>>1: What's the difference between federal and local government? Why is one level acceptable, while the other isn't?<<
More control over local government. It's possible to get a clean sweep in local politics in one election; that's almost impossible in the federal government even over 12 years.
>>2: But you do agree that public education is overall probably a beneficial system under a conservative framework, correct?<<
I avoided it as a kid. My experience has been that people may be better than I am because of what they achieved after a public school education but i never felt left behind because of a catholic school education. That's just from California, though. the reaction to standardized testing by both kids and teachers in public school makes me think attitude, more than organization, is our real problem.