THE GREAT VOUCHER WAR BILLIONAIRES BATTLE TO END PUBLIC EDUCATION
In a world where billionaires have more power than ever before, it's no surprise that they're using their wealth to influence education policy. The Citizens United decision has given them unlimited spending power, and they're using it to promote vouchers and charter schools. But why are they so eager to end public education? Let's take a look.
First, there's the issue of control. Billionaires don't like being told what to do, and they don't like the idea of a government-run education system that they can't control. By promoting vouchers and charter schools, they can create a parallel education system that they can control. It's like having their own private school system, without having to pay for it themselves.
Second, there's the issue of ideology. Many billionaires are libertarians who believe in limited government and free markets. They see public education as a socialist institution that needs to be dismantled. By promoting vouchers and charter schools, they can create a free market in education where parents can choose the best school for their child. Of course, this ignores the fact that education is a public good that benefits everyone, not just individual families.
But why are billionaires so obsessed with vouchers and charter schools? Why not just donate money to public schools? Well, for one thing, public schools are subject to democratic control. Billionaires can't just walk in and tell them what to do. By promoting vouchers and charter schools, they can create a parallel education system that they can control.
So what are some of the effects of this spending on vouchers and charter schools? Well, for one thing, it undermines the democratic process. By allowing billionaires to spend unlimited amounts of money on elections, they can buy influence and drown out the voices of ordinary citizens. It also diverts public funds from public schools to private schools, which may have less oversight and regulation.
But don't worry, there are ways to fight back against the voucher oligarchy. For one thing, we can support grassroots movements and organizations that advocate for democracy reform and challenge the influence of money in politics. We can also educate and engage citizens to become more aware and involved in politics and policy issues.
Of course, it's not just billionaires who are promoting vouchers and charter schools. There are also right-wing groups and individuals who support privatization of education. They argue that vouchers give parents the freedom and flexibility to choose the best education for their children. But let's be real, most of the people who benefit from vouchers are middle-class and affluent families who can afford private schooling. Poor students are left behind.
So what's the solution? We need to invest in public education and support our teachers. Teachers unions are a powerful force for good in education. They protect teachers' rights and working conditions, which in turn benefit students' learning and well-being. They advocate for quality public education for all students, regardless of their background, ability, or income.
In conclusion, the voucher oligarchy is a threat to our democracy and our public education system. We need to fight back against their influence and support our public schools and our teachers. And remember, if you're a billionaire reading this article, just donate some money to your local public school instead of trying to dismantle it. It's the right thing to do, and it might even get you some positive press for a change.
THE DEFT DIVE
School vouchers are state- or school district-funded scholarships that allow students to attend a private school of their choice rather than sending the child to public school. ²
There are different opinions and arguments about the pros and cons of school vouchers. Some of the common points in favor of school vouchers are:
- - They give parents the freedom and flexibility to choose the best education for their children according to their needs, preferences, and values. ¹²⁴
- - They improve the quality of education in general by creating competition among schools and encouraging innovation and accountability. ¹²⁴
- - They allow school districts to overcome racial and other segregations by giving students from disadvantaged backgrounds more opportunities to access diverse and high-performing schools. ¹²⁴
- - They offer students in failing schools a chance to receive a better education and improve their academic outcomes. ¹²⁴
Some of the common points against school vouchers are:
- - They divert public funds from public schools to private schools, which may have less oversight, regulation, and accountability. This may undermine the quality and equity of public education and harm the students who remain in public schools. ¹²³⁴
- - They benefit mostly middle-class and affluent families who can afford the additional costs of private schooling, such as tuition fees, transportation, uniforms, etc. They may not reach or help the poor students who need them most or who may face other barriers to access private schools. ¹²³⁴
- - They fail to accommodate and support students with disabilities and special needs, who may be excluded or discriminated by private schools that do not have the resources or expertise to serve them. They may also violate the rights of these students to receive a free and appropriate public education. ¹²³⁴
- - They do not improve students' academic performance or achievement, as measured by standardized test scores or other indicators. They may also have negative effects on students' civic values, social skills, and integration. ¹²³⁴
Bing, 7/9/2023
(1) School Vouchers - Pros & Cons - ProCon.org. https://www.procon.org/headlines/school-vouchers-top-4-pros-and-cons/.
