This article appeared in Raw Story in 2011. It remains timely.
It tells about the goal of the religious right to eliminate public education, destroy unions, and dismantle environmental policies, among other unworthy goals.
Is that what Jesus would have wanted?
Diane Ravitch's blog 
This is what ed reformers in Michigan have worked on for the past year:
“Revenue from new or renewed regional enhancement education millages would be shared with charter schools under a bill approved Thursday by the Michigan House despite protestations from Democrats who argued it would siphon future money from traditional public schools.
Republican supporters say the proposal would level the playing field for charters, which are considered alternative public schools under state law and already receive per-pupil state funding. The measure would also allow them receive a portion of property tax revenue from voter-approved millages.”
No effort put towards public schools. Not even an attempt to add any value or contribute anything positive to the public schools in the state.
This is what it’s like in states ed reform captures. Every initiative, every bill, every education discussion. Wholly and completely devoted to charters and vouchers. Public schools don’t exist in these states. They have no advocates in state government. The absolute BEST public school families can do in states captured by ed reform lobbyists is limit the harm they do. No one even asks them to contribute or add. We hope they won’t subtract too much and do more damage than we can undo locally. They’re a net negative.
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NO! It certainly is not. Jesus is all about love and caring for others. That doesn’t fit in at all with what is going on these days.
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I really give ed reformers credit for political strategy. When the privatization movement started in Ohio and Michigan the public were told it didn’t matter that charter schools were run by private entities because they were STATE funded schools, so therefore the state government was the elected body who made them “democratic” and “public”
But now that they’ve slashed state funding for public schools they need a share of the local dollars that were levied to make up for the shortfall, so now we’re told they WILL be sharing locally levied funds, just without any local, elected representation.
They tricked people. They got what they wanted, which was a share of local taxes with no local elected oversight and no transparency.
State constitutions were expressly written to bar this. The POINT was taxation comes with representation not just at the state level but at EVERY level, so if you levy taxes in a school district or a township you have to have local elected representatives to manage and distribute those taxes, just as you do with state taxes. They managed to get around 150 years of deliberately crafted checks and balances.
If they think the charter sector is corrupt in Michigan now wait until they’re collecting LOCAL taxes and trying to regulate that from Lansing. It’ll be an absolute free for all.
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There’s also the fact, which might now be taboo to mention, that the state has an interest in shaping its citizens for its own purposes. A mind shaped exclusively by fascist Christianist dogma is a threat to the republic. Public schools used to give a sort of secular catechism designed to preserve the republic (unfortunately, they’re doing a weak job of this nowadays). The pseudo-public charter and voucher schools are unlikely to provide this.
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DeVos represents a right wing extreme form of Calvinism. Many Christians oppose her narrow view and her interest in profiting from others’ misery and problems.
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YES, CALVANISM! The rich deserve to be rich as deemed by god, because they are “inherently better” than others according to Calvin’s doctrine. The poor deserve to be poor according to Calvin, because they after all are the “inferior” and of course are sinners. How convenient.
Click to access Calvin.pdf
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Too bad there is not a New World that people like Betsy DeVos can sail to ( like the Puritans sailed to to “escape religious persecution, if you believe the standard tale) and leave the rest of us in peace.
Just kidding. I would no more wish Betsy DeVos on native people than I would wish the Puritans on them. Both are intolerant enough of other Christian churches, but downright hostile — and sometimes brutal — toward “non-believers”
Puritanism is alive and well in America 400 years later. Hard to believe, but true.
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The Moon has no natives but it is too close to home.
Mars is a better choice and it has no natives to worry about. Encourage Elon Musk to build his first colony on Mars and send every member of ALEC, the Walton family, every Trumpist, the so-called Freedom Caucus, and all Tea Party People, and Bill Gate’s family, the GOP members in Congress, et. al to colonize it. One way tickets and no return ever.
Instead of wearing hats that say “Make America Great Again,” their hats will read “Make Mars Great”.
In fact, maybe Mars is too close. Colonizing Saturn’s moons would be a better choice for these Klingon type aliens among us.
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Mars might have native bacteria and I would not even wish Betsy on them.
And the same goes for some of the moons.
How about the Sun?
I doubt there are any natives there, at least not ones that could not survive a whole team of Betsy’s.
It’s a Scamway market just waiting to be developed.
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Jupiter is a protostar. Will that do?
