No iPod Left Behind
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If the story of how Merck bought Texas Governor Rick Perry's executive order requiring an expensive and not entirely effective HPV vaccine for all schoolgirls couldn't convince you that all politicians are, by definition, moral defectives, then perhaps you should scroll down the playlist a bit:
And did you notice the "budget crisis" reference? Even if one could argue that iPods -- all 100 million of them -- are somehow a "market failure" inviting government subsidization, is a budget crisis the best time to commence the subsidization?
Just because a good or service helps children learn does not make it a public good. A pebble of (potential) positive externalities, drowned in an ocean of strictly private utility, is not an automatic prescription for taxpayer underwriting. iPods may be a great learning tool, in between playlists. All the more reason for parents to pay for them rather than taxpayers.
Shame on Apple for its despicable rent-seeking. And shame on these politicians for using schoolchildren as an excuse to yet again bilk taxpayers to feed their political egos.
(Via Raw Feed by way of TechDirt.)
Two state lawmakers backing a controversial plan to buy iPods for every schoolchild in Michigan were among a group of politicians who made a trip to California that was paid for at least in part by Apple, the maker of iPods.Sure -- and video games improve hand-eye coordination. Does that suggest taxpayer-subsidized Xboxes for every kindergartner?
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The $36-million iPod proposal was unveiled last week at a news conference called by [House Speaker Andy] Dillon to discuss the state's budget crisis and House Democrats' plans to address it.
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Dillon defended the trip in a statement issued by his office Tuesday night. He said he was "one of several lawmakers to take this trip, and I am more convinced than ever that the future for our children lies in education. As we move to the technology age and the knowledge-based economy, it would be irresponsible to separate technology from our K-12 system.
And did you notice the "budget crisis" reference? Even if one could argue that iPods -- all 100 million of them -- are somehow a "market failure" inviting government subsidization, is a budget crisis the best time to commence the subsidization?
Just because a good or service helps children learn does not make it a public good. A pebble of (potential) positive externalities, drowned in an ocean of strictly private utility, is not an automatic prescription for taxpayer underwriting. iPods may be a great learning tool, in between playlists. All the more reason for parents to pay for them rather than taxpayers.
Shame on Apple for its despicable rent-seeking. And shame on these politicians for using schoolchildren as an excuse to yet again bilk taxpayers to feed their political egos.
(Via Raw Feed by way of TechDirt.)
Posted by Kip on
12 April 2007
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