User:Jon Awbrey/FREEP
MyWikiBiz, Author Your Legacy — Wednesday December 25, 2024
Jump to navigationJump to searchJun 19, 2011 — Pro-Democracy Group Targets Emergency Manager Law
o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Freep -- Pro-Democracy Group Targets Emergency Manager Law o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Pro-democracy group targets Michigan's new emergency manager law (June 19, 2011) • http://www.freep.com/article/20110619/NEWS06/106190507/Pro-democracy-group-targets-Michigan-s-new-emergency-manager-law o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 1 The Governor and his Privateers are starving the Public Sector in Michigan out of existence for a reason, so that private corporations can complete their hostile takeover of all public services. They stopped being content with tax abatements, bailouts, bribes, incentives, kickbacks, and worker concessions a long time ago — they want nothing less than the automatic funneling of tax dollars directly into their private corporate bankrolls without the annoying interference of all us pesky commoners. Mackinac Center For Public Policy • “State Needs Privatization” • http://www.educationreport.org/15050 Lansing State Journal • “Going Private? — Snyder, Republicans Put New Focus On Merits Of Privatization” • http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20110515/NEWS04/105150528/GOING-PRIVATE-Snyder-Republicans-put-new-focus-merits-privatization o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 2 ALEC's Restaurant More information is coming to light about the move by ALEC, DeVos, Koch, the Mackinac Center, and related entities to co-opt our elected officials into serving their corporate ends, namely, to privatize not only public education, but all current public services, indeed, our very government itself. Here is an article that came out this week — Amanda Terkel • “Privatization At The Heart Of Divisive Battles In Wisconsin” • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/17/privatization-wisconsin_n_873871.html <quote> The American Legislative Exchange Council is one of the groups most actively advocating privatization nationwide. It has 2500 legislative members, which is about a third of all state lawmakers around the country. One of its most valuable functions is crafting model legislation that lawmakers can then use to propose real bills in their own states. In the past few years, ALEC-inspired legislation has been popping up with increased frequency around the country. The group just launched “Publicopoly”, a Monopoly-like board game as part of an “initiative to provide solutions for a more effective, efficient government, and a thriving economy”. Visitors to Publicopoly are able to learn about privatizing seven sectors: government operations, education, transportation and infrastructure, public safety, environment, health, and telecommunications. </quote> o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 3 There are now several sites where readers can begin getting up to speed on the “starve and supplant” tactics that the ALEC Axis is bringing to bear on several States at once. Here's 3 for starters: Democracy Watchdog Action Network • https://www.facebook.com/democracy.watchdog.action.network Wear Red For Public Ed • https://www.facebook.com/wearredforpubliced Support Bill Cronon • https://www.facebook.com/pages/Support-Bill-Cronon/163419837045434 Bill Cronon is a distinguished history professor who came under attack when he wrote an article about ALEC and the Mackinac Center, so the people who came to his defense began collecting data about these issues. Related tags at the Daily Kos — • http://www.dailykos.com/news/ALEC • http://www.dailykos.com/blog/Exposing%20ALEC Current updates at the Daily Kos — • http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/09/983573/-Exposing-ALECJune-Update-on-ALEC-Activities,-Articles-and-Links • http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/15/985433/-EXPOSING-ALEC2nd-Update-with-important-news-and-links o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o
Jun 19, 2011 — Rick Snyder To Announce Sweeping DPS Reforms
o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Freep -- Rick Snyder To Announce Sweeping DPS Reforms o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Rick Snyder to announce sweeping DPS reforms Monday (June 19, 2011) • http://www.freep.com/article/20110619/NEWS01/110619015/Rick-Snyder-announce-sweeping-DPS-reforms-Monday o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 1 Here's a good update on some of the things that educators, parent activists, and others will be doing over the Summer to protect our system of democratic education from hostile takeover by corporations, ideologues, and other private interests. Frustrated Educators Aim To Build Grassroots Movement • http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/06/15/35activists_ep.h30.html <quote> Thousands of educators, parent activists, and others are expected to convene in the heat and humidity of Washington next month for a march protesting the current thrust of education policy in the United States, especially the strong emphasis on test-based accountability. Organizers say the effort aims to galvanize and give voice to those who believe policymakers, including U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and state governors, have gone astray in their remedies for improving American schools. </quote> o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 2 The following Facebook page is a good resource for learning how communities across the nation are dealing with the ongoing degradation of their public education systems. Wear Red For Public Ed • http://www.facebook.com/wearredforpubliced Many people across the country are beginning to realize that there is a coordinated campaign by corporate-dominated State governments to turn back the clock on American education to something more like the systems of private privilege we once had the good sense to revolt against. o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 3 Here's a good article that will help Michiganders understand the brand of Billionaire Boys' Club financed PR campaign that we can expect to see in Detroit and the State over the coming year — Michael T. Martin • Waiting For SuperFraud • http://ksdcitizens.org/2010/12/22/waiting-for-superfraud/ o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 4 Anyone with a working long-term memory knows where this agenda to “Starve Public Schools Out Of Existence” came from. Good thing there's web search for the rest of us — Richard DeVos Advocates “Stealth” Strategy Against Public Education • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-fTAhc4QC4 Blackwater In-Law DeVos Outlines “Stealth” Plot Against Public Education • http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/05/04/972949/-Blackwater-In-Law-DeVos-outlines-stealth-plot-against-Public-Education Strategy for Privatizing Public Schools Spelled out by Dick DeVos in 2002 Heritage Foundation Speech • http://www.talk2action.org/story/2011/5/3/12515/58655/Front_Page/Strategy_for_Privatizing_Public_Schools_Spelled_out_by_Dick_D o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 5 Just in case anyone thinks these Educational Privateers are relics of bygone days, here's a couple of recent stories