On issues related to education, Connecticut’s Governor Dannell Malloy is one of the worst governors in the nation.
Jonathan Pelto, who served in the state legislature, is considering a run against Malloy. Pelto knows that Malloy has repeatedly let down students, parents, teachers, and communities. Malloy has followed the money–the hedge fund money–which supports charter schools for the few.
Pelto would also challenge Malloy’s corporate tax breaks and his failed economic development policies.
Win, lose, or draw, Pelto’s candidacy would be a breath of fresh air for Connecticut. It would force Malloy to defend his giveaway of public education to private corporations.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I cannot vote in Connecticut but, due to his passionate, dignified and selfless work on behalf of public education and teachers, if I could I’d vote for Jonathon Pelto in a heartbeat.
I am somewhat troubled that the “bad guys” are always the “millionaires, billionaires and Hedge fund guys”. A pretty broad accusation and very unwarranted.
I have two thoughts/questions:
1. Isn’t it true that many/most of the wealthy individuals/foundations, i.e., Bill Gates, Tudor Jones, Robin Hood, etc. make the investments as an act of philanthropy and not for investment return? They obviously believe what they are doing is a good deed, even though you and your followers don’t agree. Aren’t they entitled to their opinion?
2. Why don’t you advise all school pension plans, health plans, etc. that invest your money to avoid the hedge fund people….probably because they generate excellent returns….did you ever hear the phrase….”you can’t have it both ways”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx I for one would be delirious should a millionaire, billionaire, or ‘hedge-fund guy’ step forward to build new public schools in poor areas, or simply pump $$ into the public-ed budgets of poor areas for purposes of keeping class size under 30– or even just buying paper, pencils and books.
Let’s start w/Philadelphia, whaddyasay?
I’d be happy if these hedgefund folks and billionaires would pay their fair share of taxes–then public schools could be funded by public monies, and not at the whims of some rich guy or gal–who is not doing this for reasons of goodwill.
Dear Mr. Gipper:
Yes, we are all entitled to our opinions. But when opinions and money corrupt and do damage to teachers and children, someone must draw the line.
Run, Jonathan, run! In every single election, from local to national, we need to present candidates who are not out to destroy public education, but to restore it. We are the restorers against the “reformers.”
I can vote in Connecticut, and I’ll vote for Pelto, if he becomes an option. He strikes me as an actual statesman concerned with the common weal, rather than a mere politician, concerned cynically with his own self-interest.
@Gipper – I understand your concern about vilifying “hedge funders” “billionaires” as a group. We should certainly judge all people as individuals. However, as someone who lives in the heart of hedge fund country, I would make this observation: Is it really charity when you are wielded your philanthropy as a political weapon to disenfranchise the people that you are allegedly “helping”? Such is the case with billionaire hedge funder Stephen Mandel and his Lone Pine Foundation, Zoom Foundation and Excel Bridgeport, which poured money and resources into trying to get a charter revision in Bridgeport so that the Board of Education would be appointed by the mayor rather than elected.
http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/a_discouraging_day_for_democracy_and_education/
Is it really philanthropy when you are trying to create a self-fulfilling prophecy in national education reform, like Bill Gates?
http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/a_window_into_the_bill_and_melinda_gates_foundation_dystopia/
In Judaism the Talmud talks about levels of giving:
1.Giving begrudgingly
2.Giving less that you should, but giving it cheerfully.
3.Giving after being asked
4.Giving before being asked
5.Giving when you do not know the recipient’s identity, but the recipient knows your identity
6.Giving when you know the recipient’s identity, but the recipient doesn’t know your identity
7.Giving when neither party knows the other’s identity
8.Enabling the recipient to become self-reliant
You might want to think about that a little and then take a look at how these philanthropists are actually giving.
It would be wonderful if a pro-education and all-around great candidate ran for governor of Connecticut. Jonathan Pelto would get my vote!
This Nutmegger will vote for Jonathan Pelto if he runs. I will NOT vote for “DINO Dan” under any circumstances, even if it means handing the office to a Republican.
Reblogged this on Knitting Clio and commented:
I hope so — I’ll vote for him!