'The public school is the greatest discovery made by man.' —Horace Mann
A healthy democracy depends on having an educated and informed nation. Public schools serve this purpose more than any other institution. Likewise, investing in our public schools here in Santa Barbara is essential to the health of our community. But there are some who question the need for on-going or increased taxes for our public schools. I would argue that it is one of the most important and best investments the local Santa Barbara community can make on behalf of all citizens.
David Brooks, a writer for the New York Times, talks about being either a taxpayer or a citizen in his article on October 3, 2016 . “You can be a taxpayer or you can be a citizen. If you’re a taxpayer your role in the country is defined by your economic and legal status. Your primary identity is individual. You’re perfectly within your rights to do everything you legally can to look after your self-interest. The problem with the taxpayer mentality is that you end up serving your individual interest short term but soiling the nest you need to be happy in over the long term.”