Many sources have been calling more detailed attention to the out-of-state money that keeps flowing to Mark Sanford and Karen Floyd from rich, antigovernment extremists.
One may draw all sorts of conclusions from these reports. Chief among them for me is what I’ve said before: PPIC never was about education. It was about taxes. Most tax money on the state level goes to education. Wean a state away from that, and bingo! You’ll be paying a lot less in taxes — millions less, if you’re rich enough. Why this matters so much to people who already have more money than they can ever spend is a mystery to me, but it seems it does. (They would maintain that they really believe all the nonsense reasons that they spout, but I give them credit for more intelligence than that. Only small, insecure people who feel intimidated by anything larger than themselves really believe that stuff in their hearts.)
With Mark Sanford’s election, they saw South Carolina as the perfect guinea pig. He would be their funnel. If they succeed in electing Karen Floyd, they can double the size of their bottleneck. Their money will keep flowing in through various front organizations, amplifying their nihilistic message that it’s stupid and hopeless for us to try as a society to educate all children, and that each individual should look to his own defenses (a drip, drip, drip of hopelessness not unlike the propaganda that turned the nation against the Iraq war).
Anyway, here’s a story from the Charleston paper, which begins like this:
BY ADAM PARKER
The Post and Courier
Two candidates for state office, Gov. Mark Sanford and Karen Floyd, have collected thousands of dollars from out-of-state donors advocating school privatization initiatives, election records show.
The candidates, both of whom support school choice, have raised more out-of-state campaign funds than any other candidate participating in statewide elections this year.
Floyd, the Republican state superintendent of education candidate, received nearly half of her second-quarter campaign funding from out-of-state sources, including $42,000 that came from two addresses, one in New York City and one in Denver.
Companies associated with Alex Cranberg, a prominent Colorado businessman, channeled $14,000 to Floyd, and Cranberg gave the candidate $3,500, the maximum allowed per individual per quarter, according to state campaign funding reports.
Howard Rich, a successful New York City real estate developer, also has attempted to influence the outcome of South Carolina’s race for top educator. Six companies with which Rich is associated have sent $21,000 to Floyd. Two of his companies sent an additional $3,500 each to Floyd during the third quarter, reports show.
Then there’s this post by fellow blogger Ross Shealy. At least, I think that’s who is behind that pseudonym. Correct me if I’m wrong.
Anyway, it’s about Howard Rich, and the various money routes he is said to use in his quest to have his way with South Carolina.
Related Posts
Brad,
Ross has built another site with a more comprehensive look at who Howard Rich is and how he’s involved himself in SC politics. The address is http://stophowardrichsc.blogspot.com.
There’s also a national site devoted to the limosine liberarian: http://www.howierichexposed.com
I know. See my next post. But thanks.
*Libertarian
… and limousine…
LOL 🙂
If Teresa Heinz Kerry or George Sorros were sending money here to further their ideas about education, they would be considered enlightened philanthropist, and promptly given keys to the city. The State would lovingly splash their pictures on the front page and all would be one big oozy fest of self congratulatory praise.
But Howard Rich, whom I only know by what you guys write in the State, dares to have ideas that buck the traditional educational status quo. And for that, he would surely be tarred and feathered if he ever stepped foot south of Charlotte.
The educational community is THE sacred cow in SC. You can talk about education, you can fiddle with education…but you can not significantly alter the gravy train on which so many people depend. As I look at the vicious attacks on Ms Floyd I am confirmed in my opinion that her desire to be an agent of change is unacceptable to those in that field, and they will do ANYTHING to stop her.
So they demonize her, and others that desire change. The State newspaper is certainly on the march, and to my knowledge has not endorsed anyone for any office that as disagreed with them on this issue. So at the same time that the State trumpets the flexibility of its “nonpartisan” outlook on issues, it also discloses the rigidity of its beliefs that, in effect, delivers the same results as the partisans they look down upon.
EVEN if PPIC took complete control, and attempted drastic change, does anyone believe that change of significant magnitude would come overnight? That there would be no give an take, and perhaps good things could come from the debate?
I believe Karen Floyd when she says she is open for ideas. She says she want to be an agent for change…but will investigate all possibilities to see what avenues are the best. And perhaps, it is that strategy that will provide us with a school system of which we can be proud.
PS…So 10 days from the election, at least two major newspapers are writing articles on the evil Howard Rich. My sources tell me there is little or no new information in these articles…but that of course is not the point…which is to raise this issue at the end of the campaign and weaken those candidates that disagree with the educrats in Cola.
