Wisconsin: Mary Burke Promises She Won't Remove Walker's Statewide Voucher Program

[Scuba]

http://www.uppitywis.org/blogarticle/mary-burke-promises-she-wont-remove-walkers-statewide-voucher-pr

In his manifesto, "Public Schools: Privatize Them," (Milton) Friedman hatched a plan to end public schools: vouchers. Vouchers, he said, were "a means, not an end" to privatize public schools and that by draining resources and allowing public schools to wither on the vine, students would gradually be lured out of public schools and into the private sector, paid for with vouchers.

That, in a nut shell, is why progressives and anyone who wants to pass on to their children and grandchildren the tradition of truly public schools, abhor vouchers. That is why the Democratic party opposes vouchers in our platform and the NEA has identified opposition to vouchers a "top priority."

So, yesterday, when Mary Burke finally made a promise and told the Wisconsin State Journal that, although she opposed Walker's statewide expansion of vouchers, she nonetheless would do nothing to remove the statewide voucher program, jaws dropped throughout Wisconsin's progressive community:

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke said Monday she wouldn’t have expanded private school vouchers statewide, which Gov. Scott Walker did in this year’s state budget. However, Burke said if elected she would keep the statewide program in place with a cap of 1,000 students and seek accountability for private schools receiving public funds in Milwaukee.

[Jackpine Radical]

1. Does this mean that more jaws will drop

Last edited Wed Oct 23, 2013, 01:49 PM - Edit history (1)

when she comes out against collective bargaining for state unions?

When she railroads through a "liberalized" mine permitting process?

When she finishes militarizing the Capitol Police?

When…

But you get the idea.

How many jaws gotta drop before eyes start to open?

[ewagner]

2. I get the feeling

we're trading our values for (perceived) electability....

we're becoming what we despise.

[Jackpine Radical]

3. Nietzche said it--

"Wer mit Ungeheuern kämpft, mag zusehn, dass er nicht dabei zum Ungeheuer wird. Und wenn du lange in einen Abgrund blickst, blickt der Abgrund auch in dich hinein."

(He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby becomes a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you.)

[Lifelong Protester]

4. The more I hear, the less I like

about Mary Burke. Maybe Progressives United moved too quickly to support her. Can support be withdrawn?

She is sounding too 'mealy-mouthed' to me.

[CatholicEdHead]

5. Who would replace her?

Has anyone else with a known name and background stepped up to run in the primaries against her?

[dragonlady]

6. Sen. Kathleen Vinehout is actively considering it

She represents a district in the far western part of the state and ran in the unfortunately very short primary period for the recall against Walker. Sen. Vinehout has been speaking with people throughout the state for months to measure the grassroots interest in supporting her. See kathleenvinehout.org for much more information.

[Lifelong Protester]

7. Kathleen Vinehout is my senator.

I like her a lot. However, I don't know if she could carry the state.

[dragonlady]

8. She can if we help her n/t

[mysuzuki2]

9. I do not like her Sam I Am

[Big Tent]

10. Raise the Standards, Give Public Local Control

I personally think vouchers are a huge waste of money but we have them now. Apparently a lot of democrats like vouchers because we did not abolish them in 2009-2010 when democrats had the majority.

What I propose doing is that we place the same standards on private schools getting vouchers as public schools, no child left behind. Make these schools accepting public funds end their discrimination of students who have disabilities. Their teachers need to meet the same standards we have for teachers in the public schools.

The local school districts need to be in control of vouchers and because local school districts are in control the voucher system will be funded as a 100 percent property tax line item. Down the road we could give local school districts the choice if they want want to keep or abolish vouchers, because after all that costs the home owner a lot of money.

[Scuba]

11. Rank & File Democrats are very much opposed to destroying our public schools in the name of profit.

Elected Democrats are very much detached from the base, as they've been co-opted by the right. Being in denial about that won't help.

[Big Tent]

12. Strengthen Vouchers

Now that we have state wide vouchers even if we elect democrats who oppose vouchers in the "garden of Eden" are they going to want to take those vouchers away from parents in their district? Many of the parents vote and telling the people who accept vouchers that they are the reason public schools are declining is like Walker telling the public employees they are the reason for the economy being bad and the reason for the state budget shortfall.

By trying to implement improvements to vouchers I proposed earlier in this thread, I believe we can pass all or some of the reforms even if democrats do not control every branch. Voucher schools will held to the same non discrimination standards as public schools or they get no vouchers.

[Scuba]

13. Public money for private schools is a bad idea. Trying to hold them accountable is impossible.

Scare tactics about voting is either misguided or outright sabotage. Stong progressive policies is what will inspire the electorate to show up and vote for our side, not luke-warm - or worse - DINOs.

[HelenWheels]

14. No, no, no, no and no to Burke. nt

[Scuba]

15. We need to get this message to Mike "Corporate Shill" Tate.

I've been trying, but seems they're ignoring me.