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| THE GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS, ET AL | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By Ronald C. Tobin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This discussion about the nature of and need for the so-called public education system (some, like myself, call them government schools or mandatory youth propaganda camps) was precipitated by some comments I made about the March 27, 2001 issue of MINI EXAMINER, the outstanding newsletter of biorhythm personality and character analysis. In that issue, Irene Stephenson made some very brief criticisms of my stand on 'public' education, trying to compare it to the disaster of pseudo deregulation of utilities in California. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| What follows is her letter of reply, and then I respond accordingly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FROM IRENE STEPHENSON: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dear Ron: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Yes, I do disagree with the Libertarian (your) stand on abolishing public education. Women fought hard to get education for ALL children. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| What a mess it has been since the government deregulated the phone, gas, and electricity. You don't live in California so they haven't gotten to you yet (read the attached poem). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| If the government gets out of the public school business, the poor will not be able to afford schooling even if they are given vouchers by the government. Vouchers would pay for only part of it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Here is what happens when the government gives up on something. The vultures swarm in as has been happening with the utilities. Russia went down and the vultures (missionaries) swarmed in. You said you read about the Taliban and the Crusades (Christians) recently. That is what happens when the religions take over. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Christian Inquisition went from 1233 and continued over six centuries. People who disagreed with them were tortured. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Already the Christians have gotten "In God We Trust" put on our money. They have gotten God put in our Pledge of Allegiance. What?, you say, that is nothing, just as deregulating the public utilities are nothing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| They have their foot in the door. It is nothing until they come knocking on your door and stop you from printing what you feel is the truth. You may use my letter in THE THOUGHT as long as you are still free to print. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hitler said something like give me a child until he is 7 (?) and he is mine forever. I don't remember the exact quote. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| When the religious people (schools) get our children, this country and our freedom is lost. Get rid of the public schools and they will swarm like vultures to get our children. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Besides destroying the Buddhas, the Taliban religious police, a fundamentalist sect of Islam, have shot a 12 year old girl in both legs because her ankles were showing. Half the doctors in Afghanistan used to be females, now females are not permitted to go to school or have male doctors They are not allowed to partake in sports, they are not allowed to leave the house unless they are accompanied by a male relative. The women have to be covered from head to toe. The Taliban is even against music. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Watch what is going to happen now to the Buddhist country Nepal now that the royal family has been murdered. The Taliban will swarm in like vultures. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Everyone believes their religion is the one true religion where in TRUTH, all religions were made up by men to benefit men (not women). Our religion depends on what country we are born in. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "They came for the Panthers and I said nothing because I was not a Panther. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| They came for the black man, and I said nothing because I was not black. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Then they came for the students, and I said nothing because I was not a student. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Then they came for the liberals, and I said nothing because I was not a liberal. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| And when they came for me, I looked around and said nothing, because I was alone." -- Elaine Brown | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Peace, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Irene H. Stephenson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| P.O. Box 3893 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chatsworth, CA 91313-3893 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dear Irene: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RONALD TOBIN REPLIES: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I must admit that your letter took me a bit by surprise. I expected that you would articulate precisely why you believe that the so-called public school system should continue to exist. I even expected you to try and tie it in with the pseudo deregulation that took place in California, even though the two matters are completely distinct. I was taken aback by your inclusion of matters of mottoes on money, the Taliban, and religion in general. Why? Because they really have nothing to do with whether or not education is a proper role of government, if in fact any such roles exist. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First and foremost, I am a purist libertarian. I have been a member of the Party now and again, but basically for social purposes. I no longer believe that meaningful, lasting change is possible through the ballot box. That is why I advocate education and persuasion. Evolution, not revolution. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As a purist libertarian, my ultimate goal is to end all need for formal government. I know this will take time to achieve, so I am willing to tolerate what is known as a minimalist government. Such a government performs but three functions: 1) Military defense; 2) Police protection for crimes against people and property; and 3) Courts of law to handle such crimes and disputes as they arise. Note that providing education DOES NOT fall under one of those three categories. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Secondly, I absolutely support the libertarian contention that TAXATION IS THEFT. That means, as I see it, public schools are funded by thievery. How can this be a good thing? I am against tax funding of ANYTHING. Public schools are just part of the problem there. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Third, unlike some political libertarians, I do not support the use of vouchers to fund education for the poor. This would just extend the problem, subjecting private institutions to government interference. We need a complete SEPARATION OF EDUCATION AND STATE. Then, complete separation of society and the state, leading to its demise. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No, the poor would not have to worry about a lack of educational opportunities once the public schools are abolished. There would be more home schooling, educational coops would be formed, and charity schools would come into being. People who agreed that helping the poor receive an education was a prudent investment would contribute to educational trusts to accomplish that. So you see, you do not need to EXTORT money from people to achieve desired ends. I made these points several times during the in-print debate on education. Surely you did read at least some of it? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As to the electricity deregulation farce in California: I think I said all I really needed to say about that in the last issue. The only deregulation I support is FULL deregulation. I once again call for the complete SEPARATION OF ECONOMY AND STATE. Government has no business interfering with business, period. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Actually, Hitler did not say anything about giving him a child until he is seven and he is his. That saying came from the Jesuits. Incidentally, though, Nazi Germany DID have public education, as did the Soviet Union. Speaking of Russia, one can get the impression that you believe the fall of the Soviet Union was a BAD thing. After all, you say that Russia is now overrun with missionaries. Yeah, like the old Soviet Union was such a tolerant place. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I agree that our money should have no religious slogans on it. I also think that God has no place in a Pledge of Allegiance. Of course, since I do not regard the present government as being legitimate, I have refused to say that pledge for years, and will continue to do so. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I also agree with you regarding the absurdities perpetrated by the Taliban in Afghanistan. When it comes to the recent events in Nepal, however, you need not worry about the Taliban. Nepal is hundreds of miles from Afghanistan. What Nepal does risk is a Communist takeover. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Finally, I know that some religions are not patriarchal in nature or intent. An example of that is Wicca. I would gather that any Goddess-based faith would not be for the greater glory of men. Personally, I do not find any organized religion to be to my liking, so I will continue to opt out. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Irene, I hope you will reflect on what I have said here, as I reflected on your words. Gender does not enter into the equation as far as my stands are concerned. For me, education is simply not a proper government function in any sense of the term, and taxation is theft. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Besides that, public schools simply do not educate. They indoctrinate, they brainwash children, they tell lies. It is a hopelessly corrupt institution that we will all be better off without - especially if we really value freedom. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abolish the mandatory youth propaganda camps!! NOW!!! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [This discussion originally appeared in the September/October 2001 issue of THE THOUGHT.] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RETURN TO EDUCATION HOMEPAGE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RETURN TO MAIN INDEX | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||