Paul Ryan, now running for vice-president, comes from Janesville, Wisconsin.
So does the writer of this post.
This is a tale of two Janesvilles.
Where you stand depends on where you sit.
Paul Ryan’s life conditioned him to believe that the free market cures all ills. It worked for him.
This teacher knows a different Janesville.
Read on.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Thanks for sharing this wonderful essay. Often what neighbors see across the fence is blind to those whose mess it really is.
Now we know why Ryan’s so called ‘ homecoming ” event was not held in his hometown.
LikeLike
First of all, I believe Ryan said he read ONE of Ayn’s books. THat hardly makes him a huge fan?? Ayn is also a female, NOT a male as this writer mistakenly states.
One should not assume that if someone reads or appreciates some of the works of Rand, that they somehow become one of her devoted followers.
Her two most famous books, The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged can be appreciated for the message of anti-collectivism and her criticism of crony capitalism.
I find it odd that those who so willingly embrace giving over power to corrupt politicians then sit around and complain when they abuse that trust.
What everyone sees as a problem with capitalism, Rand knew was a problem of Crony Capitalism. Something we are seeing right now when it comes to the President picking winners and losers. (Crony Capitalism)
Those who oppose any kind of competition in public education claim that this can’t possibly work, but what we have right now is broken.
SO I ask what is the solution? The Feds have been involved in education since Nixon. Reformers have been reforming for decades. Parents are sick of waiting around for these people who’ve been empowered to fix it.
LikeLike
Where did he say that Ayn Rand was male?
LikeLike
He doesn’t. “Ryan must fit his story into a Rand novel.” His refers to Ryan, not Rand.
LikeLike
“I grew up reading Ayn Rand, and it taught me quite a bit about who I am and what my value systems are and what my beliefs are. It’s inspired me so much that it’s required reading in my office for all my interns and my staff.”
— U.S. Representative Paul Ryan, Republican vice presidential candidate, in a 2005 speech
Where does the writer of “tale of two Janesvilles” call Ayn Rand a man? Ryan himself claimed the importance of Rand in his life.
LikeLike
Here’s a short video Ryan made in 2009. In just over a minute he effusively praises the morality of Rand’s brand of individualism. Judge for yourself if he sounds like a fan:
LikeLike
Hmm. The writer has great angst that Ryan sends his kids to parochial schools, and laments that the poor — attending public schools — do not have the same level of opportunity. If *that* is part of the problem, then make it so the poor can attend whatever school they wish. But even then, one must ask, is there a “cultural” problem with poverty or simply an educational one?
Should we not also change the culture of poverty if we intend to offer real opportunities?
LikeLike
I agree that life or the perception of life and opportunities are often different depending on where you live in a town. In mine it was the river that separated the two.
LikeLike
Alas, the essence of the gulf dividing this teacher and Paul Ryan is the same for the privatizers, corporatizers, and deformers of education – if you do not accept this teacher’s premise, namely, that government services, social support, et al, are morally important then it follows that you would more readily agree with the Paul Ryans and Ayn Rands of the world.
So then, the gulf dividing the nation between the left and the right (though this is problematic given that the left tends to follow the mantra of the right on education – you don’t seem to fairly acknowledge this much, Diane) is the gulf presented by this fine essay – deny the premise and everything else follows the suit of those who would reduce children to data and define reform as privatization. Everything else that reflects this ideological divide is symptomatic of this first premise.
LikeLike
What I find most interesting is that in his own life, Paul Ryan has never made much attempt to succeed in the free market. He’s worked for the government for most of his adult life, and his family money is just that, money his family made, a lot from public investment in road building.
I’m glad this excellent post is getting more attention.
LikeLike
And he married well.
LikeLike
The best way to change the “culture of poverty” is eliminate it–and we can do it.
Why is it that out of 35 modern nations we’re so far behind others in eliminating poverty. we’re in a different class altogether.
deb
LikeLike