It is really very simple, no guns, no gun violence. Of 22 nations with similar mental health statistics, virtually none have the same problem with gun violence. The US, with 5% of the world's people, has nearly half of the civilian arms. Source, Economist magazine.
In the countries where charter schools and tax vouchers are successful, there is strong central control and oversight, which is missing from the US versions. Great article in the Economist a few months back on this topic, one which lays out all sides of the argument. Netherlands has the number seven best educational system in the world and uses both religious and governmental schooling. The mix works only because of a strong oversight from their central government, something which Betsy Devos seems to miss. By the way, the Economist article gives the US a number thirty-seven rating. Ask yourselves where China and other competitors are before opening your mouth about how wonderful charter schools are.
Check a recent article in the newsweekly "Economist" for an unbiased review of vouchers and tax credits used around the world for education. The basic thrust of the article is that vouchers & tax credits do work - where there is strong central control. Netherlands is a case in point - number 7 overall in the world (US is 39th), vouchers are used there in religious and sectarian schools but the central government plays a strong roll in ensuring a quality education.
I think we all need to take a step back and actually do some research on vouchers (school choice), tax incentives and the like in education. Seems those places that successfully use school choice also have a very strong central administration, something that is counter to those that advocate in the US for school choice. DeVos among those that need to do some further research. Number 9 overall in education, the Netherlands, uses both religious and public schools to educate their students, but the national government keeps a very close eye on what is going on in the schools. That seems to be the trend in successful school choice - a strong central control. Vouchers are not inherently bad, just the misuse of them for other than educational purposes. A recent article in the Economist has an excellent article on this topic.
To the boneheads who think this was the right thing to do. First, if you had a clue who the 75K SSA recipients were and how they were treated, you might understand. SSA finds out that someone is not taking care of themselves, investigates, then goes to court to have a Conservator appointed as the individuals have proven not to be able to take care of everyday business, such as paying rent, buying food, keeping themselves clean and healthy. Their funds are then put in the hands of the Conservator who is required to report how the money is used. To put guns in the hands of someone declared incapable of handling day to day living simply belies common sense much less the implications of legal responsibility should these individuals commit a crime. These are not the hundreds of thousands of disabled on SSA benefits, but a small portion of the whole.
Further, the same is true of Veterans Administration beneficiaries with mental illnesses. So, what Flake is saying is that it is OK to have someone with mental illnesses such as PTSD of such severity that a representative payee is appointed to be able to own guns. Do you want someone like that next door with your children running amok outside? Again, this is a small subset of veterans receiving benefits.
I'd just like to say this about Obamacare. First point - If the Repugnicans hadn't sat on their hands the first time around, we wouldn't be in this mess. Second point - the reason people are forced to buy insurance was simply that the program was designed to appeal to Repugnicans. Ask yourself, which so-called socialist would not just opt for single payer systems?
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Further, the same is true of Veterans Administration beneficiaries with mental illnesses. So, what Flake is saying is that it is OK to have someone with mental illnesses such as PTSD of such severity that a representative payee is appointed to be able to own guns. Do you want someone like that next door with your children running amok outside? Again, this is a small subset of veterans receiving benefits.