Ross Douthat and Reihan Salam, referred to always as "young conservatives," have written a much ballyhooed book, Grand New Party, which purports to show Republicans how they can win in November and beyond. The key, say the authors, is to appeal to Sam's Club voters--i.e., working people without college degrees. Building on that, the latest National Review contains an essay by Douthat and Salam that offers Republicans a way to appeal not only to the working class but also to the upper middle class. And "School Choice for the Suburbs" is one of that article's major subheads. Whether or not offering school choice to wealthy suburban families is a winning political idea (it's not; they've already chosen schools they like), we were heartened to see the authors trumpet the benefits of weighted student funding (WSF), something about which we know a thing or two. Douthat and Salam write that promoting WSF nationwide is "a cause that could make mincemeat of the Left's claim to represent the interests of children." Wow. We're not absolutely convinced that WSF is the electoral savior of the Republicans (or Democrats, for that matter), but it's fantastic that such a fine idea is receiving national attention.
"Battle for the 'Burbs," by Ross Douthat and Reihan Salam, National Review, July 14, 2008