What We Saw at the DC School Voucher Rally

[felpaluche]

He was so engrossed with his speech. He is emotional.

[Akumatrunigga]

The entire country as a whole is "socialism with a smile"

[v19d]

That was just sad now Obama will be defeated in Office in 2012. I believe DC will for the first time vote for someone else?

[ace8842]

The Dems allegiance to unions and the monopoly in education is the real tragedy of what happens to inner city school students. People keep voting for Dems to advance education in their schools and it does just the opposite.

[1973mazdarx4coupe]

the government has no right reallocating the wealth to poor people who should have no rights unless they vote for comrade glorious god obama and join a union. long live imperial god lor of all obama !

[medic9five]

all of those children getting screwed , those childrens parents voted for Obama and the Dems. I have no sympathy. You get what you vote for.

[Akumatrunigga]

@medic9five And "No Child Left Behind" was such a genius idea? More and more money is being dumped into the Black Hole which is "education" The simple formula for a child success: Parent Involvement + Teacher Involvement = Good Results. That is it.

[medic9five]

@Akumatrunigga Never said No child left behind was a good idea....i think it was a HORRIBLE idea. However I agree ONE HUNDRED PERCENT with you on parent and teacher involvement, especially PARENT involvement that will equel GREAT results. Thank you for your comment. be safe and have a GREAT week

[Akumatrunigga]

@medic9five Thank you, it wasn't my intent to come at you but I just have a hard time thinking that vouchers are the magic fix for education. So many of these parents act like they can't go to a simple PTA to see what their child is up to. Sad imo, Getting some voucher for some random Catholic school isn't going to make your child any better

[Willajfhy]

hey guys just got free amazon voucher from thegiftvouchers . info great site, you should try

[ExZonie]

Hi everyone in DC, welcome to the Tea Party!

[bookhound63]

This was one of the first things Obama did once he took office. Its like he couldn't stand the idea that black kids were getting educated somewhere besides public school. And, of course he had to support the teacher's unions too. They HATE vouchers, because then they actually have to WORK to keep their jobs.

[MrFreeLibertarian]

Face it , Obama hates poor black kids!

[evilsceptic]

@MrFreeLibertarian hey! I think that is unfair and a blatant lie! he doesn't hate black kids! :)

[TomYoRu]

@evilsceptic probably more accurate to just say: Obama hates poor people

[yarow122]

If only this were put in New Orleans, too.

[E3BlSH0P]

haha, its all black people

[amicusnemini]

the whole world is watching the world cup not washington dc

[Jennyfromthepark]

Think of all that money 7,500 for all those kids (I'm assuming that most of the kids at the rally went to private schools) and what is can do for public schools. I live in Ontario and I don't know anyone who goes or has gone to private school. Our choices are catholic or public and believe me I am very much AWAKE.

[megagagnon1]

@Jennyfromthepark The DC voucher program was saving the government tens of thousands of dollars per student. When you add up all the money pouring into dc public schools, their per student cost was almost $27 k per student, the most expensive public school system in the country. Despite the cost, dc public schools are the worst performing and worst in every category. Blogs describe the horrible bathrooms, the bullying, violence, etc etc. The voucher program was a godsend.

[megagagnon1]

@Jennyfromthepark Public schools in DC cost the taxpayers over $28k per child per year. The voucher program saved the taxpayers money. And DC public schools are dirty and gang infested. Public schools have failed the inner city children.

[egginanest]

NEWS FLASH........the LAST thing the Democrats want, is for their base of voters to become well educated. The Black community needs to waaaake UP!

[BlackRepublican2010]

Some Black Democrats may not like vouchers, but many more like charters, and even when they don't, if you point out more Black politicians and teachers put their children in private school when compared to the general population, and that Black parents of children in school, when given a chance, choose charters and/or vouchers, there is no disagreement that options should exist.

[chrispcarrot]

Mixed feelings on this issue. I also have mixed feelings on paying school taxes through taxation when I don't have or intend to have children. Should I have to pay for someone else's kids to go through school? If I did have children and sent them to private school, should I get back the money they take for public schools? If I got that money back I could probably afford private school, wouldn't some of these people?(without the voucher) Is this wrong thinking? What do you think?

