Peggy Noonan took pen in hand on the pages of the Wall Street Journal to tell us we should think like 11-year-olds in combating Ebola and impose a travel ban. Peggy doesn’t trust people with degrees in public health or medicine. People with degree in law and business should know how to combat infectious diseases.
That got me thinking about what other policy decisions we could leave up to children. If you have an 11-year-old, please give them this brief survey and mail it to Ms. Noonan.
1. What should we do with foreigners brought here as children?
a. criminalize and shun them (but tax them)
b. hug them
2. Which of these parties do you think will best represent Americans?
a.
b.
3. Do you think giving housing, food, and medical care to poor families:
a. Makes them get less done; or
b. Helps them get more done
4. What should we do with children whose parents don’t provide health insurance?
a. Give them health insurance
b. Not give them health insurance
5. To reduce gun violence does America need
a. More guns
b. Fewer guns
5. Our country has a lot of debt. What shall we do to pay it off?
a. Tax the wealthiest people
b. Take it from old people’s retirement
6. Which is worse?
a. Secretly selling weapons to a militant dictatorship (Iran); or
b. Asking for too much paperwork from charities with “Tea Party” in their name
7. Which do you think is the best use of our money?
a. Bombs
b. Schools
Today’s GOP manages to capture all of the ignorance of children without any of their compassion.