So where’s the problem with out-of-state contributions? Of course only the ones you don’t like. I’m sure we’ll never hear you blog about the mucho moolah thrown in by the NEA to defeat Floyd – them be tha good outta-state contributions.
I’ve contributed to out-of-state campaigns. For instance, I did my small part to help defeat Tom Daschle (SD) and to swiftboat Kerry back to Boston 2 years ago. This year, I’ve contributed to Rick Santorum (PA), Michael Steele (MD) and Diana Irey (PA – running against Murtha).
Chrisw, you offer a well written and intelligent script. My question is did you cut and paste from a voucher website, did you transcribe from a radio show, or have was this crafted after many posts on other sites.
Karen Floyd is open to new ideas – those out of state lobbyist pay for her to consider. She has created a few talking points (“proffered position papers”) and she’s doing little more than “staying the course”.
There are many who are scared or resistant of any significant and necessary change, but change for the sake of change is insufficient justification. Your tone (same tired remarks about The State and educrats) exposes you as nothing but another ideologue who takes this oversimplistic view and you challenge anyone who does not agree with YOUR initiatives as being against change. I’m not against change, I’m against THIS particular change.
Explain WHY we need such a broad overhaul of our school system Chrisw. Why should we be the state guinea pig for this method. My buddy Lexie here has used your same ideology and has yet to produce a SHRED of data that shows are middle and elementary schools are in such dire straights as to need Floyd’s “proffered” reform.
The scary thing about Howard Rich is the secretive manner in which he funnels his money. He uses loopholes in campaign finance laws, setting up shell organizations that are supposedly “grassroots” and then defies disclosure laws and hides the fact that he’s doing all of this.
Randy,
My thoughts are my own. I have not cut or pasted from anywhere.
I am a business owner and landlord, and often deal with “average” citizens of this state. Over the last 30 years of adulthood, I have seen how the “system” has failed so many of our citizens that need help the most. You can belittle my beliefs and my desire to see that the poorest and neediest deserve a better education. That is your right…even though I see it counterproductive.
I know Karen Floyd, and respect her immensely. If Karen Floyd is elected, she will bring a process of management that will allow change as the need for change is demonstrated. One reason she is catching flack now is that she refuses to sign on to ANY specific plan…instead waiting for her study of the system to be completed.
Karen is steadfast in her beliefs and work habits. She is focused, driven and goal oriented. She will investigate the options, and move to enact what she sees as the best course of action. That is opposed to what we normally get from the department of education…which is more bureaucracy and cries for more money. Karen is ALL ABOUT management, and in my humble opinion, that is what we need.
The statistics speak for themselves, and the stats concerning SC schools are awful. My personal experience has demonstrated the same…
PS…if you would like to see some hard evidence…come to my office and sit through some job interviews with high school graduates. You will be shocked…shocked I say…shocked.
Lauran,
Surely u jest.
You should widen your study of campaign contributing. The beginning of the trail starts with PACs, think tanks, corporations, husbands and wives and family members, in kind contribution, barter, inaccurate reporting and then proceeds forward through more complex giving until it reaches criminality.
What Rich has done is to offend your political principles…and you have demonized him, and those that share his legal, legitimate and sincere beliefs. Shame on you.
And by the way…I have been examining Ethics Commission reports tonight, and the inaccuracies are unbelievable. I took 10 contributions of which I have first hand knowledge…and 4 are totally absent, 3 are inaccurate in some detail, and 3 are correct. I suppose that is good enough for government work…hmmm, and now that I think about it, you are a huge supporter of government work in out schools…so no wonder you are content.
Chris, using terminology such as “educrat” is demogoguery. It’s a blanket statement that negatively characterizes a broad group of people. It also reflects thinking that the problem is due to a specific group.
An education system is influenced and controlled by factors outside the system. Examples: It’s the state legislature that came up with the tech track – the low level classes. They oversee a large chunk of school funding. School board politicians answer to the constituents and set priorities for a district. Parents play a huge role in whether a student goes to school or drops out.
I see the “hard evidence” as a high school teacher and am embarassed by the problems in our system. I take responsibility. Educators are the only ones expected to do so. As a business man, clearly you understand that performance is not merely a function of employee performance. E.g. gas prices hurt various businesses this past summer – factors outside of the system.
I also see that our middle and elementary schools scored at or above the median on 5 out of 8 national tests. I don’t see you, Floyd, or Sanford giving credit to the “educrats” for this. I don’t see you even acknowledging this fact – conveniently ignoring this as you champion your ideology. The statistics speak for themselves, and the stats concerning SC schools are awful. – Chris. Yes, they are speaking for themselves. Are you listening?