[fandruw25]

I think it should mandatory that all the senate/house/white house must send their kids to public schools after voting for this garbage.

Can't wait until November!

[johnlaw63]

and Obama's kids go to a school HE picked - NOT public school.

The fucking hypocrite liar.

[beelz3333]

The ironic and annoying thing is, a lot of those people in this video who are right on this issue about choice and less gov't control, probably have an opposite view on healthcare.

[mlovecraftr]

Carlos Battle? Cool

[sleedolfine15]

I say understandable in the sense that it was a real crisis--not the fake Obama crisis which motivated Bush. Remember Sept 11 was a real live attack upon the homeland. Anyway,the question of who is worst Bush or Obama is'nt relavant, Bush is off clearing brush in Texas ,so I don't have to worry about him any longer,whereas Lord Barak has enormous power. I will agree with you,however, that the modern Republican Party has drifted far from Goldwater and the rest of its individualistic heritage.

[sleedolfine15]

The President opposes the freedom of the marketplace--obamaism is ultimately about control--the absolute control of the STATE. This isn't about the effectiveness of vouchers,but the President's preference for government control of society's important institions--the schools,health care,banks,industry,etc. It's about who rules society. The INDIVIDUAL or the STATE?

[TuNnL]

duh! And you're only realizing this now? Democrat = Republican = Democrat = Republican...

Stop voting for the same crooked politicians!!

Ron Paul/Jesse Ventura 2012

[sleedolfine15]

I don't disagree with you,but I think that believers in small gov't need to do a better job of challenging power than we have done up to now. The town meetings and tea parties are a start,but we need more numerous and more consistent opposition to both parties and their bossy agenda if we're to free this country from the big gov't elite.

[TuNnL]

All of that is true, however, the way to grow "more numerous and consistent opposition to both parties" is to stop branding one politician as the problem, and helping the majority realize its INSTITUTIONAL change that we need. Obamaism = Bushism in many ways, so its important to make that clear so that independents don't feel that corruption, big government spending and the embrace of the global elite is found in only the (D)s or (R)s on Capitol Hill. Just a look at voting records dispels that.

[sleedolfine15]

I agree that both parties are to blame for the high taxes,oppressive government and our interventionist foriegn policy--But,I do say this,however,because the democrats control virtually the entire federal gov't right now and also because they are the ones who--at this time, are trying to take over all of health care I think that President Obama and the democrats is where the threat presently lies--some other time it will be the republicans,but not now.

[CircusMaximus09]

drivel

[sleedolfine15]

Really? Do you deny that the democrats control the White House and both houses of Congress or are you blind to a power grab by an administration hostile to liberty in all its forms? As much as I disliked the Bush Administration, I almost feel nostalgic for Bush's well meaning bumbling when compared to this administration's blatant authoritarianism.

[TuNnL]

Are you kidding? Bush's administration was just as bad or worse with warrantless wiretapping of American citizens. Bush himself sealed our fate with his signing of the Security & Prosperity Partnership of North America in 2005. Gen. Colin Powell's son Mike Powell running the FCC created mass mergers of media consolidation across the country. As a result, freedom of the press continues to be completely stifled with powerful elitist media tycoons consolidating control over all mainstream media.

[sleedolfine15]

Bush's authoritarianism can be seen as an understandable over-reaction to the very real threat posed by islamic extreamism of which the former World Trade Towers is proof--in the same way that Lincoln's extra legal acts and FDR'S post Pearl Harbor acts were. Although I don't agree with most that Bush did,I am impress by the fact that we have not been attacked since. Can Obama justify anything he's done on grounds of national emergency? Especially when all of his policies have made things worst.

[TuNnL]

If you think Bush's over-reaction was "understandable," that's an opinion very few people in America would agree with. Even hard-core Republicans like former U.S Rep. Bob Barr (the guy who impeached Clinton) said Bush was a jackass who totally and completely overstepped the authority granted to him in the Patriot Act. No one's saying Obama is right. What I'm saying is Bush is no better than Obama. Both are elitists. Period. We need an INDEPENDENT in the White House.

