The nuanced differences between the bills didn t matter. The one that permitted wider use of vouchers failed just as miserably as the one that encouraged narrower use. People may be dumb, but they are not so dumb as to think vouchers are a viable path to education reform. Yet the denials from the pro-voucher people continue. Besides, if it really were a popular cause, spending wouldn t matter.
People are perfectly free to vote for vouchers if they wish.
The fact is that vouchers are deeply unpopular with the very constituencies that, on paper, would appear to be natural supporters. Now, some unpopular causes are worth promoting and even putting on the ballot. But the whole point of the voucher movement from the very beginning was that it is a politically strategic way to end the school monopoly. If a strategy doesn t work, it should be abandoned. Get past the nonsense about teacher-union spending, voucher advocates, and realize that there are extremely good reasons why people who otherwise support solid conservative causes have rejected vouchers.