Meet the Super-Wealthy Right-Wingers Working With the Religious Right to Kill Public Education

[proud2BlibKansan]

The DeVos Family: Meet the Super-Wealthy Right-Wingers Working With the Religious Right to Kill Public Education

By now you've surely heard of the Kochs. Meanwhile, the powerful, wealthy DeVos family has remained largely under the radar, while leading a stealth assault on America's schools.
May 6, 2011

Since the 2010 elections, voucher bills have popped up in legislatures around the nation. From Pennsylvania to Indiana to Florida, state governments across the country have introduced bills that would take money from public schools and use it to send students to private and religious institutions.

Vouchers have always been a staple of the right-wing agenda. Like previous efforts, this most recent push for vouchers is led by a network of conservative think tanks, PACs, Religious Right groups and wealthy conservative donors. But "school choice," as they euphemistically paint vouchers, is merely a means to an end. Their ultimate goal is the total elimination of our public education system.

The decades-long campaign to end public education is propelled by the super-wealthy, right-wing DeVos family. Betsy Prince DeVos is the sister of Erik Prince, founder of the notorious private military contractor Blackwater USA (now Xe), and wife of Dick DeVos, son of the co-founder of Amway, the multi-tiered home products business.

By now, you've surely heard of the Koch brothers, whose behind-the-scenes financing of right-wing causes has been widely documented in the past year. The DeVoses have remained largely under the radar, despite the fact that their stealth assault on America's schools has the potential to do away with public education as we know it.

http://www.alternet.org/teaparty/150868/the_devos_family%3A_meet_the_super-wealthy_right-wingers_working_with_the_religious_right_to_kill_public_education/

[Snoutport]

1. proud to rec first!

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Long read but seems pretty accurate

I've been following this voucher crap for years. I've also suspected for years it's rooted in racism and this piece nails that as well.

[Faygo Kid]

3. Those in Michigan have long known about the right-wing Amway family

They are pretty much like the Kochs - lavishing money on pet causes that get their names on them and otherwise undermining our nation.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. Is that Eric Prince's family?

[Faygo Kid]

6. Yeah, he's part of it. From the article. . .

"Betsy Prince DeVos is the sister of Erik Prince, founder of the notorious private military contractor Blackwater USA. . ."

Dangerous people with billions. Like I said, not as rich as the Kochs, but still billionaires.

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. He's an evil evil man

[xmas74]

5. Good article.

I've been against the voucher program for years.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. They are trying to resurrect it in Kansas

Missouri is passing some pretty wild charter school legislation. I believe the bill allowing charters anywhere in the state was approved just this week.

[xmas74]

11. I believe it's something like that.

I haven't had the time in the last week to read all the legislation about the charters but I'm not surprised with anything they do right now. Missouri has gone insane with attempts to pass legislation that would turn us all into knuckle draggers.

I need to read up on the charter bill.

[msongs]

8. Arne Duncan is a super rich right wing religious nut? nt

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. His agenda is very similar.

This is not just a right wing deal.

[chervilant]

18. hmph

You don't need labels to identify Duncan as a member of the 'vilify teachers and unions' gang.

[Frustratedlady]

12. This is shocking to me. I had no idea some of those names were involved.

My husband feared this in the 80s and the children (also teachers) fear it now.

Another good reason NOT to allow so much money to leak out to the wealthy. They use it to take down/dumb down this country.

I keep seeing Amway pop up in not-so-nice subjects/positions. What else are they involved in?

Also, are all these so-called think tanks/organizations tax-free? If so, why? Why would our government support groups in this way if they were trying to destroy our way of life...our Constitutional rights?

More attention needs to be paid to these people. Now, I understand why so many states have been hitting education so hard and so quickly after the last election. It also explains some of Walker's actions...if there is an explanation.

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. It's all about money

Education is the #1 budget item in every state. They want their hands on that pot of money.

I also believe racism is involved. Vouchers were initially promoted by opponents of desegregation back in the 70s. One of the early proponents was the Coors family, and there is at least one loud mouthed racist in that family.

[MichiganVote]

15. The DeVos's want private for profit schools and they want to make mega bucks in healthcare.

Not to mention Eric Prince and Blackwater.

[MichiganVote]

14. Been stoking the fires for private everything in Michigan for years.

The DeVos's have contributed some fine things to Michigan but their private beliefs (not so private) are annoying and continuously aggravate people in this state.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. Remember the right-wing rumor of Proctor and Gamble's Satanic ties?

Amway was behind that. http://www.snopes.com/business/alliance/procter.asp

[MichiganVote]

19. no doubt

[Raksha]

17. K & R - This is a very comprehensive article.

Bookmarked to finish reading later.

[madfloridian]

20. Great article, thanks.

Too many billionaires with not enough knowledge about education. That one in particular scares me.

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. You're welcome Mad

:hi:

[Shallah Kali]

22. kicking

wishing I wasn't too late to rec. People need to know what those people are up to.

More info on the DeVos & Prince families @ talk2action:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=h2u&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&q=+site:talk2action.org+devos+private+schools+talk2action&sa=X&ei=rDzHTdndCILm0QHdidCcCA&ved=0CAIQqAQwBA&biw=1216&bih=625