Source: oftwominds-Charles Hugh Smith: How Many Law Schools Need to Close? Plenty
Archive for the ‘Education’ Category
Socialism does not work, so why do we have government schools?
20
Jun
If you believe government should provide education to all youngsters, then you have lost the argument against the proponents of socialism. If you support taxpayer-funded education, why then shouldn’t the government provide health care, transportation, housing, energy, banking, food, etc.? In fact, government has been heavily involved in virtually every aspect of our economy and our lives. In short, America is already heavily “socialized.”
A reading list for all Americans
06
Jun
Lew Rockwell has put together a list of books which all Americans should read to learn why liberty and free markets are the best way to create a harmonious society.
As he posted on his blog:
“Recently, on the Kate Dalley Show, I promised a list of 10 shorter works for the intelligent layman interested in learning about Austrian economics and libertarianism. After all, our first job—to make resistance possible–is to educate ourselves. Here is a great start:”
- Frederic Bastiat, The Law
- Henry Hazlitt, Economics in One Lesson
- Ludwig von Mises, Economic Policy: Thoughts for Today and Tomorrow
- ___, Planned Chaos
- ___, Planning for Freedom
- Ron Paul, The Revolution: A Manifesto
- , Against the State
- Murray N. Rothbard, Anatomy of the State
- ___, Left and Right: The Prospects for Liberty
- ___, What Has Government Done to Our Money
PS Many of these titles can be read at www.mises.org for free. Bernie would be proud—more free stuff!
The case for separating school and state
23
Nov
Robert Wenzel shows how Paul Krugman makes the case for separating school and state without knowing it.
New Jersey legislators: Just say no to the higher ed mergers
27
Jun
Let’s say you are the CEO of ABC Inc. and you want to merge with XYZ Inc., because you believe it will provide great synergies for both companies. XYZ has $600 million in debt. You go to your board of directors for approval, and they ask you how much it will cost to merge XYZ into ABC. You say, “Trust me, the numbers will be forthcoming but we have to get this done by July 1.”
For superior tax relief, abolish income and property taxes
11
Mar
Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald calls for “a 20 percent property tax relief credit to homeowners of the first $10,000 in property taxes paid for all homeowners earning up to $250,000 per year” in a March 11 op-ed (The Record). This plan would be phased in over years, according to Greenwald, “and it would be funded by asking New Jersey’s millionaires to pay their fair share.” What is a millionaire’s “fair share” in taxes? Greenwald does not define, identify his redistributionist heist.
The fraud of school budget elections
29
May
According to The Record (May 29th), 15 North Jersey school budgets were defeated in April, and yet virtually no cuts have been made after town councils reviewed the budgets. Most councils reinstated the original school districts’ spending plans or cut the budgets by an insignificant amount. If a school budget is defeated, state law allows the town council to alter the budget or leave it intact. The school board then has the right to appeal to the state Department of Education.
Education is too important for the courts to decide
11
Apr
Paul Tractenberg’s turgid screed, “Let’s get real about education in New Jersey,” criticized me for challenging the assertions he made in a recent Record op-ed defending the current school aid formula. He also claims I live in “eccentric parallel universe.”
Law professor Paul Tractenberg gets a F on the constitution
03
Apr
Rutgers University law professor Paul Tractenberg argues in an op-ed (The Record, “Constitutional showdown,” April 3) that the Christie administration violated the constitutional rights of New Jersey’s public education students when it cut aid to school districts this year.
A better “new normal” for New Jersey
23
Feb
In his budget address to the Legislature on Tuesday, Governor Christie outlined his paradigm, a “New Normal,” to deal with the state’s ongoing fiscal crisis. Instead of proposing a restructuring of state government that would end the annual crisis atmosphere in Trenton, the Governor has come up with a rehash of the old paradigm–tax and spend—with a much needed dose of business tax cuts to boost the economy.
Why education is too important to be left to politicians
01
Feb
Below is an edited version of my brief remarks at a recent breakfast meeting of conservative activists.
Governor Christie at his State of the State address talked about “Big Ideas.” In the few minutes I have, I would like to talk about one “Big Idea,” the restructuring of “public education.” But before I do so, I would like to ask you four questions.
Is Chris Christie a collectivist?
17
Jan
At a town hall meeting in affluent Bergen County last Thursday, where many of the state’s most plundered taxpayers live, Governor Christie did what he does best, speak bluntly and interact seamlessly—according to press reports–with the public. Read the rest of this entry »
Despite Christie’s cheerleading and rhetoric, New Jersey needs an “extreme makeover”
14
Jan
In his State of the State address, Governor Christie asserted New Jersey “is improving–getting better every day.” Let’s look at the record.
For better education outcomes: separate education from government
06
Jan
The New Jersey Supreme Court heard arguments on January 5th about the constitutionality of Governor Christie’s state aid cutbacks to the Abbott school districts this year. The $1 billion dollar cut to all school districts included a 100% cut to some suburban school districts. In short, the income tax, which is supposed to provide property tax relief to all homeowners, has become a tool to redistribute income from middle and upper income suburban individual and families to failed urban school districts throughout the state.
Will Christie support more school construction debt and end his political career?
28
Dec
Governor Christie has received high praise for his “6o Minutes” appearance more than a week ago. He was blunt and unapologetic. He diagnosed the issues correctly. New Jersey is broke. The state cannot afford to fund a new tunnel under the Hudson River. The state’s unfunded liabilities are getting worse every passing day. There is no more money to fund an expansion of government programs, and there will probably have to be cuts, not just reductions in increases, but actually decreases in school and municipality aid and other state expenditures in the next fiscal year to balance the budget.