Floyd, in her debate, stated that our schools are at the “bottom”. She said there are numerous measures to support this, but she can only offer drop out rate and SAT. These are only high school metrics which indicates she has no evidence of low performance at the other levels. I posted evidence of solid performance. Explain that.
“PS…if you would like to see some hard evidence…come to my office and sit through some job interviews with high school graduates. You will be shocked…shocked I say…shocked.”
Chrisw,
I highly doubt that the troll would be “shocked” or even surprised. After all, as part of the educracy (allegedly a high school math teacher) surely he knows full well how our public schools are grossly failing an adequate education to more than half of the students coming through the system. Even the half that somehow manage to graduate are often woefully unprepared. Just try to get a young cashier to make change without the cash register giving her the answer.
It’s downright pitiful but people who are truly trying to improve the system by making it more accountable and subject to competition are accused of being ideologues. Never will we hear about what extreme ideologoues the educrats themselves are in refusing to consider any change/reform they didn’t come up with themselves.
Karen Floyd surely won’t be able to fix everything in her 4 years but at least we’ll be a giant step closer to real reform, something we never would be getting from people like Inez Tenenbaum or this apparatchik Rex.
Anonymous Lexie, if someone doesn’t agree with YOUR “plan” for reform then according to you they are opposed to reform. Not true, I’m opposed to BAD reform – the one you and out of state lobbyist propose.
I call you an ideologue because you put your personal interest and opinion above facts, unless those facts are from biased sources. You have yet to provide any data to show that our middle and elementary schools are “terrible”. I have posted data showing SC is at or above the median at those levels.
You don’t have any data to justify the need for your “plan” for elementary and middle schools and you have never been able to offer any details for your “plan” aside from some fanatical belief in the market model. You even posted contradictory data on the costs: SC public schools spend $8k/student while Heathwood, where you allegedly have a daugther, costs $12k. Your vouchers covers only 66% – some business model.
The 50% dropout rate is data.
We’ve tried socialism. It doesn’t do a very good job in education, or anything else.
Vouchers would enable new private schools to spring up, without all the bureaucratic overhead and junk programs.
$8,000 per student
X 15 students per class
————————-
= $120,000 revenue to pay the teacher, lights and management.
Don’t you think the best teachers and administrators would be encouraged to go into the education business?
Vouchers don’t need to cover 100% of private school tuition.
It’s the same model we use to provide tax credits to encourage all sorts of activities. Do you think a 10% or 20% tax credit for energy conservation is intended to pay for the whole installation? Of course not, it is simply to provide encouragement for taxpayers to take a certain action.
It’s a lot easier for poor parents to come up with $4,000 than $12,000 – and that’s assuming that all private schools would charge $12K. Clearly that is not so because even now there are many private schools charging less than that for tuition.
It would work like any other way for entrepreneurs to make money. Entrepreneurs would figure out how much money is available and then design the private schools around that amount.
BTW, according to Governor Sanford (page 9), SC spends $10,846 per K-12 student. If it’s easier to come up with $4k than with $12K, then surely it’s much easier still for parents to find $1,154.
Instead of endlessly repeating the mantra that school choice wouldn’t work why not give it a try? Lord knows that for 30 or 40 years we’ve tried every educrat fad under the sun, with predictably disastrous results. It’s inconceivable that school choice could do any worse, and it would probably do much better.
Let’s provide each parent in Allendale County a voucher for the $10,500 or so that we currently spend on the absolutely failing school system in that county. Then let’s see what happens. If school choice works there, it’ll likely work anywhere.
A meritocracy in education might not hold a place for many of the current public school teachers, and administrators. At least, that is the message they send out to frighten the troops.
Gee Lex, you mean your earlier post about the cost of public education in SC being $8k was wrong? This is like the NAEP data that you also disowned when you discovered it contradicted your ideology.
Huh?
The typical cost per pupil in South Carolina is $10,000 for 9 months, or $13,300 on an annualized basis.
Teachers who wanted to work year round could have available to them over $200,000 for a class of 15 students, if vouchers in force.
Huh? – Lex
Which part did you not understand?
1. YOU posted that per pupil spending in SC is $8k to justify your position.
2. YOU posted that Sanford stated the spending level is $11k to justify your position.
CONTRADICTION.
I know the routine, you’ll now accuse me of taking your quotes out of context. You remind me of T.O. who claims he was misquoted in his own AUTObiography.
What number do you think is the actual average per pupil spent in public schools, Randy?
Why is that not enough to produce more than 50% who are literate and have an 8th grade level of achievement?
Why is that spending not enough to pay teachers far more in a private school with better management?