We are a big nation – geographically and economically. But there are limits and even a giant must pay the piper for bad investments that do not provide good returns.
Take public schooling… please. Check this chart out:
Spending explodes, achievement declines.
Or this chart:
Enrollment up slightly, spending up immensely.
We, the nation, states, and citizens are getting a REALLY bad return on trillions of dollars in wasteful spending. Spending taken from taxpayers, and the future economy, that will not return enough to recoup the investment.
You can buy babysitters cheaper than this people. Get smart, governmental bad investments are killing our economy, our future, and even our future’s future.
Full details at Big Government. Read it and weep.
June 23rd, 2010 at 11:29 am
In Coulson’s piece and in all the one-sided comments from the anti-government ranters, I saw no mention of the growth of special education from 1970 on. How much did that contribute to cost while having a probably negligible impact on average education achievement? Do we believe that we should expend the extra help to the really unfortunate kids or do we believe that average productivity is the only valid measure for public education? Not unlike the climate debate, someone produces a correlation chart of a piece of the picture and declares a correct policy.
June 23rd, 2010 at 11:43 am
who is the anti-anti-government ranter in these comments?
I don’t know how much special education grew since 1970. I suspect it grew way too much, but isn’t responsible for the large growth of overall spending.
Clever debate tactic to not just tie it to the kids but to the “helpless” kids, but we won’t fall for it. Nice try though.
June 28th, 2010 at 11:48 am
Special Ed isn’t just the droolers and window lickers, its anyone who doesn’t score well on the generic tests.its a joke.