The Guardian reports that lobbyist and union-buster Richard Berman has a new target:
“Over the last year, Berman has secretly routed funding for at least 16 studies and launched at least five front groups attacking Environmental Protection Agency rules cutting carbon dioxide from power plants, the Guardian has learned.”
This is the centerpiece of Obama’s agenda for combatting climate change.
Readers of this blog know Berman as leader of the “Center for Union Facts,” which blames teachers unions for low scores. In the recent past, he bought a full-page ad in the Néw York Times attacking Randi Weingarten and a large billboard in NYC’s Times Square repeating the same unfounded claims.
I am still waiting for Berman to explain why states without teachers unions have lower scores on NAEP than those with strong unions, like Massachusetts, Néw Jersey, and Connecticut.
But he is off to bigger targets.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
He’ll probably be just as effective in this role as he was at the Center for Union Facts.
What a charmer. Here’s a Charity Navigator advisory: http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=13374#.VOy38GctF9A. I’ll look for his house so I can swing by and ask Diane’ question.
and: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/31/us/politics/pr-executives-western-energy-alliance-speech-taped.html?_r=2
Funny how anything that’s good for people is bad for business —
Well, some business …
I’m just glad I was raised the way I was. Thanks Mom, Dad, neighbors, and all my teachers!
To Jon Awbrey:
It is not funny, but really PAINFUL to know for sure that foreigners try to control and destabilize American strong Public education system, to create chaos in national ECONOMY, to abuse American citizenship, and to own American prestige properties.
This is not anybody opinion, but shown through links as below that you might be busy to miss it.
Part one (Sunday, Feb 8, 2015)
TOWERS OF SECRECY
Stream of Foreign Wealth Flows to Elite NEW YORK Real Estate
By: Louise Story and Stephanie Saul
Part 2 in series of 8 (Tues, Feb10, 2015)
Well-Connected at Home, a Young Malaysian Invests in New York
Part 3
The Besieged Indian Builder
(since I did not pay to subscribe to NYT, I cannot follow the series of corruption from the power and MBA graduate from the IVY schools)
In conclusion, I sincerely hope that all supporters in Chicago conference will focus on PREVENTION of this message:
“It’s a way foreigners can do whatever they want here.”
In our PUBLIC EDUCATION, the word “foreigners” is replaced by “PEARSON, and Billionaire CLUB”
This will be the only time that public can show its power in the mass through AGREEMENT and 100%+ support Dr. Ravitch’s decision making in shaking up or persuading with ZERO TOLERANCE of intrusive and harmful TESTING SCHEME to K-12.
Thank you for reading. Back2basic
Strong Unions in NJ?
The governor is refusing to uphold the pension reform payments he was instrumental in legislating. He is calling the judge’s decision that he is required to make the payments”judicial activism.”
We have a law amending teacher tenure that will result in droves of teachers being brought up on tenure charges. Cases that have been decided by arbitrators in favor of teachers are being appealed.
In Newark, seniority protections have been abolished. TFA are replacing veteran teachers forced to work out of their certifications as EWPS. New teachers are being mentored by those with minimal experience. We have VAM and merit pay. Teachers of color are disproportionately suffering under the One Newark plan. Teacher voices are routinely silenced.
Imagine how it would be without the strong unions!
When it comes to union busting, I suggest you all check out http://www.catholicscholarsforworkerjustice.org/ who show that according to longstanding church doctrine, union busting is a mortal sin. We already know that such people are morally bankrupt so I suspect they care not for the church’s position on this.
Yet, so many Catholic universities have their hands out for Koch money. (Greenpeace “Koch Pollution on Campus”)
So “blame the teacher” and “bust the unions” has expanded to “climate change denial” and “to hell with science” as well.
As a Huffpo commenter said, “Unions are the only lobbyist the middle class can afford.”
Rick Berman is a blight on the United States. His only redeeming value is his son, who champions working Americans, against his father’s attacks. I recommend the son for the Ravitch Hall of Honor.