Andrew Cuomo, his running mate, and "New Democratic Party" to fight public employee unions?

[madfloridian]

Sounds like they plan for sure to go against teachers' unions in a powerful way. Cuomo and his running mate, Rochester mayor Robert Duffy, plan to push for mayoral control of public schools....and charter schools.

In Choice of Running Mate, Cuomo Sends a Message to Unions

It was just 24 hours after the debut of the "New Democratic Party" signs up here at the site of the party's convention in Westchester. Attorney General Andrew Cuomo was in midtown making public the results of his first critical deliberation as a candidate for governor. In choosing Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy as his running mate, Cuomo got a career cop who evidently turned around the city of Rochester by restoring public integrity, improving municipal services and cutting taxes. But that's not all.

..."In Duffy, Cuomo has chosen a potential lieutenant governor who stands for strong executive authority, especially in education. Duffy has been trying to follow in the footsteps of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who's taken power from local school boards and put it in the mayor's office.

..."The head of the local teachers' union, which vehemently opposes Duffy's approach, told local TV that Duffy's move sharply divided the community. No doubt what the teachers, some parents and community members see as a mayoral power grab, Duffy and advocates for mayoral control, such as Bloomberg, see as ensuring accountability.

That drive for accountability is also expressed in Cuomo's support for lifting of the state's cap on charter schools. So on education, the "New Democrats" are aligning with President Barack Obama, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Bloomberg, Reverend Al Sharpton, and even New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie in backing the expansion of charters.

Well, I know they started calling themselves the New Democrats a couple of decades ago, but now it appears New York is starting a new "New Democrats" theme.

State convention touts the "new" Democratic Party

BUFFALO, NY (WBFO) - There are plenty of signs at the State Democratic Convention in Rye, New York, touting the "new Democratic party."

The party's choice for governor, Andrew Cuomo, seemed to downplay the issue when he addressed reporters in New York City Wednesday. He says it's not really a re-branding.

"What the Democratic Party is all about is growth and change," Cuomo said. "It's a new day. There are new problems that need new approaches. And that is what's meant by the new Democratic Party."

.."One change from the "old" Democratic party seems to be the willingness of Cuomo and his running mate Robert Duffy to take on a powerful constituency -- the public employee unions. Duffy has battled with union leaders in Rochester over some of his controversial proposals, including his call for more control of city schools. Cuomo says he respects that.

"Yes, he tangled with public employee unions," Cuomo said. "Guess what, we're going to be tangling with public employee unions going forward."

The new policy of taking power from elected school boards and giving it to mayors is supported and pushed by Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan. He worked hard to get that control for Bloomberg in NYC.

Now, as if the education secretary doesn't have enough going on, he's wading even further—and more dramatically—into the thorny issue of local control and school governance by declaring that more big-city mayors need to take over school districts. And if the numbers don't rise, he said according to Libby Quaid's Associated Press story, he "will have failed as secretary."

..This is tough talk from a guy who is now the very-publicized face of public education—at least on the federal level. And local and state officials don't usually appreciate comments from federal officials about how to govern local school districts. This is sure to irritate some of Duncan's base of support—like teachers' unions, the Council of Great City Schools, and the school boards association.

Apparently it has been forgotten by our Democrats that they are supposed to support public education, respect elected school boards, and respect unions.

But then it is so much easier to take over public schools if there is only the mayor with the power.

I wonder what the next batch of "New Democrats" will have as their policy?

[librechik]

1. WTF? n/t

[NoNothing]

2. You can't deny there is fat to be trimmed

From some public-sector contracts. Democrats have an obligation to support the public employees union - but that doesn't mean they have to support EVERYTHING the union wants. People are getting restless about some of these things (see e.g., the bus driver story posted yesterday) and the PR is such that we can't just sit on our hands and deny there's any problem.

[madfloridian]

4. Talking points. No one is "sitting on hands" and doing nothing.

Those are the talking points of the GOP and the "New Democrats."

