The real import of the measure, the congressman declared, is to force the government to fund religious organizations in the same way it funds secular activities with an ultimate goal of supporting school vouchers and de-funding the public education system. Last September, Education Secretary Richard Riley, in expressing his contempt for vouchers, made several observations that were inane and intellectually dishonest even by the standards of the Clinton cabinet. Vouchers would begin the unraveling of this uniquely American fabric the common public school that has been open to one and all and gives everyone a fair chance to succeed, the secretary charged. Moreover, Riley remarked, religious schools now make up 79 percent of private schools. Thus, the secretary cautioned, vouchers would lead to public support of religious education on a massive scale.
Liberals know exactly where the greatest challenge to their authority lies.
Say religious freedom or equality and, like Pavlov s dogs, they immediately bark vouchers. Say tuition tax credits or educational scholarships and they frantically reply parochial schools. Of course, they see nothing wrong with forcing religious families to support the public education system through their property taxes or other levies. Liberals aren t at all adverse to making these families pay twice, if they choose to send their children to a religious school. What with the high cost of housing, food, clothing, and other necessities, many families are unable to bear this double burden.