Q-and-A Club: Tax-and-Spend Game -- Funding education

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Q-and-A Club Questions

Community of the Curious and Courageous

An Apple on top of a pile of books Education

Tax-and-Spend Game Category 1

How do you evaluate the importance of these programs that are possible because of the taxes we pay?

NOTE #1: There are no explanations or definitions for the programs I've listed because I want to keep this simple enough that you will actually play the game. Use your experience or the Internet to help you evaluate a program's importance if you don't know much about it.

NOTE #2: SEE BOTTOM OF PAGE FOR CHANCE TO ENTER A DRAWING

Many of our tax dollars are spent on school programs because that is the foundation of an educated nation. Yet not all education programs are deemed equally valuable to the greatest number of students, while many programs that are considered essential to a well-rounded education, such as art, music, and sports, have been cut or completely eliminated in some schools.

If you are aware of other education programs funded by local, state, and/or national taxes that are not included in this list, please let me know. Use the Contact Us form.

How do you want your taxes to be spent for education?

________	Preschool for all children
________	Preschool for underprivileged children
________	Education for all children from first to twelfth grades
________	Evaluation of children for disabilities and special needs
________	Special education for students with identified developmental and physical disabilities
________	Higher education for all students
________	Higher education for qualified but needy students
________	Work/study programs
________	After school programs
________	Loans to students
________	Tax break for parents who homeschool
________	Tax break for parents of children who attend private schools
________	Sports and physical education programs as integral classes in school
________	Art and music programs as integral classes in school
________	State community colleges
________	Underwriting of graduate programs in areas deemed important to our economy and health, such as engineering and bioresearch
________	Training programs for a skilled labor force
________	Underwriting of graduate programs in areas deemed important to our economy and health, such as engineering and bioresearch
________	School breakfast and lunch programs
________	Adjunct programs such as guidance counseling and college prep
________	Student health programs including sex education

HOW TO PLAY

1. Read How Will the Election Change Our Taxes? for an introduction to the game.

2. Read Rules for the Tax-and-Spend Game in order to understand the assumptions under which the rules have been written — and to learn what you have to do to win the game.

3. Use the line in front of each item to write how you would like funding to continue, to be reduced, to be increased, or to be eliminated.

4. Complete all eleven categories in order to win the game.

Remember, while eliminating government waste should be pursued if for no other reason than that it will reduce taxes to some extent, that action alone will not eliminate the national debt.

Ask yourself the following questions to help you consider the importance of each item on the left. Pay particular attention to "why" and/or "how" you answer the question the way you do.

Have I or my friends benefited from this government program? How?

In what way does this service benefit society as a whole even if I, or my family and friends, are not personally affected by the program?

Do I believe government should fund this program? Why?

If I am currently participating or benefiting from this program, would I be willing to have it eliminated in order to balance the budget?

How would I suggest the services provided by this program be funded? Why? See How Does the Government Get Our Money?

Could the services of this program be easily provided by the private sector? If so, how?

In the line to the left of each item, write one of the following:

Maintain . . .

. . . indicates you are satisfied in having your taxes support that particular education program in local, state, and national budgets at the same rate your taxes fund it today

Decrease . . .

. . . indicates you want to spend fewer of your tax dollars on that item

Increase . . .

. . . means you believe the government needs to do more than it is currently doing and you are willing to be taxed accordingly

Eliminate . . .

. . . means you do not want the government to provide this service and you know a way in which it can be supported effectively without taxes (see How We Pay for Government Services)

Use the Contact Us form to send comments and questions concerning the Tax-and-Spend Game.

ENTER A DRAWING ONCE A WEEK FOR ELEVEN WEEKS (MARCH 2 TO MAY 17, 2008) FOR A SPECIAL PRIZE

The prize is my latest book, Ask Yourself Questions and Change Your Life: Stop wishing your life were different and make it happen

NOTE #1: All fields are required.

NOTE #2: I will not share your name with anyone and I won't put you on my newsletter list unless you subscribe yourself. This is just information I need for this one drawing, but if you don't give me your correct email address I won't be able to contact you if you win.

NOTE #3: You can enter as often as you like, but each entry must be for another Tax-and-Spend category

Name:

Email Address:

Verify Email Address:

Name of the tax-and-spend category to which your answer below applies

What government services and programs you now use are you willing to give up in order to help balance the budget? Why?

May I share your answer on the Support4Change blog or website? I will not give your name or email address.
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