I hate it when public education is falsely accused with the same talking points all the time, year after year, it is so obvious.

[NoNothing]

5. So tell me then

What is the followup on the bus driver story, just to pick the most recent example? Have any policies changed? Any terms renegotiated? Anybody get a stern talking-to? Anything?

[madfloridian]

6. Guess what.

I don't know what story you mean, but guess what. Guess what. Spewing talking points that mean nothing means another addition to my list...life is too short for meaningless words.

I tell you what. Let the charter and private schools fix all of the below before destroying the public school system.

Imagine Charter in St. Pete a million in debt. Taxpayers will foot the bill.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/6145

Taking the "public" out of public schools.....happening quickly.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5680

Faces of school reform. Too many billionaires.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5655

"a great and terrible charade"..school leaders and entrepreneurs triumphant at school closings?
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5640

Discipline methods from a charter school that would get public school teachers in serious trouble.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5623

"Democracy Privatized!"...education blog talks about turning over public functions to “the market”.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5610

Eli Broad: “We don’t know anything about how to teach or reading curriculum or any of that."
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5817

Seems my taxpayer money will be sending many more to private schools....
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5670

Two Florida charter schools in financial crisis. Taxpayer money is paying their debt.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5801

Baton Rouge judges rules it is ok to give taxpayer money to charter schools.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5806

Former GOP insider says "Billionaire Boys' Club" dismantling education.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5787

Boston schools officials: We are not "firing" all teachers, just making them reapply.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5781

1994: Project Censorship The Sandia Report On Education. Showed schools improving. Not published.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5777

WP: It was a "sad, desperate" decision to fire all of R. I. school's teachers.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5765

Parents at PS 15, an "A" school, ask state to intervene in PAVE charter invasion.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5762

Two things: A clear concise indictment of charters, and a Chicago fight to stop school closings.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5754

Harlem charter school head emails show very special access to NY school chancellor
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5748

Living and dying by test scores: a charter faces probation for weeding out problem students.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5738

Charter school exec led hearing to let his school invade a Bronx trade school.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5722

Politically connected NY charter schools to receive 72 million in city money.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5710

Established Bronx trade school may be replaced by untested academic charter school.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5704

A Bad Year for Teachers, a Bad Year for Public Education
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5691

Protesting school closings in Chicago. “They are closing schools without following procedure.”
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5688

KIPP charter school invades NY public school with "A" grade....read the views of both sides.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5684

Florida wants 1 billion of Arne's 4. 3 billion to hire corporate consultants. Unbelievable.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5658

[xxqqqzme]

34. Hello - that bus driver is NOT a teacher.

Is that bus driver working for a private contractor the school district hired (very few, if any, school districts in my area operate a bus system anymore) If that bus driver is in a union then it is school employees union or a county employees union. I did not see the article but you seem so well informed, I'm certain you can answer all those relevant questions.

[Dinger]

28. Concise And to The Point AGAIN, Thank You:)

Shit, DU should have an anti-union forum, why not? That sucker would fill up fast.

[SoxFan]

13. Don't bother arguing

Teachers Union=Good. Alternatives=Bad.

Some people would rationalize NYC's "rubber room" teachers, and I suspect the original poster would do just that.

[madfloridian]

14. Unions made this country great. Now this forum is becoming...

anti-union.

Yes, the OP does support unions. She also supports respectful treatment of members of unions.

You are really trying to get this thread in trouble, I think.

More power to you. Go for it.

[WinkyDink]

22. Workers would not be first on MY enemies' list, but go for it.

[fascisthunter]

36. Unions made it possible for you to do lots of things

you wouldn't have been able to. You speak out of pure ignorance...

how progressive of you

[ChiciB1]

66. I WOULD Not Have Been Able To Live My "Middle Class" Life WITHOUT Having

been part of a UNION family! My husband worked for GTE/Verizon and I thank the UNION for being there!

I've said more than once, I KNOW I have better health insurance than MOST because of it! HOW LONG that will be remains to be seen, but I'm PRO-UNION and happy that we had access to joining!