that show us what they have in mind for one of democracy's most precious resources. The United Gates Of America • http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/05/22/978218/-The-United-Gates-of-America Rupert Murdoch, Who Bought 90% Of An Education Software Provider, Launches Initiative “To Make Education A Top Issue In 2012 Presidential Campaign” • http://www.businessinsider.com/rupert-murdoch-news-corp-education-2012-presidential-campaign-2011-5 Here's another good article on the ongoing program by ALEC, DeVos, Koch, et al. to destroy public education: Jim Hightower • “Billionaires' Front Groups Attack Workers, Public Schools, and Young Voters” • http://www.hightowerlowdown.org/node/2680 o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 6 (Reply) Read the “Waiting For SuperFraud” article I posted earlier. The extra cash from so-called “philanthropists” is what is is known as a Loss Leader. Big bucks will be pumped into the system to make it look like the reforms are a smashing success. If that strategy works the way it has in other States and DC, a lot of data will have to be cooked in order to make it look that way. Never mind the small stuff, the truth won't matter. More big bucks will be pumped into rah-rah ads and corporate media “documentaries” to cover up the facts. By the time anyone figures out what is really going down, the school system will be too far down the road to for-profit privatization to have much chance of turning back. o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 7 What Can We Do to Stop the Madness? Repealing PA4 (the Emergency Manager Law) would be a good beginning — Freep Stories — • http://www.freep.com/article/20110619/NEWS06/106190507/Pro-democracy-group-targets-Michigan-s-new-emergency-manager-law • http://www.freep.com/article/20110618/NEWS06/110618018/Petition-drive-seeks-repeal-Michigan-s-emergency-manager-law Facebook Page — • https://www.facebook.com/rejectemergencymanagers Main Website — • https://sites.google.com/site/rejectemergencymanagers/home Recalling Snyder and his gang of Privateers in the Legislature would be another good start — • https://www.facebook.com/pages/Recall-Governor-Rick-Snyder/113418962065885 • http://www.firericksnyder.org/ • http://www.firericksnyder.org/community/all-events-list o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 8 The Governor and his Privateers are starving the Public Sector in Michigan out of existence for a reason, so that private corporations can complete their hostile takeover of all public services. They stopped being content with tax abatements, bailouts, incentives, kickbacks, and worker concessions a long time ago — they want nothing less than the automatic funneling of tax dollars directly into their private corporate bankrolls without the annoying interference of all us pesky commoners. Mackinac Center For Public Policy • “State Needs Privatization” • http://www.educationreport.org/15050 Lansing State Journal • “Going Private? — Snyder, Republicans Put New Focus On Merits Of Privatization” • http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20110515/NEWS04/105150528/GOING-PRIVATE-Snyder-Republicans-put-new-focus-merits-privatization o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 9 ALEC's Restaurant More information is coming to light about the move by ALEC, DeVos, Koch, the Mackinac Center, and related entities to co-opt our elected officials into serving their corporate ends, namely, to privatize not only public education, but all current public services, indeed, our very government itself. Here's an article that came out this week — Amanda Terkel • “Privatization At The Heart Of Divisive Battles In Wisconsin” • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/17/privatization-wisconsin_n_873871.html <quote> The American Legislative Exchange Council is one of the groups most actively advocating privatization nationwide. It has 2500 legislative members, which is about a third of all state lawmakers around the country. One of its most valuable functions is crafting model legislation that lawmakers can then use to propose real bills in their own states. In the past few years, ALEC-inspired legislation has been popping up with increased frequency around the country. The group just launched “Publicopoly”, a Monopoly-like board game as part of an “initiative to provide solutions for a more effective, efficient government, and a thriving economy”. Visitors to Publicopoly are able to learn about privatizing seven sectors: government operations, education, transportation and infrastructure, public safety, environment, health, and telecommunications. </quote> o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 10 Be Careful How Much Sunshine You Wish For, ALEC ! There are now several sites where readers can begin getting up to speed on the “starve and supplant” tactics that the ALEC Axis is bringing to bear on several States at once. Here's 3 for starters: Democracy Watchdog Action Network • https://www.facebook.com/democracy.watchdog.action.network Wear Red For Public Ed • https://www.facebook.com/wearredforpubliced Support Bill Cronon • https://www.facebook.com/pages/Support-Bill-Cronon/163419837045434 Bill Cronon is a distinguished history professor who came under attack when he wrote an article about ALEC and the Mackinac Center, so the people who came to his defense began collecting data about these issues. Related tags at the Daily Kos — • http://www.dailykos.com/news/ALEC • http://www.dailykos.com/blog/Exposing%20ALEC Current updates at the Daily Kos — • http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/09/983573/-Exposing-ALECJune-Update-on-ALEC-Activities,-Articles-and-Links • http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/15/985433/-EXPOSING-ALEC2nd-Update-with-important-news-and-links o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 11 Reply to comment on “High Level People” — You misspelled “High Leverage People” = Hedge Fund Managers. Yeah, that will EFM Good ! o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 12 Additional remarks on the “Waiting For SuperFraud” article that I posted earlier. Michael T. Martin • Waiting For SuperFraud • http://ksdcitizens.org/2010/12/22/waiting-for-superfraud/ The extra cash from so-called “philanthropists” is what is known as a “Loss Leader”. Big bucks will be pumped into the system to make it look like the reforms are a smashing success. If that strategy works the way it has in other States and Washington, DC, a lot of data will have to be cooked and lot of Agenda-Driven Statistification (ADS) will have to be trumpeted all over the corporate air waves to make it look like there was any improvement at all. Never mind the small stuff, the truth won't matter. More big bucks will be pumped into rah-rah ads and corporate media “documentaries” to cover up the facts. By the time anyone figures out what is really going down, the school system will be so far down the road to privatization for corporate profit that it will take the People all they can do to keep any shreds of equal opportunity education at all. You have to understand that these people are not philanthropists — “lovers of humanity” — they are investors. They don't give money away — they invest money for the sake of making more money, acting in tandem with their ego-driven need to force their personal ideology on the rest of the world. It does not make an ounce of difference to them how much they destroy the American way of life in the process. o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o
