[so_real]

"and I have to pay for the kids who go to public schools"

That part sucks, I totally agree. When the quality of public education falls so dramatically to the point you would rather invest in your children's education privately, it doesn't make sense to continually have your tax dollars taken and used to prop up the failing system regardless. How can you vote with your feet and your wallet when the government follows you and steals your money anyway? Yet, there is a public interest value in a modicum of education for all citizens. I confess I do not have a simple solution on that issue.

[Mmmike]

The solution is to recognize that learning is part of being human. No state, and people will still learn things.