(2) 27 Main Pros & Cons Of School Vouchers & School Choice. https://bing.com/search?q=school+vouchers+pros+and+cons.
(3) 14 Pros and Cons of School Vouchers – Vittana.org. https://vittana.org/14-pros-and-cons-of-school-vouchers.
(4) Pro and Con: School Vouchers | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/story/pro-and-con-school-vouchers.
Arguments for school vouchers are indeed used by right-wing or conservative groups and individuals who support privatization of education. For example, some of the signers of a letter urging Governor Shapiro to pass the voucher bill in Pennsylvania are:
- - Bill Bennett, Secretary of Education under Ronald Reagan
- - Betsy DeVos, Secretary of Education under Donald Trump
- - American Federation for Children, the DeVos school choice advocacy group
- - ALEC Action, a wing of the conservative business alliance that provides legislators with “model legislation,” including model voucher bills.
- - Americans for Prosperity, the Koch-backed group that opposes taxes and argues for privatization
- - Americans for Tax Reform, represented by Grover Norquist who wants to shrink the government
- - EdChoice, formerly the Friedman Foundation, after Milton Friedman, the free-market economist who advocated for vouchers in 1955
- - ExcelInEd, the choice advocacy group started by Jeb Bush ²
Some of the arguments that these groups and individuals use to support school vouchers are:
- - They give parents the freedom and flexibility to choose the best education for their children according to their needs, preferences, and values ²³⁴⁵
- - They improve the quality of education in general by creating competition among schools and encouraging innovation and accountability ²³⁴⁵
- - They allow school districts to overcome racial and other segregations by giving students from disadvantaged backgrounds more opportunities to access diverse and high-performing schools ²³⁴⁵
Bing, 7/9/2023
(1) PA Senate Passes School Vouchers. Conservative Group Presses ... - Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/petergreene/2023/06/30/pa-senate-passes-school-voucher-bill-conservative-coalition-gives-josh-shapiro-full-court-press/.
(2) School Vouchers - Pros & Cons - ProCon.org. https://www.procon.org/headlines/school-vouchers-top-4-pros-and-cons/.
(3) 14 Pros and Cons of School Vouchers – Vittana.org. https://vittana.org/14-pros-and-cons-of-school-vouchers.
(4) 27 Main Pros & Cons Of School Vouchers & School Choice. https://environmental-conscience.com/school-vouchers-pros-cons/.
(5) An argument for why school vouchers harm American civic life. https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/01/05/an-argument-why-school-vouchers-harm-american-civic-life/.
