Rahm Emanuel's War On Public Eduation - Chicago Teachers Union's Karen Lewis Discusses

[geefloyd46]

[mopinko]

1. the more i hear karen lewis, the more i see an ego driven diva.

"he's not from here. he doesn't know about chicago." she said-
he was born here. he was raised in the metro area. he was elected 3 times to congress from a chicago district.
the disturbing thing about this lie is that it is useless character assassination that adds nothing to the debate, it just makes her look petty. which, imho, she is. petty and personal.
not a good leader, and it is a shame. the kids need one.

[geefloyd46]

2. I believe what she is referring to...

is at a certain point when you live more in Washington DC than you live in the city in which you came from then you are more from Washington DC than that city, whether it is in the Clinton or the Obama administrations. And certainly that criticism goes to more than just Emmanuel but to many of our legislators for life. Then again why do you think Rahm Emmanuel, who has spent half his life shuttling back and forth to Washington cares any more about those kids than some who actually lives and works in the city. I don't get this deference for so-called leaders. They are the ones who are actually hollowing out this country.

[mopinko]

3. it's not deference to leaders

it is thirst for an honest debate. something in short supply everywhere, but sadly very short here.

[geefloyd46]

5. The role Rahm played during this time needs to be examined

I think Rahm had a leadership role at the time of Nafta, and all the damage that was done to the American work force, I don't think Karen Lewis was in charge.


Senior advisor to President Clinton
January 20, 1993 – November 7, 1998

Us Rep from Ill.
January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2009

White House Chief of Staff
January 20, 2009 – October 1, 2010

Good article.
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0425-30.htm

[mopinko]

6. cheif of staff is not a policy position.

really, rahm is a lot of things, but most things people say about him are bs.

[geefloyd46]

7. And he always was and still is a lackey for money interests.

[Chisox08]

8. The district that Rahm got elected from is not entirely a Chicago District.

A large section of his district was in the suburbs. He spent more time in DC then he spent in Chicago. It also seems like he doesn't care about Chicago children especially when his donors stands to make money from school closings and converting those buildings into charters. UNO and Noble Street will make out like bandits.

[mopinko]

9. the point is not how long he lived where.

the point is the statement is not only false, but a damn stupid argument. what the hell difference does it make? it's just a little bit of worthless character assassination with no point. and a lie.
and this woman will cure the ills of the school system? they are 2 of a kind.

[geefloyd46]

10. We do not see things the same way

why even have representational democracy if you feel that way? Perhaps America should shift more to a house of lords type of structure. I'm not sure whether this woman has all the answers but I'll tell you closing fifty school in a city is just crazy for anyone who's ever worked in one. The final result is one has actually been in a school, on a day that it isn't just a walk through for politicians, and the other has read a lot about schools from first from DC and then from city hall. Why would you get education ideas from people who actually work in education. That would be like NASA not taking my ideas on rocketry just because I don't the first thing about it.

[mopinko]

11. representational democracy?

he won with 70% of the vote.
i do not understand your comment, tho.

rahm gets plenty of advice from the people at cps. and they know a lot more about the situations in those 50 schools, which were more than half empty, and the folks on du who are sure he did the wrong thing.

[geefloyd46]

12. I stand corrected

I didn't realize you had spent so much time in the effected schools.

[mopinko]

14. especially compared to the folks on du who are positive even tho

they have never set foot in this city, let alone any of our schools.

[geefloyd46]

13. Certainly sounds like democracy to me why have messy votes for the school board

"That’s because the Board of Ed and the Tollway Authority are both unelected bodies. One is appointed by the mayor of Chicago, the other by the governor. Let me make a proposal to the General Assembly: it should henceforth be illegal for unelected bodies to raise taxes or fees.

In Illinois, school boards have the authority to levy taxes. They were granted that authority because they’re elective bodies, directly accountable to the voters. In 1989, when the General Assembly took away the right of Chicagoans to elect a school board, it didn’t take away the school board’s right to tax Chicagoans. Let’s have it one way or the other. If the mayor appoints the school board, he should also have to sign off on any tax increases it passes. We need to have an elected official taking final responsibility."

This is from Chicago's NBC affiliate.


Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Unelected-Bodies-Shouldnt-Raise-Taxes-128460028.html#ixzz2V6hCj1or

[mopinko]

15. when we did elect them, nobody voted for them.

nobody made it to the end of the ballot in those days, because nobody knew who those people were. that's why they stopped doing it.

eta- and the schools were even worse off then.

[Chisox08]

16. Rahm didn't get 70% of the vote it was 55%

The only reason he won was because of his link to Obama and the whisper campaign about Gery Chico. If Emanuel was a Republicon the outrage here would have been through the roof. I don't care if she hurts poor little Rahms feelings, I care about the schools that he is closing and the people that he is hurting. He sealed his fate, he will be a one term mayor and I will work day and night to see that his ass don't get re-elected.

[midnight]

4. 1%’s favorite feel-good hobby: the school reform movement.

http://ideas.time.com/2011/12/09/why-are-the-rich-so-interested-in-public-school-

Interesting article that addresses the race to the top push while at the same time ignoring the poverty of our kids, and expecting success from children who are not receiving stable access to food, housing, parental employment with livable wages etc...