The conservative Home School Legal Defense Association is pushing a bill through Congress to provide a legal definition of homeschoolers. Why? We've managed perfectly well with just a dictionary definition. We no more need a legal definition of "homeschooler" than we need a legal definition of "cook".
The argument is that this will enable the military to accept homeschoolers, which they have trouble doing under their current guidelines. Since when does it take a federal law to change military guidelines? That's like hunting roaches with a bazooka.
Remember desegregation? When the military desegregated, they did it with a Presidential Directive. It didn't take a federal law. Getting homeschoolers in the military is a minor issue compared to that. So why does it require a federal law? It doesn't. Federal laws are for things that affect the whole country, not just the military.
In the immortal words of Jeff Smith, "Never play an Ace when a Two will do." A Federal law to let homeschooled adults in the military is superfluous.
Then there's the political question. Why is an organization that identifies itself with Conservatives, courts Conservatives, and endorses Conservative candidates campaigning for a superfluous federal law? I thought Conservatives were all about eliminating superfluous legislation, not about adding more.
What is the real purpose for this bill and why isn't the HSLDA being up front about it?
Commentary on HONDA (the bill):
http://www.cobranchi.com/archives/005869.html
http://hr3753.blogspot.com/
http://http://www.homeedmag.com/blogs/newscomm/?p=189
Debate on HONDA:
http://www.odonnellweb.com/mtarchives/001913.php
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Somerschool/30930/
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