In the continuing series of investigations of The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), we will look at the relationship between the organization and a seeming war on public education in America.
The show will air, live this Sunday, May 6th, 2012 from 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM (Centrral Time).
I hope you will listen in, call in, or join us in our live chat room during the live show. We will take your questions as you call in, or chat them in. Of course, you can always listen in to the archived show at any time after the close of the show, as well.
Follow me just below the squggledoodlethingey fold, and let's look at it together.
From the beginnings of our national identity, education in America has been evolving. From the private education provided by settlers, to private community schools, to the present-day vast network of educational opportunities afforded our citizens, education in America has been a constant source of pride, consternation, innovation and concern to our citizens.
Now, there is a serious attempt to not only reform public education in America, but from some sources comes an aggravated attempt to remove public education itself from the American landscape.
As the series might well suggest, there is no stronger force currently in place which opposes public education in America than ALEC. Conservative, Libertarian, and Tea Party constituents seem to believe that education is not the business of the American government; rather that education of our future generations is best handled by parental permission and control. Further, the belief continues that the federal (or in many camps, State) involvement in the education of our children should be eliminated, and that all education should be returned to the local communities.
Were this merely the animated conversation that permits all citizens a fair voice, or a discussion between concerned citizens, with decisions being made by them, there would be no need for a show such as the one we will share at PPTS on Sunday afternoon. However, there really IS a nefarious and dark intent upon the hearts of some to remove the citizen from this conversation entirely, to "bypass" the electors and simply push their preferred remedy through local, state, and national legislative bodies. Completely eliminating the public education option by killing professional unions, removing funding from the public education sector, eliminating the Department of Education from the Federal Government itself is not only their intent but their active game plan. What they could never do by the democratic process, ALEC et al would force the choice upon an unwitting, or non-engaged American citizenry.
This show will be a conversation between those who believe that America is best served by a vibrant public education system, and those who honestly believe that public education is the problem with education in America.
This is an important conversation to have among the citizens who stand most to gain or lose by the outcome. We hope that you will join us in that conversation. This is one of the most important thrusts of The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), as demonstrated by theirEducation Task Force, and especially that groups upcoming agenda at the Spring meetings on May 10-11, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
There is an amazing amount of information available, thanks to the folks at Common Cause regarding these Spring Meetings, which I would strongly recommend to your investigation. You can find the information here. This information is included as an attachment to the legal action begun by Common Cause to request the IRS to revoke the 501(c)(3) status of ALEC, have the organization re-classified as a lobbying organization, and seek back taxes along with criminal prosecution for fraud, among other things.
This radio show exists for and because of you. I hope you will support the show with, if not the dollars needed to keep the show going, at least with your voice and input. The belief was that Southern Progressives had no outlet. We have created one. We hope to continue bringing to you the activities, activists, and activism of Progressives across the southern United States, and across the entire nation with information YOU can use to better become the change you seek. So far, to date, more than 1,000 citizens have listened in. For a show just beginning, that ain't bad. I'll be much happier when that number has at least one more comma in it. That's my goal.
Join in. Let us know what YOU think; what YOU are doing about it. We'll see you there!