January 5, 2010
Trillin for Governor
Or mayor or president. "I Like Calvin" buttons would instantly appear and a new era, marked by informed citizens acting in the public interest, would commence. No more scams! "Truth gets her boots on" would be the tough-to-beat slogan. Here is Trillin on the public option, dropped from the health care (sic) bill:
"That option is out of the bill now,
And Senators have no remorse. For no one
was really behind it--except for the public of course."
Race to the top news reads more and more like a carnival scam. The latest from Journal Sentinel-land slaps one in the face with this header: "State lagging in race for education funding." As if in a mythical national horse race, Wisconsin is blowing its lead. Our jockey has mud on his goggles. We read that "other states are successfully passing last-minute education reform measures as they try to take advantage of hundreds of millions of dollars in extra education funding and [sit while reading] those last minute ideas may eclipse Wisconsin's efforts." Hurry, hurry--step right up...only a few woof tickets left!
How does JS know all this? JS knows because Joe Williams said so. Who is he? No time for that--pass the Doyle package immediately; grab the money; live for the moment; and you can meet Joe during his victory lap around the state!
Meanwhile these good minds should explain why five school districts (Kenosha, Kimberly, Waukesha, West Allis and Whitefish Bay) jumped at the chance to bring in new revenues by pledging existing assets and borrowing from banks for more easy money--in excess of $115 million--that they may have to default on. Think this might come up in conversation with the Race to the Top folks? Who is picking up the tab? You can bet it won't be the Obama administration.
Call me crazy but it is not the time for "last minute reforms." It is time for sober reflection. Race to the Top, with millions and millions of dollars to be used as we want, ours for the asking, sounds too good to be true. It is. Fools rush in...
post a letter about this blog »
As a teacher for 31 years in Waukesha, I can tell you who'll pick up the tab. Teachers will be expected to pay for the administrators' and school board's foolhardy investment choices through reduced benefits and salaries and taxpayers will be upset as they should be.
-Eznarf | Waukesha, Wi. | January 7, 2010
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