> The school vouchers that are being proposed are not a perfect solution. I would prefer to see the amount the government spends per student given to the parent to spend on private education. But at least school vouchers would allow parents who prefer alternate styles of education to pursue those instead.
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This one comment brings us back full circle to the point people thought I was trying to make in the very beginning. Keeping in mind, please, that my point was not that I, as a childless person, do not want to cease paying taxes toward public education altogether, I merely would like not to have to pay *more* in taxes than families with children, and also considering that there is simply no difference whatsoever in the voucher system and the system you claim you would prefer -- one in which "the amount the government spends per student given to the parent to spend on private education;" that *IS* the voucher system -- allow me to go ahead and take it the one step further and ask this: In your compromise system, in which the government would give money provided by taxes (because where else would the government *get* money?) to parents to spend as the parents choose on education, would childless people still have to pay taxes at all toward those outgoing funds? Either way, let me explain why your arguments and your ideal are incongruous.

The vouchers system is not even a redistribution of the wealth, because if a childless person did have to pay into it, his money wouldn't be going toward a public good; it would be going to individuals who may or may not need it more than the taxpayer. If childless persons didn't have to pay, why have only parents pay taxes into a system that turns around and gives the money right back to them? That's an unnecessary complication.

Simply, the voucher system clearly can't be the compromise you claim. You don't want to pay taxes toward anything other than public protection, law enforcement, and punishment. But you do. To me it is hypocritical that you want to see that tax money (that you don't think should be collected in the first place) distributed to individuals who may then spend it as they choose. In fact, the public (call it government run, if you must) school system, which collects taxes from all to provide for all, is more a compromise between the all private education system you think is ideal, and the voucher system, which collects taxes from all to give to individuals.