Question with respect to the proposed state constitution educational amendment - Granite Grok

Question with respect to the proposed state constitution educational amendment

Damn. There is one hell of a row going on at the excellent RLCNH email discussion list over the proposed state constitutional amendment regarding education—CACR12—which, one way or another, will put the responsibility

It's about educating the next generation, not expanding government....

for implementing and funding a “state system” of education in the hands of the state legislature, not the towns (where it has traditionally and historically resided).

More importantly, the battle is heating up amongst the best, smartest, and most activist political players in the state, i.e. the movement conservatives, the libertarians, the Tea Partiers, the Constitutionalists, the libertarian-conservatives, and others.

Some are….

…arguing in favor of an original form of the proosed amendment, others are for alternative language, and a substantial and growing minority are against passing any amendment at all. Why nothing at all? Because no matter what the language is, New Hampshire statists will use it to increase state spending, taxing, and the reach and power of government in education…all to the detriment of parents and towns, who should have ALL power in this area.

I have been following the internecine warfare closely and have reluctantly come to the conclusion that in this case, the ancient aphorism, First, do no harm, should control. I agree with those in my political family who think it will be best not to pass any state constitutional amendment at this time. If the state house passes any amendment at all, the outcome will almost surely result in long-term harm.

So…get rid of it, everyone (with apologies to my friends Bill O’Brien, D.J. Bettencourt, and others who support the passage of an amendment to deal with the egregious state supreme court Claremont decisions). There are other ways to deal with the problem…and they start with a Republican governor next year, as well as continued Republican majorities in the state legislature.

Then we can address the problem.

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