It's late at night. I'm tired. I have not read the entire article; the subject of which is, I believe, busing. I have a nine-year-old, in a public school that we have chosen BECAUSE it is very integrated. My son is definitely in the minority of his class, oh, he is white. Now. I would like him to go the the closest school possible! And, I firmly believe, giraffes do do live with zebras: they prefer to be with their families. Here's the question: Why bus kids? And that could go anywhere! There may be (and I'm sure there are) very good reasons to do it, and I've just articulated why bad aspects. How about: We give most of the "help 'em out money" to those schools that need the most help: the economically challenged/unde r funded schools, to help them keep up. In Wisconsin, Germans came here to be with Germans: they LIKE IT like that! Same everywhere. Let's simply help our brothers and sisters, and kids that need it most, and keep our kids (whatever color they are) close to home?

The New Yorker recently did an extended article on the Koch brothers and the extent of their influence through such covert funding. Thanks for this article; it's important to learn where the money goes.

I wonder how many of the parents who vote for school board members in Wake Co., NC, know where the money comes from and the agendas of corporate entities like the Kochs'.

Absolutely sickening. If only Wikileaks could publish all the horrible secrets behind the Koch brothers.

David H. and Charles de Ganahl Koch were very successful in Kansas in installing a board that was receptive to their resegregation efforts. They would have had more success, but they had not only gotten pro-charter schools, pro-voucher state Board of Education members, but the "Christians" included thieves and liars in their lot.

When they tried to get rid of the teaching of evolution in the schools, that tipped the balance, even though they were able to install a second rate lobbyist, Bob Corkins, as the state Director of Education. They also tried to eliminate the teaching of sex education and world history, two issues that the fundamentalists thought were important. Corkins went out with the sick theocratic majority.

Now they have a Governor who is a wholly owned subsidiary of Koch Industries. The next eight years will be rocky ones in Kansas.

Quoting photonracer:

They obviously have so much money and influence they want to play with American society like their personal toy.

"Money to get power. Power to protect money." Medici family saying says it all.

Pancho, Old John Brown, the abolitionist of "Bloody Kansas" fame, is undoubtedly rolling in his grave. The Koch Bros are true pigs. Despicable oinkers!

Thales Academy. Tuition is $5,200/yr. There is a rather lengthy form to submit. A personal interview to see if the student applicant "fits". No overt indication of racial bias, but could avoid "mongrelism" of your child's education. It will dilute the public school and leave the problems. There will be a call to obtain state funding/reimbur sement:"it's not fair to make me pay for free education of the riff-raff.” A great money making scheme for someone with a political/finan cial agenda. Sorta like let's privatize [insert your favorite service here], "my [relative/contr ibutor] has a business that can handle that nicely."
The South is getting so radicalized, which started with Nixon's Southern Strategy. No genteelness needed these days, even to lure tourists to the beautiful gardens. However, Strange Fruit can still be found hanging from trees.
Busing is time consuming for the students. It is costly. However, “taxpayers” need to realize that our country will stay a world leader only if everybody is well educated. We really need to think about what our priorities are as a nation and reject the rantings of the Koch brothers and their ilk. Not likely to happen tho.