Classical values? Reaming? Teachers? When do nurses and police get to bend over? No, Wait! they already had barely-above-the-overty-level salaries before the last teacher shortage.

Teachers, nurses, and police make essential contributions. But the system through which they are paid and get retirement and medical benefits does not have market force determination that balances contributions and costs. Don't know if this is classical values, but it is certainly classical economics.

cy and charlie,

Evidently the unions (a monopoly situation once they get in) have priced themselves out of the market.

In fact it appears that we have more government than we can afford. That sort of situation usually does not end well.

In fact it seems that Unions do not do well when consumers have a choice. Government Motors ring a bell?

Not to worry - a reckoning is coming. It will not end well for the unions. Remember the Air Traffic controllers? How much easier will it be to replace floor sweepers?

In fact our whole medical situation is a bubble.

For medical services where there is price shopping (laser eye correction, cosmetic surgery) costs are going down. Where there is no price shopping (insurance) costs are going up.

It is unsustainable. Thus it will not be sustained. When will the bubble burst? I can't say when. All I can tell you is that it will happen.

Classical values? Reaming? Teachers?

I insist that these insinuations about Greek and/or Roman pedagogy cease at once!