Why Delaware needs Libertarian Scott Gesty in the US House race: to force a real debate on education "reform"

John Carney: As far as all you people
who oppose education "reform"
imposed from above, vote for me
anyway, 'cause I'm a Democrat

I've already pointed out that there isn't a hair's worth of difference between John Carney and Tom Kovach on Education, so don't look for either man to ask, answer, or grapple with tough public education questions during the upcoming campaign.

Carney is an astute enough politicians that he will have read the tea-leaves from the May 2012 school board elections around Delaware, and will be trying to distance himself from both Vision 2015 and Race to the Top whenever the topic of Delaware schools comes up.

Unfortunately, John Carney has a long record of supporting both the corporate-driven Vision 2015 and the top-down Federal Race to the Top initiative:

The John Carney Vision 2015/Race to the Top timeline

2008: As candidate for Governor, John Carney supports Vision 2015

Beth Miller on Markell and Carney in the Education debate in 2008: "Both support most recommendations of the Vision 2015 panel of experts, who have developed plans and pilot programs to give Delaware "world-class" schools by 2015."

2010: As candidate for US House, John Carney claims education as a priority issue and claims he's made a major difference:

During his 2010 Congressional campaign, in a list of issues provided for a voter guide: "

Key issues: Carney is interested in improving education in Delaware. He'd like to see higher standards in math, science and technology as well as increasing federal Pell grants."

The News Journal on John Carney's actual influence on Delaware public education: JOHN CARNEY FOR CONGRESS.COM CLAIMS: "Democratic congressional candidate John Carney said that an education program he helped develop in 2002 “raised the overall performance of schools all across our state and helped thousands of young people pursue a better life through education.” RULING: Horse puckey (false)

2011: Representative John Carney claims credit for helping to land the Race to the Top grant:

Senator Tom Carper said: “I was proud to work closely with Gov. Markell, Sen. Coons, Rep. Carney, and Delaware Secretary of Education Lowery to ensure that Delaware had a strong application for this federal funding and I’m thrilled that our hard work has paid off."

Congressman John Carney said: “I am pleased that Delaware has once again distinguished itself as a nationwide leader in education and I look forward to seeing the positive results that I am certain will follow from winning the Early Learning Challenge Competition. This grant will help fortify efforts already underway to improve early childhood education across the state, with the goal of ensuring that every child enters kindergarten ready to learn. As a result of this achievement, and after years of statewide collaboration, Delaware is now poised to break new ground in our effort to provide a world-class education to every child in our state.”

2012: Representative John Carney claims that the first-year report shows that Race to the Top is working in Delaware:

"Developing a world-class education system is critical to the long-term success of our nation," said Congressman Carney. "Delaware is a national leader in efforts to raise student achievement, give teachers the tools they need to be successful, and ensure that all our young people are prepared for success in college and careers. This report shows some successes that Delaware has already achieved through Race to the Top, and areas that need more attention. I look forward to seeing even more progress in the coming years, and will continue working with education leaders in the state to overcome any challenges that may exist."

So there is not really any getting around it: John Carney is the poster-child for Vision 2015 and Race to the Top. He is the champion of corporate and Federal intrusion into our public schools.

And, you know what? He's not going to talk about it unless somebody makes him.

Only the Libertarian is going to press John Carney on public education. Let's make it happen.

The Obligatory Libertarian Tax Day Post

The most disturbing factoid that I learned on Tax Day was that the average American must now spend a full twenty-four hours filling out tax forms. That's three work days. Or, think of it this way: if you had to put in two hours per night after dinner to finish your taxes, that's two weeks (with Sundays off). I saw a talking head economics professor on some Philly TV channel pontificating about how Americans procrastinate. He was laughing. The IRS guy they interviewed actually said, "Tick, tick, tick." You have to wonder if Governor Ruth Ann Minner and her cohorts put in twenty-four hours pondering whether or not to give Kraft Foods $708,000 of our State taxes while demanding that school districts return $8-10 million each?

New Warfare: I started my posts with a discussion.....

.....on Unrestricted warfare . The US Air force Institute for National Security Studies have developed a reasonable systems approach to deter non-state violent actors who they label as NSVA's. It is an exceptionally important report if we want to deter violent extremism and other potential violent actors that could threaten this nation and its security. It is THE report our political officials should be listening to to shape policy so that we do not become excessive in using force against those who do not agree with policy and dispute it with reason and normal non-violent civil disobedience. This report, should be carefully read by everyone really concerned with protecting civil liberties while deterring violent terrorism and I recommend if you are a professional you send your recommendations via e-mail at the link above so that either 1.) additional safeguards to civil liberties are included, or 2.) additional viable strategies can be used. Finally, one can only hope that politici...

More of This, Please

Or perhaps I should say, "Less of this one, please." Or how about just, "None of them. Ever again. Please....For the Love of God." Sunshine State Poll: Grayson In Trouble The latest Sunshine State/VSS poll shows controversial Democratic incumbent Alan Grayson trailing former state Senator Dan Webster by seven points, 43 percent to 36 percent. A majority of respondents -- 51 percent -- disapprove of the job that Grayson is doing. Independents have an unfavorable view of him as well, by a 36/47 margin. Grayson has ignored the conventional wisdom that a freshman should be a quiet member who carefully tends to the home fires. The latest controversy involves his " Taliban Dan " advertisement, where he explicitly compares his opponent to the Taliban, and shows a clip of Webster paraphrasing Ephesians 5:22 -- "wives, submit to your husbands." An unedited version of the clip shows that Webster was actually suggesting that husba...

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