Headed for the hills

Another angry liberal on my case. . . this one wants to move to the mountains.  Sounds rather appealing, actually, but sorry to say, I'm staying around.

Last month, Fran Eaton lambasted the "mama state" for attempting to provide health care coverage for all of its citizens. This month, she advocates for the abolishment of American public education in favor of home schooling for all.

A slight exaggeration, but hey, she's irrational -- she's a liberal!

In an ideal world without illness and disease, without slow learners, the dyslexics, or the handicapped, where the waters flow clear and bright from unpolluted mountain streams and the birds sing cheerfully, uninfected by West Nile virus, perhaps we would have no need for any state-supported health or education benefits. In an ideal world of two-parent households, with home-baked bread cooling on the hearth, there would be no crime, no natural disasters or epidemics, and certainly no government-perpetrated wars for "nation-building" either.

Wow, has this girl got issues . . .

Perhaps next month, Eaton will instruct us all in the stockpiling of food, medicines, clothing and ammunition to sustain us when we move to the compound in the mountains.

Barbara Dutko, Homewood

Holy cow, Ms. Dutko -- all I did was say that we should do all we can to maintain the home as the center of health, education and welfare. The libs dominate the editorial pages because we let them. Get involved. Voice your opinion.  Fight back.

The Star editor's address is thoulihan@starnewspapers.com. Let him know your thoughts on these issues. It doesn't matter whether you're from the south suburbs or not -- you have an opinion and we live in a new universal community via the internet.

Link: Moving to the mountains :: Opinion :: THE STAR :: OAK FOREST. 

Comments

[Jerry]

For what it's worth, Tom Houlihan is the guy you're emailing. He is a good man, and -- this will come as a shock to some of you -- a political liberal.

But first, I think, a good man.

So send your letters to Tom, the editor, and they'll get published. I'll be sending mine.

[Jerry]

PS The last time I sent a letter to Tom and his Op/Ed page, he punked me. It was the 2004 campaign, and Gen. Ashley Wilkes was running in the primary. So I send in a letter, quoting Ashley on his most recent leftwing criticism of Bush and Iraq, and also dredging up his quote on the urgent need to invade Iraq from two years earlier.

Which is it, Ashley? was the punchline. Of course, a good friend of mine had, in the meanwhile, started a very public campaign of support for the good General, and had in fact just held a house party for that nitwit megalomaniac. I believe Tom published my letter the day after his party.

Local politics can be dirty.

[Barbara Frank]

"In an ideal world without illness and disease, without slow learners, the dyslexics, or the handicapped, .....perhaps we would have no need for any state-supported health or education benefits."

Ms. Dutko's dependence on the nanny state is pathetic. Our 14-year-old son is mentally handicapped; we have never used any state-funded programs for him. He's been homeschooled from birth (doing great, thank you), and we've also paid for help from private therapists and medical professionals. A financial sacrifice? Definitely, but well worth it.

BTW Fran, we're glad you're not heading for the hills. We need you too much!

[David P. Graf]

I have a hard time understanding why public education is considered an example of the "nanny state". Considering that only about two to three percent of students are home schooled, it's not as if we are talking about a truly viable alternative for most people. Plus, what do we do then with the 27% of households with kids which only have one parent?

[Fran]

Jerry,
Mr. Houlihan is a good man, and I appreciate his invitation to argue conservative values. I also encourage conservatives to get into the debate and not stand on the sidelines, where it's safe.

Please read the column link, Mr. Graf, rather than accept what the letter to the editor so incorrectly misstates the column said.

The point is that Illinoisans should be as self-reliant as possible, and resist the urge to turn to the state to meet their needs -- be they health needs, education needs or welfare needs.

There's nothing wrong with finding assistance in health care or education. But the primary responsibility should begin at home.

[David P. Graf]

Fran,

Sorry for the confusion. My comments were intended as a response to Barbara Frank's posting and not to your column. In your column you clearly state that people can find themselves with little recourse, but to send their kids to the public schools.

Please understand that I am not against home schooling or private schools or public schools. I think it should be up to the parents to decide what's the best alternative for their kids.

[Jerry]

With that in mind, David, what are your thoughts on vouchers as a means for parents to use the funds that are currently wasted by our school systems to help them educate their own kids?

[Susan Ryan]

Homeschooling could be a viable alternative for many more if they knew about the support available in the homeschool community and the unlimited resources.

There are many single parents who homeschool. They work it out. The flexibility with time and schedules makes that possible for many. Not easy, but possible. We don't have to do 8-3 but can do 3-7 pm or 9-noon instead and get it done.

I'm not pushing homeschooling. People need to research on their own before they discover the possibilities available.

[David P. Graf]

Jerry,

I don't have an opinion one way or the other on vouchers. I suspect though that it would open the door for government to regulate the private schools the vouchers were intended to support.

[Jerry]

Good point, but I'll bet most of the private schools would accept that risk.

[Susan Ryan]

David and Jerry, I would agree totally with your suspicion. Many private brick and mortar schools have already fallen into the accreditation pitfall to gain this and that from the government.

Illinois homeschools are private schools per IL Supreme court ruling. Most homeschoolers wouldn't find vouchers worth the price the families would pay. But there are some who would take the money.

Freedom is not free.

[Joetta]

The problem with vouchers are the potential strings. The only way I'd agree to a "voucher system" is in the way of a tax return to each family to be used in any way/where they choose. However, tax returns seem an insult--obviously we're being taxed for services many are not using, i.e. those whose children do not attend govt schools and the elderly who have paid and paid and paid. I'd have less concern about my tax dollars being used at local govt school if they just taught EVERY child to read! In fact, I'd probably DONATE time and money if reading was their immediate and first goal!