The Old "But I'm A Taxpayer" Routine

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!

How many times do I have to endure that tired, lame lament?

Yes, Mr. & Mrs. Property Owner, taxes are the price you pay for a civilized society!

New York, Connecticut, and Washington DC top the list of our nation's state and local taxpayers.

Kinda kills that frequently hurled Redneck "Taxachussets" Battle Cry, doesn't it?

Now I learn that the Throwbacks in Tennessee-- who yank their yahoo offspring out of the public school system and spend much more on Home Schooling materials alone than the state system spends on the teachers, staff, materials, and programs designed to offer Little Yahoo Throwback a decent public school education in a year-- want the public schools to welcome home Schooled kids into their fine arts and extra-curricular programs...

These are the same parents who actually believe that--- because they went to school and sat in a desk-- they are automatically qualified to teach.

Like Veruka Salt, They want it all...

Because they pay taxes, after all.

Ahem.

Tennessee taxpayers rank 48th in the nation in state and local tax burden.

I believe that bears repeating.

48th in the nation.

So when I hear that "But I'm A Taxpayer" crap spewing forth from Tennessee's Home School Lovers, I have to remind them that public schools are just one element of the services supported by their state and local tax dollars...

Public Works

Public Works includes road design, construction and maintenance; and county parks.

Law and Justice

Law and Justice includes the Sheriff's services, juvenile justice services, jail, criminal and civil courts, prosecution, indigent defense, and alternative sentencing programs.

General Government

General Government consists of the Board of County Commissioners and other basic government functions, such as property appraisal, tax collection, issuance of marriage licenses and elections administration.

Community Development

Community Development includes the programs for planning and regulating development and for enforcing building, plumbing, and fire codes. It also includes the county's Animal Control program.

Community Services

Community Services encompasses the county's social services programs, including services for the mentally ill, developmentally disabled, and substance abusers. It also includes such activities as assistance to veterans.

Internal Support

Internal Support includes the basic functions necessary to support overall county operations, such as purchasing, personnel, facilities maintenance, and data processing.

Other

The budget encompasses the Capital and Debt category, which includes general obligation debt payments and purchases made through the Capital Acquisition Fund. The budget also includes the Fiscal Entities category, consisting of budgets for contingency reserves and funds that do not represent operating budgets but still exist as accounting entities.

There's only one thing to do when Home School parents demand that the public schools they revile don't enrich the lives of their little Home school yahoos (and increase their chances of a free ride on the college bound yellow bus)...

Quick! Call the WAAAmbulance!

Home-schooled students want part in public school activities

By CLAUDETTE RILEY
Staff Writer

Families who don't want their children attending public schools do want them to be able to play on public school sports teams.

The Tennessee Home Education Association is backing legislation that would allow students who are taught at home — and those in small private schools — to play high school sports and participate in such extracurricular activities as art, drama and music in public schools.

''It's about equal access,'' said Mike Bell, a THEA lobbyist who teaches his kids at home. ''This is about giving all Tennessee children equal access to publicly funded facilities and activities.'' --snip--

Supporters argue that home-school families pay taxes to support public schools but don't get to take advantage of the activities they offer. --snip--

''The concern in the home-school community is that they'll have to submit to some oversight,'' said Kay Brooks, founder of a home-school information clearinghouse and network in Tennessee. ''That's the big Mack truck hole — what are the eligibility requirements.''

Devin Moon, a home-school student from Murfreesboro, doesn't like the idea of playing by public- school rules.

''When we give the government this much power over home-schoolers, it's going to be used against us,'' said Devin, 16, who participates in home-school speech and debate leagues. ''Strings are going to be attached.'' LINK

Hey, Tennessee Throwbacks!

People in Hell want ice water, but that doesn't mean they're gonna get it.

Heavy, public school educated sigh.