Here’s the latest piece of news that set off my Libertarian Bat Phone™: Nevada, the state known worldwide for its conservativeness, high moral standards, and overall regard for its citizens, pushed a law through its legislature requiring Nevada school districts to send home the “Educational Involvement Accord” with all of its students. The EIA is a contract that parents must sign, pledging “active involvement” in their child’s education, and that they will encourage their children to read, attend school, complete their homework, and cut back on TV and video games. The big kicker is that they must also promise to volunteer a minimum of 5 hours per year at school or a school-sponsored event.

While no one would argue that the above recommendations are worthwhile, and a goal we should all strive for, taking it beyond suggestion and signing it into law is going too far. A parent that takes no interest in whether or not their son skips school or if their daughter studied for that Algebra final is a shitty parent, to be sure, but they have the right to be a shitty parent. If I choose to allow my kid to flunk out of school, then my family has to deal with the guilt and the consequences. Every child has a human right to a quality primary education, but that doesn’t mean they should be forced to take full advantage of it. It’s extremely insulting to us that actually *do* give a rat’s ass — I have no one to answer to about my children other than myself, period. Being required to volunteer at the school feels less like volunteering and more like being sentenced to community service. To solve the problems within our school districts, we need *less* government interference in education, not more. Is it any wonder that private schools are better than public, while operating at the same — and often less — cost per student?

What’s next, government appointed guardians who keep a log of my children’s fruit and vegetable intake? Maybe transponders installed in our televisions and computers so schools can monitor our kids’ off-campus activities? Oh, right…

Bookmark to:
    

I thought for sure this news report was coming out of California or Washington State, but no, this latest bit on the squashing of free enterprise comes from across the pond. The Guardian Unlimited in the UK reports, ”health charities today renewed calls for a ban on the advertising of junk food to children as new government research predicted rising obesity in the next few years.” Of course, that makes total sense! Parents are helpless when their children are being brainwashed by the commercials on television. I mean, really, what’s a parent to do when their kid incessantly demands McDonald’s for dinner — say NO? Cut down on their TV viewing to decrease the advertising bombardment? Preposterous!! 

It’s much easier, apparently, to pass a law and smack the hand of the nasty corporations at the root of all evil. People are fat? Corporations fault! High fuel prices? Corporations! War in Iraq? Corporations! Poor education? You guessed it, corporations! Left-wing liberals that bristle at the label ”communist” or “socialist”, should perhaps, then, tone down the championing of doing away with pure capitalism and a free market society… Fortunately the UK health secretary has a shred of common sense:

However, the health secretary, Patricia Hewitt, indicated today that the government would not be pushing strongly for curbs on advertising. She argued about the importance of personal responsibility in the battle against obesity.

Ms Hewitt said lifestyle was important and spoke about the importance of exercise. Fast food firms such as McDonald’s who oppose curbs on advertising have long made similar arguments.

Ms Hewitt said Ofcom and the government would have to assess how far advertising actually influenced the choices children made.

Read the whole story… 

Bookmark to: