Editor’s note: This commentary is by Gary Murdock, of Shoreham, who is a cost estimator for an international engineering firm.

Now that the cloud of single payer induced economic ruin has been temporarily lifted, it’s time to move on to education funding. The progressive approach to health care delivery, concocted by Gov. Shumlin and his Legislature failed before implementation; unfortunately that is not the case with our current method of funding education.

Having become an eternal pessimist on all things connected to our progressive state government, I have little faith in seeing any fundamental changes to education funding, because the primary cause of all the problems just so happens to be the bedrock of progressive philosophy: income sensitivity rebates. I stopped believing my vote at Town Meeting mattered some years ago, when the school board told the townspeople before them not to be concerned by the increase in spending, because they were insulated from the effect by their rebates. And there lies the problem, too many people insulated by rebates.

The solution to this problem is simple, but it is not progressive so the reality is that it has a snowball’s chance in purgatory of even being debated. But for what it’s worth, here is my three-year solution to the problem, in my ever so humble opinion.

Year 1: A bill that abolishes all rebates starting in year 2. Rebates will continue for the current year, but the tax bills will include a notice that provides an estimate of what the following year’s tax bill will be without the rebates. The bill includes a provision that temporarily prevents tax-related foreclosures for the first year without rebates, and a 12-month interest/penalty free payment period. People will have one year to prepare for life without rebates.

Year 2: No more rebates, everyone’s tax bill is lower because the redistribution scheme has ended, but the majority will no longer receive their free money to offset the cost.

Year 3: People flood Town Meeting, because they are no longer insulated by rebates. Budgets are voted down, consolidation happens, student-teacher ratios change. And all these good things happen without the Legislature’s involvement and progressive micromanagement.

I realize that this is just a dream; it will never see the light of day. Year 3 would see … dare I say it … free market influence. I have a better chance of seeing Superman eat kryptonite than a progressive Legislature even entertain the thought of giving up their rebates. So I’ll sit tight, and prepare to make my second home in a more politically balanced and affordable state my primary residence if this governor and his Legislature makes one more attempt to increase what they consider my fair share. And one final thought before I go; I sure do miss Gov. Douglas’ veto pen.