Ron Paul/Jesse Ventura 2012

[bertly71]

Democrats are slaves to the teachers unions who are against any type of competition in the educational system. Obama gives away trillions to wall street and can't give a few billion to help these kids get a decent education. Where is his heart? Probably where his kids are, at Sidwell private school for the rich and famous.

[politicsinmotion]

The current Education system plays a significant role in the drop out rate among African Americans. School vouchers can provide students more opportunities to succeed in America. Traditional education based on rigid structure and little choice only inhibits a persons ability to pursue his or her dreams. In my experience, parent involvement and student centered learning are the greatest contributors to success in education.

[jabberwolf]

Because Obama is for unions and NOT FOR PEOPLE!

Every voucher school over 2 years running, does better than public schools... using the same funds!!

So Obama made sure to stop that nonsense off, because it worked, and would put union leaders and admins out of work.

so instead he ended voucher schools and made sure that young teachers were laid off instead!

Change we can believe in!!

[jbm0745]

I hope these leaders and speakers made it clear that it is the liberal/progressive/collectivi­st agenda of the Democrats, Teacher Unions and Pres Obama who are the ones in opposition to their cause.

I hope they made it clear that this is what you get when you constantly vote for politicians who favor bureaucratic government control over individual liberties.

I hope they understand Obama is just another partisan hack who champions his political power structure not the will of the people.

[carverRepublicans]

God bless you all.

[thomaserossi]

Get off the bullhorn you douchebag! You voted socialism into office, you're stuck with it. Fuck you!

[ComradeMichael]

If you are referring to me I didn't vote for Obama.

[bertly71]

Obama and the Democrats are cutting funding for this program after this year. They owe the teachers unions for delivering votes and money from union dues to Democrats. We know now where their priorities lie. Their children go to expensive private schools while ours are stuck in failing public school systems. Remember this the next time you vote.

[WashMitt]

JSErwine: The US is in 47th place in world education

[Humanicus]

If you remove several southern states whose cultures do not put an emphasis on education we shoot up that list dramatically. Remove Alabama, Louisiana etc. and we're even with Europe and Asia.

[dgleason2]

i have NEVER had any children in the system, without any public assistance.....

so, WHERE'S MY VOUCHER????

I CANT PAY ANYMORE!!!!

[WashMitt]

JSErwine: you make the world sick to thier stomach.

[JSErwine]

Yes because our public school sytem in the US is the model for the world to go by, LOL.

[ComradeMichael]

Its simple, if you want your kids to go to private schools then pay for it yourself and stop asking for government hand outs and vouchers its a luxury to send your kids to private school not a requirement. If you don't want to pay for it then that's your issue not taxpayers.

[stranger2ooo]

But they are taxpayers, their money goes to a public school who is not educating their kids. The vouchers are a way for the government to give those who don't use the public system their tax money back, so they can use a school of their choice.

[ComradeMichael]

There is a flaw in the US education system I will never dispute that because I agree with you on that, but the answer is not to get rid of the program in the name of private schools but instead FIX the problem.

[Virgil0211]

While I agree with you there, I can't help but feel that a voucher program is at least a step in the right direction.

[Jumbie40]

The govt spends LESS per student in the voucher program than they would if the kid were in public school.

[ComradeMichael]

The money goes to a corporate or individual and not the system however and therefore you are feeding the greed of someone else. But lets for this instance forget that and say they are paying less, point is that its a luxury, not a requirement therefore if you want to have your kids in private schools pay for it yourself and stop thinking that everyone should pay for your kids special treatment.

[LiberalofLiberty]

You seem pretty opposed to the entitlement system...

Your argument works for private schools, but since people already pay coerced taxes for public education; the least the government could do is give people more autonomy over the taxes.

[ComradeMichael]

I feel that the current public education system is in desperate need of repair and restructuring and I feel the only way this can be done is to stop the vouchers and take a look at successful public school systems like those found in Europe and Japan and create a model from theirs to reform our public school systems to bring back trust in the public system.

