Archive for Tag “justice”

Institutionalized inequality

Wednesday, June 24, 2009 by Jeff Scialabba

schoolbus-flickr-macwagenUnder a 1975 U.S. law, school districts which fail to provide a “free and appropriate education” for students with disabilities can be (and have been) sued by parents for reimbursement of the cost of schooling those students privately. A new Supreme Court ruling will now allow parents to seek reimbursement for private school education even if their special needs child has never attended public school.

The ruling is significant not for the specific, narrow legal issue that it resolved, but because it brings back to light the perverse double standard inherent in the law guaranteeing such reimbursement. Namely, why are students without disabilities not afforded the opportunity for an “appropriate” education as well?

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Message to July 4th Tea Party-goers

Friday, June 19, 2009 by Debi Ghate

Are you thinking of going to a Tea Party on July 4th? Is it because your tax dollars are being used to “stimulate” the economy and to bail out bad decision makers, and that seems unjust?  Because the money earned by responsible people is being confiscated and spent on rescuing those who are experiencing financial woes? Are you going because Washington’s policies seem unfair? Are you going for  justice – for yourself and for all hardworking Americans?

 We’ve all seen the bumper stickers: “Honk if you are paying your neighbor’s mortgage.” But is that all you are paying for? It’s time for a minivan full of new bumper stickers. Honk if you are paying for:

  • Your neighbor’s children’s education.
  • Your neighbor’s health care benefits.
  • Your neighbor’s unemployment benefits.
  • Your neighbor’s Social Security.
  • Your neighbor’s electric bill.
  • Your neighbor’s subsidized hybrid car. Read the rest of this entry »

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