Jun 21, 2011 — New Start For Detroit's Worst Schools
o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Freep -- New Start For Detroit's Worst Schools o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o New start for Detroit's worst schools (June 21, 2011) • http://www.freep.com/article/20110621/NEWS01/106210383/New-start-Detroit-s-worst-schools o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 1 The Broad Axe Falls Again … Seattle Education Blog • “The Broad Foundation” • http://seattleducation2010.wordpress.com/race-to-the-top/the-broad-foundation/ Seattle Education Blog • “Eli Broad’s Last Hurrah In Detroit?” • http://seattleducation2010.wordpress.com/2011/04/25/eli-broad%E2%80%99s-last-hurrah-in-detroit/ One thing we've learned about the Corporate Privateers is that it doesn't really matter what their PR says — the agenda is always the same. Say hello to the East India Teaching Company ! I know, I know, you wish that political ads had to obey Truth in Advertising … Sorry, you can't take your vote back, but you can do this — Recall ! • http://www.facebook.com/pages/Recall-Governor-Rick-Snyder/113418962065885 • http://www.firericksnyder.org/community/all-events-list • http://www.firericksnyder.org/ Repeal ! • http://www.facebook.com/rejectemergencymanagers • http://sites.google.com/site/rejectemergencymanagers/home o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 2 Here's a good article that will help Michiganders understand the brand of PR blitz — bankrolled by the Billionaire Boys (and Betsy) Club — that we can expect to see broadcast all over Detroit and Michigan in the upcoming year: Michael T. Martin • “Waiting For SuperFraud” • http://ksdcitizens.org/2010/12/22/waiting-for-superfraud/ The invasion of cash from so-called “philanthropists” is what is known in the Biz as a “Loss Leader”. Big bucks will be pumped into the system to make it look like the reforms are a smashing success. If that strategy works the way it has in other States and Washington, DC, a lot of data will get cooked and lot of Agenda-Driven Statistification (ADS) will get trumpeted all over the Corporate Air Waves in order to make it look like there was any improvement at all. Never mind the small stuff, the truth won't matter. More big bucks will be pumped into rah-rah ads and corporate media “documentaries” to cover up the facts. By the time the Public figures out what is really going down, the school system will be so far down the road to privatization for corporate cash, command, and control that it will take the People all they can do to keep any shred of equal opportunity education at all. You have to understand that these people are not philanthropists — “lovers of humanity” — they are investors. They don't give money away — they invest money for the sake of making more money, acting in tandem with their ego-driven need to force their personal ideology on the rest of the world. It does not make an ounce of difference to them if they have to destroy the American way of life as just so much collateral damage. o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 3 (Reply) The reason for the quick reaction is that the better-informed readers on this site already know the history of Corporate Ideology Groups (CIGs) like ALEC, the Broad Foundation, the DeVos family, the Koch brothers, the Mackinac Center, and all the other Privateers who are pushing this agenda. We don't have to Wait & See what they have in mind for Michigan because we have read the history of what they have done elsewhere and we have read the plans that come out of their own doublethink tanks for their dreams of a Colonial Plantation America (CPA). o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 4 Here's a good update on some of the things that educators, parent activists, and others will be doing over the Summer to protect our system of democratic education from hostile takeover by corporations, ideologues, and other private interests. Education Week • “Frustrated Educators Aim To Build Grassroots Movement” • http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/06/15/35activists_ep.h30.html <quote> Thousands of educators, parent activists, and others are expected to convene in the heat and humidity of Washington next month for a march protesting the current thrust of education policy in the United States, especially the strong emphasis on test-based accountability. Organizers say the effort aims to galvanize and give voice to those who believe policymakers, including U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and state governors, have gone astray in their remedies for improving American schools. </quote> o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 5 The following Facebook page is a good resource for learning how communities across the nation are dealing with the ongoing degradation of their public education systems. Facebook • Wear Red For Public Ed • http://www.facebook.com/wearredforpubliced Many people across the country are beginning to realize that there is a coordinated campaign by corporate-dominated State governments to turn back the clock on American education to something more like the systems of private privilege we once had the good sense to revolt against. o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 6 Anyone with a working long-term memory knows where this agenda to “Starve Public Schools Out Of Existence” came from. Good thing there's web search for the rest of us — Richard DeVos Advocates “Stealth” Strategy Against Public Education • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-fTAhc4QC4 Blackwater In-Law DeVos Outlines “Stealth” Plot Against Public Education • http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/05/04/972949/-Blackwater-In-Law-DeVos-outlines-stealth-plot-against-Public-Education Strategy for Privatizing Public Schools Spelled out by Dick DeVos in 2002 Heritage Foundation Speech • http://www.talk2action.org/story/2011/5/3/12515/58655/Front_Page/Strategy_for_Privatizing_Public_Schools_Spelled_out_by_Dick_D o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 7 Just in case anyone thinks these Educational Privateers are relics of bygone days, here's a couple of recent stories that indicate what they have in mind for one of democracy's most precious resources — Daily Kos • “The United Gates Of America” • http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/05/22/978218/-The-United-Gates-of-America Business Insider • “Rupert Murdoch, Who Bought 90% Of An Education Software Provider, Launches Initiative ‘To Make Education A Top Issue In 2012 Presidential Campaign’” • http://www.businessinsider.com/rupert-murdoch-news-corp-education-2012-presidential-campaign-2011-5 Here's another couple of articles on the ongoing program by ALEC, DeVos, Koch, Mackinac Center, and others to destroy public education — Jim Hightower • “Billionaires' Front Groups Attack Workers, Public Schools, and Young Voters” • http://www.hightowerlowdown.org/node/2680 Michigan Populist • “Kids are Collateral Damage in Mackinac Center’s War” • http://www.michiganpopulist.org/?p=177 o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 8 