If you had only 2 choices for your Federal Government to provide for your family, and you had to pick one would you choose

1. Better Schools like books, desks,

2. Better Protection from things like Nukes, 9/11, terrorists.

I had a very interesting debate with a pal of mine and wanted to see some other opinions.

By Hol on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 04:07 pm:

I definitely vote for #2! Schools, for the most part, can be handled better at the state and local level. However, only the Feds can protect us from the dangers you mention.
Besides, good schools won't do us any good if we aren't here.

By Ginny~moderator on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 04:44 pm:

I won't accept the "only 2 choices". But, IMO, the federal government is doing a lousy job on schools (which, yes, are a local/state issue, but there is a lot of federal money and federal control and that federal control is wasting a lot of money right now); and the federal government is doing a lousy job on protection (a popcorn stand was listed as a terrorist target, for heaven's sake, and hundreds of millions spent on a "star wars" system over the past 10-15 years and it still doesn't work, and dozens or hundreds of other examples).

By Mommmie on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 05:04 pm:

#2
What's the point of having good schools if they get blown up?

By Kym on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 05:26 pm:

Ginny, i know it's hypothetical and you don't like the current admin. but it was the question posed during our conversation, not a matter of opinion on what is happening now, but with any administration, would we be better off with better schools or better protection?

By Kate on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 05:57 pm:

#2

By Reds9298 on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 09:17 pm:

Well, it may seem like an obvious answer, but I just think we're (the gov't)SAYING that we have better protection when actually it's not that much better. So, since this "protections" is likely a joke, I vote for the school help!

By Ginny~moderator on Saturday, July 22, 2006 - 10:04 am:

I'm with you, Deanna. Because these are the only two choices allowed in this thread, I'd vote for schools because I think it would be more likely the money would have an affect.

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, July 22, 2006 - 10:31 am:

I agree with you, Deanna and Ginny. I don't have a clue, what the Homeland Security office, even does. I think the school money would have a more tangible effect!

By Mommmie on Saturday, July 22, 2006 - 11:27 am:

You can always teach your kids at home or put them in private school or relocate to a better school area. You can take that issue into your own hands and do something about it if you are not happy.

What can individuals do about national security? A single person can't protect their children from terrorism, but a single person can protect their kids from bad educations.

P.S. I can't stand George Bush. I voted for Kerry and if I could have I would have voted for Clinton for a 3rd term.

By Tarable on Saturday, July 22, 2006 - 08:25 pm:

I would pick #2 because I think that if we would just pay more attention to our own country and not to the rest of the world we might not have all the problems with terror and stuff that we have now.

By Cocoabutter on Sunday, July 23, 2006 - 12:26 am:

Regardless of the current situation, I do believe that it is the primary job of the government to provide security and law enforcement, so I would pick #2.

By Amecmom on Sunday, July 23, 2006 - 06:30 pm:

Ditto Mommmie - all except the P.S. - I can educate my children, but I can only do so much to keep them safe.
Ame

By Vicki on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 09:27 am:

I vote #2 also. As others have said, I can educate my own child, but I can't do much at all to protect us from the things mentioned.

By Yjja123 on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 01:12 pm:

I can and do educate my children. I absolutely choose #2. Better Protection from things like Nukes, 9/11, terrorists.
I expect the government to protect us. I think they need to do a better job!

By Bellajoe on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 08:58 pm:

#2