I KNOW Unions have had their hand in some dubious deals, but NOTHING like what we are seeing today! I don't see "we the people" running this country, and I think that only about 12% of America's population now has access to a UNION!

I can't BELIEVE Cuomo feels this way! But hey, SOMETHING NEW every day! His father always seems more LIBERAL to me!! No chip off the old block I guess!

[arbusto_baboso]

18. Yes, I can.

The fat to be trimmed is all with CONTRACTORS who are administering government programs.

Without exception, public employees can do the job better, cheaper and more efficiently than contractor employees. Blaming them for "fat" is simply anti-labor bullshit talk which plays into the hands of cheap-labor republicans.

[Laelth]

33. +1

Well said.

:dem:

-Laelth

[William Z. Foster]

20. I will deny it

"Fat to be trimmed" while the public infrastructure collapses around us and people are suffering?

I deny that.

[n.michigan]

73. Me too. Right wing R fat-heads! And anti-union? That's anti-INDIVIDUALS with rights aligned.

The U S AND BOTH PARTIES NOW ONLY RECOGNIZE CORPORATE POWER AND RIGHTS?

Can both parties and all incumbents.

[fascisthunter]

35. BULLSHIT... prove it!

[WestSeattle2]

45. I totally agree with you. Those who are flaming you didn't take

the time, or are unable to comprehend what you wrote. "Some" apparently means "all" to many flamers; and they apparently wish to ignore the first few words of your second sentence. As for public schools, the bottom line is that if they were a bastion of learning, they wouldn't be the target of reform efforts by both the right and the left. Seven of my ultra-liberal friends with kids of school age, either enrolled their kids in private schools, or are seriously considering it. To say that reform of public schools is limited to those on the right and "less than pure" D's, is nonsense. Responsible parents across the political spectrum are fed up. Poor parenting, and public school curriculum's that don't prepare most kids for adulthood have taken their toll. You should see some of the job resume's I receive at work from applicants in their 20's. "Ghastly" would be an understatement. How they ever graduated from high school - and college in most cases - is a mystery to me and our HR department. It's a sad reflection of parenting and education.

[madfloridian]

49. Amazing, ain't it?

All those years all those kids, all those moments of caring and reaching out....don't mean a damn thing now because the propaganda Reagan started in the 80s is coming to fruition now.

There is contempt for public schools oozing out of so many posts in this thread.

The privatizers have done their job well.

Soon they will own the public schools.

[WestSeattle2]

60. The sorry state of education has nothing whatsoever to do

with Reagan or propaganda; just step back and look at what our current system is producing. We're leaving over a third of our kids in the dust; they're not even graduating from high school! How can anyone embrace a system, of any kind, with a failure rate that high? Wal-Mart needs only so many greeters, what are the rest of those kids going to do for a living? Do I have contempt for public schools? No. I have contempt for anyone who defends sacrificing over a third of our kids to a failed system. Millions of us across the political spectrum, really question your motives. It seems that if educating all kids is your motive, you'd be leading the reform efforts.

[madfloridian]

71. Oh, now that you mention Wal Mart....they are leading the way to charters.

They are already determining the agenda.

"Dumping ‘The Crucible” by Arthur Miller in favor of Wal Mart who is paying the way.

"Dumping ‘The Crucible” by Arthur Miller in favor of the crucifixion by business elites

When Jamal, an 11th grade student, arrived at his English class in January of this year, he thought he would be continuing with his reading and analysis of The Crucible, by Arthur Miller. The Crucible is 11th grade reading for the Frederick Douglass Academy for Young Men, a 6-12 high school in Detroit, Michigan . Jamal was sadly mistaken. As he took his seat in class the teacher notified all students that they would be shifting their focus, just for awhile she told them, from the reading and analysis of literature to the construction of a mock ‘resume’ or ‘job application’. The ‘resume’ or ‘job application’ the students were to produce in their class was to be based on a ‘resume template’ handed out by the English teacher, by which students would then create their own ‘applications’.