Starve and Supplant The Governor and his Privateers are starving the Public Sector in Michigan out of existence for a reason, so that private corporations can complete their hostile takeover of all public services. They stopped being content with tax abatements, bailouts, incentives, kickbacks, and worker concessions a long time ago — they want nothing less than the automatic funneling of tax dollars directly into their private corporate bankrolls without the annoying interference of all us pesky commoners. Mackinac Center For Public Policy • “State Needs Privatization” • http://www.educationreport.org/15050 Lansing State Journal • “Going Private? — Snyder, Republicans Put New Focus On Merits Of Privatization” • http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20110515/NEWS04/105150528/GOING-PRIVATE-Snyder-Republicans-put-new-focus-merits-privatization o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 9 (Reply) I've been watching all and participating in many of these movements over the years, and I always give them the benefit of the doubt at first. Sometimes I even become an enthusiast, if never quite a True Believer. But this particular push goes back more than 20 years — we can read the Sadder Budweiser history of it from Diane Ravitch and many others — and the time for shadows of doubt is long past. o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 10 Reply to a couple of earlier posts — My concern for the future of education in Michigan comes from experience, from reading the reports of what is happening across the country as we speak, and from knowing the history of what happened with these same types of programmatic purges in the past. My concern is not based on worries about the unknown — these groups and their aims are known quantities. If the program being pushed here were really as “unique” as its pushers advertize it to be, that would be one thing, but the current push is not the least bit new or unique, not by a long shot. All the same brands of patent nonsense notions have been sold to the public before, on a periodic basis over the last hundred years, always by the same brands of business-minded factions, people who lack the least bit of knowledge about what it takes to educate anyone, but who remain dead set on running education like a business or a factory with all the arrogant ignorance of their bean-counter efficiency. Ten or twenty years go by, a decade or a generation gets wasted on what always turns out to be an extremely expensive excuse for “efficiency”, and then people find themselves forced to return to their senses. Look at the people Snyder is putting in charge — automotive execs, CEOs from banking, construction, finance, hedge-funds, insurance execs, multilayer marketers, and on up the line. Do you really think it's a smart idea to turn Education over to the same sorts of people who already destroyed the Economy? I don't think so … o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 11 Michigan 4 Sale? I think we have to recognize that the wool being pulled over our eyes in the public sector of education extends to the entire public sphere. Just by way of one indication, here's a timely article that just popped up on my newsfeed — Dylan Ratigan • “America for Sale : Is Goldman Sachs Buying Your City?” • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dylan-ratigan/america-for-sale-is-goldm_b_877285.html <quote> In Chicago, it's the sale of parking meters to the sovereign wealth fund of Abu Dhabi. In Indiana, it's the sale of the northern toll road to a Spanish and Australian joint venture. In Wisconsin it's public health and food programs, in California it's libraries. It's water treatment plants, schools, toll roads, airports, and power plants. It's Amtrak. There are revolving doors of corrupt politicians, big banks, and rating agencies. There are conflicts of interest. It's bipartisan. And it's coming to a city near you — it may already be there. We're talking about the sale of public assets to private investors. You may have heard of one-off deals, but what we'll be exploring with the Huffington Post is the scale and scope of what is a national and organized campaign to shift the way we govern ourselves. In an era of increasingly stretched local and state budgets, privatization of public assets may be so tempting to local politicians that the trend seems unstoppable. Yet, public outrage has stopped and slowed a number of initiatives. </quote> o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 12 (Reply) Let's not pretend to be infinitely open-minded. We all have a spam trapper on our email these days that puts any mention of the Irish Sweepstakes or a Long Lost Libyan Inheritance in a place where the sun don't shine unless we actually go looking for it before its expiration date. We do that because we have so much experience with some brands of scams that we can pretty safely store that experience in a database and turn the job of acting on it over to some bot. If we take the trouble to use our society's resources of experience with these same brands of come-ons, I think we can safely classify them under the broad heading of “Something For Nothing”, and that should always sound a few warning sirens to anyone of common sense and practical experience. o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 13 And Now For Something Completely Different — • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcZf2CLxbgA When I'm feeling blue about education today, that always cheers me up again. o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o
Jun 22, 2011 — Roy Roberts To Cut Non-Teaching Jobs
o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Freep -- Roy Roberts To Cut Non-Teaching Jobs o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Roy Roberts to cut non-teaching jobs, cancel supplier contracts in effort to transform DPS (June 22, 2011) • http://www.freep.com/article/20110622/NEWS01/110622024/Roy-Roberts-cut-non-teaching-jobs-cancel-supplier-contracts-effort-transform-DPS o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 1 The Broad Axe Falls Again … Seattle Education Blog • “The Broad Foundation” • http://seattleducation2010.wordpress.com/race-to-the-top/the-broad-foundation/ Seattle Education Blog • “Eli Broad’s Last Hurrah In Detroit?” • http://seattleducation2010.wordpress.com/2011/04/25/eli-broad%E2%80%99s-last-hurrah-in-detroit/ One thing we've learned about the Corporate Privateers is that it doesn't really matter what their PR says — the agenda is always the same. Say hello to the East India Teaching Company ! I know, I know, you wish that political ads had to obey Truth in Advertising … Sorry, you can't take your vote back, but you can do this — Recall ! • http://www.facebook.com/pages/Recall-Governor-Rick-Snyder/113418962065885 • http://www.firericksnyder.org/community/all-events-list • http://www.firericksnyder.org/ Repeal ! • http://www.facebook.com/rejectemergencymanagers • http://sites.google.com/site/rejectemergencymanagers/home o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 2 Yet Another Rapublitzen Jobs Program … But ya gotta look ahead, ya know … Just think of all the jobs this will create for lawyers when the Emergency Manager Law goes belly up unconstitutional, and all those unions and suppliers sue the State for breach of