As the newest member of this collective group it is with profound surprise that I see mini-dissertations proliferate. When John said we needed to ‘blog’ little did I know that the field would be filled in much the same way that “Hey Jude” tends to occupy radio airtime.
Maybe this is an intellectual cage-match without the predetermined outcome. But this would be exciting to see in action. A wonderful Shaftesbury opportunity would be to have this debate on the merits of public education as it relates to free-enterprise and the welfare state. (John and Roy or others)
Ultimately, beyond the complexities of your respective philosophies there are parents (many) that use the public education system as day care. Actual education is but a hopeful by-product of being able to drop kids off. I’m not a pessimist, but I’ve spent enough time in a child-support courtroom to see that some view their offspring, not in terms of what they could be, but rather what they prevent in freedoms. (I was just an observer) Thus in many ways, public education has become an extension of the welfare state to many.
Please pardon the lack of Hayekian inferences.
