What's wrong with this?

[ribozyme]

Suppose, for a moment, that the Heritage Foundation were to put out a press release attacking the liberal view that even children whose parents could afford to send them to private school should be entitled to free government-run education.

They’d have a point: many American families with middle-class incomes do send their kids to school at public expense, so taxpayers without school-age children subsidize families that do. And the effect is to displace the private sector: if public schools weren’t available, many families would pay for private schools instead.

So let’s end this un-American system and make education what it should be — a matter of individual responsibility and private enterprise. Oh, and we shouldn’t have any government mandates that force children to get educated, either. As a Republican presidential candidate might say, the future of America’s education system lies in free-market solutions, not socialist models.

O.K., in case you’re wondering, I haven’t lost my mind, I’m drawing an analogy. The real Heritage press release, titled “The Middle-Class Welfare Kid Next Door,” is an attack on proposals to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Such an expansion, says Heritage, will “displace private insurance with government-sponsored health care coverage.”

…
We offer free education, and don’t worry about middle-class families getting benefits they don’t need, because that’s the only way to ensure that every child gets an education - and giving every child a fair chance is the American way. And we should guarantee health care to every child, for the same reason.

truthout.org/docs_2006/082707N.shtml

As always, クルグマン・パル provides such lucid and perspicuous commentary.

So what is wrong with providing every child with health care using SCHIP program? What is so different about it from education? Do you think it is immoral for parents who can afford to send their children to a private school use the public school system? Shouldn’t society provide everyone with “merit goods.”

 

[Laurence_of_PA]

truthout.org/docs_2006/082707N.shtml

As always, クルグマン・パル provides such lucid and perspicuous commentary.

So what is wrong with providing every child with health care using SCHIP program? What is so different about it from education? Do you think it is immoral for parents who can afford to send their children to a private school use the public school system? Shouldn’t society provide everyone with “merit goods.”

I haven’t read up on it as much as I should, but SCHIP seems to be the only logical way right now extend coverage while lowering premiums all around in the market…I think…sort of.

Also, I just happened to notice that Paul Krugman’s your way-of-not-saying-atheism-in-the-religion-box…of-the-week. He’s pretty cool and all, but a bit of a protectionist from what I’ve read. (which again isn’t much I’m afraid )

Well, I’m sure this didn’t help at all, but at least it’s short so you can read it all.