Clark is fierce about his feelings on public education. He thinks public school systems are harming our country and he loves the idea of charter schools. In Washington, D.C., in particular, charter schools and vouchers are huge. On the other hand, the public school system has always been a “social promotions” system. That means that people move to the next grade regardless of what they know. The good news is that the public schools in D.C. are now trying to get their act together, too. Houston is another area with struggling school systems. Thankfully, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is opening 42 new charter schools in the Houston area. It will allow more impetus for change and opportunity, in Clark’s opinion. Today, more than ever people need education. We are a “knowledge-based” economy. In the past, people could get by simply with hard work. But, if a child grows up in a poor area these days, his or her education will also be poor. And, therefore, that child will not have the same opportunity to succeed as a child reared in a good school. Even if you don’t have kids or your kids are grown, you are still affected by this. That’s because huge amounts of your tax dollars are spent on education.