This article will investigate the fix-the-teachers campaign of today’s “education reformers.” It’s not their only project. They also want public schools run with the top-down, data-driven, accountability methods used in private businesses; they aim to replace as many regular public schools as possible with publicly funded, privately managed charter schools; some are trying to expand voucher programs to allow parents to take their per-child public-education funding to private schools. ...It endangers the democratic nature of public education as well.It is clear to me that the capitalist political operatives have launched a broad campaign against working people everywhere in the world. Here at the center of the Empire they are attacking the last vestiges of public funding and control of what is considered "the commons" and the public worker unions which have a stake in the commons.
The political operatives are thoroughly drunk on the power they derive from the control of an impressive military apparatus, well-equipped police forces, and their stacking of the court system with neo-conservatives. This control, and their commitment to such fascist methods, well describes a contemporary version of fascism, although at this time it has taken a hybrid form consisting of pseudo-forms of democracy combined with police state methods. All aspects of fascism are in place, but they still feel that they can fool most working people into believing that the system serves their needs. Thus, they continue to use a fake form of democracy called representative democracy within which they control the process of selection of candidates and the elected representatives.
As long as working people mostly cooperate in their oppression, this make-believe democracy will continue. But, should working people really begin to fight back in an organized fashion with all the immense power they possess, then you will see the gloves come off to reveal the naked fist of fascism. This prospect likely frightens some people, but there really is no decent alternative but to organize and fight back.
What is the alternative to fighting back? Take a look at the future where fascism functions quite openly with only a thin veneer of democratic process . Look at conditions in Honduras as an illustration of what lies ahead for US workers if they continue to cooperate with the 1% of citizens who essentially own our economy and use it for their sole benefit.
Once working people become conscious of their power, the system will collapse like a house of cards. The system cannot function without the cooperation of large numbers of working people.
Thus it is clear that the fightback in the US it is mostly an ideological battle. Arrayed against us are all the ideological organs of the owning class--their increasing control of education and absolute control of mainstream media. They now want absolute control of education. In order to counter this barrage of propaganda, it is mandatory for those of us, like Joanne Barkan, who are already aware of the dire situation, to enable a new consciousness through the use of alternative media.