contract. o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 3 The Governor and his Privateers are starving the Public Sector in Michigan out of existence for a reason, so that private corporations can complete their hostile takeover of all public services. They stopped being content with tax abatements, bailouts, bribes, incentives, kickbacks, and worker concessions a long time ago — they want nothing less than the automatic funneling of tax dollars directly into their private corporate bankrolls without the annoying interference of all us pesky commoners. Mackinac Center For Public Policy • “State Needs Privatization” • http://www.educationreport.org/15050 Lansing State Journal • “Going Private? — Snyder, Republicans Put New Focus On Merits Of Privatization” • http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20110515/NEWS04/105150528/GOING-PRIVATE-Snyder-Republicans-put-new-focus-merits-privatization o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 4 A² Resident, Catholic Nun, 26 Others Slap Governor Snyder With Suit Alleging Emergency Manager Law Unconstitutional • http://www.a2politico.com/?p=8741 o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 5 Seriously, People, you haven't seen corruption until you get the *real* experts into the game — private corporations who can use their very “privacy” to keep the Public from finding out where the money went until it's way too late. I think we have to recognize that the wool being pulled over our eyes in the public sector of education extends to the entire public sphere. Just by way of a hint, here's a recent article — Dylan Ratigan • “America for Sale : Is Goldman Sachs Buying Your City?” • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dylan-ratigan/america-for-sale-is-goldm_b_877285.html <quote> In Chicago, it's the sale of parking meters to the sovereign wealth fund of Abu Dhabi. In Indiana, it's the sale of the northern toll road to a Spanish and Australian joint venture. In Wisconsin it's public health and food programs, in California it's libraries. It's water treatment plants, schools, toll roads, airports, and power plants. It's Amtrak. There are revolving doors of corrupt politicians, big banks, and rating agencies. There are conflicts of interest. It's bipartisan. And it's coming to a city near you — it may already be there. We're talking about the sale of public assets to private investors. You may have heard of one-off deals, but what we'll be exploring with the Huffington Post is the scale and scope of what is a national and organized campaign to shift the way we govern ourselves. In an era of increasingly stretched local and state budgets, privatization of public assets may be so tempting to local politicians that the trend seems unstoppable. Yet, public outrage has stopped and slowed a number of initiatives. </quote> o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o
Jun 24, 2011 — DPS Spent $1.6M On Travel, Gave Raises To Consultants
o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Freep -- Detroit Public Schools Spent $1.6 Million On Travel o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o DPS Spent $1.6M On Travel, Gave Raises To Consultants (June 24, 2011) • http://www.freep.com/article/20110624/NEWS01/106240431/DPS-spent-1-6M-travel-gave-raises-consultants o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 1 Try to get it through your heads that the ALEC, Birch, Broad, DeVos, Fox, Gates, Heritage, Koch, Mackinac Center, Murdoch Axis is here to destroy the village schools, not save them. As go the schools, so goes the whole village. We are witnessing the ongoing Re-Colonization of America by the East India Corporation 2.0 — and this time you'll get to find out what it means to be an “Indian”. o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 2 The Emergency Mangler Act is an Open Invitation to Corruption. It's a lot like that One Ring To Rule Them All … Maybe we'll get lucky and find one or two nice elves who can pass the test, do the job honestly, diminish, and ride off into the sunset, all without taking our hides with them. And if you believe that, I can get you a really fantastic deal on a Bridge to Mordor … o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 3 What can you do about it? Recall — • http://www.firericksnyder.org/ • http://www.firericksnyder.org/community/all-events-list • http://www.facebook.com/pages/Recall-Governor-Rick-Snyder/113418962065885 Repeal — • http://repealpa4.org/ • http://www.facebook.com/pages/Repeal-PA4-Emergency-Managers-Washtenaw-Area/137390633002568 • http://sites.google.com/site/rejectemergencymanagers/home • http://www.facebook.com/rejectemergencymanagers o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o
Jun 24, 2011 — Under Bobb, Consultants Got Raises, Perks
o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Freep -- Under Bobb, Consultants Got Raises, Perks o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Under Bobb, Consultants Got Raises, Perks (June 24, 2011) • http://www.freep.com/article/20110624/NEWS01/106240443/Under-Bobb-consultants-got-raises-perks o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 1 Try to get it through your heads that the ALEC, Broad, DeVos, Fox, Gates, Heritage, Koch, Mackinac Center, Murdoch Axis is here to destroy the village schools, not save them. As goes the schools, so goes the whole village. We are witnessing the ongoing Re-Colonization of America by the East India Corporation 2.0 — and this time you'll get to find out what it means to be an “Indian”. o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 2 The Emergency Mangler Act is an Open Invitation to Corruption. It's a lot like that One Ring To Rule Them All … Maybe we'll get lucky and find one or two nice elves who can pass the test, do the job honestly, diminish, and ride off into the sunset, all without taking our hides with them. And if you believe that, I can get you a really fantastic deal on a Bridge to Mordor … o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 3 (Reply) Thom Hartmann • “Unequal Protection : How Corporations Became ‘People’ and How You Can Fight Back” • http://www.truthout.org/thom-hartmann-unequal-protection Quick note now as time for dinner … o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 4 What can you do about it? Recall — • http://www.firericksnyder.org/ • http://www.firericksnyder.org/community/all-events-list • http://www.facebook.com/pages/Recall-Governor-Rick-Snyder/113418962065885 Repeal — • http://repealpa4.org/ • http://www.facebook.com/pages/Repeal-PA4-Emergency-Managers-Washtenaw-Area/137390633002568 • http://sites.google.com/site/rejectemergencymanagers/ • http://www.facebook.com/rejectemergencymanagers o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o
Jun 25, 2011 — Pontiac Emergency Manager Not Lost, Just On Vacation
