[tater]

The other oddball thing in the US is that people with kids pay lower taxes (since you get a deduction, and if poor enough a "credit" for paying taxes you never paid (ie: a handout).

Ditto state income taxes if the state has them.

What is the end purpose of public education?Personally, I think the entire goal should be a competent electorate. Past that, I don't see the compelling government interest. It's not like people graduating from public schools are considered capable of skilled jobs, they then need to seek real training (either on the job with a trade, or college).

Clearly overall it fails at this (the recent thread about the % that fail the citizenship test (when realistically there is no reason for anyone to leave HS without getting an "A" on that simple test).

Personally, I don't think those of us with kids should get a tax break at all (some of us already don't for federal). My state spends ~80% of the budget on edu, but that includes the U. Still, there is no reason I should get a break (except that I don't use public edu, since we send the kids to a good school, instead).

I'm against vouchers in general, because I see it as a handout. I'd be fine with a 100% deduction for tuition, though. To even be remotely fair, if a state did a voucher system, it should eliminate all standard deductions for kids. If you're gonna get a hand out for tuition, then you should at least pony up the same taxes as a guy who has no kids who is paying for you.