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Here is what happens when Trump and “religious conscious” zealots decide that professional obligations and to patients can be ignored. This is not much different from the outcome Devos seems to want in public education. http://www.koaa.com/story/37300923/new-hhs-division-to-oversee-protect-religious-and-moral-objections-to-medical-procedures
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Trump’s strange alliance with the right wing Christians wants roll back every form of protection for the “little people” or regulation.
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YES, and then they pray for more $$$$$ and power, and invoke the name of god, too. How sick.
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And, in cases such as Paul Ryan and others of his ilk, the “government” should back away so that the “church” will take over caring for the poor.
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So this is what Adam Smith was referring to when he wrote about “the invisible hand”!
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There are 100 Bible Verses about Fale Prophets (and the religious right is saturated with these false prophets). In fact, “Over the years since it was formed in December 1865, the Klan (that endorsed Trump) has typically seen itself as a Christian organization, …”
And a few examples from the bible:
Matthew 7:15
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Matthew 24:24
For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
Deuteronomy 18:20
But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’
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“false christs” is a clear reference to Chris Christie
And “false profits” is a clear reference to billionaires like Betsy D and Bill Gates
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And “Corinthians” is a clear reference to “Corinthian colleges” a for profit college system which ripped off thousands of students.
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It will always be a reference to fine Corinthian leather to me.
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Realizing that this is slightly off-topic, I read the other day that Corinth during the time of Paul was a city of more than a half million that sat at the crossroads of trade and commerce. A temple to Aphrodite pulled all sorts of tourists into town with big wallets and amorous appetites. Christianity with its emphasis on the spiritual was a pain in the pocketbook. The religion became the salvation of the poor, not just insofar as they believed about the next world, but in how they felt about this one and their place in it.
That was Pauline Christianity.
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You shouldn’t underestimate DeVos, though. She’s been a political operative for 40 years. She’s a pro.
She hired the “liberal” ed reformer to handle the public school portfolio at the US department of Education to keep that part of the “movement” happy and then completely marginalized him. He does nothing and is never heard from. That’s how it’s done.
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Ms. DeVos has every right to promulgate her religious views. (See the 1st amendment on freedom of speech and religion). Latter-day saint missionaries knock on my door, from time to time. The Jehovah’s witnesses hand out their literature at my subway stop. I have the right to ignore them. Ms. DeVos just has more money, so she is able to do her “religious thing” on a bigger scale.
If she wants to push religion, I don’t care. There is room enough in hell for all of us.
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Charles,
Private citizens have a right to hold and express their views about religion.
Federal officials do NOT. They have a public responsibility to respect all views, not to espouse their own.
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I disagree. The constitution specifies that there is to be no religious test for public office. When a person becomes a federal employee, you do not check your religious beliefs at the door. (I have 12 years of federal service).
John F. Kennedy made no effort to hide his Catholicism. Jimmy Carter publicly talked up his Christianity. He taught a Sunday School class once a month, while he was president. Ronald Reagan was deeply religious. And on and on.
I believe that most, if not all federal officials, can keep their private religious views separated from their official duties.
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Charles,
No federal official has to hide their religion but federal Office cannot be used as a pulpit to impose religious views
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Why, Charles . . . I’m afraid there is not enough room at all in hell for you. The devil will have to conjure up a galaxy-sized inferno as a private netherworld just for you.
Aren’t you the lucky one today! You get to go straight to hell and you get to be there all by yourself.
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Charles, I don’t think you have read and/or understand the U.S. Constitution.
The Establishment Clause is a limitation placed upon the United States Congress preventing it from passing legislation respecting an establishment of religion.
The second half of the Establishment Clause (from the 1st Amendment) inherently prohibits the government from preferring any one religion over another. While the Establishment Clause does prohibit Congress from preferring or elevating one religion over another, it does not prohibit the government’s entry into the religious domain to make accommodations for religious observances and practices in order to achieve the purposes of the Free Exercise Clause.
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No
, Charles, as Secretary of Educatuon, she cannot promulgate her religion. She cannot even endorse candidates for elected office. The Hatch Act forbids the latter. There is probably some other law that prevents her from imposing her religious beliefs as Secretary of Education. Doing so would violate the freedom of religion of other Americans. She was not appointed to be our Religious Leader.