According to some sources, some of the billionaires who support vouchers and charter schools are:
- - The Walton family, who own Walmart and have a foundation that has given billions of dollars to promote charter school expansion and voucher programs across the country. ¹²³⁴⁵
- - Bill Gates, who co-founded Microsoft and has a foundation that has given millions of dollars to support charter school advocacy groups and education reform initiatives. ¹
- - Betsy DeVos, who was the Secretary of Education under Donald Trump and has a family foundation that has given millions of dollars to support school choice organizations and candidates. ¹
- - Charles Koch, who co-owns Koch Industries and has a foundation that has given millions of dollars to support libertarian think tanks and advocacy groups that favor school choice and privatization. ¹
Some of the reasons why these billionaires support vouchers and charter schools are:
- - They believe that school choice gives parents and students more freedom and flexibility to choose the best education for their needs, preferences, and values. ¹²³⁴⁵
- - They believe that school choice improves the quality of education in general by creating competition among schools and encouraging innovation and accountability. ¹²³⁴⁵
- - They believe that school choice helps underprivileged students in poor communities by giving them more opportunities to access diverse and high-performing schools. ¹²³⁴⁵
- - They believe that school choice aligns with their political and economic ideologies of free market, limited government, and individual liberty. ¹
There are many critics who argue that vouchers and charter schools have negative impacts on public education and society. Some of the arguments against vouchers and charter schools are:
- - They divert public funds from public schools to private schools, which may have less oversight, regulation, and accountability. This may undermine the quality and equity of public education and harm the students who remain in public schools. ¹
- - They benefit mostly middle-class and affluent families who can afford the additional costs of private schooling, such as tuition fees, transportation, uniforms, etc. They may not reach or help the poor students who need them most or who may face other barriers to access private schools. ¹
- - They fail to accommodate and support students with disabilities and special needs, who may be excluded or discriminated by private schools that do not have the resources or expertise to serve them. They may also violate the rights of these students to receive a free and appropriate public education. ¹
- - They do not improve students' academic performance or achievement, as measured by standardized test scores or other indicators. They may also have negative effects on students' civic values, social skills, and integration. [^1]
Bing, 7/9/2023
(1) Here Are The Corporations And Right-Wing Funders Backing The Education .... https://www.mediamatters.org/daily-caller/here-are-corporations-and-right-wing-funders-backing-education-reform-movement.
(2) How Billionaires Are Backing Charter School Push: AP - Common Dreams. https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/07/16/how-billionaires-are-backing-charter-school-push-ap.
(3) Billionaire philanthropists pushing charter schools and school vouchers .... https://www.readfrontier.org/stories/billionaire-philanthropists-pushing-charter-schools-and-school-vouchers-also-fund-oklahomas-secretary-of-educations-six-figure-salary/.
(4) Billionaire Philanthropists Pushing Charter Schools and School Vouchers .... https://oklahomawatch.org/2022/05/19/billionaire-philanthropists-pushing-charter-schools-and-school-vouchers-also-fund-oklahomas-secretary-of-educations-six-figure-salary/.
(5) Billionaires pushing charter schools fund Oklahoma education secretary .... https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2022/05/20/oklahoma-education-secretary-earning-six-figure-salary-nonprofit-work-ryan-walters/9836218002/.
The relationship between billionaires and teachers unions. According to some sources, some of the reasons why some billionaires may dislike teachers unions are:
- - They see teachers unions as an obstacle to their education reform agenda, which includes expanding vouchers and charter schools, promoting standardized testing and accountability, and weakening teacher tenure and seniority. ¹²³⁴
- - They view teachers unions as a powerful political force that supports progressive candidates and causes that are opposed to their conservative or libertarian ideologies. ¹²³⁴
- - They resent teachers unions for demanding higher salaries and benefits, smaller class sizes, and more resources for public schools, which they may perceive as wasteful or inefficient. ¹²³⁴
There are many supporters who argue that teachers unions have positive impacts on education and society. Some of the arguments in favor of teachers unions are:
- - They protect teachers' rights and working conditions, which in turn benefit students' learning and well-being. ¹²³⁴
- - They advocate for quality public education for all students, regardless of their background, ability, or income. ¹²³⁴
- - They contribute to democracy and social justice by engaging in collective bargaining, political action, and community organizing. ¹²³ [^4]
Bing, 7/9/2023
(1) Here Are The Corporations And Right-Wing Funders Backing The Education .... https://www.mediamatters.org/daily-caller/here-are-corporations-and-right-wing-funders-backing-education-reform-movement.
(2) Billionaires v teachers: the Koch brothers' plan to starve public .... https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/sep/07/arizona-fight-koch-brothers-school-vouchers.
(3) How Teachers Unions Became a Political Powerhouse. https://www.educationnext.org/how-teachers-unions-became-a-political-powerhouse/.
(4) Billionaires Are Shoveling Money Into a Los Angeles School ... - Jacobin. https://jacobin.com/2022/10/los-angeles-school-board-elections-donors-political-machine.
