Although they remain blissfully unaware, California's 4-year-olds are in the middle of a heated debate. The debate centers on Proposition 82, the "Preschool for All" act. Regardless of one's political position, this proposition raises a significant idea whose time has come. The California Department of Education Web site states that the "Preschool for All" initiative serves to develop high-quality Pre-kindergarten content standards, build a first-class professional learning system for preschool teachers, implement a results-based accountability system, create seamless transitions from Pre-K to kindergarten and first grade and involve all stakeholders in the learning process. The above would be accomplished by taxing the state's wealthiest persons to provide high quality, no cost pre-school programs to all California 4-year-olds.

There can be no argument that we need clean air and water to live. But here in Napa our survival requires us to go further.