o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Freep -- Pontiac Emergency Manager Not Lost, Just On Vacation o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Pontiac Emergency Manager Not Lost, Just On Vacation (June 25, 2011) • http://www.freep.com/article/20110625/NEWS03/106250407/Pontiac-emergency-manager-not-lost-just-vacation o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 1 Vacation where? Vail, maybe? Denver Post • “Koch Brothers Hold Secret GOP Business Retreat In Vail” • http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_18358835 o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 2 Stampfler was appointed under the old EFM Act, but it was the new, industrial-strength EM Act that gave him the power to carry out his recent actions. A²Politico • “Michigan EFM Outsources Water Treatment to Company Indicted By DOJ For Felony Violations of the Clean Water Act” • http://www.a2politico.com/?p=8518 What can you do about it? Recall — • http://www.firericksnyder.org/ • http://www.firericksnyder.org/community/all-events-list • http://www.facebook.com/pages/Recall-Governor-Rick-Snyder/113418962065885 Repeal — • http://repealpa4.org/ • http://www.facebook.com/pages/Repeal-PA4-Emergency-Managers-Washtenaw-Area/137390633002568 • http://sites.google.com/site/rejectemergencymanagers/ • http://www.facebook.com/rejectemergencymanagers o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o
Jun 27, 2011 — Unions Call Detroit's Bluff On More Concessions
o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Freep -- Unions Call Detroit's Bluff On More Concessions o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Unions Call Detroit's Bluff On More Concessions (June 27, 2011) • http://www.freep.com/article/20110627/NEWS01/106270385/Unions-call-Detroit-s-bluff-more-concessions o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 1 What can you do about it? Recall — • http://www.firericksnyder.org/ • http://www.firericksnyder.org/community/all-events-list • http://www.facebook.com/pages/Recall-Governor-Rick-Snyder/113418962065885 Repeal — • http://repealpa4.org/ • http://www.facebook.com/pages/Repeal-PA4-Emergency-Managers-Washtenaw-Area/137390633002568 • http://sites.google.com/site/rejectemergencymanagers/home • http://www.facebook.com/rejectemergencymanagers o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 2 (Reply) Re: “Come to grips with reality. The free money is done.” Oh no, Dude, it's just getting started … Seriously, you haven't seen industrial strength greed and wheeler-dealer corruption until you get the *real* experts into the game — private corporations who can use their very “privacy” to keep the Public from finding out where the money went until it's way too late. Just to recall this week's example — Detroit Free Press • “Under Bobb, Consultants Got Raises, Perks” (June 24, 2011) • http://www.freep.com/article/20110624/NEWS01/106240443/Under-Bobb-consultants-got-raises-perks o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 3 (Reply) The point is that I already know what it's like to live in a State where unions are weak. I already know what it's like to have family income and job security month to month depend on an industry where unions are non-existent, an industry that has no middle class for all the wealth at the top. So, been there, done that. You can have it if you want it — just don't bring it here. o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 4 (Reply) Of course unions make a difference. Now you're just being cromulent. I guess some people just grubitate to cromulence. o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 5 It is well past time we woke up to the fact that the wool being pulled over our eyes in the realm of public education extends to the entire sphere of public infrastructure and public services, all the things that the American People simply cannot afford to abdicate to the agents of private corporate profit, not to mention foreign national interests. Just by way of a hint, here's a recent article — Dylan Ratigan • “America for Sale : Is Goldman Sachs Buying Your City?” • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dylan-ratigan/america-for-sale-is-goldm_b_877285.html <quote> In Chicago, it's the sale of parking meters to the sovereign wealth fund of Abu Dhabi. In Indiana, it's the sale of the northern toll road to a Spanish and Australian joint venture. In Wisconsin it's public health and food programs, in California it's libraries. It's water treatment plants, schools, toll roads, airports, and power plants. It's Amtrak. There are revolving doors of corrupt politicians, big banks, and rating agencies. There are conflicts of interest. It's bipartisan. And it's coming to a city near you — it may already be there. We're talking about the sale of public assets to private investors. You may have heard of one-off deals, but what we'll be exploring with the Huffington Post is the scale and scope of what is a national and organized campaign to shift the way we govern ourselves. In an era of increasingly stretched local and state budgets, privatization of public assets may be so tempting to local politicians that the trend seems unstoppable. Yet, public outrage has stopped and slowed a number of initiatives. </quote> o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o
Various Article Comments
o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Freep -- Various Articles o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Rick Snyder to announce sweeping DPS reforms Monday (June 19, 2011) • http://www.freep.com/article/20110619/NEWS01/110619015/Rick-Snyder-announce-sweeping-DPS-reforms-Monday Governor Rick Snyder to announce sweeping DPS reforms today (June 20, 2011) • http://www.freep.com/article/20110620/NEWS06/106200359/Gov-Rick-Snyder-announce-sweeping-DPS-reforms-today Sweeping reform plan empowers principals, teachers in low-performing Michigan schools (June 20, 2011) • http://www.freep.com/article/20110620/NEWS01/110620027/Sweeping-reform-plan-empowers-principals-teachers-low-performing-Michigan-schools How new Michigan school district for low-performing schools would work (June 20, 2011) • http://www.freep.com/article/20110620/NEWS01/110620033/How-new-Michigan-school-district-low-performing-schools-would-work Snyder had idea for changing DPS even before he was governor (June 21, 2011) • http://www.freep.com/article/20110621/NEWS01/106210388/Snyder-had-idea-changing-DPS-even-before-he-governor DPS's scholarship promise is short on details and resources (June 21, 2011) • http://www.freep.com/article/20110621/NEWS06/106210390/DPS-s-scholarship-promise-short-details-resources New start for Detroit's worst schools (June 21, 2011) • http://www.freep.com/article/20110621/NEWS01/106210383/New-start-Detroit-s-worst-schools Editorial • Stronger medicine for sick schools (June 21, 2011) • http://www.freep.com/article/20110621/OPINION01/106210320/Editorial-Stronger-medicine-sick-schools Eastern Michigan faculty side with teachers' unions, refuse to work in Detroit schools (June 22, 2011) • http://www.freep.com/article/20110622/NEWS01/106220413/Eastern-Michigan-faculty-side-teachers-unions-refuse-work-Detroit-schools Art dealer's trial to begin in DPS corruption case (June 22, 2011) • http://www.freep.com/article/20110622/NEWS01/106220383/Art-dealer-s-trial-begin-DPS-corruption-case Roy Roberts to cut non-teaching jobs, cancel supplier contracts in effort to transform DPS (June 22, 2011) • http://www.freep.com/article/20110622/NEWS01/110622024/Roy-Roberts-cut-non-teaching-jobs-cancel-supplier-contracts-effort-transform-DPS Eastern Michigan faculty side with teachers' unions, says they weren't consulted about plan (June 22, 2011) • http://www.freep.com/article/20110622/NEWS01/106220413/Eastern-Michigan-faculty-side-teachers-unions-says-they-weren-t-consulted-about-plan DPS spent $1.6M on travel, gave raises to