I want to comment on two things I heard on the news lately.
1. possible mandatory eye exams for children entering kindergarten
2. possible mandatory photo id for voters
Now, in both cases, it seems that the sides that are complaining about these issues, the problem is with the cost. They don't say they're horrible ideas, merely that they harm the poor. My answer? If the government wants it, let it... if it's willing to pay for it.
Okay... there's me sticking my opinion where it doesn't belong. ;) Time to run for the bus.
4 comments:
when I was in elementary school (public school, montgomery county, MD, then known as the best public school system in the US), they did eye and hearing exams in school on every student every other year -- K-4.
They also did it for kids who the teachers noticed might be having vision/hearing problems. They were not in-depth tests but they were typically enough to gauge whether there was a problem or not. I guess they don't do that anymore, or it's something that they only do in certain areas (babysis is 8y younger than me and 9y behind me in school since I skipped a grade and they did still do it on her).
Seems like that's the best solution, if they want it done!
The photo id is harder because it's more the time to go get the photo id.
Yeah, they did basic eye and hearing tests at my elementary school too, but then I grew up in Canada. I assumed that they don't do that around here. I could be wrong.
The time for a photo id is a nuisance, but I'd think people would do it because of all the stuff that requires a photo id.
I'm baffled by the outcry about requiring photo ID to vote. Photo ID is required for virtually everything else these days, including working, so you'd think they'd already have it anyway. It might make voting lines longer, though, since more time would be required to check each person's photo ID. I have to admit, though, that I find it weird that an ID of SOME SORT isn't required now. *shrug*
I remember getting vision and hearing screening in elementary (and I think middle school as well) school, and scoliosis screening in middle school (I had it, fun fun!). I never really though about who was paying for it (my assumption now would be taxpayers, through our property taxes). The one problem with requiring anything like that and having the government pay for it, is that it's really us taxpayers footing the bill. And if you think income tax is bad, wait 'til you own a house and have to pay property taxes (I assume you have those in CA, too?). Ours here are nuts. Now if the schools could be more efficient and reallocate a small amount of my money for that, I could deal with it. But I really don't want more tax increases! Of course, if I have kids in the public schools, and I'm already getting them a vision exam through our personal eye doctor, I've just paid twice for my kid's eye exam. *shrug*
They did it when I was a kid in Massachusetts, too. I don't recall in what grades.
The last time I voted in a primary, they wanted to see my driver's licence. Though, thinking about it, if I'd wanted to go through the effort I could have probably provided other sorts of proof of residence.
I suppose that's the sort of thing I should be fussed by, but really... I just had to show two forms of ID (one a photo ID) to get a BLOCKBUSTER card, for goodness' sakes. You literally can't do ANYTHING without photo ID these days. And there's something to be said for making sure the people who turn up to vote really are who they say they are...
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