.."Jamal was shocked. Why would his English class shift from reading high quality works of literature to engaging in mock resume and job application constructions? Jamal, upon hearing from the teacher about the shift in curriculum, raised his hand and asked the teacher point blank, “What is this all about?” The English teacher told him, as his class mates sat silent, that the resume was the brainchild of Wal-Mart and that in conjunction with the Frederick Douglass Academy for Young Men, the transnational corporation had thought the experience of constructing and then filling out a job application would be a good academic experience for the young 11th graders to engage in. Jamal was stumped. “What kind of resume or job application will it be”, he went on to ask his teacher. “Oh”, she responded, “it would have questions such as: ‘Do you need a job? What kind of skills do you have, Where have you worked in the past, What is your work experience, What kind of work skills do you possess”, all typical questions that would appear on an application for employment at say, Wal-Mart."

Here is more....they are controlling DC school merit pay so much that they threaten to pull their money if Rhee is fired.

Walmart, Eli Broad, others paying DC teacher bonuses...say do it our way or we pull the money.

"The private foundations pledging to help finance raises and bonuses for D.C. teachers have placed themselves in the middle of the city's mayoral race with one of the conditions for their largesse: If Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee leaves, so could the money.

The private donors have told the District that they reserve the right to reconsider their $64.5 million pledge if leadership of the school system changes, further complicating a proposed labor contract that has generated controversy since Rhee and union leaders announced it this month.

That clause, yet to be publicly discussed by D.C. officials, is a standard feature of private grants. But it comes at the beginning of a primary campaign that could leave Rhee out of a job. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) has staked much of his campaign on evidence of Rhee's success in improving schools. His opponent, D.C. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray, has sent mixed messages about retaining Rhee, telling reporters after his campaign kickoff Saturday that school reform and Rhee's presence are "not inextricably tied."

If they do it in DC they will do it anywhere.

I was proud to teach in public schools for many years. It was my career. There will be no more career teachers now.

But you hold those thoughts about how bad we all are....don't pay attention to what is really happening.

[WestSeattle2]

77. The public schools of your generation are over; they're

history. They went the way of responsible parenting and a society that valued education. All too many kids in public schools today, come from homes where education is not valued; respect for others is not taught; and "success" means not being evicted from a rented apartment. Put simply, they are a drag on the system and the system has responded by lowering the bar. The bar of education and the bar of appropriate behavior. It's appalling. For this we pay almost $10,000 per child, per year in Washington State - and the schools want more - always more; as if money will address the underlying cause of the systemic failure. Enough is enough. I'll leave you with an article written over five years ago; the people involved are as far from Wal-Mart or Ronald Reagan as anyone could possibly be:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/education/2002191433_gates27m.html

[sabrina 1]

84. The failed system would be NCLB.

I would start any reform by ending that disastrous 'system'. It was great for Bush's friends in the Educational Publishing business though, they have made millions.

[Seneca]

54. Work on those apostrophes

It puts a dent in the credibility of your screed about the sorry state of education.

[WestSeattle2]

59. My credibility is not required to substantiate the sorry state

of education; the facts speak for themselves. Shoot all the messengers you want, the facts won't change until our education system changes.

[ChiciB1]

67. Well, I DON'T Live In NY, But I DO Live In a NON-UNION County & I'm

sometimes astounded by what isn't being taught in school these days!! And that includes PRIVATE schools! There are quite a few here, but they are VERY, VERY costly!

My daughter seriously thought of sending her kids to one that was closer to her house, but after researching decided NOT to! It would have put a pinch on their income and she felt it wasn't worth the extra cost! Also, I haven't done that much research on "charter schools" so maybe they are quite different from the private ones!

So, I don't know the correct answer... but education is something that REALLY needs an enormous amount of help! Kids today seem less informed than ever! But hey, I'm a Boomer and we had certain requirements back then, and very few "electives!"

