Conservatives and School Vouchers

A few years back when I was much younger, the Christians of my acquaintance described themselves as "conservative," not only religiously, but politically. Their understanding of the word, "conservative," however, was a far cry from how it is used today.

Jeb Bush, who is really very much like his brother, George, attempted to "reform" education while governor of Florida. He failed miserably! But the "centerpiece" of Jeb's reform plan was known as "Opportunity Scholarship Program."

The first way conservatives today are different from what they used to be is that today's bunch dissemble and lie as a matter of course. This so-called "Opportunity Scholarship Program" is nothing more than a sneaky plan to give some students taxpayer-funded vouchers to attend a school of their choice. The way it worked was that students at "failing" public schools could receive vouchers to attend a private school. The voucher would be paid for by Florida's taxpayers.

Jeb was mighty proud of this illegal program. [It was illegal because the constitution of the state of Florida bans using public money for religious purposes.] An appeals court rightly tossed the program. In 2005, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that the program "unconstitutionally created a separate, taxpayer-funded education system."

Years ago, conservatives fought tooth and nail any attempt to use public money to fund private schools. Of course, years ago Protestants and Catholics were quite hostile to each other, and conservative Protestant Christians believed that the only folks to benefit from public monies would be the Catholic schools.

The so-called German Lutherans (Missouri Synod) also ran a phalanx of private schools, but they were less enthusiastic than the Catholics about obtaining public funding because they were afraid the government would insist on having a say in how the schools were run.

Today, of course, thousands of conservative Protestant churches and organizations operate schools. They see public money as a means of increasing their presence and power. They are less afraid of government control for they have so many of their representatives in seats of power. Furthermore, public money is a foot in the door for obtaining even more perks from the government. Eventually, of course, their plan is to become the government.

Most of us in Florida thought the voucher issue was dead. Not so. You just can't trust these damn right-wing Christians to stay in their dark places. They come crawling out to wreak havoc every chance they get!

Jeb has reached back from his political boneyard through his appointees to what's called the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission. This outfit voted 17-7 on March 26, "to give voters the chance in November to remove a constitutional ban on giving taxpayer funds to faith-based institutions."

This miserable motion passed only because "at least six of Bush's former employees or appointees are on" the TBRC. Seventeen members need to vote "Yea." Bah!

Ron Meyer, an attorney said it right: "They're just opening up a Pandora's box to a whole broad range of requirements to spend taypayer money to support religious institutions." Meyer also noted that the voucher pushers are playing with words to confuse the public: "They know if they put before the voters a straight-up question, 'Do we want vouchers to send students to private religious schools?' the answer would be an overwhelming no."

Rep. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, is a non-voting member of TBRC. Gelber believes that the wall of separation between church and state is vital. It is, he said, "the most significant part of our constititution....We're going to put something in the [state] constitution when I don't think anyone here has an earthly idea of what it will do."

Unfortunately, while Mr. Gelber and Mr. Meyer are right on, we are fighting people who don't give a damn. They aren't concerned about a wall of separation between church and state. They live to break down that wall! They don't believe in that wall!

They want church and state to become one and they want everyone to live under their ignorant, superstitious, and repressive rule.