Real Educational Choices

By Gene Frazier

I want to restore a full range of education options to parents.

We all want our children to have the best education possible. I believe that phasing out the government's role in education - the separation of School and State - is a vital element towards achieving that goal. There's no sense in pouring more taxpayer money into government controlled education, when private schools show conclusively that they are more efficient. Eliminate these taxes and return the money to parents, who can invest it themselves in the school of their choice, whether it be Edison, Montessori, or religious education. The reality of cultural and religious pluralism in society means we need that same pluralism in schools. Kids are now being injured in the psychological equivalent of a custody battle of values between parents and government. One size cannot fit all in the education of a pluralistic society. For example, some families want prayer in schools, and others want condom distribution. Well, you can't compromise by printing prayers on condoms. The solution is real choice in education.

Proposition 26

The state constitution has protected taxpayers from excessive borrowing since 1879 by requiring public debt to be approved by 2/3 of the voters at the polls. In reality, this means only 12% of registered voters at the 1999 election where only 18% of the electorate turned out. Proposition 26 on the March 2000 ballot would lower the threshold to 50% plus 1 of the voters turning out--or only 9% of the electorate in the last election. The current law is a reasonable protection for property owners. In the last few years, even with a 2/3 majority requirement, 63% of the school bonds passed. If the threshold is lowered, the education industry will put a new series of massive bonds on the ballot. Education salaries will soar even higher than their current generous levels (bonds free up EXISTING construction and maintenance funds for spending on salaries, and this is the driving force behind these bond measures).

Even more important, if the 2/3 majority barrier drops for education, we can count on a series of initiatives to repeal the 2/3 vote requirement for raising taxes for jails, libraries, mass transit, etc. The well organized special interest groups will have a field day driving property taxes through the roof. Retaining the 2/3 voter approval requirement is crucial to holding down taxes (to their present high level) in California.

Bonds are worst way to finance projects - they only shift the burden to the next generation, and make bond speculators richer off of taxpaying property owners. By making it so easy to ramrod a bond through, taxes for property owners would soar. Increased taxes could financially affect struggling families, possibly creating economic hardships for 25 to 30 years. It is entirely appropriate to place a 2/3 majority requirement to levy a multi-year tax on property. In fact, who would be surprised if legislators didn't seek to expand this idea to all bond measures? In fact, I would propose a 75% majority to pass ANY government bond and that any bond measure is limited to a vote only at primary or general elections. No more wasting tax money on special elections!

Your Money spent on Your Schools

My ultimate goal of repealing the state income tax will produce a stronger economy by keeping more of your earnings with you, to be spent voluntarily on your own educational priorities for your kids.

Gene Frazier - Libertarian Candidate 2000, Assembly District 5

"Let's make Freedom LEGAL again!"