Monday, November 19, 2007

Will You Answer What Congress Won’t? The Top 20 Questions pt 17

Back in late 2004 and early 2005, I sent emails, faxes, and letters to every member of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. In it, I asked them for their answer to a set of twenty questions which the readers of Polipundit wanted asked. The text of the letter was posted here.

52 Readers in 38 states joined the effort, asking their district Representatives and Senators to answer the questions. Response from our elected Representatives and Senators was poor, predictably so. Most Congressmen and Senators simply ignored the letters, emails and faxes. In the end, only seventeen answered with any degree of substance, and not one answered more than two questions.

I was looking at the set of questions this week, and you know, they still look like good questions to me, so I am going to ask you for your opinion on them. This will take a while, since I am putting up one question for each post, but please give this your serious consideration. And folks, this is not about politics or smacking down the other side; this is an opportunity to explore the issues of substance for our country. Sad that Congress was not up to it, but maybe we can get the conversation going. Thanks in advance.


17. What actions do you support for education reform?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

1: Abolish the Department of Education. The Federal government has no business meddling in education, which is a state and local issue.
2) Make teachers unions illegal.
3) Pay teachers what they're worth, and fire those who are incompetent
4) Remove the layers and layers of bureaucracy that clogs education and pays outrageous salaries to do nothing administrators
5) Grant each parent with children the right to direct their educational dollars to the school of their choosing - public or private - without restriction or regulation. You don't have to actually give the money to the parents - allow them to choose the school - then the state writes the check. If a school is more expensive than the state stipend, the parent can pay the difference - or choose a less expensive school.