[Humanicus]

The vouchers are a reform. It's not as though vouchers and charter schools are the dominant trend in American education and they've failed. Quite the opposite, charter schools are vastly more successful and there are caps in place in most states that limit the opening of new schools.

"African American students who use school vouchers score 9.2% higher on reading and math scores than similar students who do not."

Europe already has more competition built into the system than we do.

[ComradeMichael]

While the numbers are good yes, are you saying that without the vouchers that these same students could have not reached that percentage? I have nothing against Private school so long as they are not radical schools, but all I am saying is that these people who want their kids in these Private schools should pay for it themselves.

[DoomHippie]

I agree, Comrade, people who want their kids in Private Schools should pay for it themselves. People who want their kids in a Public School should also pay for it themselves! Our current system is BY the Teachers Union, FOR the Teachers' Union, and I'm the one left with a poor education. My School should NOT depend on where I live. Teachers should NOT be garunteed a paycheck without performing well! The Free Market is the way to a better education for us all!

iVIVA EL MERCANDO LIBRE!

[DoomHippie]

Yes! Let's look at successful European systems and model ours off thiers! Like in Belgium where test scores are WAY higher then ours and high by Euoropean standards.

They have a voucher system.

Competition in the education world ensures that my teacher offers me a good education. REJECT teachers who unionize and put THIER benifits and paychecks over OUR educations!

iVIVA EL MERCANDO LIBRE!

[ComradeMichael]

A Teacher Union is in some cases required to ensure that teachers are paid well for their service in teaching the youth of the nation. I mean seriously without teachers we wouldn't be educated so its only fair that they get their just dues.

[DoomHippie]

A union in a privatized system is a good thing, helping to get workers fair pay.

However, in a public system, the teachers can make any amount of ridiculous demands they want. If the people refuse to pay them more through taxes, no one gets education. They can demand and do anything they want, and we're still FORCED to pay them.

Total privatization is a much better option. Vouchers are a step in the right direction.

iVIVA EL MERCANDO LIBRE!

[ComradeMichael]

All privatizing schools would do would make a select few rich at the expense of the people, which is not going to happen in the US and should never happen. Private schools are ok yes, but they should not become the new mandatory system.

[DoomHippie]

Incorrect. That is like asserting that if Food is Privatized, then only the Rich will have Food. We know this is false. The only reason that Private Schools are expencive is because we are FORCED to pay for both Public AND Private school, if we want to attend Private School.

In a "Public" system, a select few get Rich off the bureocracy while OUR education suffers! Schools should be for the STUDENTS, which is what a FREE MARKET would do, not the Teachers, who but thier wealth over our future!

[ComradeMichael]

What wealth? Most public school teachers dont make enough money to speak about and live pay check to pay check like any other hard working person. The only teachers that you speak of getting rich are those in the Private school system that get the money from these people that pay for it...or in this case the government that pays for it. In other words your education suffers because teachers are not given enough money.

[DoomHippie]

Three parts to this.

First, Politicians make money off Public Schools, not the teachers.

Second, you admit that Private Schools pay teachers better, so obviously Private schools are BETTER for Teachers AND Students.

Third. The Government can never Give without first borrowing or taking. So in essence we are forced to pay the teachers through taxes, REGARDLESS of the education that is provided. It's a Monopoly, and, in fact, the ONLY way a Monopoly can come about.

[ComradeMichael]

Fact is I am not giving my money to a private school for education that I or my child is not receiving because other parents cant afford to pay it themselves, if they want to put their kids through a private school that's fine by me but do it on their own money and not that of taxpayers.

[DoomHippie]

So parents who want a choice in their kid's school have to pay extra, but parents who don't care can get the taxpayers to pay for them?

Under a free market, education would become affordable to most people. Charities in the volunteerist sector can usually cover the few that cannot afford schooling.

[ComradeMichael]

Yes, its called choice and this nation is based on freedom of choice, you make the choice between the private schools and the public schools. Public school require funding from the government because they were set up by the government just like private schools require money from the owners because they started the school. Free Market sounds good yes, but as we have seen as of late the dollar at times seems worth more then a life, and that's something I don't think should be so.