And most schools around here have dropped CIVICS, instead they teach "Government" of a certain sort! CIVICS was "REQUIRED" subject we had to take to graduate! Then there was AMERICAN HISTORY, and I lived in Texas and there was TEXAS history! The last one is a laugh given what is going on today!!

[n.michigan]

61. AX CORPORATE WELFARE AND TAX LOOPHOLES-TAKE IT FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR!

You are nuts!!!!! You must not read any regional papers. I am sick of the OBAMA democrat corporate apologists and all the rest who would just as soon take down the employees over taking public tax dollars rather than the corrupt corporations and their corrupt politicians and lobbyists who are benefiting. TAKE IT FROM THE RICH AND CORRUPT PRIVATE SECTOR BUDDY! The sector that is already getting the tax loopholes, subsidies and lobby breaks. The PRIVATE undemocratic sector that screws consumers and citizens.

And you can fiire the compromised unions. The teachers MEA wants to stage protests AFTER they and the state signed off on Race To The Bottom and oh yeah- placed the new legislation to tax JUST TEACHERS retirements to make up for their really bad budget decisions in Michigan. WE have a load of shit in Lansing and it starts with Gov. (D) Grahnolm and makes its way through the R Senate and the D House. Loads of incumbents to dump from both parties! The dishonorable GRANHOLM THEN just FOUND $200 M after screwing the educators. But that money won't be returned to the teachers that were taxed- no -it goes to further service the corporate welfare deficit in Michigan and to solve the budget mismanagement and pension trust problem Granhom has been in charge of for 8 years.

NEW THREAT BY POLITICIANS - SJR"U" a joint resolution-the latest attack on the economic well being of school employees at all levels, pre-K through and including universities, has been reported to the floor of the Michigan Senate by the "Reform and Re-structuring Committee." It is a joint resolution proposing that an amendment to the Michigan constitution be placed on the ballot at the August primary election. The would take 5% from the base salaries of ALL PUBLIC EMPLOYEES OF MICHIGAN effective Jan . It provides that the section of the Michigan Constitution which protect contracts from being "impaired" by any law be amended to allow the crap. NICE HUH? THEN -contracts could be voided by legislation to force pay reductions and also a provision that prohibits the state from enacting any law that grants a hearing over any pay reduction called for in this resolution. NICE-NO RECOURSE or challenges. AND- provisions to nullify the constitutional autonomy of universities in regards to setting pay rates for their employees. MORE....

THE POINT IS- THE IDIOTS IN LANSING ARE DOING IT ALL ON THE BACKS OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES. They are not going after the PRIVATE SECTOR TO PAY THEIR SHARE. THAT'S TEACHERS AND PLENTY OF OTHER HARDWORKING FAMILY PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE STATE RUN.

GO FIND JOHN ENGLER (former R governor who drove the bonded indebtedness and now runs the Manufacturers Ass.) to advance his salary to pay for his part. AND JENNIFER GRANHOLM (who watched the pension trust losses to Wall St.) to DONATE her salary. AND JASON ALLEN AND KEVIN ELSONHEIMER of N. Michigan??? THEY ARE LEAVING MI GOV'T! But.. what will they do next? Allen wants the Stupak seat to represent us in the US House? Elsonheimer wants to be a local judge. What we need is representation that uses our tax dollars for us- not their special business interests.

FIRE the MEA leaders of the UNION- for not putting up a HUGE FIRESTORM when it most MATTERED- BEFORE they allowed the crap to move forward with their unholy compromise. AND CANCEL the dues. LANSING READS THIS AS A SIGNAL THAT THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING THAT MAY HARM THE PUBLIC TO FAVOR THEIR CORPORATE INTERESTS. Bad news. Really bad politicians hurting the people of MI. FIRE THE POLITICIANS IN LANSING! Vote them all out.

[KamaAina]

3. Does Mr. Cuomo not realize that NY State shares a lengthy border with Canada?

There, the "New Democratic Party" is a leftist party, albeit one that enables the Harper government.

