There are far too many examples these days of the big trying to stamp out the small through the use of government regulation.

Whether it’s UPS lobbyists inserting language into transportation bills to try to make life harder for FedEx, or lobbyists who manage to make buying their company’s product a requirement by federal law, there are untold examples of stifling innovation and competition through government regulation.

The same applies to big government, as well.

The latest effort is here in California, where the public education lobby is trying to stamp out their chief source of competition, charter schools, by passing a hard cap on the number of charter schools that can be opened. The bill is AB 1982, and it will be heard in the Education Committee next week – you can make your voice heard on this issue by clicking here.

Never mind that charter schools provide parents with alternative choices for educating their kids. Never mind that many public schools are now performing much better, spurred on by the innovative ideas and competition that charter schools have delivered. Never mind the unsightly scene of government trying to stifle its own competition through the force of government.

At Sierra College, we have plenty of competition: not just four year schools, but also trade and technical schools like Heald and ITT. We provide superior value and higher quality education. Competition has driven us to be better and to develop innovative career and technical programs (a good example is the only Mechatronics training program west of the Mississippi river).

Public education is at its best when it has to compete. Stifling competition and innovation is wrong, whether it’s at the hand of big business or big government.