Friday, August 6, 2010

US Department of Education: A Means to National Destruction

This first article was published in June 2010.  The topic has been tossed around for years (see additional links).  Since so many of our country's ills are the result of ignorance, we have to ask, "From whence comes ignorance?"  We have every reason to believe the answer is top-down interference by the federal government.  Abolishing the DoE may be the only way we as parents can regain control of our schools, our childrens' minds, and America's future prospects.

Abolishing Department of Education isn't extreme
By Mona Charen
Examiner Columnist
June 13, 2010

Newly minted Nevada senate candidate Sharron Angle is a kook. That's what Sen. Harry Reid's people are telling reporters. ABC, CNN, and other outlets seem to agree, noting that Mrs. Angle wants to shutter the federal Department of Education, get the U.S. out of the U.N., phase out Social Security, and eliminate the IRS.

We haven't yet heard her explanations of these positions -- many of which can be justified in the proper context. It's certainly possible that she is a little eccentric (that prison massage program doesn't pass the smell test). But this much is certain: It is not kooky to favor the elimination of the Department of Education. That this proposal is routinely labeled "extremist" is a reminder of the one-way ratchet that operates in government. Enshrine something in a federal agency and it becomes sacrosanct. Democrats cheerlead for federal programs because they are the party of government, and Republicans quietly go along because they're afraid.

But if Republicans know how to argue for smaller government -- as Gov. Chris Christie is demonstrating in New Jersey -- they need not be intimidated. There are hundreds of federal programs that could be eliminated tomorrow with only the happiest consequences for the nation. And yes, the whole Department of Education could be scrapped. It vacuums up money and produces ... what exactly?

Similarly: