Archive for June 30th, 2010

School voucher program could help fix California’s crippling budget deficit

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

“California’s voters do not have to lose their metaphorical right or left arm to solve the budget crisis. ”

“There is a potentially simple and relatively pain-free policy solution out there- one that will actually improve what residents get out of their state, instead of requiring them to lose out on something.  That potential solution is a statewide educational voucher program.”

“In a report by the Federal government, which was kept quiet until Democrats in Congress had a chance to sunset funding for D.C.’s innovative private school voucher program, a Federal study concluded that the private school voucher program in D.C. had delivered better results (students pulled ahead of their non-voucher peers in reading, while performing as well in math) at one quarter of the cost!”

“Average tuition at private voucher schools was $6,620, just under 25% of the $26,555 that the District of Columbia spends on education per pupil. Think of what this could mean for California. Education could actually improve and only cost 25% as much as it does presently.”

W.E. Messamore looks at the numbers and sees a way to balance the budget:http://caivn.org/article/2010/06/15/school-voucher-program-could-help-fix-californias-crippling-budget-deficit

Think Again: Ronald Reagan

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

“Today’s conservatives have conjured a mythic Reagan who never compromised with America’s enemies and never shrank from a fight. But the real Reagan did both those things, often. In fact, they were a big part of his success.”

“Sure, Reagan spent boatloads — some $2.8 trillion all told — on the military. And yes, he funneled money and guns to anti-communist rebels like the Nicaraguan Contras and Afghan mujahideen, while lecturing Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down that wall. But on the ultimate test of hawkdom — the willingness to send U.S. troops into harm’s way — Reagan was no bird of prey. He launched exactly one land war, against Grenada, whose army totaled 600 men. It lasted two days. And his only air war — the 1986 bombing of Libya — was even briefer.”

Peter Beinart takes a second look @ Ronald Reagan’s foreign policy: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/06/07/think_again_ronald_reagan