Supreme Court gives go-ahead for school vouchers!

Associated Press / SFGate

[RCW2001]

(06-27) 07:30 PDT (AP) -- ^Supreme Court gives go-ahead for school vouchers, lowers wall between church and state=

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Constitution allows public money to underwrite tuition at religious schools as long as parents have a choice among a range of religious and secular schools, the Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

The 5-4 ruling led by the court's conservative majority lowers the figurative wall separating church and state and clears a constitutional cloud from school vouchers, a divisive education idea dear to political conservatives and championed by President Bush.

Opponents call vouchers a fraud meant to siphon tax money from struggling public schools.

[Alberta's Child]

. . . these vouchers will just as easily subsidize the funding of private Left wing schools, Black separatist movements and Islamic schools . . .

In other words, public schools.

[1L]

Poor example. A burning building poses a public danger no matter who owns the building. Thus, the public has an interest in extinguishing it in a timely fashion.

A burning building poses no inherent danger to anyone else. The fire department could, for example, arrive and water down or do what they needed to do to keep other property from burning or being damaged. This is the perfect example since under a true seperatist society, the firefighters would be advancing religion based on the fighting of the fire.

But there are many other examples. How come we have tax breaks for churches? Not only are churches usually exempt from paying taxes on receipts of income, they also can exempt certain payments to employees as "allowences" that are not taxable to those employees. My point is that there is no such thing as a constitutional separation of church and state, and anything other than respecting state establishments of religion (of which, there are none currently) and favoring one religion over another, are political and not constitutional fights.

[Tennessean4Bush]

This is a HUGE decision. It is precisely the type decision that hits the education establishment in the gut. They either will reform or wither on the vine. I predict they will wither.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Very amusing though an outright lie. HoHoHo

[Alberta's Child]

I guess you aren't familiar with the New York City school system.

[Lancey Howard]

I tell them the same thing each time...we don't agree with the liberal slant of your paper,

Ha!, that's what I tell the Stinquirer every time they call me! But yes, as much as I hate to admit it I have subscribed to the Courier for about a year now, primarily because I coach some sports teams and have some kids on Council Rock teams and I enjoy keeping up with the local scores. Actually, the BCCT used to be fair and decent when Bruce Henderson was around. He had his hands full keeping tabs on the female affirmative action editor they brought in, but he generally kept things sane there. Nowadays the paper is pathetic, with every liberal and politically correct talking point fully represented. And the youngsters on the school district beats are scared to death to offend the teachers unions, LOL - - you will NEVER see any investigative reporting into those crooked (especially Council Rock) mobs.

Anyways, one day they will catch me in a foul mood when they write yet another "raise the income tax" editorial and I will call and cancel immediately - - I live very close to a library and can always check the scores there.

Regards,
LH

[valkyrieanne]

With the shekels come the shackles.....

I agree with you here. I fear for the integrity of truly private, truly independent education. Talk about selling one's soul for a mess of pottage.

[justshutupandtakeit]

I know enough about them to know that the commies infiltrated them during the 30s and 40s and there are many enemies within to this day. But the public schools across the land are not like NY nor are they filled with enemies of America no matter what you like to pretend.

[Irene Adler]

"...be aware that these vouchers will just as easily subsidize the funding of private Left wing schools, Black separatist movements and Islamic schools as those of the Right."

Fine with me. "Let a hundred flowers bloom and a thousand thoughts contend."

[justshutupandtakeit]

When you quote Chairman Mao at least add the postscript. "Let a thousand flowers bloom...and we will cut the heads off 999."

[TXBubba]

YES! YES! YES!!!!!! This is great news! Especially after yesterday's disgusting news!

[not-alone]

Your post reminded me of the beautiful little faces in a Cleveland Catholic School I saw on the news tonight. Judge Thomas and many other very successful blacks have credited their Catholic Schools for helping them. What hope this will be for many parents.

[RonF]

"A burning building poses no inherent danger to anyone else. The fire department could, for example, arrive and water down or do what they needed to do to keep other property from burning or being damaged."

Have you actually ever been next door to a burning building? I have. It's not that simple. You can pour all the water you want to on the surrounding buildings, and you're still not going to necessarily save the adjacent buildings unless you put out the source. Especially if you're talking about townhomes or close single-family housing. Consider if the burning building is constructed or contains hazardous materials that could explode, or would cause pollution if it burns/melts, etc. No, a burning building is a public hazard, and needs to be put out.

