Betsy DeVos’ Chum Bucket: Deep Inside - An Agenda & Dangerously Flawed Beliefs

Betsy DeVos, Michigan's source of ultra-ugly paid and delivered by her ultra-wealth and unholy zealotry. Betsy's one woman bitter attack on public schools gets media play around the country, but not here. Why?

The Michigan Legislature, endowed with a supermajority, has gone on a rip that can only be compared to the Arizonian raging wildfire-sweeping that state with tornadonic energy and uncontrolled fiery fury. On the topic of Michigan's plunge into public education devolution, the arsonist to blame is Betsy Prince DeVos.

Deep Inside Betsy Is A Dangerously Flawed Belief

Here writer Rachel Tabachnick has nailed it:

"Religious Right groups are often portrayed as only concerned with social issues like opposing gay rights and women's reproductive rights. But "Biblical Capitalism" or the belief that laissez-faire economics is biblically mandated, has been growing in popularity for more than two decades. Although the merry band of libertarians and the dominionists may have little in common, THE ANTI-ENVIRONMENTAL, ANTI-UNION, ANTI-REGULATORY AGENDA OF EACH IS EMPOWERING THE OTHER. The combined front has become a formidable force for radical free market fundamentalism and the eradication of the public sector."

Betsy has made no bones about wielding her mega-wealth:

"[M]y family is the largest single contributor of soft money to the national Republican party... I have decided, however, to stop taking offense at the suggestion that we are buying influence. Now, I simply concede the point. We expect to foster a conservative governing philosophy consisting of limited government and respect for traditional American virtues. We expect a return on our investment; we expect a good and honest government. Furthermore, we expect the Republican party to use the money to promote these policies, and yes, to win elections."

Betsy's Heavy Hand In Other States

Returning to Rachel Tabachnick in her comprehensive three part series, in Part 2 "Pro-Voucher Astroturfing: Campaigns Across Nation Coordinated by DeVos, Funded by a Few Mega-Donors" on April 24, 2011:

"The Indiana state senate passed a sweeping school voucher bill on Thursday, April 21, 2010, following an intensive crusade by the Betsy DeVos-led AMERICAN FEDERATION FOR CHILDREN and affiliated organizations. The blitz campaigns in Indiana and other states are similar to the one in Pennsylvania (described in detail in the previous report). A small core group of donors, ideologically opposed to public education, contribute millions of dollars to the pro-voucher movements in states across the nation. THE MASSIVE FUNDING AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE FUNDS AROUND THE NATION IS A CLASSIC CASE OF ASTROTURFING, CREATING THE ILLUSION THAT THERE IS A SPONTANEOUS WAVE OF GRASS ROOTS AND BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR VOUCHERS. 

(Emphasis added) 

Tabachnick adds:

"In addition to the millions spent in Pennsylvania, over $4.6 million dollars was raised by the Indiana affiliate of the Betsy DeVos-led pro-voucher organizations prior to the 2010 elections, all from 13 mega-donors ($5.8 million for the year). The Indiana PAC money also funded campaigns in Florida, Georgia, Wisconsin and other states."

How does Betsy's scheme work? Again, Rachel Tabachnick:

"Funding comes from a few mega-donors who make contributions in one location. These funds are then moved to non-profits and PACs in other states, obscuring the identity of the small group of original donors. (This report focuses on the affiliated PAC in Indiana which had over $4.6 million in receipts from 13 donors prior to the 2010 election, and sent most of the funds to six other states.) The pro-voucher 501(C)(3) nonprofits across the nation, which do not directly fund candidates, are also largely funded by the DeVos-led entities."

No tactic Is Too Underhanded or Devious for "Christian Zealot" Betsy and Her AFC (American Federation for Children).

Tabachnick:

"The Indiana AFC PAC contributed $63,450 to the Wisconsin AFC PAC. The expenditures for the Wisconsin AFC PAC were primarily for canvassing, and advertising. Additionally, the Wisconsin PAC received $25,000 on 9/03/2010 from Education Reform Now, led by Joel Klein. Media buys in Wisconsin were used to support pro-voucher Democrats running against Democrats not supporting vouchers in the primaries and for support of pro-voucher candidates in the general election. THE AFC FINANCED NUMEROUS ATTACK ADS THAT MENTIONED NOTHING ABOUT VOUCHERS OR SCHOOL CHOICE. THE MAILER SHOWN WAS SPONSORED BY AFC, AS SHOWN ON THE RETURN ADDRESS. THERE IS NOTHING ABOUT SCHOOL CHOICE OR VOUCHERS. THE MAILER ATTACKS THE INCUMBENT STATE SENATOR PAT KREITLOW FOR "KILLING" WISCONSIN JOBS.
(Emphasis added)

Here in Michigan the massive attacks on public schools play directly into and out of Betsy's Playbook. Much credit for the ugly nature of this take down of public school teachers and the attendant hatred stems from her dominate hard right influence and sub-rosa activities.

Long ago Betsy took up with Milton Friedman and Friedman's purpose: ""Vouchers are not an end in themselves; they are a means to make a transition from a government to a market system."

So while vouchers are a state constitutional element and the Herculean effort by Betsy in 1990 to pass a ballot proposal altering the Michigan Constitution to allow vouchers failed, Betsy's persistent and aggressive efforts have not faltered, killing public education is her life's work.

It is difficult to say where Betsy got her "chum bucket" attitude. Raised a poor little rich girl, she inherited a vast fortune. From that fortune and the foundation that administered it came Blackwater, Betsy's brother's mercenary for-profit private army. Betsy, herself, was schooled in the strict doctrines of the reactionary Christian Reformed Church, its elite Christian Schools and Calvin its college. Noteworthy, are the distrust and lingering ethnic feelings of a conservative nature of this splinter religious movement, having separated from the Reformed Church of America, the CRC had distinct ties to its religious counterpart in apartheid South Africa which lingered long after South Africa abandoned its racial separatism and doctrines of white supremacy.

Advocate Mike Klonsky:

Like Betsy DeVos, Wisconsin's Scott Walker ... "refuses to compromise. So beholden is he to political paymasters such as the Koch brothers and the De Vos family, which has steered millions of dollars into the state to promote his extreme proposals to replace on of the nation's strongest public education systems with voucher programs and privatization schemes, that the governor continues to pressure his legislative allies to enact a biennial budget that slashes spending for education and local services."

More from Rachel Tabachnick Series on Betsy DeVos and Public Education agenda - article cited: "Pro-Voucher Astroturfing: Campaigns Across Nation Coordinated by DeVos, Funded by a Few Mega-Donors" (April 24, 2011).

See ALSO:
Betsy DeVos Announces PA Governor Tom Corbett Will Keynote Pro-Voucher National Policy Summit (April 26, 2011)
Strategy for Privatizing Public Schools Spelled Out by Dick DeVos in 2002 Heritage Foundation Speech (May 3, 2011)
Protesters Object to School Privatization Efforts of DeVos, Michelle Rhee and PA and WI Governors (May 10, 2011)
Vouchers/Tax Credits Funding Creationism, Revisionist History, Hostility Toward Other Religions (May 25, 2011)
Prince and DeVos Families at Intersection of Radical Free Market Privatizers, Religious Right (May 16, 2011)

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