Mr. Volinsky's Grocery Store

One day, Pat and Chris came to do some shopping at Mr. Volinsky's Grocery Store.  Each of them bought the same items:  a loaf of bread, two steaks, three apples, and a gallon of milk.

When they got to the checkout counter, Mr. Volinsky rang up Pat's items, and said that his total came to $40.  Pat paid, and went on his way. 

When Mr. Volinsky rang up Chris's items, Chris already had $40 out, ready to pay.  But Mr. Volinsky said that his total came to $80, twice as much as Pat's total. 

"Why should I pay twice as much for exactly the same thing?" asked Chris.   

"Because your house is worth twice as much as Pat's house," said Mr. Volinsky. 

"But that makes no sense at all," said Chris.  "It's not like my house is an ATM, from which I can just withdraw money." 

"That's how you pay for schools, isn't it?" said Mr. Volinsky. 

Mr. Volinksy has a point, doesn't he?  But if this is a good idea — if people who have more valuable homes, or higher incomes, should pay more for the exact same goods and services — then why should we do it only for schools?  Why shouldn't people who have more pay more for everything — groceries, meals in restaurants, movie tickets, clothing, gasoline, and so on?  

On the other hand, if it's a bad idea, then maybe we should stop paying for schools this way. 

Would you shop at Mr. Volinsky's store?   Unfortunately, if you're buying schooling for the kids in your town, you're already a customer.  

Wouldn't you like to have some other options?  Consider that the next time you vote.  Ask any candidate whether he believes, as a matter of principle, that people who have more should pay more.   If he says yes, then move on to other candidates.  But if he says no, ask if he'll work to stop funding schools that way.