We have been conditioned to believe the more we spend for a good or service the better it is.  But that only works in a competitive free market without government subsidies. Markets become distorted when government spending is involved.  We have forgotten education should be market driven, by PARENTS – not the government.

The decline of public schools in the United States is a perfect example of the consequence of government intervention into the market.  I have innately understood for some time now the more government money goes into public education the greater the negative impact to education; but I've been trying to reduce the 'why' to something easy to understand.  I know it seems counter-intuitive, but stick with me here. 

We all know the U.S. is slipping in competitiveness with other countries when it comes to education. We keep spending more money on our public schools while public education, in general, keeps getting worse.  We know the private sector and the free market deliver the best goods and services at the best price.  Why would it be any different in education?  It isn’t.

Private school teachers make substantially less pay and benefits then public school teachers. Yet they deliver better educated students.  Why? If they didn’t, parents would pull their kids, and their tuition money, out of that private school and use another.  In contrast, public schools are paying teachers higher salaries and benefits with money collected through taxation, not from willing participants in the private market.  Most parents have no choice but to send their children to failing public schools. (Chicago teacher’s median base salary: $67,974.00 plus a generous pension package of $77,496 and they get their summers off!)

A 2009 article by Andrew Coulsen over at CATO had a few statistics: “Since 1970, inflation adjusted public school spending has more than doubled. Over the same period, achievement of students at the end of high school has stagnated according to the Department of Education’s own long term National Assessment of Educational Progress. Meanwhile, the high school graduation rate has declined by 4 or 5%, according to Nobel laureate economist James Heckman. So the only thing higher public school spending has accomplished is to raise taxes by about $300 billion annually, without improving outcomes.” Mr. Coulsen has previously been a guest on my show.

We don’t have to make it hard to understand ‘why’ this happens.  It is as simple as this: the more government money we pour into ANY sector or service, the more we make it impossible for the private sector to compete in that area.  The Government does not have to worry about making a profit.  They can lose and waste as much as they like.  When they go over budget or run out of money, they will just print more money or raise the debt ceiling.  Privately owned companies do not have this luxury.  If they do not make a profit, they will go out of business.  I stand corrected; it they do not make a profit and the government does not bail them out, they will go out of business.

We typically extort funding for public schools from individuals through property taxes. Ergo, the more money we pour into PUBLIC education the fewer dollars are available to support private education leaving us with fewer private schools.

Most private schools deliver a better educated student for less money than public schools. Most parents would rather send their children to private schools, but they cannot afford it because they are spending so much on taxes to support the failing public school they have no money left to pay private tuition.  Let the money follow the student.  Empower parents to decide to which school they want to send their children and the result will be a larger selection of private schools at a lower cost with a better outcome.

It really is as simple as that.  The government should provide no product or service the private sector is able to supply.

– Melody Himel Scalley hosts a conservative talk-radio show.  She has returned from an extended absence in the blogosphere.  Sometimes, life just gets in the way.  Live your dash!

I’d like to give a big ‘SHOUT OUT’ to Shirley Husar, a writer for the Washington Times.  She was very generous to include me in her “Top 21″ list that came out today in the Times!

I have a true passion for conservative causes.  The long hours often go unnoticed and are typically done on a volunteer basis simply because I truly want to make a difference.  I’m doing it the only way I know how; by explaining personal responsibility, free markets, and the God-given right we each have for LIFE, Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness.

I thank God each and every day for the opportunity to work for what I believe in and I try to make a difference, if I can, in HIS name.

Washington Times: Monday, February 13, 2012 - Urban Game Changer by Shirley Husar

“The Underground Railroad was a network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. We still have a cause today with conservative libertarian and independents Republicans.

So people get ready: there’s a train coming you do not need tickets, you just get on board.

Urban communities across the country are laying down a new set of railroad tracks for underground movement and GOP people are getting on board.

We will not be televised we will be webvised, we will be heard online through bloggers, videos, e-mails and text messages, twitters, Facebook and more.

We will no longer be shut out – we are the voice of the 21 century and we will be heard.

Get on board, Urban Game Changer has a ticket for you.” . . .

Visit the Washington Times to read the rest of the story!

My depth of understanding of these topics has grown substantially over the years as a result of all the incredible individuals I have had the opportunity to chat with, on the air, for my show.  I sincerely hope my listeners have enjoyed my show over the years as much as I have enjoyed the guests who have shared their time and knowledge with us whom I’ve had the honor to interview!

I was enjoying the Stossel show this weekend and he had Ambassador Terry Miller,  Director of the Center for International Trade and Economics (CITE) and the Mark A. Kolokotrones Fellow in Economic Freedom at The Heritage Foundation as a guest.

They were discussing the 2012 Index of Economic Freedom, an index that Heritage co-authors with The Wall Street Journal.  Before the show was over I had already booked Ambassador Miller as a guest on this weeks show.  This is a topic that is very important.  It’s also a topic that was not on my radar as recently as four years ago.

Seems hard to believe, doesn’t it?  But I was busy making a living and at that time it was getting more and more difficult to accomplish that as a self-employed individual.  The economic collapse resulted in the closure of my main business.

The downturn in the economy was certainly a wake-up call for me, as I know it has been for many others.  With it came the advent of the TEA Party and the involvement of many who were willing to mind their own business until it became painfully apparent the government was going to ‘take the liberty’ of intruding into our lives until we cried UNCLE!

This month marks the three year anniversary of my conservative talk-radio show, ‘Politics On The Edge’ on 103.3 WESR FM.  It has been an honor and a privilege to be your host.  I appreciate my listeners and respect the fact they choose to tune-in.  We still have that freedom here in the wonderful U.S.A.!

