Earlier this year, Utah made news by becoming the first state to enact a universal voucher program. The measure was soon in the political and legal cross hairs, and its fate depends on a public vote in November.

The Salt Lake Tribune handicaps the vote. Reporter Glen Warchol says that the measure may not get a fair chance:

It's probably unfortunate for Utah that if the voucher program does go down, it may not be on its merits or even on the inflammatory rhetoric for and against. Instead, it could die simply because voters won't take the time to overcome any doubts about a complicated issue. Political consultants who craft campaign ads know that when voters are uncertain about an issue presented to them as a "yes" or "no" decision - they vote no.

Defenders of the education establishment, which of course includes the teachers union but also school boards, simply have to introduce FUD--fear, uncertainty, and doubt--into the minds of voters. So far they have a 2-1 funding advantage.