Armed Polite Society

Main Forums => Politics => Topic started by: Hawkmoon on June 27, 2022, 11:22:32 AM

Title: SCOTUS allows taxpayer money to be used for religious education
Post by: Hawkmoon on June 27, 2022, 11:22:32 AM
https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-decision-religious-schools-aid-85645580702ed5ff125cf9760024ae89

It's an interesting case. Maine has many communities that are too small to support their own schools, so the state provides money for families in such communities to send their children to private schools of their choice -- but the program excludes religious schools. The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that this is unconstitutional.

I'm sure nobody will be surprised that it was the usual liberal triumverate who voted against the decision. Sotomayor whined about "dismantle[ing] the wall of separation between church and state that the Framers fought to build," -- as if that's what the Framers did. In reality, the Constitution only says the government shall not establish a state religion. When I was young, our money all still said "In God we trust" on it; Sotomayor obviously doesn't understand the Constitution she is sworn to interpret. Breyer wrote a dissent saying that Maine wanted to fund secular public education, not religious education.

Simple, Mr. Justice Breyer -- if Maine wants to fund secular public education, they don't have to fund any private education at all -- just build and operate public schools serving small, remote communities. As the majority decision notes, once the state decides to use public funds to pay for private education, the state can't discriminate on the basis of religion.
Title: Re: SCOTUS allows taxpayer money to be used for religious education
Post by: Brad Johnson on June 27, 2022, 02:18:12 PM
Quote
SCOTUS allows taxpayer money to be used for religious education

Might consider revising the title. "...allows taxpayer money to be used for religious education" carries a specific connotation. "Allows parents to use public education funds to send their child to an accredited school of their choice" is more in line with the decision.

Brad
Title: Re: SCOTUS allows taxpayer money to be used for religious education
Post by: Nick1911 on June 27, 2022, 02:22:51 PM
Might consider revising the title. "...allows taxpayer money to be used for religious education" carries a specific connotation. "Allows parents to use public education funds to send their child to an accredited school of their choice" is more in line with the decision.

Brad

^^
That
Title: Re: SCOTUS allows taxpayer money to be used for religious education
Post by: Hawkmoon on June 27, 2022, 02:53:00 PM
Might consider revising the title. "...allows taxpayer money to be used for religious education" carries a specific connotation. "Allows parents to use public education funds to send their child to an accredited school of their choice" is more in line with the decision.

Brad

Yes, but the title of the thread reflects how the media are portraying it. You cheated and read the article.
Title: Re: SCOTUS allows taxpayer money to be used for religious education
Post by: Pb on June 27, 2022, 07:56:27 PM
I recently read that Maine's voucher program is so popular that when local public schools close, it causes property values to rise... because your kids can then get vouchers.
Title: Re: SCOTUS allows taxpayer money to be used for religious education
Post by: WLJ on June 27, 2022, 09:30:41 PM
And whad'ya know? 6-3 AGAIN
Title: Re: SCOTUS allows taxpayer money to be used for religious education
Post by: Hawkmoon on June 27, 2022, 09:45:22 PM
And whad'ya know? 6-3 AGAIN

SURPRISE!

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/supreme-court-justices-aren-t-pretending-to-respect-each-other/ar-AAYULUq?ocid=uxbndlbing