(5) High Profile Labor Leader Has a New Gig Fighting Against Teacher's Unions. https://portside.org/2019-07-23/high-profile-labor-leader-has-new-gig-fighting-against-teachers-unions.
The Citizens United decision has affected the spending on vouchers and charter schools. According to some sources, the Citizens United decision has enabled billionaires and other wealthy donors to spend unlimited amounts of money to support voucher and charter school initiatives and candidates through various means, such as:
- - Creating or funding super PACs, which are independent political committees that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money from corporations, unions, individuals, and other groups to advocate for or against candidates or issues. ¹²
- - Creating or funding nonprofit organizations, which are not required to disclose their donors or spending, and can engage in political activities as long as they are not their primary purpose. These groups are often referred to as "dark money" groups because they obscure the source and amount of their funding. ¹²
- - Creating or funding advocacy groups, think tanks, media outlets, and other entities that promote voucher and charter school policies and influence public opinion and lawmakers. ¹²
Some of the effects of this spending on vouchers and charter schools are:
- - Increasing the political power and influence of billionaires and other wealthy donors over education policy and legislation at the state and national levels. ¹²
- - Undermining the democratic process and public accountability by allowing anonymous and unlimited spending that may not reflect the will or interests of the majority of voters or taxpayers. ¹²³
- - Diverting public funds from public schools to private schools, which may have less oversight, regulation, and accountability, and may not serve all students equally or effectively. ²
Bing, 7/9/2023
(1) Citizens United Explained | Brennan Center for Justice. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/citizens-united-explained.
(2) Three big problems with school ‘choice’ that supporters don’t like to .... https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/05/03/three-big-problems-with-school-choice-that-supporters-dont-like-to-talk-about/.
(3) Congressman Schiff Introduces Constitutional Amendment to Overturn .... https://schiff.house.gov/news/press-releases/congressman-schiff-introduces-constitutional-amendment-to-overturn-citizens-united.
The Citizens United decision has affected the democracy in the United States. According to some sources, the Citizens United decision has contributed to the creation or consolidation of an oligarchy in the United States, which is a form of government in which a small group of people have control over a country or an organization. Some of the ways that this has happened are:
- - Enabling billionaires and other wealthy donors to spend unlimited amounts of money to influence elections and policies, often in favor of their own interests and against the interests of the majority of ordinary citizens. ¹²³⁴⁵
- - Creating or expanding the use of super PACs and dark money groups, which can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money from corporations, unions, individuals, and other groups without disclosing their donors or spending, thus reducing transparency and accountability. ¹²
- - Increasing the political power and influence of economic elites and corporations over public officials and institutions, which may result in corruption, cronyism, or capture. ¹²³⁴⁵
- - Undermining the democratic process and public participation by allowing anonymous and unlimited spending that may distort or manipulate public opinion, information, and media, as well as drown out or suppress alternative voices and perspectives. ¹²³ [^4]
Some of the ways that some people have proposed or attempted to stop or limit the oligarchic effects of Citizens United are:
- - Passing a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and restore the authority of Congress and the states to regulate campaign finance. ²
- - Passing legislation or ballot initiatives to increase disclosure requirements, limit contributions, create public financing systems, or reform electoral rules. ¹ [^2]
- - Supporting grassroots movements and organizations that advocate for democracy reform and challenge the influence of money in politics. ¹ [^2]
- - Educating and engaging citizens to become more aware and involved in politics and policy issues, and to hold their representatives accountable. [^1]
Bing, 7/9/2023
(1) Citizens United Explained | Brennan Center for Justice. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/citizens-united-explained.
(2) 28th Amendment Advocates Want Citizens United Overturned - Law & Crime. https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/harvard-business-professor-blames-citizens-united-for-enabling-american-oligarchy/.
(3) What is an oligarchy? Historical examples, government forms explained.. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2023/03/10/oligarchy-government-power-explained/11338810002/.
(4) Oligarchy | Definition & Facts | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/oligarchy.
(5) Oligarchy - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oligarchy.
