our own axis of evil

I used to think that institutionalised religion and crime were the biggest threats to democracy and social justice in this country, but now I can see that the private school system belongs in the same league. A veritable Axis of Evil and injustice within our own borders - crime, religion and private schools. Come to think of it, both crime and religion have a lot to do with private schools!

I've read the news several times, but I still can't believe my eyes. The Labor party has agreed to maintain the Howard government atrocity that funnels huge sums of public money into the privileged private school system, at the expense of our public schools, for another 3 years! For what? So these children of the rich and nouveau-riche can continue to enjoy their birthright privileges (including practising the fine art of shoplifting), subsidised by all tax-payers? Children whose parents no doubt can already afford to avail themselves of the many tax-avoidance and minimisation schemes not available to the masses trapped in the PAYE system that supports private schools.

This is one of the worst, most unfair and unjust policies that this country has ever been subject to, and it disgusts me that the Labor party has allowed the private school lobby to influence and control it in this way.

My electoral options this month are shrinking by the day.

p.s... and here's a great article by Kenneth Davidson in the Age 9/8 on government funding of private schools.