Did he really intend to make an argument for a vochuer system for education?

One way to cut health care costs would be to mandate a high deductible. Insurance is meant to protect us against disasters. If people had some "skin-in-the-game" they wouldn't run to the doctors so much.

Always in these discussions of health care the argument comes down to money. It is amazing that here in the 21st century the health of a nations citizens is dependent upon money. Fifty years ago when I was a boy more than half of the hospitals in the country were non=profit, now almost all are for-profit and we ask, Why are costs rising? Really, is the public that stupid. People, nations, civilizations are measured by a continuing evolution of their consciousness regarding the quality of life. This country has reduced itself to measuring itself by a P&L statement. As long as health care is an industry and not a part of our very infrastructure not a part of our moral duty one to another then prices will escalate. Anyone who looks at costs sees that the rising costs relate to insurers, hospitals, drug manufacturers, the folks who are in it for the buck. We would be better served with less technology, less profit and more compassion, at least then we could afford to treat health care as it should be treated, as a duty one to another.

This discussion does not include a drill down of the Medicaid budget and what it pays for. It is actually much more slanted towards younger population. Half or more of the budget is for nursing home care. This allows families who could not care for and can not afford to care for their loved ones to lead a less stressful life. It also allows improved social interactions since the drudgery of personal care is removed and healthier relationships occur. After nursing homes 80% of what's left goes to support children. So there is no clash of young versus old but an across the board benefit to all.

You should know that even before Proposition 2 1/2, the K-12 public school system ranked low compared to other states, including low-tax New Hampshire. It just cost more. Massachusetts had "school committee fiscal autonomy", which mandated that Town Meetings and City Councils had to give their local schools any amount they wanted, at the expense of other town departments, and taxpayers who paid the highest property taxes in the nation. Prop 2 1/2 repealed this. It also led to serious reforms, allowing testing that holds the education establishment responsible for education outcome, and charter schools, which free the children from the selfish focus of the teachers unions. Couldn't get vouchers though, Byron; that kind of education competition is still a dream of those who value real education.

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There are so many incongruent factors in education, The excitement and progress of "online resources" and implementation of national standards, No Child Left Behind, a reasonable framework with which to work. It is very important to note, however, that our approach to primary education continues to operate via "trickle down" principles...thereby in so many ways limiting our youngs' access and potential to even participate in the wondrous and extensive offerings at higher ed levels. I think, too, we miss the target with pre-school programs as the starting point---the age and focus needs to be raised to elementary school. Programs like Headstart and Early Intervention are good starters for helping folks understand very primary child social skills, but too often these skills and the momentum of education get lost in sub-standard elementary school programs--which lack quality in everything, with lousy teachers (yes!), administration by people more ordained than trained, crumbling physical plants with no phys ed, school "nutrition programs" for needy students that serve fare little better than Alpo. Boston's not off the hook.

Professor you don't get a passing grade. Comparing the current state dollars spent on education to the current state dollars spent on healthcare, isn't as simple as comparing the budget appropriation. You need to consider where that money is coming from. For instance, at least 50% of all spending in MassHealth is funded by the federal government, those dollars are not available to spend anywhere but on medicaid. When you consider just the state dollars available, the numbers are a lot closer to being equal.