Myra Blackmon writes in Online Athens (Georgia) about the legislators who listen to al the wrong people.
She writes:
“….our lawmakers need some new ears, to hear the voices of parents, teachers and people who spend their time and energy in public education.
“They need new ears that won’t hear the twisted “facts,” crazy ideas and pronouncements from wealthy people and others who have a financial interest in dismantling public schools.
“Those new ears ought also to come with new eyes to look at the facts and learn them firsthand, not as they are provided by lobbyists and for-profit education companies.
“Before our legislators can get new ears and eyes that see and hear the truth about day-to-day living for ordinary Georgians, we have to get new feet.
“Those feet will take us to visit our elected officials and tell them the truth. Those new feet will march straight to the ballot box and vote for people who believe Georgia taxes should support all Georgia schools and students; who believe that a strong public education system is the best legacy any of us can leave.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
This isn’t just an issue in education. Moneyed interests and people get listened to. A great read is “Who Stole the American Dream?”
The only thing that can trump the money is votes. Teachers don’t have a great track record in doing that.
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Vote for whom? Democrats are as bad as Republicans, and there’s precious few third parties running in any races.
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The legislature have the responsibility to find the funds for public education, so they need to have a degree of oversight to ensure their is accountability. If you want schools to be “left alone”, lets begin with the greatest impediment to public education, the US Dept. of Education.
Every teacher knows the demand this Federal agency places on teachers, administrators and states….if its edicts are not complied with.
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I tend to agree about the DOE.
I think the fact that there is so much focus on education means we need a new market—like maybe marijuana for medical purposes. I am surprised more people in NC are not pushing for that. But I guess the Baptist streak in the state can’t get past the perception of it as a “gateway street drug.” From an agricultural and medical standpoint, think of all the revenue and new things to focus in that would emerge. Madison County would suddenly go from the poorest county in NC to the richest.
Until there is some new pool of money, education will remain the whipping boy (or until it goes out of style; but again, I think that would happen quickly with some other cool market).
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WELL…FOLLOW the $$$$$! It’s about the $$$$$. It’s about campaign contributions and the WAY this country does election campaigns. MONEY TALKS! Look at the yahoos who are supposed to be in charge. I say, “VOTE THEM OUT OF OFFICE.” Both the DEMs and REPs are pathetic.
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In system where gaining and maintaining political power is paramount, well funded special interests always will succeed.
The Founding Fathers were men who adhered to their principles.
The believed, as it turns out incorrectly, that posterity would supply our government with representatives who put limited government ahead of personal power. When you seek as your primary goal personal power, then special interests with money are invaluable.
Are there any politicians today you would consider on par with the principled founders?
Is anyone interested in doing what’s best versus what will give them the most power?
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Jim, I’m not sure everyone channels the founding fathers the same way you do.
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