The fact that too many children, in a rich developed democracy, cannot read properly. It’s an extraordinary failure.”

And you don't consider that the fact that this was caused by a socialised, state-run education system (see E G West for details) is a reason to embrace the alternative?

Can I encourage you to join the debate and submit your answers to the questions asked? We want voices from as many people as possible and you have some very substantial suggestions about where the left needs to go next

Well, there's a pretty large change which would be required to become any sort of republic.

What about Britain's future in Europe or the nature of our relationship with the US? What about the need for reform of our barely democratic political system that gives a govenment an absolute majority with just 35% of the vote with no elected second chamber to restrain them? How about defending the historic Human Rights Act agains the Tories who will abolish it and new Labour who want to neuter it? How about a clear repudiation of Blair's database/surveillance state and a determination to atone for the sin of the Iraq war? Last time I checked politics was full of interesting, controversial ideas and issues like that.

Choosing in a consumer market is based on first come first serve. Those who are slow to choose, will end up choosing from a smaller selection, have no choice at all or have nothing to choose from.

So a school market would see all the good schools chosen first, leaving a poor selection of schools later.

And people might not want to choose from what's on offer to choose from.

And some schools would be so expensive, that even a 90% voucher would not make it affordable for low income families. And poor families in rich areas would be priced out of the market by their rich neighbours.

A school should be more than just a one off choice. Parents and student's should have the chance to shape the school to their needs over the duration that they use it. This could be done through a co-operative system. Such schools are widespread in Spain and Sweden, and give people voice (as well as choice).

However, private property does empower citizens, but not in the realm of public services.

The Child Trust Fund, is a good way to empower children from poor backgrounds, teaching them to save, and capitalizing them when they turn 18, in the same way inheritance capitalizes the middle class children.

Housing credit may be another way to empower citizens.

Increasing child tax credit, working tax credit and the minimum wage will go a long way to empowering all citizens.

Of course, reducing unemployment and using industrial activism to grow the number of well paying jobs will also help citizens achieve their aspirations and empower them.

But public services must remain free at the point of need, and built on universal entitlements and systems of redress and opportunities for choice, co-op ownership and co-production where necessary, in order to empower every citizen.

Simply decentralizing is not a way to create powerful citizens. Only a centralized state can guarantee universal rights in entitlements… e.g. labour rights, civil liberties, public service entitlements.

And finally, a school is only as good as it is effective in helping students achieve their potential in the labour market and civil society. Giving parent's choice as an end in itself, will not give way to universal standards of GCSE pass rate and student's achieving their potential and being liberated from domination by capitalism.