To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves is sinful and tyrannical. -- Thomas Jefferson
Posted on 06/27/2002 11:38:41 AM PDT by frmrda
Here is a portion of Justice Thomas' opinion in teh voucher case that will have liberals blowing a gasket:
While the romanticized ideal of universal public education resonates with the cognoscenti who oppose vouchers, poor urban families just want the best education for their children, who will certainly need it to function in our high-tech and advanced society. As Thomas Sowell noted 30 years ago: “Most black people have faced too many grim, concrete problems to be romantics. They want and need certain tangible results, which can be achieved only by developing certain specific abilities.” Black Education: Myths and Tragedies 228 (1972). The same is true today. An individual’s life prospects increase dramatically with each successfully completed phase of education. For instance, a black high school dropout earns just over $13,500, but with a high school degree the average income is almost $21,000. Blacks with a bachelor’s degree have an average annual income of about $37,500, and $75,500 with a professional degree. See U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of Census, Statistical Abstract of the United States 140 (2001) (Table 218). Staying in school and earning a degree generates real and tangible financial benefits, whereas failure to obtain even a high school degree essentially relegates students to a life of poverty and, all too often, of crime.8 The failure to provide education to poor urban children perpetuates a vicious cycle of poverty, dependence, criminality, and alienation that continues for the remainder of their lives. If society cannot end racial discrimination, at least it can arm minorities with the education to defend themselves from some of discrimination’s effects
I sent that exact passage to my favorite liberal, along with pointing out that the POOREST justices [Thomas and Scalia] voted to help poor kids, while the RICHEST [Breyer and Ginsburg] voted to hurt poor kids, by keeping them trapped in failing schools.
Y'know, he could very well be a hero to them, but the press would never report it.
...and many, many nanny-state liberal Democrat constituents. That's what it's all about, keeping the poor ranks dependant on government handouts.
He certainly screwed that one up.
That's not what he said. He said that lack of education leads to both.
BTTT
I heard him give a speach to some kids in a bootcamp a couple of years ago on C-SPAN... very moving and inspirational, truly one of the greats!
I just hope his wife didnt take julianne malveux's advice about feeding him a high fat diet (encouraging assination by clogged arteries?).
To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves is sinful and tyrannical. -- Thomas Jefferson
When George I nominated Thomas, I thought, "Wow, he's black and grew up poor, the only way the liberals can oppose him is with someone who is black, grew up poor, and female." Sure enough . . . .
That's it in a nutshell -- to exclude certain choices on Establishment grounds represents an establishment in its own right: "you can use this anywhere except at a religious school."
Powerful sentence. Bigotry and prejudice are a part of the human condition. We seek "our own" in order to belong. The stronger members of society may give special favors to disadvantaged groups, but often these advantages are mere crumbs, designed to keep the disadvantaged in a permanant dependent state.
One needs only to look at the welfare program or the call for reparations. A promise of something for nothing only perpetuates ignorance and poverty.
The goal is not to make up for past mistakes by tipping the power balance in favor of minorities, but to provide an opportunity for equal footing in the world today.
Armed with an education, minorities can rise above the crumbs. This country is strong because we always believed anything was possible. Capitalism works because anyone can succeed. Armed with an education, minorities have as much of a chance to succeed as anyone.
God Bless Justice Thomas!
This is also reminds me of President's Bush's comment about the 'soft bigotry' of system which keeps poor children in a failing school.
Read Thomas's full opinion to see a him fill out the details of your Modest Proposal of yesterday.
Did the decision just come down? Vouchers won?!
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