[Octafish]

7. Whatever happened to the Democrats, anyway?

Seems like I vote for Democrats and all I get are Republicans.

Gee. Is the money that important?

[madfloridian]

8. Apparently it is that important.

Important enough to abandon traditional constituents.

[Individualist]

25. DLC achieved their goal

of turning the party into a submissive branch of the republican party.

[madfloridian]

26. Their selling out of unions and women troubled me so much.

[n.michigan]

63. Yes - and unions in response sell out union members hoping they won't mobilize

All sold out.


The rights issue is a return to what MadFloridian? Just dominance of the white male? Is it that simple or what? Stupak was such a horrible disappointment. Is it the Rome lobby? Is it the Zionists? I am sick of all of these selfish interests and having to watch our backs all the time. Teachers are mostly female. No other profession is attacked as such and even taxed as in MI. Can you imagine going after police, judges retirements in this way?

Your writing inspires and leads many. Ignore those who would dissuade you.

[fascisthunter]

37. answer: yes, and it's the only thing that matters to them

[xxqqqzme]

38. I was thinking the same thing

Why waste my time, energy & money voting for Democrats when all I get are rethuglicans. Maybe we should all be infiltrating the rethug party and turning it left. Is sure as hell isn't working w/ trying to overtake the DLCers in the Democratic Party.

[Starry Messenger]

39. Yes.

It's all about the money.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[walldude]

10. New Democrats? Who the fuck asked for "new"?

New is fucking code for REPUBLICAN. We are now a one party system. That much is obvious, to everyone except right wingers and some Dems who seem to be enjoying this new found party of weenies.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tonysam]

12. +1,000,000 n/t

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

19. Neo-libs, Bluedogs, 3rd Way, Triangulating, sell-outs does not equal "New".

Just tired old Clintonites eager to win at any cost by appealing to the right.

[joeybee12]

15. Well, cross Andrew off my list of Dems who isn't bought and paid for...n/t

[Dappleganger]

16. So, are there any REAL Democrats who are running for office???

[laughingliberal]

17. K & R for exposure. eom

[WinkyDink]

21. Yes, all mayors should be Dictators of Education.

[Orlandodem]

23. NO MONEY FOR THEM. NO VOLUNTEERING FOR THEM. LET THEM ROT!!!!!

I guess the union can withhold endorsement and it can withhold the lifeblood of a campaign - money.

[KonaKane]

24. That's a "party" I can do without.

I agree with what another poster here said....unions made this country great. Any so called Democrat who runs down unions will not get a speck of support from me.

[madfloridian]

29. Yes, unions made the middle class in this country...and it is disappearing

since even the Democrats are attacking them now.

[Dinger]

27. People Like him Aren't Even Democrats

ANY people that call themselves Democrats, no exceptions. Good post madfloridian.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

30. There is a group here in NY spending millions to push NY to accept fed $ and they name

Obama, Clinton, Cuomo and Al Sharpton as proponents of charter schools.

Cuomo will not get my vote.

[madfloridian]

40. ALL of our Democratic leaders support charters....

and they make public school teachers feel unworthy.

There is not a single Democratic leader speaking out for public education.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

41. I agree and it's sickening.

[n.michigan]

62. They support Bill Gates, Eli Broad and other money

[bonnieS]

31. I was disheartened

watching Cuomo's speech last night at the Democratic Convention. In fact, I was flabbergasted. This is the best Dems can do?

For those Democrats who are anti-union on this thread and elsewhere, if nothing about unions themselves will change your minds, perhaps you will care that the work of unions (especially teachers' unions) and their members has always been necessary to get Democrats elected. If you want Democrats elected you build up the unions, give people a better life and a reason to work hard for you. If you want apathy from an underclass with no hope, get rid of the unions.

The union has made my current life possible. I can live in a middle class co-op, have food to eat, and can afford to sometimes go out to dinner and buy presents for my relatives. Without the union I would be looking forward to subsisting on Social Security alone, if they indeed still have that by the time I need it (which is soon). The combination of getting rid of unions and undercutting Social Security and Medicare through a "deficit Commission' may not be "sitting on hands" but it IS squashing millions of people so that a few can prosper.

