Tell me, do you think the framers of our Constitution would support this bailout ?
No, I don't think they would. I don't support it either.
I'm all for the complete privitazation of education across the board ; grade schools , colleges, and vocational schools. Further, I dont think I should be taxed to pay for public schools scince my children do not go to them.
The concept of public education goes pretty far back in America. Here's Jefferson:
"The less wealthy people,... by the bill for a general education, would be qualified to understand their rights, to maintain them, and to exercise with intelligence their parts in self-government; and all this would be effected without the violation of a single natural right of any one individual citizen."
The rationale is that an educated populace is essential to have a healthy democracy. For the modern version, I’d add “and an economy that is competitive in a global marketplace.” It's a "public good," like a strong military and an effective road system. I suspect that you may deny the concept of "public good" and maintain that all needs can be met by a free market and "enlightened self interest." But I would ask if you think you should only have to pay for those roads that you drive on or those soldiers who protect your town. I personally believe that the federal government does have legitimate functions to perform and has the right to raise the funds necessary to do them. It's just a question of degree: How much should they provide? Let the negotiations begin…
Nobody wants bloated, expensive, ineffective, intrusive government programs. But before we hand the candy-store keys to the private sector, think about this: The ultimate business model is one in which you give me a lot of money and I give you nothing: 100% profit! A resounding success... unless the product that we have contracted for is the care of disabled veterans or the education of our nation's youth. In that case, the balance sheet looks great even as the nation goes down the drain.
I believe in limited government, but I also believe that big business needs some checks and balances applied to it. Profit is a good motivator, but it's a blind beast when it comes to long-range and side effects. Look at it as a sports metaphor: Every team wants to win, but without rules and a referee, the whole game degenerates into a mess like the one we're in now with the banking system. That's my opinion: YMMV, etc.
BTW, I think this thread is still open because everybody is being pretty civilized so far. No real name-calling yet. If we can continue the discussion with respect for the other points of view, maybe we can really get somewhere, like figuring out how gun owners can work for their common interest regardless of where they sit on the political spectrum.