consultants (June 24, 2011) • http://www.freep.com/article/20110624/NEWS01/106240431/DPS-spent-1-6M-consultants-travel Under Bobb, consultants got raises, perks (June 24, 2011) • http://www.freep.com/article/20110624/NEWS01/106240443/Under-Bobb-consultants-got-raises-perks Michigan Senate OKs teacher tenure changes (July 1, 2011) • http://www.freep.com/article/20110701/NEWS05/107010436/Michigan-Senate-OKs-teacher-tenure-changes o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Starve and Supplant The Governor and his Privateers are starving the Public Sector in Michigan out of existence for a reason, so that private corporations can complete their hostile takeover of all public services. They stopped being content with tax abatements, bailouts, incentives, kickbacks, and worker concessions a long time ago — they want nothing less than the automatic funneling of tax dollars directly into their private corporate bankrolls without the annoying interference of all us pesky commoners. Mackinac Center For Public Policy • “State Needs Privatization” • http://www.educationreport.org/15050 Lansing State Journal • “Going Private? — Snyder, Republicans Put New Focus On Merits Of Privatization” • http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20110515/NEWS04/105150528/GOING-PRIVATE-Snyder-Republicans-put-new-focus-merits-privatization o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Waiting for Superfraud Here's a article that will help Michiganders understand the brand of PR blitz — bankrolled by the Billionaire Boys (and Betsy) Club — that we can expect to see broadcast all over Michigan in the coming year. Michael T. Martin • “Waiting For SuperFraud” • http://ksdcitizens.org/2010/12/22/waiting-for-superfraud/ The invasion of cash from so-called “philanthropists” is what is known in the Biz as a “Loss Leader”. Big bucks will be pumped into the system to make it look like the reforms are a smashing success. If that strategy works the way it has in other States and Washington, DC, a lot of data will get cooked and lot of Agenda-Driven Statistification (ADS) will get trumpeted all over the Corporate Air Waves in order to make it look like there was any improvement at all. Never mind the small stuff, the truth won't matter. More big bucks will be pumped into rah-rah ads and corporate media “documentaries” to cover up the facts. By the time the Public figures out what is really going down, the school system will be so far down the road to privatization for corporate cash, command, and control that it will take the People all they can do to keep any shred of equal opportunity education at all. You have to understand that these people are not philanthropists — “lovers of humanity” — they are investors. They don't give money away — they invest money for the sake of making more money, acting in tandem with their ego-driven need to force their personal ideology on the rest of the world. It does not make an ounce of difference to them if they have to destroy the American way of life in the process — it's just so much collateral road-kill on their toll-way to the Greater Glory of Greed. o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o The Broad Axe Falls Again Here's a couple of reports on the Broad Foundation, that we find behind the scenes of so many current raids on public education and so prominently mentioned in the Governerd's plans, not just for Detroit, but for Michigan at large — Seattle Education Blog • “The Broad Foundation” • http://seattleducation2010.wordpress.com/race-to-the-top/the-broad-foundation/ Seattle Education Blog • “Eli Broad’s Last Hurrah In Detroit?” • http://seattleducation2010.wordpress.com/2011/04/25/eli-broad’s-last-hurrah-in-detroit/ One thing we've learned about the Corporate Privateers is that it doesn't really matter what their PR says — the agenda is always the same. Say hello to the East India Teaching Company — o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Snyder had idea for changing DPS even before he was governor (June 21, 2011) So it was all a case of indigestion … Nice job of post hoc legend craft, but my guess is that ALEC and the MCPP had the idea of busting the unions and privatizing the schools long before they ran him up the flagpoll for Governerd. o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o How new Michigan school district for low-performing schools would work Those of you who are Real Nerds might try looking up “Regression Effects” in your old statistics book. o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o The reason for the quick reaction is that the better-informed readers on this site already know the history of Corporate Ideology Groups (CIGs) like ALEC, the Broad Foundation, the DeVos family, the Koch brothers, the Mackinac Center, and all the other Privateers who are pushing this agenda. We don't have to Wait & See what they have in mind for Michigan because we have read the history of what they have done elsewhere and we have read the plans that come out of their own doublethink tanks for their dreams of a Colonial Plantation America (CPA). o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Here's a good update on some of the things that educators, parent activists, and others will be doing over the Summer to protect our system of democratic education from hostile takeover by corporations, ideologues, and other private interests. Education Week • “Frustrated Educators Aim To Build Grassroots Movement” • http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/06/15/35activists_ep.h30.html ? Thousands of educators, parent activists, and others are expected to convene in the heat and humidity of Washington next month for a march protesting the current thrust of education policy in the United States, especially the strong emphasis on test-based accountability. Organizers say the effort aims to galvanize and give voice to those who believe policymakers, including U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and state governors, have gone astray in their remedies for improving American schools. ? o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Wear Red For Public Ed is a good place to learn how communities across the nation are dealing with the ongoing degradation of public education. People across the country are beginning to realize that there is a coordinated campaign by corporate-dominated State governments to turn back the clock on American education to the schools of private privilege we once had the good sense to revolt against. o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Anyone with a working long-term memory knows where this agenda to “Starve Public Schools Out Of Existence” came from. Good thing there's web search for the rest of us — Richard DeVos Advocates “Stealth” Strategy Against Public Education • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-fTAhc4QC4 Blackwater In-Law DeVos Outlines “Stealth” Plot Against Public Education • http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/05/04/972949/-Blackwater-In-Law-DeVos-outlines-stealth-plot-against-Public-Education Strategy for Privatizing Public Schools Spelled out by Dick DeVos in 2002 Heritage Foundation Speech • http://www.talk2action.org/story/2011/5/3/12515/58655/Front_Page/Strategy_for_Privatizing_Public_Schools_Spelled_out_by_Dick_D o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Just