Thank you for listening!

I thank God for the incredible opportunity he has given me through this show!

 Please tune-in every Thursday evening from 6 PM to 9 PM on 103.3 WESR FM

Strange Friends of the New EPA Trucking Regulations

By Melody Himel Scalley

Recent headlines would have you believe the trucking industry and environmentalists are all singing kumbaya in praise of President Obama’s new regulations to lower greenhouse gas emissions and increase fuel efficiency in medium-and heavy-duty trucks.  If you were wondering what’s driving the cozy relationship between the Trucking Industry and the EPA, you are not alone.   Read the rest at The American Thinker!

Is this what you planned to leave your children and grand-children?This was the total on July 29, 2011

We need to have a serious conversation about the Federal Budget.  We are at that tipping point where the free market will be crushed and displaced by government at all levels.  We will never balance the budget without a serious understanding and overhauling of entitlements: Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid; and government subsidies.

It is the job of our Congress to control the fiscal spending of our nation. It is time for them to do their job and stop worrying about being re-elected. The Tea Party is serving a necessary function by holding Congress accountable while liberals and party insiders on both sides increase the size of government through their separate goals of socialized government and special interests through government subsidies.  They both mean well.  They are both wrong; neither is the job of our Federal Government. We must take care of those truly in need, and I believe we always will.  Overreaching government programs not only cause our nation unnecessary debt, they also stifle American exceptionalism. –Melody Scalley

For more ideas surf on over to:  Saving the American Dream Plan 

“The Heritage Plan to Fix the Debt, Cut Spending, and Restore Prosperity.”

The theme I want should have the following features:

• Clean lines!
• Optimized for advertising (banner, sidebar and tower).
• Must be able to seamlessly use the blubrry plugin or another easy to use mp3 plugin (the bulk of my posts include the mp3′s from my show).
• It does not have to be free but must be reasonably priced.
• I would like to be able to easily incorporate all of my existing blog posts into the new site.

I appreciate your suggestions and input!

Conservative Republican, Dr. Joanne E. Lapetina MD MS FAAP FACEP,

a Norfolk local and esteemed medical professional, files for the Republican nomination to the Virginia 6^th Senate District.

Sunday afternoon Dr. Joanne E. Lapetina MD MS FAAP FACEP a conservative Republican whose family roots in Norfolk date back to the mid 1800’s became the first and only candidate to file the required fee and letter of intent to seek the Republican nomination for the VA-06 Senate District with Robert Brown Chairman of the Virginia 6th Senate District Committee of the Republican Party.

“Our family has deep roots in this area.  I have been concerned for quite some time about the direction of our state and federal government; I want to do what I can to make sure my children have the same opportunities I had growing up here.” said Lapetina.  “After years of serving in the medical profession I felt compelled to step forward and offer my service in this capacity to the citizens of the 6^th Senate District and the citizens of Virginia.”

Dr. Lapetina was appointed to the Governor’s Advisory Board for Emergency Medical Services by both Governor George Allen and Governor James Gilmore.   She is a member of the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads and a member of the State Fire Chiefs Association and has a long record of public service and currently serves as medical director of the EMS and Fire agencies of multiple emergency crews.

Dr. Lapetina graduated from Norfolk Christian High School in 1977 and went on to graduate from Eastern Virginia Medical School in 1989, Alpha Omega Alpha.  Her career has included a Residency at the Medical College of Virginia Combined Internal Medicine/Pediatrics which was followed by positions staffing various Emergency Departments. These include CJW Medical Center and Retreat Doctors Hospital 1993-present; and DePaul Medical Center 2006-present, Medical Director since 2008, Interim Medical Director Maryview Medical Center 4/2011. She has served on the Virginia College of Emergency Physicians Board as well as the Richmond Academy of Medicine Board.

She joined the Tuckahoe Volunteer Rescue Squad in 1983 and received life membership after 17 years of active service.  Lapetina is a 25+ year member of the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads and was appointed as their representative to the Governor’s Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board by both Governor Allen and Governor Gilmore, where she served as chairperson. Her true life passion has been care for the sick and injured of our communities and to such end, she has also serves as medical director for the Fire/EMS agencies of Powhatan, Cumberland, Holly Grove, Southside Virginia Emergency Crew and the Old Dominion EMS Alliance.   She is currently serving as the Medical Director of the paramedic programs at J. Sargeant Reynolds and John Tyler Community colleges.

Lapetina was selected Outstanding EMS physician of the ODEMSA council in 2005 for her work to expedite advanced care to the rural communities through EKG acquisition and quick activation of protocols to identify heart attack patients.

She is married to Kenneth P. Clark the Interim Director of training and exercises for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and mother of two children, Sophia age 10 and Ethan age 9.

Other interests include reading, swimming, camping, white water rafting, science and art museums.

“Dr. Thomas Borelli is a senior fellow with The National Center for Public Policy Research, a Washington, D.C. public policy group.

Dr. Borelli also serves as the director of the National Center’s Free Enterprise Project.  In that role, he defends the free enterprise system by challenging government actions such as regulation and taxation that stifle economic growth.  He is a fierce critic of CEOs who seek short-term profit by designing their business strategies to align with the social and political goals of government and progressive activists, and exposes corporate actions that have the potential to harm both long-term investors and individual liberty.

As a shareholder activist, he has directly challenged CEOs and corporate directors for sacrificing sound business practices in order to make deals with government and their allies in the progressive movement that bypass the competitive marketplace.”

“This book is a review of my life experiences from growing up in a blue-collar world. Through these experiences, I examined the various “myths” passed on by the “opinion makers” of my time and explain how twisted their messages truly were.”