Move Over, Koch Brothers: A Bigger, Darker Rightwing Funder Is Out to Destroy Public Education

[octoberlib]

It's "the most powerful organization in America that no one seems to know about."That's how Scot Ross, executive director of the progressive think tank One Wisconsin Institute, describes the Bradley Foundation.The Bradley Foundation, headed by Governor Scott Walker's campaign co-chair Michael Grebe, has underwritten a massive, pro-privatization propaganda campaign, including "a systematic and relentless campaign to turn public opinion against the public school system."
Among the report's findings:

--The Bradley Foundation, headed by Governor Scott Walker's campaign co-chair Michael Grebe, has underwritten a massive, pro-privatization propaganda campaign, including "a systematic and relentless campaign to turn public opinion against the public school system."

--Bradley has spent more than $31 million since 2001 supporting organizations promoting education privatization, academics providing favorable pro-privatization pseudo-science, media personalities promoting the privatization agenda, and lobbying organizations advocating for privatization legislation.

--The Bradley-financed campaign has manufactured an education "crisis," proposed a "solution," attacked and undermined the ability of potential opponents to block their agenda, and funded aggressive pro-privatization media and lobbying efforts.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/05/03-7

[okaawhatever]

1. I believe it, I read an article lately that purported to list the top ten states for education and

the outcome seemed suspect at best. I think education week may have been the source. I tried to find it again and couldn't. If I remember correctly it had arizona in the top ten, and that simply isn't the case. AZ is in the bottom of everyone else's list.It had maryland or conneticut listed poorly. I spent about an hour trying to figure out who was behind it and how they arrived at their rankings and found nada. Now I know. Thanks

[Squinch]

5. I think I saw that. Alabama was very high on their list too.

[midnight]

2. I knew it had to be the Bradley foundation.... $$$ 31 million is a lot of voice....

[HiPointDem]

3. Bill Gates already did that "systematic and relentless campaign". Education deform is supported

by the right and left wing of the corporate community. and thus by all the politicians they buy.

jeb bush, barack obama == both on board.

[blogslut]

4. Another Bircher-associated group, just like the Koch kidz

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Lynde_and_Harry_Bradley_Foundation

Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation

Formerly known as Allen-Bradley Foundation, The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation (LHBF), was established in 1942. According to The Foundation's 1998 Annual Report and a 2011 report from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation gives away more than $30 million per year.[1]

Harry was one of the original charter members of the far right-wing John Birch Society, along with another Birch Society board member, Fred Koch, the father of Koch Industries billionaire brothers and owners, Charles and David Koch.[2]

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel “from 2001 to 2009, it [Bradley] doled out nearly as much money as the seven Koch and Scaife foundations combined.” [3]

According to the Media Transparency web site, the Foundation's "resources, its clear political agenda, and its extensive national network of contacts and collaborators in political, academic and media circles has allowed it to exert an important influence on key issues of public policy. While its targets range from affirmative action to social security, it has seen its greatest successes in the areas of welfare 'reform' and attempts to privatize public education through the promotion of school vouchers...

[byeya]

6. Things the USA has gotten right: SSA; Medicare; free universal public education; among others

You know the oligarchs are running out of room on their right when they've thrown over the U of Chicago economic blarney and are now clutching to John Birch Soc. fantasies and Ayn Effing Rand.
Free universal public education: It's given the USA a huge boost in economic productivity as well as enriching lives.

[erodriguez]

7. Oh I thought you meant the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

[DhhD]

8. 2012 ACT Scores for the 50 states.

http://www.ohe.state.mn.us/dPg.cfm?pageID=1439&1534-D83A_1933715A=0989d84597069ea13b90447f6c6faed2e17f2e95

[UTUSN]

9. R#12 & K n/t

[Coyotl]

10. Their goal is to unseat the power of unions for political purposes, the kids be damned.

The is crude fundamentalism at work, working against enlightenment and taking us back to the Dark Age of ignorance.