For our nation’s birthday – let’s give some thought to what it really means to be a great nation.

(I’m trying to take a little work break in honor of July 4th so I’m just going to share the most recent Action of the Week from the Parents Across America June 28 newsletter.)

The Supreme Court has upheld the federal healthcare reform law. My long-time friend and PURE colleague Johnny Ho;mes said to me that by next year, people will simply be calling Obamacare “healthcare.”

Can we really turn the corner and become a nation that offers its people medical care regardless of status or situation? If we can do that, can we also turn off the message from the “reformers” that it’s OK to offer children different educational opportunities based on their status and situation?

The so-called education “debate” is really just a one-sided propaganda campaign waged by privatizers who see public education as an investment opportunity, not a service that a great nation provides to all its people. Our “side” of the debate has mainly consisted of exposing the lies behind the propaganda and reacting to its ham-fisted attempts to turn public opinion in favor of privatization and school closure.

It’s time to turn the discussion back to what we expect of ourselves as a great nation when it comes to educating our children. The discussion should start with the promise of equal opportunity and end with ways to assure that every child is prepared to live a rich, engaged civic life.

What can you do? 

Send a birthday card like this (or a paper card!) to at least one of your elected officials. Start a new conversation about what we really want for our children, and the equal educational opportunity that a great nation must provide.