Today while the farrier was here trimming my pony’s hoofs, we discussed the upcoming senate race in our state. Why anyone would want to vote a self-proclaimed socialist into office, I do not know (my farrier is not of the type who would.)

I was bemoaning this very fact to my husband the other day. He reminded me that no matter what the smart, common sense farmers and rural dwellers who value independence and individual industry might vote, most of our state’s votes get thrown by Chittenden county, home to UVM and Burlington.

UPDATE: Burlington Free Press endorses Rich Tarrant for Senate!

Then I bemoaned this fact to a good and wise friend, who reminded me that it takes an educated people to make a wise choice. Never mind that said candidate is a socialist: he’s their bud. Would they really vote him in? Do they know what socialism is?

Then I remembered my own public school learning experiences. We had one year of ‘World History,’ a couple of years of American History, and all the rest- Social Studies. Even then, we had texts full of people starving and unindustrialized around the globe, and it was all nasty white free big business’s fault.

(I have nothing against helping people lift themselves up out of bad situations. I just think it needs to be done by charity followed by empowerment. This type of thing can’t happen without free enterprise. Granted, as WORLD magazine editor in chief Marvin Olasky frequently points out, the church has dropped the ball on this, but a socialized pooling of resources is not the answer.)

One of the things I am grateful for as a homeschooling parent is that we get to read through history as adults and see the consequences of ideas. I truly think our only hope is in the home educated children who are learning principles of liberty and freedom in their homes, away from the effect of the socialized government system.

I know many feel exactly the same way about this: in fact, it’s part of our mission.

Related Tags: Socialist Senate Candidate, Vermont Senate Race