Right now in Nashville the council is working the Metro budget for next year. The schools want $570 million for next year. Even our Democratic mayor doesn't support the huge tax increase that budget would require. His proposed budget offers schools about half of that request. Therefore, we now see signs popping up around town bearing this slogan: "Educating Children: The Most Important Thing Our Community Does."

Whether one wants to hike taxes for schools or not, I don't think this slogan really stands up to the laugh test. Sure education is important, but the most important thing a community does? What about police and fire protection? What about road building and maintenance? What about providing clean water and taking care of sewage? What about garbage?

I care about all of the above as much or more than public education. Which says little about how I feel about public education, at least not as much as it tells you that I think someone thought up a really stupid slogan and put it on a really stupid sign.