This is not the Democratic Party of people like my mom, who proudly cast her first vote for FDR, knowing that he was on "our side." It is not the Democratic Party I grew up with, which, with all of its flaws, still stood up for the "working person." The Democratic Party of today, and of a growing number of people at DU, has become just as much a prisoner of idol worship/personality cults as the Other Party with no set of core values we can count on to "be for us."

That said, after seeing Cuomo last night, I knew it was safe to come and see what Madfloridian had to say!

[Laelth]

32. Vomit.

I am sick of this "new" Democratic Party. I want the old one back.

:puke:

:dem:

-Laelth

[erodriguez]

42. Run Against These Fakes!

Being from NYC, if I could get the 30k signatures in New York State to run for Governor I would.

I know I would lose but at least I would tell the truth that our current democratic leaders are beholden to corporate interests over that of the people.
The poor are being trampled and the middle class is turning poor. Most of us are have-nots.
These politicians claim to be on our side. But unless we are contributing thousands of dollars to their campaigns, they truly couldn't give a rat's ass about us.

[Historic NY]

44. Being from NY City just how would you treat upstate?....

The rest of the state pays school taxes based on the property one owns not on the ability to pay. I don't have it for the Union but the School boards and Administrators that cave in and just pass along the yearly increases to the taxpayer. There is something wrong in this state when school taxes are twice that of the county & local taxes which pay for the sewers, policeman, fireman and garbage pickup. Reform is long overdue. People are abandoning NY State because of the taxes, face it we get less for our money north of the Tapan Zee.

[madfloridian]

46. Education is on your short list of important things. Interesting.

You get what you pay for.

[Historic NY]

48. no its the outrageous spending....the district stacks the deck.

[madfloridian]

50. You must not be aware they are defunding the public schools

And giving the public taxpayer money to private management corporations to form charters which are unregulated....

But then it would not matter anyway, would it.

[Historic NY]

65. Not where I live.

[ChiciB1]

68. Well, DON'T Move To Florida Then!! We Just Voted Here In My County & Teachers

are thinking they will have to dig deeper into their OWN pockets to supplement SCHOOL SUPPLIES!

How do I KNOW this? My daughter's husband's ex-wife IS a school teacher and is HOPPING mad! From the horses mouth she says it only seems to get worse because of the LACK of funding!

And I don't think Duncan is helping out all that much either!

[madfloridian]

72. FL unions are getting on board to get Duncan's money...

so it won't be long until they lift the cap on charters.

[ChiciB1]

75. Can't Say This Surprises Me!! I KNOW How You Feel About This Subject...

but I'm right there with you! Can't tell you the times I "try" not to stay informed about this subject, but it's much too important NOT TO!!

What a SAD state of affairs!

[madfloridian]

69. In your state they will lay off like 6 to 8 thousand, while getting 5 mil to hire new ones.

Teachers that is. That is a cold hard fact. The only factor not known is how many thousands of teachers...and I believe that is just one city.

5 million to hire new cheaper teachers. Experience no longer matters.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/6123

And lots of cozy games being played.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/5748

Fire thousands of teachers, use 5 million in taxes to hire new cheap ones?

[Historic NY]

83. Thats the NY city not upstate NY.

listen our board finds that building an 8.7 million dollar sport complex with track and field at a local elememtary school that does not intramural sports programs as being economical...why because they never spent the money from 2007. All this while raising school taxes 4-5% on top ofthe sneaky 3% they get on utility bills. The spending per student top 16k and the average teacher to student ratio is 13. We have 12 thousand students in the enlarged district.

[LWolf]

43. The wave of privatizers, union-busters, and corporate stooges

rising in the Democratic Party and here on DU is appalling.

