Vouchers are a great solution for redistributing wealth in a fair way. Vouchers should be limited to legal residents. I've never understood why an illegal alien should ever have rights to services within a country in which they don't even follow the law. If they are discovered, shouldn't they be arrested for illegal entry, and then either jailed or deported? I mean, if we're okay with illegal aliens being here, they why don't we just convert them to legal residents? I'm okay with letting them move here. I'd rather an Indian or Mexican move here, work hard, and pay taxes here than have those jobs migrate overseas where they still have the work, but we don't benefit from their work, their purchases or their taxes.
For social services that we really want, including schools, health care and retirement, we could use a fair voucher system that is given to all taxpayers in a fair and consistent way. This would allow people to have a minimum level of whatever benefit is deemed necessary without requiring us to purchase those services from the government.
There are, no doubt, a few items that may best be served by a governmental monopoly, but it's unlikely there's more than a few, such as providing water and sewer services. Even then, it's more likely better to have a corporate monopoly than a government monopoly provide those services. A really poor performing company can be replaced, but it's impossible to replace the government without a revolution.
How would vouchers work? Let's look at schools first. What is the state's interest in educating a child? Does the state require 12 years of schooling? More? Less? Does the state only have an interest in those students who can pass a certain test that shows they actually learned the basics necessary to be an informed citizen who can vote in a reliable and reasoned way?
These answers matter, because if schooling itself is the goal, then vouchers would be given to all school-aged children. If it was just the result that mattered, then vouchers or cash awards could be given upon passing an exam.
Let's assume schooling is most important. The voucher system would provide a fixed amount to all people, enough to pay for basic school services. It could have a basic cost of living adjustment since people who live in New York City would tend to pay more in sales taxes because their goods cost more, while people in rural Alabama could purchase basic schooling for less and because they likely pay less in taxes because their goods cost less.
Parents would then be free to use that money to purchase any type of approved schooling they want. This would allow the free markets to work and would accommodate differences in tastes, needs and dreams. Some people might want religious schools, or military training, or music or art emphases, or perhaps one that stresses sports or science. Some might want schools that are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., while others might like a four day school week. Some might like year-round schooling, while others might prefer their kids get summer off to play or work in the family business. There is no right answer for everybody, so it's best to let people decide for themselves. If they make the wrong choices, then they will suffer the consequences of their choices.
That's what learning is all about, and the markets are far more flexible and responsive than the government.