The way I see it the liberal Seattle press gave Locke an eight year pass and never called him on anything. We used to hear monthly updates about how many jobs where lost under Bush (which, of course, thanks to tax cuts we no longer get) but how many jobs where lost in Wa. under Locke????? According to the local media Locke was busy in China couragously selling apples! Now in her first week Jamieson comes out calling her a rascist who refused to lead. And that's from the left. The rest of us are already digging holes in the back yard so we can hide our wallets. I'm just really puzzled by the reaction of the local media. She gave the exact same speech Locke has been giving for years. When Locke makes that speech it's visonary but this time around the Editorial pages are wondering how she plans to pay for all them proposed Gov programs! The Seattle Times Editorial page never laid this stuff on Lockes lap http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2002151920_vesely16.html.

So why is the Seattle media laying all this stuff on Gregiore. After all shouldn't we give her a chance?

I'm still trying to figure out why this reaction from the local media since I find it so surprising. It still can't be good for Gregiore!

What, we're not socialists anymore? When did the change happen....

To be honest, I never understood why anyone else should pay for my kid's public school (if they went there) or why I should pay for someone else's. So, I guess philosophically, I don't even have one leg to stand on. But, as long as I have all of those taxes sucked out of me, I wouldn't mind seeing that money go to support a school that my family actually uses.

Here's a link to a recent P-I article that says Wa. state spends $7,579/year per kid with a national everage of $8,428.

What do you think of the concept of competition as it pertains to primary and secondary education? Seems to me that no competition leads to a monopoly which leads to big beaurocracy. Now, if that sinly mom had the choice of a $5,000 voucher and took it, her kid would get the education of choice. And, if te public school system idn't get the $7,579 for that kid, we just saved $2,579.

I know that's a little smplistic, but I'm not convinced a complete throw away as an idea. Public schools do receive money on a per kid basis.

Besides, if I got three vouchers, think of the money I'd save. I'd have one sweeeeeeeeet jet sled!!!

http://www-hoover.stanford.edu/publications/books/fulltext/edcap/3.pdf

Happy crabbing.

ACK.

I guess if I'm going to give a link, I should give the right link. Here's the recent P-I article:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/204608_schoolfunding21.html?searchpagefrom=6&searchdiff=27

I oppose the voucher system along with parents putting their kids in private schools for the most part. The public school system was set up to better society by giving all kids an education. Not only book learning but and education on how the world functions. That is in all our best interest even if you have no kids. Voucher programs pull the middle and upper end out and make the schools more homogenous. Society is not homogenus. That is the same issue I have with private schools. They are homogenous and do not reflect society.

Crap, Aunty.

I just spent /2 hour typing out the most well reasoned response I could muster..... and then my computer had a hick-up.

I'm too depressed to try to create such a masterpiece again so I'm going to go pack care packages for my bud's in Iraq. Some of them are on less than one hot meal per day since th chow hall bomb.


P.S. I saw a bumper sticker today that is my new favorite on an old truck in Enumclaw:

If you're not supposed to eat animals,
ten why are they made out of meat?

Note that vouchers are still 'socialist'. The 'capitalist' way would be to let everyone (including the people who don't have kids) keep their education tax money have the parents pay their own kids' way through school.

Before you think that's such a great idea, think about the fact that people only pay around 1/2 property tax for education, the rest goes for other stuff such as the county library system, parks maintenance, fire departments, and other things. Everybody would be getting back around $700-$1,000 per year (depending on what your house is worth, of course). A nice break for people that don't own property, but then everyone with kids would be bearing the full brunt of the cost.