOXIC. Most of it must be unlearned to be successful in work and marriage,and with family, friends, and neighbors.

No thanks...I have no desire to homeschool. My son goes to a CHRISTIAN preschool and I couldn't be happier.
Not everyone has the temperment to homeschool. I know my limitations. I know that my son would NOT be happy staying home with me all day while all his friends were at school. Give the kid a break! I know my limitations. Besides, I know many fine people who went to public school.

[Clock King]

Get outta here! Is that how the Hollywood Liberal elite do their business? No wonder.

[4Liberty]

Preschool (day care) isn't unionized.
It currently has an internal market (families do it), or is done privately.

This measure is an attempt to unionized the industry.

It will bring in more cash to Dems (through union dues).

And - it represents a subsidy (wealth transfer) to those who should have waited to start a family until getting sufficient income/education. But who cares about those of us who have done so - and who will pay for others' negligence. Big deal, what are YOU lookin at, etc.

[Loud Mime]

This will be a contest between the democrats who want freebies from the government and the constitutionalists who are tired of liberals forcing socialistic programs against the people of this republic.

[Seadog Bytes]

EXACTLY!

[Izzy Dunne]

Studies have shown that kids who go to preschool perform better when go to kindergarten

Ah, yes. Kindergarten performance.

Is it important enough for you to turn over your kid to someone else?

Apparently so.

[Seadog Bytes]

Uh-huh... EXACTLY!

...and please see also...
...Do you REALLY believe... 'it's for the CHILDREN'...???

   
click for more

(Please FReepmail if you want on, or off, this list.   I certainly have no desire to increase anyone’s stress-level. Thanks!!!)

[Awestruck]

Funny how people got along without any preschooling for so many years and society managed to turn out some pretty impressive and intelligent individuals. You don't need preschool to socialize your child, if you just bother to spend some actual time working at it. And why should your child read BEFORE kindergarten? Isn't that what kindergarten is for? Why the push? Just because a child reads at an early age doesn't mean they will grow up to be a decent and productive member of society, and THAT is what really counts in the long run.

[phantomworker]

That is really funny!!!

[wintertime]

I know my limitations ( kimchi)

Then your child will need institutional schooling. So be it.

[Seadog Bytes]

Maybe so, but it seems intuitive, doesn't it? ...that if those 4-year-olds are 'in class', they won't be out doing all those 'drive-by' shootings...???

...Instead, they'll be INSIDE... threatening their TEACHERS!