Charles, I used to think you are smart but misguided. I now wonder about your understanding of our Constitution. There are people serving in the federal government who are Catholic and Jewish. Would you be offended if they used their official posts to proselytize for their religions?
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NO federal official is permitted to use their office to promulgate their religious views. I cannot cite the exact federal law, but it would be a gross conflict of interest.
In 2012, a Mormon ran for president. We have people from all different religious backgrounds in public service. So what?
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Charles,
You made the absurd comment that DeVos could use her Federal Office to advocate her religious views.
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Q You made the absurd comment that DeVos could use her Federal Office to advocate her religious views. END Q
Not exactly. A federal official can express their religious views. Reagan talked about God often. Carter made no secret of his Christian views. FDR was devout. Cabinet secretaries may express their religious views, as they see fit. This is not an establishment of religion.
George Washington hammered his religion frequently. And on and on.
I believe sincerely, that federal officials can keep their religious views out in the open, and still perform their official duties without any conflict of interest, and without breaking any law.
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“George Washington hammered his religion frequently. And on and on.”
Really!
WQhat religion did George Washington hammer frequently?
“When studying the religious beliefs of George Washington, it is difficult to make absolute, concrete conclusions. Depending on the source examined, Washington has been painted in differing lights ranging from a Deist to a believing Christian. No matter what precise conclusion is obtained, there are common facts surrounding Washington’s relationship with religion. …
“In regard to personal spirituality, Washington was generally private about his religious life. …
“Overall, Washington’s religious life is an area of great debate and much in line with his contemporaries. His religious life is complex and should be approached as such, without trite labels and descriptions.”
http://www.mountvernon.org/digital-encyclopedia/article/george-washington-and-religion/
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What religion was George Washington?
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I am not qualified to answer exactly what religion George Washington professed. There is a great deal of debate among historians. see
http://www.mountvernon.org/digital-encyclopedia/article/george-washington-and-religion/
Undoubtedly, he was religious. He insisted on swearing his presidential oath on a Holy Bible. He prayed frequently, and studied the Holy Bible. He believed strongly in religious tolerance. (See the letter to the Truro Synagogue. http://www.tourosynagogue.org/history-learning/tsf-intro-menu/slom-scholarship/86-washington-letter)
We can be assured that Washington was able to hold religious views, and also serve as chief executive.
There is no reason to believe that individuals cannot be deeply religious, and also serve properly, in federal service.
You are an historian, and I am not.
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We don’t know Washington’s religion because he did not use his Office as a pulpit
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No, she doesn’t.
Did President JOHN F. Kennedy have the right to lead a campaign to convert everyone to Catholicism?
Are you sane?
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Your question is meaningless. John Kennedy made no effort to lead our nation into Roman Catholicism. As far as that goes, his personal life, and his sexual liaisons, hardly qualify him as the “poster child” for the Roman Catholic Church.
And I am quite sane, I assure you.
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“Crazy People” Never know they’re Crazy!
https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/recoveringfrommentalillness/2013/08/crazy-people-never-know-theyre-crazy/
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“What would Jesus do?”
What would Jesus do?
He’d close the public schools
What would Jesus do?
Impose the Bible rules
What would Jesus do?
He’d open up a charter
What would Jesus do?
He’d make the testing harder
What would Jesus do?
He’d hire Betsy D.
What would Jesus do?
He’d privatize, with glee
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Betsy’s Jesus is money and greed. She worships the almighty dollar.
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Another example of how STUPID those so called humans are.
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Charles and the entire lot are godless bots. Treat them as such.
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Charles actually is a bot. He has been planted here to waste my time responding to dumb comments.
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Diane, I just wrote a reply to your comment above &, like an earlier, longer one I wrote to him on the post about the children’s librarian & her student debt, it simply disappeared–it didn’t even go into moderation.
Very odd.
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That has happened to me before but not just on Diane’s site. I discovered that if I accidentally hit a key (I don’t know what key I hit) I end up losing my comment. I type very fast and it is easy to hit the wrong key.
For that reason, I have developed a habit of writing my longer comments in Word and the copy and paste. When I copy and paste, I have never lost a comment.
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Oh–as to him–I was referring to Charles.
To you: sorry he’s wasting your time (& ours, as well), but glad you’re not losing sleep
(time of your comment: 1:14 AM)–I realized that’s 1:14 AM ET, & that you’re responding from Cambodia, & it’s the afternoon, there!
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Right!
Exactly 12 hours difference
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