[bertman]

47. The way these New Democrats are working is going to turn a lot of Democrats into NON-Democrats.

[defendandprotect]

56. Well, they also have to ensure that we don't have anywhere else to go -- !!

[madfloridian]

51. I notice the attack on unions is ignored.....

so the push against public school teachers can continue.

These are Democrats who are against unions now.

Something is wrong with that picture.

[madrchsod]

53. something wrong about the union bashing here

bout to medieval on some folks here.....:rofl:

my wife is the secretary treasurer of her afscme union....

[defendandprotect]

57. Right wing/corporate infiltration of Democratic Party is what's wrong ....

More liberal/progressive Democrats were targeted for years --

not only by GOP/right wing -- but by DLC/corporate wing of Dem Party!!

[SleeplessinSoCal]

52. I just learned that the National Education Association is 153 years old. So don't blame the unions!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Education_Association

[defendandprotect]

55. Not that Mario Cuomo was a liberal . . . but Andrew is disgusting!!

[ChiciB1]

70. Gee, I'm Uninformed About Mario I Guess! He Seemed Much More Liberal Than

most I'm seeing today! But what do I know anymore??

[defendandprotect]

81. I'm not that connected with his history either . .. but he's pushing charter schools, isn't he ...?

Cuomo has something going on right now like that -- a deal of a some kind.

Basically, I don't really know -- it was a report on the charter schools I caught

yesterday, but never really liked him.

Guess we both better check into details of what he's all about!!

:)

[TheKentuckian]

58. We need to gut this party with extreme prejudice

It's not worth keeping the pitiful handful of good ones to deal with all the horrid crappers anymore.

[n.michigan]

64. Right on.

[defendandprotect]

82. $$$$ signs are the road blocks, however . . .

as anyone who has worked in campaigns -- or any average person who has

tried to run for office as a Dem can tell you --!!

[madfloridian]

74. Are we becoming not just anti-teacher but anti-union?

and anti-public education funding?

It appears that way.

[n.michigan]

76. NO. Only when the union doesn't do its job-to stand up for the teachers of MI.

Public money is for Public. Public expenditures-not to private - especially for political gain.

I'd say we are calling out corruption that is everywhere after what little the USA has left. (no pun intended)

[Individualist]

78. Not we, but DLC. There's no doubt that DLC is anti-union.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

79. What specifically is "new" in the New Democratic Party?

What old Democratic tenets are they jettisoning?

Personally, I'm glad they're making it official to "old" Democrats like me that we can suck eggs. At least we won't have any illusions.

[madfloridian]

80. Good coverage of Cuomo's attitude after he met with hedge fund operators.

The NYC Public School Parents blog has good coverage on Cuomo.

http://nycpublicschoolparents.blogspot.com/2010/05/cuomo-stop-listening-to-privateers-and.html

"He seems to have completely swallowed the line of the charter school lobby, according to his new campaign document, and implies giving parents a say in co-locations ‘a poison pill”:

"I believe public education is the new civil rights battle and I support charter schools.

Cuomo: "New York must be the leader when it comes to education reform. This starts with the increasing the charter school cap from 200 to 460. But increasing the cap won’t result in more charter schools if we too tightly restrict where they can be located or how they can be approved. We believe that public review and consultation are important—especially when charter schools will be co-located with traditional public schools—but this cannot become a poison pill that prevents opening new charter schools."

It’s unbelievable how bad it’s gotten and how much public education has been undermined by the hedge fund privateers, that its considered a positive sign that Robert Duffy, Mayor of Rochester, pro-charter and pro-mayoral control, who is Cuomo’s pick as lieutenant governor, feels as though he must assure parents that their neighborhood schools will not entirely disappear, according to the Gotham Schools:

Cuomo: "We will guarantee a place for elementary school children at their nearest neighborhood school, if that is what the family wants. There will be choices of other schools with special programs and services, but every young child will be able to attend a neighborhood school if their parents choose. That will reduce transportation costs."

Where in the world would he get the power to assure them their neighborhood schools would still be there? Amazingly misleading.

[New Dawn]

85. "New Democrats" are actually just Old Republicans.