[Twodees]

Where the comparison of vouchers to food stamps breaks down is in the fact that the retail gorcery trade is not a government monopoly and isn't controlled top to bottom by a federally protected union.

Grocery stores are selling goods while private schools are selling a service. There are huge differences between a market for consumable and perishable goods and a market for an intangible service.

Education is well established (though in defiance of our Constitution where federal control is concerned) as an area for government control and private schools are a rather fragile exception, serving a rather small, specialized market. For private education to become the larger part of the education industry, it would have to be uninhibited by government control. Government controlled industries are inefficient and prone to failure.

If vouchers are introduced into the current private school industry, private schools will have to expand to fill the new demand. If the demand isn't limited by the ability of the students' families to pay, growth of the private school sector will need to be very fast and the demand for qualified teachers will skyrocket.

How will politicians behave when such a vast opportunity for expansion of their powers opens up for them? I think we both know the answer to that question.

[capecodder]

Your post #193 is very well stated.

How will politicians behave when such a vast opportunity for expansion of their powers opens up for them? I think we both know the answer to that question.

I think we all know the answer to that question.

[Austin Willard Wright]

Thanks for the answer. I think this is the best response to those who make the comparison. Though I would certainly allow the states to experiment with vouchers if they wish, I would oppose such a program in my own state....though I would feel differently if tax credits were proposed.