[DoomHippie]

Yes, you can make the choice, but you STILL have to pay your Public Schools regardless of what you chose. They have a GARUNTEED Paycheck! With that, what is their incentive to give me a quality education?!

And I have no choice, because I CANNOT PAY FOR BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS! With this system of Government Monopolism the Rich and ONLY the RICH have Choice!!

The Free Market lets US the people succeed and choose FREE of the shackels of rich socialists!

iViva el Mercando Libre!

[redlightmax]

@DoomHippie If you're going to talk about education then learn to spell, otherwise you'll look like a GUARANTEED retard.

[snkatk]

@redlightmax case and point. if his parents had the choice, they wouldn't have sent him to public school. :p

[v19d]

@DoomHippie The Government sucks as long as Obama is in office for his lonneytone friends like looney George Soros and Fred Phelps of the infamous pot smoking Westboro.

[DoomHippie]

@v19d

It's not Obama. Republicans are socialist bastards as well.

[burnhippiesforfuel]

" I am not giving my money to a private school for education that I or my child is not receiving"

take out "to a private school".

[evan13579b]

ComradeMichael:

"Most public school teachers dont make enough money to speak about"

BULLSHIT.

And no matter how much they get paid to babysit for only 3/4 of a year with no actual need to teach well to get paid well they will still ask for more money and smaller class-sizes.

[ComradeMichael]

And what country do you come from? If I may ask, or better yet if you are in the US, and I will assume you are, what town/city, because I can tell you that those school teachers here don't make very much at all and I am talking about High school teachers that make maybe 40k a year maybe 50k if they are lucky and I mean really lucky.

[evan13579b]

ComradeMichael:

40 to 50 k is way too much for a bunch of babysitters who never actually have to prove themselves to any boss and who work ONLY 3/4TH OF THE YEAR.

[kenkajoto]

I don't know about the countries in Europe, but private schools are largely more popular here in Japan than in America. Private schools have a high standard of education due to fierce competition. Japanese private schools ought to be the model for schools in America, not public.

[kenkajoto]

You seem like a pretty intelligent person, but I don't see how choosing where our money goes is going to end up as "special treatment" for other kids. Wouldn't you rather have the choice to go to a grocery store with 10 dollars rather than 10 dollars worth of government food ration?

[ComradeMichael]

In a nut shell lets look at it like this, you are saying its ok to take money from the government to pay someone/company to teach your kids but its not ok to take the money from the government and pay the school that they own? Either way you go you are taking money from the government and from tax payers right? only difference is you are adding a middle man aka the wealthy guy getting rich from your kids education.

[kenkajoto]

Well first off no one is taking from the government, the government has nothing, just the ability to tax, and to borrow(which it promises to pay back with tax money...)

Secondly, if I could offer a better education to my children, I'd be happy to get some one "rich". Just like the way I enjoy patronizing restaurants I like. Maybe I'll open a school that offers a better education, for the money that is...

[yamagoof]

At least that "rich" guy will provide a decent education. What's more, it costs either as much or LESS to teach a child through private school vs. the so called education at public schools...

So yes, either way it's my money but I'd rather parents CHOOSE where they WANT their kids to receive an education at, not let big brother have the monopoly on brainwashing the next generation while allowing the union to continue it's stranglehold on our schools.

We're playing politics with our kids!!!

[justamovie]

Quit taxing me to educate your stupid kids. You want children? Get out YOUR checkbook. I don't owe you jack. None of ya!! And you don't owe me either.

[chriso1220]

Can these vouchers be used for private schools? It would make me sick to my stomach to have my tax dollars taken from me to pay for religious education.

[JSErwine]

Makes me sick to my stomach that my tax dollars go to the pagan public school system.

[chriso1220]

That's fine, no tax dollars should go to pay for schools. There would be no need for vouchers and you can send your children to any school you please.

[JSErwine]

sounds like a winning idea to me.

[shDwfthSUN]

I totally support these people. I wish we had this in California to begin with! Why are we spending more on war and bailouts than we are on our children's education?

