Justice Thomas Slams Liberals in Voucher Opinion

Cornell Law Review ^ | 6/27/02 | Justice Clarence Thomas

[frmrda]

Here is a portion of Justice Thomas' opinion in teh voucher case that will have liberals blowing a gasket:

While the romanticized ideal of universal public education resonates with the cognoscenti who oppose vouchers, poor urban families just want the best education for their children, who will certainly need it to function in our high-tech and advanced society. As Thomas Sowell noted 30 years ago: “Most black people have faced too many grim, concrete problems to be romantics. They want and need certain tangible results, which can be achieved only by developing certain specific abilities.” Black Education: Myths and Tragedies 228 (1972). The same is true today. An individual’s life prospects increase dramatically with each successfully completed phase of education. For instance, a black high school dropout earns just over $13,500, but with a high school degree the average income is almost $21,000. Blacks with a bachelor’s degree have an average annual income of about $37,500, and $75,500 with a professional degree. See U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of Census, Statistical Abstract of the United States 140 (2001) (Table 218). Staying in school and earning a degree generates real and tangible financial benefits, whereas failure to obtain even a high school degree essentially relegates students to a life of poverty and, all too often, of crime.8 The failure to provide education to poor urban children perpetuates a vicious cycle of poverty, dependence, criminality, and alienation that continues for the remainder of their lives. If society cannot end racial discrimination, at least it can arm minorities with the education to defend themselves from some of discrimination’s effects

[frmrda]

This paragraph alone is one of the most powerful slams at know it all liberals, especially the black poverty pimps. It is also why Justice Thomas is so excoriated by those on the left. He refuses to stay on the "plantation" and spout the liberal line. We need more like him. Congratulations Justice Thomas, for speakign the truth.

[NittanyLion]

The failure to provide education to poor urban children perpetuates a vicious cycle of poverty, dependence, criminality, and alienation that continues for the remainder of their lives. If society cannot end racial discrimination, at least it can arm minorities with the education to defend themselves from some of discrimination’s effects.

But, if not for this vicious cycle, how would liberals hold minority votes hostage?

[DoughtyOne]

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[r9etb]

Thomas is certainly correct, but I would hope that his opinion is based on something more Constitutional than this.

[summer]

Very powerful words, indeed.

[volchef]

What a great man. I never tire of reading his intelligent, insightful, and often stinging remarks. Truly I think he will go down as one of the all time great SCOTUS justices.

[mhking]

Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

[mhking]

Truly I think he will go down as one of the all time great SCOTUS justices.

I'm convinced he'll become chief justice before his tenure ends; much to the consternation of not only the left, but of the race warlords as well...

[B. A. Conservative]

I hope Clarence Thomas has a long healthy life and serves on the Court for the duration or until he is term limited out by a Constitutional Amendment. He is a brilliant honest man. And he will deservedly go down in history as one of the best Justices to ever sit on the bench. Freedom loving Americans are going to owe this man their admiration, their respect and their gratitude for his role in preserving freedom.

[Elkiejg]

I'm convinced he'll become chief justice before his tenure ends; much to the consternation of not only the left, but of the race warlords as well...

Agree - he SHOULD be Chief due to his intellitect alone!! I hope I live to see the Je$$e's, Da$$hole's and Hildabeasts of the world squirm when they try to deny him.

[frmrda]

It is, you have to read the whole opinion. Also, he joined Rehnquist's majority opinion, which discusses in great detail why this system does not violate the Establishment Clause.

I think Thomas writes things like this just to rub it in the face of all those liberals who opposed him on Anita Hill grounds, rather than just being honest and disagreeing w/ him b/c he's a conservative and doesn't toe the liberal line.

[ikka]

Clarence Thomas quotes Thomas Sowell. Wow!

It is about time that Thomas Sowell gets noticed more.

[onedoug]

Without having read his full opinion, I would essentially agree,
although I'm yet a little uneasy over the emphasis on minorities and his nibbling around the edges of the "poverty causes crime" bit.

[Intolerant in NJ]

“Most black people have faced too many grim, concrete problems to be romantics. They want and need certain tangible results...polls have consistently shown blacks supporting vouchers, sometimes by as much as 65% - should be the new civil rights issue for the 2000's, with conservatives leading the charge for once......

[Hacksaw]

Whatever my fellow Freepers may think of King George the 1st, we should give him respect for appointing Clarence Thomas.

[scalia_#1]

Thomas is certainly correct, but I would hope that his opinion is based on something more Constitutional than this.

From Thomas' concurring opinion: "Today’s decision properly upholds the program as constitutional, and I join it in full."

Thomas took the opportunity to make a sophisticated point about incorporation of the Establishment Clause through the 14th Amendment, as well as to articulate the reasonable government interest in create voucher programs. If you want a run-down of the First Amendment analysis, read the Opinion of the Court.

[Michael.SF.]

Money talks and BS walks.

The Liberal cognoscenti are in a real conundrum here. Do they:

a) Placate their school union members by continuing to support higher salaries for teachers and more money for schools?
Or
b) Do they continue to support the (misguided) loyalty of their Black constituents, by actually trying to improve the overall education of Blacks?

Ahhhh, but here is the rub:

Educated Blacks, will have more of a tendency to drift away from the Democratic Party, therefore, why educate them? Which brings me back to the beginning: "Money talks (the Unions) and BS walks (Blacks away from the democratic Party)"

[The Vast Right Wing]

Why this man is not a hero to blacks in America is a mystery to me.

[DrDavid]

Thomas is certainly correct, but I would hope that his opinion is based on something more Constitutional than this.

It sounds like Thomas's opinion is based on the same article of the Constitution that mandates Federal funding for Public Schools!

[frmrda]

I would agree but all that credit gets eaten up b/c King George the first also appointed David Souter.