"But there are many other examples. How come we have tax breaks for churches? Not only are churches usually exempt from paying taxes on receipts of income, they also can exempt certain payments to employees as "allowences" that are not taxable to those employees."

Good question. Perhaps, then, we should start taxing the churches? Actually, the arguments I've seen (specifically referring to that church that was seized in Indy for not collecting witholding taxes from their employees) has been that there IS separation of church and state, and that's why the government shouldn't tax the churches, or act as their agent in collecting taxes from employees. There are clerics who welcome the separation of church and state, as they believe that there is an inherent conflict between the objectives of a worldly kingdom and the objectives of a Heavenly kingdom.

[mil-vet]

Opponents call vouchers a fraud meant to siphon tax money from struggling public schools.

The reason public schools are "struggling" is because tax money is being used to force public educators to instruct public school students in all manner of social engineering BS instead of the three R's!!

Private schools won't be forced by the gov't to waste money on condoms; they will instead buy better text books!

There should never have been a question, but since some liberal manure-breath started the stupidity of opposition to vouchers, I certainly glad logic prevailed for a change!! Only 5-4 is disappointing, though politically expected....

[EBUCK]

Wonderful. And perfect timing, too. With the ACLU, NEA, and GLSEN hell-bent on imposing their government-subsidized, atheistic, amoral, pro-perversion, anti-pledge, anti-education agenda on a captive audience, this decision not only provides an escape but levels the playing field.

You and I don't agree on much but the "leveling the playing field" comment made me smile ear to ear.

EBUCK

[rdb3]

And that's why today's Supreme Court ruling on school vouchers is perhaps the greatest, most liberating court ruling for black people in the past quarter century. If we can just get states and municipalities to follow up on it, it could be as big as Brown v. Board of Education in its potential to liberate black Americans.

AMEN!

It amazes me to no end how we have conservatives here who cannot see beyond two inches before their faces. Everywhere vouchers have been offered to inner-city children (way to go Northcoast!), the number of those vouchers are swallowed up in less than one day. For every 100 slots open there are 1,000 inner-city parents who want them. Now that's what I call DEMAND. These parents know that the education system is failing to educate their children. Couple that with the fact that these parents also know that their own education is not sufficient enough to home school. If home schooling were as popular when I was in grade school as it is today, my mother would have loved to do it. But there was a problem. Neither my mom or dad has more than a sixth-grade education, so what could they truly teach me? I personally lucked out because a couple of St. Joseph coaches attended a junior high football game of mine and wanted me to play for them. That's the only way I got a private school education. All because I knew how to plant quarterbacks like seeds.

But let's look at the bigger picture. The RATs will whine and moan about this for years to come. The main RAT constituency is American blacks. Therefore, the RATs don't represent the true interests of their main constituency.

If we wisely keep this in front of their faces, we can't lose. And the most gratifying part of all of this is that a mere 10% more black votes for the Right dooms the RATs! Democrats cannot survive without the black vote.

It's just that simple.

Now we have something granted to us that we MUST use to the benefit of the Right. And not just words, either. This truly benefits everyone involved.

[mrsmith]

And the biased reporting continues:

On the NBC nightly news Brokaw read only one quote from the majority ruling- two from the dissent.

[AAABEST]

So, in other words, because I work for a living, I get to pay twice. And all this wowee-zowee about vouchers doesn't benefit working-class folks like me one iota.

You sound like some uppity working class type, you're lucky they don't make you pay 3 times. Whatever gave you the bright idea that just because you pay taxes you should be represented? If you want representation you have to become a sluggard, a non-contributor or a victim.

Until then you and your children are nobody special and your input is not required. Just shut your mouth and keep paying so politicians can show us all how compassionate they are by thinking of new ways to spend your money.

[summer]

AAABEST, Now, you know that is NOT what I meant to say to our friend, Joe here. I was, however, pointing out that OTHERS have raised his SAME questions: homeschooling parents and parents already paying private school tuition. That's all. He is certainly not alone in his views. Nor are you. I am just trying to tell him: the answers may not all be there yet.

[The Raven]

Only 5-4....Should be 9-0 !! What are they smoking?