[TimeWarp66]

The government shouldn't be in either business.

[shDwfthSUN]

I'm inherently against high government spending, but that is because it is almost always wasteful. However, this isn't wasteful. It's like building up infrastructure. If the government never spent a dime on it we wouldn't have freeways or libraries, or in this case smarter children. This system is better than what most of us have because people are deciding where their money goes, not government, and that will be in private schools which provide a better learning experience.

[TimeWarp66]

school vouchers are the clear and obvious solution. Unleash the powers of the market, not the government

[NAGGERNUTZ]

Amen! It's clear what government run schools are like. Might as well not even send a child to public schools. The DC private school graduates get a far better education than the public schools offer. Let the market compete. Then you'll see our children get the education they deserve.

[greenghost2008]

I'd like to see liberals say this conservative rally is a bunch of white supermsits who hate that their is a black president.

[fiscalconservative23]

lol

[cgraham1930]

yeah, good point. everyone should save this video (and the one before it) and send it to every obama zombie you see around the internet who uses that pathetic argument against any conservative idea.

[JohnRhysMusician]

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF AMERICA is the new progressive party. CLEARLY. Republicans want rights for parents and in general are correct on most fundamental issues to move America forward.

[Cubeman4]

" I mean instead of investing in new systems why not reform and make better the system you have."

This is a disingenuous argument. We can't do both at the same time? We've had horrible public schools in inner cities for 50 years or more. Are you willing to wait around for another 50 before shaking things up to give today's kids a decent chance of success?

Kids in this program for 3 years are 19 months ahead in reading! So do you give a damn about whether our kids are learning or not?

[r0adkill4u]

I hope these people get where Obama is taking them.Maybe this subject will open their eyes.FREEDOM is what America is about.Abolish all public schools and send the money to the schools of our choice.Become a Libertarin,Become a patriot for our country and freedom

[MooseOfReason]

r0adkill4u, Not right away of course. A good first step would be more voucher programs like the one in D.C., but nationwide.

[freesk8]

Privatize all the schools. Run them with local, non-profit parental boards. Give a voucher to the bottom 20%, based on need only.

Let schools specialize and compete for students based on quality and price.

That is the solution.

Giving the government a near-monopoly on education was an Orwellian mistake. Power corrupts, and giving government this power has nearly ruined education.

I would never send my son to a government school, and I am a high school math teacher.

[r0adkill4u]

Amen brother!!! I hope we live to see the day we have our freedom and government back to where it is supposed to be

[davidmesaaz]

How can you compete with the Teacher Unions that contributed 50 million to the Obama campaign.

[ComradeMichael]

I understand that they want their kids to be educated, and that's wonderful, but instead of spending money on vouchers for private schools how about using that money to make public schools better? I mean instead of investing in new systems why not reform and make better the system you have.

[justamovie]

Because that's the simple knee-jerk reaction to the problem that's already been tried countless times and has only proven to have the exact opposite effect that we desire.

[PatriotsRepublic]

We've been fighting for the voucher program for quite some time... and for it, we were called right wing radicals. School choice will kill union controls over the Federal Education budget and you know they're not going to let their stooges in Congress and the White House get away with highlighting the success of these voucher programs. They'll find a way to kill it, but say they tried to allow it. Then claim we need to invest more in the public school system.

[AJAX556]

"some folks in congress"

Why don't you name them?

[MooseOfReason]

Ajax556, It would take a while to name all 229 Democrats in the House who voted for HR 1105, the "Omnibus Appropriations Bill".

By comparison, only 16 Republicans voted for the bill.

[jxwhit8]

It is great that all these people gathered together to acknowledge that private education far surpasses the quality of socialized education.

They are almost there... Now they need to acknowledge that private EVERYTHING is better than Socialism. They need to retract their support for this so called messiah... Obama.

[libertyplayground]

haha they will always come back to the person who will give them other people's money.

[xelenty]

The statement at the end.. No surprise's there then..

[mike1111qq]

obama is a union whore teachers union and UAW giving them 55% of auto cos.

