Re: who is this Daniel Hannan guy
 

My parents, were they stlll living, would get a chuckle out of your inquiry as to whether or not they were people of means. Heck, no.

I attended schools in Clayton-le-Moors, Accrington and Gloucestershire.....none of which were private. Not that that has anything to do with the current state of education in the U.S. There is an excellent book called "The Underground History of American Education," by John Taylor Gatto, a former NY State & NY City Teacher of the Year. His Wall Street Journal article, "I Quit, I Think," has been widely disseminated. If you are interested, I believe you can link to it at I Quit, I Think - John Taylor Gatto Also, if you have the time, pages 3 through 8 are worth reading as well.

Re: who is this Daniel Hannan guy
 

Thanks for answering.

So personally you were happy with the education supplied by the state yourself, it's just that you think those who need it now shouldn't be educated by the state, and should be home schooled, or let their parents find the money to pay for it, in an education market place?

Personally I'm glad we have a system which ensures all our children have access to a good and rounded education. Regardless as to whether their parents are wealthy or poor.

Re: who is this Daniel Hannan guy
 

Are you being deliberately obtuse? I think my earlier posts should have been sufficient for you to grasp the point I am making. I am NOT opposed to LOCAL communities using taxpayer dollars to fund education.....although, to be honest, I prefer education vouchers, (with no strings attached mind you), so that parents may have the autonomy to choose the schools their children attend....whether public or private. What I don't want is the involvement of the federal government in Washington, DC.

Re: who is this Daniel Hannan guy
 

Apparently, you don't read your own newspapers which, over the years, have chronicled a litany of abuses in the NHS. And government-run healthcare does not provide access to equal care. The British press has described the NHS as a "postcode lottery," as the type of medical care a person receives depends on the neighborhood in which he or she lives. The Fraser Institute's "Waiting Your Turn," concludes that famous and politically connected Canadians are moved to the front of the queue and lower income Canadians have less access to care than their higher income neighbors. Our fellow poster, Eric, hasn't mentioned that, nor the fact that Canadians come to the U.S. in droves every year in order to get the healthcare they need in a timely manner - or, indeed, to get it at all.

Go ahead and scoff at our community clinics and other services.....but aren't such services a product of real community and compassion? I believe so.

Re: who is this Daniel Hannan guy
 

Our state education policy is decided by central government in Whitehall, even if it's managed at county level, just as it was in your day.

I presume you were satisfied with the education you received here, which was provided by the state, or is it just in your country of residence now that you have such a problem with the concept?

Re: who is this Daniel Hannan guy
 

Back in those days I was too young to understand the ramifications. Besides, as my sister, a retired school teacher, would tell you, things have deteriorated considerably since she entered the profession more than 30 years ago.

Re: who is this Daniel Hannan guy
 

I have friends in the U.S. who can't access the same drugs as I get prescribed here, for Parkinson's disease, because their health insurance won't supply them. They are the lucky ones, the ones with some form of health insurance.

As a consequence many of them suffer unnecessarily, and have a poorer quality of life than myself. Other patients with long term degenerative illnesses have similar experiences.

Health insurance companies are businesses, whose primary motivation is making money.

As flawed as it might be, happily here in Britain, patient's needs still take precedence over shareholder's profits.

You shouldn't always believe everything you read in the press.;)

Re: who is this Daniel Hannan guy
 

But you can type..you seems to be well educated.. I presume your sister had a state education and became a teacher.so what is your problem with the state paying for education?

Re: who is this Daniel Hannan guy
 

Things have changed.

Nowadays you need to be educated to degree level to teach, from nursery classes to sixth form colleges.

Thirty years ago we had the situation of having not only teachers who hadn't been to university, but headteachers too.

Re: who is this Daniel Hannan guy
 

It seems like another case of 'I'm alright Jack'.

The state gave us a good education, but everyone else nowadays should be paying for it in the free market economy market place...if they can afford it.

Re: who is this Daniel Hannan guy
 

I believe it was some dumbo septic who, a few weeks ago, claimed that had Professor Steven Hawking received treatment on the NHS, he would no longer be alive. The Lucasian Professor of Mathematics is, of course, alive today thanks only to the NHS.

Had Mr Michael Jackson received medication and treatment from the NHS, then he would also be alive today. Thank god he didn't.

Re: who is this Daniel Hannan guy
 

That isn't what bullseyebarb is saying :confused: Sounds to me like he is saying that it should be communities that setup schools independently of the state with taxpayers money. Sorry if this isn't what you meant bullseyebarb but to me it sounded like that.

Re: who is this Daniel Hannan guy
 

Occasionally, only occasionally mind, you make me laugh out loud.

Very funny.

If laughter's the best medecine, you've just been promoted from a bed pan carrier.

:p

Re: who is this Daniel Hannan guy
 

He?

Sounds like you've just flunked biology.

Re: who is this Daniel Hannan guy
 

It would appear that you have not yet been informed that I am the resident Professor of Mental Health and Director of the Accy Web cerebal improvement programme.