People tired of having to pay handouts, now trying to do something about it.

[Don Corleone]

Back on topic, in order for a meritocracy to function properly, quality education must be available for all. While I agree with local control, a more equitable means of funding school districts must be found. I know this sounds anathema coming from a relatively fiscal conservative such as myself, but I cannot reconcile locally funded school districts with the idea of a level playing field. A quality education is too critical to one's success in life to allow it be brushed aside with things like the Horatio Alger myth. Yes, there are people who defy the odds, but that's exactly what they're doing.

I will say, however, before anybody starts taking my money and sending it into inner-city schools (which I would actually be open to) they really need to fix other messes in the education system that are unaddressed, such as the monoply enjoyed by the NEA that for 30 years has driven us to third world levels of education. I would say restoring a ratio of 5 teachers to 1 administrator would be a healthy start, instead of the bloated 1:1 system we currently have. And perhaps standardized testing is not the answer, but I never see those who oppose it offer a solution for actually evaluating quality in education. They always make the argument about 'teaching to the test', but at least they're teaching. With no goals and no evaluation, the teachers don't even do that.