7/14/23: Biden Staff Fears His Private Rage, Record Number Of Americans Live Alone, CNN Attacks Cornel West, RFK Non Union Merch, School Choice Hidden Agenda, Publicly Funded Stadiums
In this podcast, the guest Cornel West is attacked by CNN as a spoiler candidate. RFK Jr's campaign is caught using non-union merch breaking from norms. They also discuss Biden's private rage, record number of Americans living alone, hidden agenda of school choice, and the ripoff of publicly funded stadiums.
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Quick takeaways
School choice can lead to educational disparities and resegregation, focusing more on personal values than quality education.
School voucher programs often benefit parents of existing private school students, neglecting low-income communities seeking alternatives to public schools.
School choice has been co-opted as a race-neutral way to avoid integration, perpetuating a segregated education system.
Deep dives
The Controversy of School Choice
The debate on school choice centers around the issue of giving parents the option to choose between public and private education for their children. Proponents argue that it provides more choice and competition, while opponents claim it drains resources from public schools. School voucher programs have been implemented in various states, with some parents using vouchers to access private schools. However, research suggests that new students using vouchers often experience lower test scores and worse educational outcomes. Voucher programs typically benefit parents of existing private school students, instead of providing opportunities for low-income communities. Critics argue that school choice promotes resegregation and focuses more on personal values than quality education.
The Illusion of Parental Choice
School voucher programs, which allocate public taxpayer dollars to fund private school tuition, are often championed as giving parents more choice in education. However, data suggests that a significant percentage of parents using vouchers already had their children enrolled in private schools. Private schools can reject students for financial reasons, creating barriers for low-income families seeking alternatives to public schools. Studies have shown that voucher programs can lead to lower test scores and worse educational outcomes for students. Additionally, many voucher-funded private schools are financially struggling and have a high closure rate. The focus on competition can result in educational disparities and limited choices for vulnerable communities.
The Segregating Effects of School Choice
The concept of school choice traces back to the aftermath of the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling in 1954. Influential figures, including economist Milton Friedman, advocated for school vouchers as a mechanism to promote competition in education. However, school choice has been co-opted by segregationists and used as a race-neutral means of avoiding integration orders. Critics argue that school choice perpetuates a segregated education system, benefiting affluent populations while leaving marginalized communities at a disadvantage. Resegregation becomes a concern as public schools are closed, and charter or private schools, often with limited choices, emerge as alternatives. School choice is criticized for being driven by fear and personal values rather than a genuine focus on quality education.
The Democratic Party moving to the left since 2016
The podcast discusses how the Democratic Party has shifted to the left since the 2016 election. It highlights how candidates such as Kamala Harris and others have embraced progressive policies like Medicare for All, free community college, and other left-leaning ideas. The podcast argues that this shift demonstrates the effectiveness of working within primaries to promote progressive agendas.
The debate over public funding for stadiums
The podcast explores the issue of public funding for stadiums and the economic impact of professional sports teams on local communities. It highlights how teams often threaten to move unless they receive public financing for new stadiums. However, studies show that there is no discernible positive relationship between sports facilities and local economic development. The podcast also raises concerns about taxpayers being left with debt for stadiums after teams move or when stadiums require expensive renovations and repairs.
This week we discuss reports of Biden's private bouts of rage with his staff, a record numbers of Americans now live alone, CNN attacks Cornel West as a spoiler candidate, RFK Jr's campaign is caught using foreign non union merch breaking from norms, James Li looks at the hidden agenda behind the "School Choice" movement, and Spencer Snyder looks at how publicly funded stadiums are a ripoff to taxpayers.