in case anyone thinks these Educational Privateers are relics of bygone days, here's a couple of recent stories that indicate what they have in mind for one of democracy's most precious resources — New York Times • Behind Grass-Roots School Advocacy, Bill Gates • http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/22/education/22gates.html Daily Kos • “The United Gates Of America” • http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/05/22/978218/-The-United-Gates-of-America Business Insider • “Rupert Murdoch, Who Bought 90% Of An Education Software Provider, Launches Initiative ‘To Make Education A Top Issue In 2012 Presidential Campaign’” • http://www.businessinsider.com/rupert-murdoch-news-corp-education-2012-presidential-campaign-2011-5 Here's another couple of articles on the ongoing program by ALEC, DeVos, Koch, Mackinac Center, and others to destroy public education — Jim Hightower • “Billionaires' Front Groups Attack Workers, Public Schools, and Young Voters” • http://www.hightowerlowdown.org/node/2680 Michigan Populist • “Kids are Collateral Damage in Mackinac Center’s War” • http://www.michiganpopulist.org/?p=177 Washington Post • How Walton Foundation spent $157 million on ed reform (in D.C. and other places) • http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/how-walton-foundation-spent-157-million-on-ed-reform-in-dc-and-other-places/2011/06/28/AGhLy0pH_blog.html o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 8 Starve and Supplant The Governor and his Privateers are starving the Public Sector in Michigan out of existence for a reason, so that private corporations can complete their hostile takeover of all public services. They stopped being content with tax abatements, bailouts, incentives, kickbacks, and worker concessions a long time ago — they want nothing less than the automatic funneling of tax dollars directly into their private corporate bankrolls without the annoying interference of all us pesky commoners. Mackinac Center For Public Policy • “State Needs Privatization” • http://www.educationreport.org/15050 Lansing State Journal • “Going Private? — Snyder, Republicans Put New Focus On Merits Of Privatization” • http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20110515/NEWS04/105150528/GOING-PRIVATE-Snyder-Republicans-put-new-focus-merits-privatization o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o I've been watching all and participating in many of these movements over the years, and I always give them the benefit of the doubt at first. Sometimes I even become an enthusiast, if never quite a True Believer. But this particular push goes back more than 20 years — we can read the Sadder Budweiser history of it from Diane Ravitch and many others — and the time for shadows of doubt is long past. o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o My concern for the future of education in Michigan comes from experience, from reading the reports of what is happening across the country as we speak, and from knowing the history of what happened with these same types of programmatic purges in the past. My concern is not based on worries about the unknown — these groups and their aims are known quantities. If the program being pushed here were really as “unique” as its pushers advertize it to be, that would be one thing, but the current push is not the least bit new or unique, not by a long shot. All the same brands of patent nonsense notions have been sold to the public before, on a periodic basis over the last hundred years, always by the same brands of business-minded factions, people who lack the least bit of knowledge about what it takes to educate anyone, but who remain dead set on running education like a business or a factory with all the arrogant ignorance of their bean-counter efficiency. Ten or twenty years go by, a decade or a generation gets wasted on what always turns out to be an extremely expensive excuse for “efficiency”, and then people find themselves forced to return to their senses. Look at the people Snyder is putting in charge — automotive execs, CEOs from banking, construction, finance, hedge-funds, insurance execs, multilayer marketers, and on up the line. Do you really think it's a smart idea to turn Education over to the same sorts of people who already destroyed the Economy? I don't think so … o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Comment 11 Michigan For Sale !!! I think we have to recognize that the wool being pulled over our eyes in the public sector of education extends to the entire public sphere. Just by way of one indication, here's a timely article that popped up on my newsfeed — Dylan Ratigan • “America for Sale : Is Goldman Sachs Buying Your City?” • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dylan-ratigan/america-for-sale-is-goldm_b_877285.html <quote> In Chicago, it's the sale of parking meters to the sovereign wealth fund of Abu Dhabi. In Indiana, it's the sale of the northern toll road to a Spanish and Australian joint venture. In Wisconsin it's public health and food programs, in California it's libraries. It's water treatment plants, schools, toll roads, airports, and power plants. It's Amtrak. There are revolving doors of corrupt politicians, big banks, and rating agencies. There are conflicts of interest. It's bipartisan. And it's coming to a city near you — it may already be there. We're talking about the sale of public assets to private investors. You may have heard of one-off deals, but what we'll be exploring with the Huffington Post is the scale and scope of what is a national and organized campaign to shift the way we govern ourselves. In an era of increasingly stretched local and state budgets, privatization of public assets may be so tempting to local politicians that the trend seems unstoppable. Yet, public outrage has stopped and slowed a number of initiatives. </quote> o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o Editorial • Stronger medicine for sick schools (June 21, 2011) • http://www.freep.com/comments/article/20110621/OPINION01/106210320/Editorial-Stronger-medicine-sick-schools Comment 1 Say, by the way, when are you so-called “journalists” going to stop publishing these soft-shoe song-&-dance routines that lick the boots of whoever has the Emergency Power This Week and start doing some actual investigative gumshoe journalism into the groups that are pushing these private corporate agendas? Citizen journalism is probably a good thing and all, but it's gotten lately where your readers have to do all the work, and I'm guessing a few of them, if not a lot anymore, still have day jobs. Comment 2 Another thing you might try while you've got your gumshoes on is this: Get thee to one of Michigan's True Think Tanks, one of our fine public universities — while we still have them — find yourself one or two competent professors in statistics, psychology, education, or any of those disciplines where the nerds thereof actually know what the devil they are talking about, and ask them about the significance of “regression effects” in a so-called “experiment” where you grab the lowest 5% on some distribution and apply your favorite treatment to that sample. Ask them how they would grade the “performance” of a researcher who tried to pull that. o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o
