Are people who don't support governmental assistance programs compassionless or do they simply prefer private organizations to do the charity? I don't consider it more compassionate to support government programs to help others with other people's money.

Ah, you will burn in hottest fires of Joeuser hell for daring to suggest that compassion should be shown to those less fortunate.

I am a libertarian, and believe it or not, have the same goals.

There are many problems with a state organized system to "solve" the problem. The first is, government bureaucracy has proven to be the most inefficient way of handling and administering the funds (probably why Dole advocates for private sector solutions). The second is, government programs never work to their own obsolescence. We need programs that "teach the poor to fish", not GIVE them fish...40+ years of failed experimentation with an entitlement based system should have taught us that much at least.

The problems of illiteracy, poor health care, and poverty are quite complex, and cannot be solved by simply throwing more money at the problem. We need a system that somehow teaches responsibility and self reliance, rather than the "gimme" system to which we have all become accustomed.

Besides a more literate, educated, healthy America is better for everyone. Wouldn't you agree?

Yes. I'm in favor of school vouchers, are you? (Kerry and most Democrats aren't.)

Most of the funding, administration, and oversight of primary and secondary education occurs at the local level. I think it should stay that way. I think the role of the federal government should be to hold failing schools accountable when state and local government does not. I generally agree with President Bush on education. GeorgeBush.com Education Page

Yes. I'm in favor of school vouchers, are you?

I'm not in favor of school vouchers. As a homeschool parent, I know that if government money is appropriated towards private and homeschools, it's not long before government control comes with it (and as the government is increasingly leaning towards the UN's view on things, it's only a matter of time before they take a dim view of the "religious indoctrination" that goes on).

Frankly, I can't see why people are lined up asking the government to tighten their chains.

As a homeschool parent, I know that if government money is appropriated towards private and homeschools, it's not long before government control comes with it

That is certainly something we need to guard against. The money should be controlled by parents, not by the government. One of the major reasons that many people are against vouchers is because they would provide money to schools that would not be controlled by the government.

Right now public schools are the only viable education option for many people. Public schools are completely controlled by the government. I don't think that giving more people more choices in education is "tightening chains" around them.

Am I in favor of school vouchers? generally not. It would create segregation and lack of diversity. I do not however want to trap good students in bad schools. Therefore the ability to be released from a school district should be an option for students. I would be in favor of a program where a team of super teachers and administrators descend on a school, find the problem(s) and bring the school back to an acceptable level. My hope is that they would take it even further and try to create a school like Boston Latin in Massachusetts where there is a waiting list to get in! Maybe then the students who left would be getting in line to get back in.

It would create segregation and lack of diversity.

How exactly would that happen? If the private schools in a certain area do better than public schools, isn't it better for children to be able to go to the private schools?

Madine,
Thanks, you made me think about this one. The way I see it, the goal is to improve the public school. Why, because it's free. The private school can set any amount as it's tuition so the government would be faced with either footing a larger bill or underfunding the voucher. If that were done, only the richest kids could escape the school, not the smartest. Perhaps the private school could set up a scholarship for attracting the best students, that would pull the gifted students out of the bad school. But ultimately, those who couldn't afford to leave would be stuck in a bad school. They would all be from a lower socio-economic background. The good school would carry on and the bad school would still be bad.