I decided to take a look at the Collegian on Thursday to see what was happening in State College, and I noticed the editorial. I read through it, and wondered if the Collegian really changed since I was at Penn State. When I went to Penn State, the Collegian was definitely a socialist, left-leaning publication.

It must not be anymore, because the Board of Opinion dislikes President Bush's education plan.

I say this because any socialist worthy of the name would be drooling over President Bush's education plan. The amount of federal control it brings to an area that has traditionally been the sole jurisdiction of state and local government is mind boggling. And the vouchers!

No socialist could ever oppose that. Because with federal money comes federal control, and really at its root, socialism is all about control.

Not that I support President Bush's education plan. First off, there is no constitutional authority for federal involvement in education.

Sorry, but the commerce clause doesn't cut it; take a look through the Federalist Papers. So if he took his oath of office seriously, he'd be pushing for an end to federal involvement in education.

Secondly, the principles of free-market capitalism are wonderful for education. Why? Well, schools that don't teach won't make money and they'll fail. That's the way it should be. And please, spare me the talk of schools being too expensive for the poor. I grew up in a family that barely made ends meet. And all four of us children went to private school.

And my family still was forced to pay for the government-run schools. And no one lifted a finger to help us. No, I think the best education reform would be to get the government completely out of the education business.