Destroy the DOE

The greatest advances of civilization, whether in architecture or painting, in science and literature, in industry or agriculture, have never come from centralized government.

-Milton Friedman

Sharron Angle is going after Harry Reid in Nevada tooth and nail. No surprise there: she's the GOP candidate against him for the Senate seat up for the state this November, and a darling of the Tea Party movement. But what intrigues are some of her recent stands. She wants repeal of the health care reform, lower taxes, and the disbanding of certain federal agencies, including the Department of Education.

Bravo, Sharron. Washington knows little about most anything these days, much less education. In fact, as Mr. Friedman points out in our chosen quote, it knows little about anything. Innovation almost always comes from the private sector. But more to the point, what the folks who want government control of education do not realize is that centralizing education centralizes control of what gets taught in the long run. It is a mean of control, not liberation.

If we want freedom we need independent schools. That's where any worthwhile diversity will emanate: from free minds interacting freely.

Washington will only tell us what good it will do for us. A well regulated personal freedom demonstrates the good, and teaches us what government cannot: to do for ourselves.