Bush using Katrina to push School Vouchers

It comes as no surprise, of course, but the BushAdmin is now attempting to use the Katrina relief efforts to push the classic republican wet dream of School Vouchers.

From the WaPo:

In proposing $1.9 billion in aid for kindergartners through 12th-graders whose schools were ruined by the storm, Education Secretary Margaret Spellings originally said the administration was setting aside $488 million for private-school tuition and other help, to re-create as normal an environment as possible for the uncommonly large segment of children from New Orleans who had attended Catholic schools.

Yesterday, however, as new fine print of the proposal emerged, White House and Education Department spokesmen confirmed that the government payment -- as much as $7,500 per child -- would be given for a year to any displaced family that now prefers an alternative to public schools. "Parents may choose to send children to private schools. They may not. But this is their choice," said Susan Aspey, the Education Department's spokeswoman.

Yes, let's please take the money out of our public schools and divert it to private schools. That's a surefire way to ensure that education in America is top-notch.

This subject has always held it's own particular place of hatred in my heart. If people who choose to send their children to private schools can have their tax dollars diverted away from the public education system since they're not using it, it only logically follows that childless people like myself should then have their school district taxes refunded, due to the fact that I'm not utilizing the services, no?

No, bitches! Shared sacrifice for the public good is how the system works. If you as a parent don't like the education available through public education, then work to make it better. If you still feel that you need to send your children off to a private school, fine, but don't expect to get pity from me about how much money you're spending.