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To: Non-Sequitur; linda_22003
The government is required by the state constitution to establish and maintain a public school system.

That can change if necessary. Regardless, though, many voucher (or, better, tuition tax credit) plans are perfectly compatible with state constitutions.

I know many who educate their kids in private schools, all for religious rather than quality reasons, and being good conservatives they don't expect me to subsidize them. But you expect the taxpayers in your area to subsidize you.

I don't expect the government to subsidize me, but I don't want them to take my money and offer me a "service" I don't want. As long as they insist on doing the latter, they can at least return my money if I choose another option.

This really goes to the core of conservative economic philosophy. The government here is deciding that they can spend our money better than we can; if we don't like what they offer, we don't have to use it, but we still have to pay for it. Conservatives believe that it is better when individuals choose how to spend their own money for two reasons: first, it allows the individual greater freedom, one of the core values upon which our country was built; second, a free market over time tends to produce a better outcome than any government-run system.

106 posted on 07/21/2006 7:55:18 AM PDT by Young Scholar
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To: Young Scholar
That can change if necessary. Regardless, though, many voucher (or, better, tuition tax credit) plans are perfectly compatible with state constitutions.

Only because such cases have not made it to the courts.

I don't expect the government to subsidize me, but I don't want them to take my money and offer me a "service" I don't want. As long as they insist on doing the latter, they can at least return my money if I choose another option.

Should the person who objects to the war in Iraq be able to say that they don't want the government to take their money for a cause they don't want and don't support? Should I be able to say that I don't believe it is the government's business rebuilding Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas after the hurricanes and refuse to pay a portion of my taxes as a result. People would look at me funny if I did and I have no doubt I would receive a visit from the IRS asking uncomfortable questions.

Any voucher that exceeds the portion of the taxes you pay that go to support public primary and secondary schools is a subsidy. It is the government giving you something for nothing, and providing you a service just because you don't want to pay for it. As conservatives we should be opposed to government hand-outs and not finding new and useful ways of obtaining more. If you don't think the government should be in public schools in the first place, we might find areas of agreement in that arguement. But if you think the government should be in the business of subsidizing private schools then we part ways.

109 posted on 07/21/2006 9:58:12 AM PDT by Non-Sequitur
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