[whoo689]

You know what the real shame is? The federal gov't actually has authority over the local DC gov't! I mean, come on now! DC, like other localities, should have its own autonomy from the federal gov't. The federal gov't should not be able to just pass a law simply b/c of their proximity to the dc gov't and say "You have to do this." DC should be SOVEREIGN, goddamit! Someone in Congress needs to submit that bill now.

[standj21]

thats what you subscribe to when you elect to put the democrats in complete control. I hope that this is a catalyst for the Obama supporters to wake up, and see for them selves what they voted for, and hopefully they'll be smarter with there vote in the future. In a perfect world I'd love to see a free market, and constitution loving, fiscally conservative, capitalist party like the libertarians on the ticket.

[QuartuvLarry]

It better be! The Obama voters wouldn't wake up when we screamed logic and reason and FACTS at them.

[standj21]

unfortunately for us I think you are correct in your statement the great unwashed will always vote for the nanny state.

[QuartuvLarry]

God! Stupid socialists would sell out everyone else's freedom for some more free shit! How I despise them!

[ConservativeAthiest]

Looks like Obama's Hopechange has fallen short again.

[NAGGERNUTZ]

Oh yeah. Hope and Change. You demotards really love your messiah now don't you? Now you get to see how Obama doesn't stop at skin color. He fucks everyone. Not only does he not allow your children the same education that his own daughters get, he's creating wide-spread unemployment so you won't even have the chance to pay for it yourself. This isn't just happening in DC, it's happening all over the country! Who ya gonna vote for now in 2012?

[Nilopollis]

Obama!

[Nilopollis]

"I dont need the government telling me what I can and cannot do..."

So not giving you the money to put your kids in private school is telling you what to do. Um...move to a better district? Or better yet, pay for it yourself!

[standj21]

here here!!! And stop voting Democrat if you don't want the government "all up in yo binnus".

[MooseOfReason]

Nilopollis, It's their tax dollars in the first place, and it's less than half what the government spends on each student in DC's public schools ($16,000) - the vouchers are $7,500.

It saves the government money and improves the lives of poor people. Why are you against that?

[Nilopollis]

because that leaves the kids still stuck in public school holding a bunch of shit. Not everyone gets the vouchers, that money would be better spent improving the schools for everyone.

[MooseOfReason]

Nilopolis, Are you saying the voucher program should be shut down? And how would you improve DC's public schools?

[dejahthoris]

I think Obama prefers the idea of Charter schools, which are public schools and thus free, but offer much needed competition regular public schools. Vouchers are okay, but how much does a voucher worth a couple thousand help a poor to middle class family sending their child to a school that costs 8- 20k a year?? Not much.

[MooseOfReason]

dejahthoris, The average tuition for a private school is under $7,000.

By comparison, the average cost per pupil in a public school is more than twice that. It isn't free. The money comes from the taxpayer, who would save money if we were on a voucher system.

[dejahthoris]

You still have to pay those taxes as well even if you dont have a schoolage child, or homeschool. I guess there are private school that charge 7k but not around here. Vouchers dont cover much

[MooseOfReason]

dejahthoris, What does "around here" mean?

And do you support getting rid of the DC voucher program?

[JohnRhysMusician]

Generally even if the private school costs 20-30k a year the private school will cover much of the other expenses through an additional scholarship. Private schools can rarely afford to cover the entire tuition without the government voucher.

[dejahthoris]

Scholarships are wonderful for the low income, but they will not be of any use to the average middle class family.

i think vouchers are fine but charter schools are a little more practical for the average family. I wish that charter schools received funding for facilities so they dont have to rely on grants so much.

[fiscalconservative23]

they should at least give tax credits for middle class family's who send their kids to private schools.

[dejahthoris]

Great idea. Tax credits to anyone who wants to send their kid to any alternative school be it charter, private or homeschool. Competition is the best way to keep any system healthy. It works in capitalism and it works in education.

[cgraham1930]

vouchers are a temporary solution that would eventually lead to a 100% charter school system. schools would still be covered by tax dollars (a lot fewer dollars than public schools) but run by businesses or non-profit orgs (look up "green dot"). parents would have their choice in school and the school gets paid a flat rate by the government per student. schools parents don't choose because they're garbage would close down. there would be no private/public school division.

[cgraham1930]

for more info on how this can (and is proven to) work, search for john stossel's segment "stupid in america" it's on youtube.

[nickd4818]

wait- people protesting the policies of the administration? Surely they must be racist! They just hate the idea of a black man as president! I mean, I know they are black and all, but there is no other explanation for not liking Obama other then the color of his skin!

[gearjammer351]

I guess the only choice Democrats want people to have is the choice to have an abortion, because they sure do seem to want the government to control everything else.

If you want to end a pregnancy, they'll fight viciously to defend that, but if you have a kid, they seem to think you shouldn't have choices about how or where they're educated.

You people chose your masters-now obey them.

[Nilopollis]

Bingo...i believe you should have as many abortions as you want and if you want to go to private school you should pay for it yourself.

[Garboth]

It seems to me like it would be cheaper for the government to assist with payment to a private school, similar to the $7,500 these kids get, than to try to run the whole system (which they seem to be failing at anyway, no pun intended).

[ComradeMichael]

yep, if you cant afford it then do as many parents do when they want only the best for their kids, get a second job or get a better one, is it easy? Nope not in the slightest but if your determined enough then you can do it, that's the exact same philosophy teach their kids...but some and I do mean some lack the ability to do it.

[gearjammer351]

There is a problem with your "pay for private school yourself" approach: it leaves the poor with no choices. Rich people have various options- they can move or choose private school. Poor people's options are limited.

'Public' schools are paid for with taxes; that means all pay for them. Those who use vouchers are using money allotted to their kids' education anyway.

But hey- they're only poor black people; They should just shut up and be grateful for what the government gives them huh?

[james1844]

yeah, but in DC nearly everyone is African American. Not all of them are poor. The issue just isn't that simple.

Plus, its entirely possible that someone will come up with a way to provide high quality low cost private education.

[johnisfun]

Nigga please. Give poor people and the market more credit. Where there is a demand for schooling at a given price, even a low price, an entrepreneur in a free market would invest in a low-cost school to meet that demand.

Charities, religious groups, etc would also step in to help educate poor children, as they used to do in the past before government nationalised education.

The unfair taxation of workers without school-age children would be ended.

[stick1to2the3issue]

Obama basically flipped all these people the bird.

[Raycheetah]

Obama's kids are going to a private school; the rest of your kids will have to make do with whatever they can get. He doesn't care about them. You've ALL been thrown under the school bus!

Oh, and King Zero's "proposal?" Just words, unless it actually gets signed into law. ='[.]'=

[jodark]

I bet these black people voted for Obama. Just something to point out since he is the one who killed their programs...Isn't that interesting.

[midnightsky41]

So, Garofalo are these raicist rednecks too? It is their right to protest and I hope that they can make Washington understand we do not need them to run our lives. Great JOB DC Voucher Program Parents. Public School Doesn't work!

[printo69]

Imagine that. Parents should choose the education thats best for their children, not the government. Not only that but they want to do it for cheaper than what it would cost to educate their kids at the terrible public DC schools.

I guess liberty & freedom are overrated. We should all be slaves to the federal government. When they say jump, we should all say how high & how much of our money do they want.

[Shadyhunter04]

Wow, this just shows that the teacher unions have him by the balls.

[MagnusIan]

The government is so good at screwing things up that it continues bad policies while stopping ones that work. Still think the big 'ol government knows best? Because I sure don't.

[trebuchet1269]

Rail all you like, the department of education will never ever give its money to parents to do with it as they please. Obama has also cut all funding for the development of hydrogen fuels. Bush started the progam and he is an oil man. AMERICA YOU HAVE BEEN FOOLED!!!

[truthsabre7]

So how many of you voted for obama?

[MooseOfReason]

In the crowd at the Rally? I'm sure a lot of them.

You can't blame people for wanting change, but maybe now they'll pay attention to politics, since they know it affects them, and their children.