Jeff Bezos wants to privatize schools and get rid of teachers unions. (Surprised, Amazon-lovers?)

[ND-Dem]

Lee Fang, brilliant investigative journalist for The Nation, has looked closely at Jeff Bezos’ interest in education, and the news is bad...

Bezos is throughly smitten with the idea that the way to improve education is to privatize public schools and to eliminate teachers’ unions.

—The Bezos Foundation has donated to Education Reform Now, a nonprofit organization that funds attack advertisements against teachers’ unions and other advocacy efforts to promote test-based evaluations of teachers. Education Reform Now also sponsors Democrats for Education Reform.

—The Bezos Foundation provided $500,000 to NBC Universal to sponsor the Education Nation, a media series devoted to debating high-stakes testing, charter schools, and other education reforms.

—The Bezos Foundation provided over $100,000 worth of Amazon stock to the League of Education Voters Foundation to help pass the education reform in Washington State. Last year, the group helped pass I-1240, a ballot measure that created a charter school system in Washington State. In many states, charter schools open the door for privatization by inviting for-profit charter management companies to take over public schools that are ostensibly run by non-profits.

Other education philanthropy supported by the Bezos Foundation include KIPP, Teach for America, and many individual charter schools, including privately funded math and science programs across the country...

http://dianeravitch.net/2013/08/06/jeff-bezos-worse-than-we-thought/

[VanillaRhapsody]

1. Left Leaning Libertarian!

[ND-Dem]

2. what has bezos done that in any way indicates he's a man of the left?

[VanillaRhapsody]

6. Easy peasy

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/08/07/the-politics-of-jeff-bezos/

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/lists/ceo_presidents/jeff_bezos.html

http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2013/08/bezos-leaves-few-money-in-politics/

[ND-Dem]

28. I don't consider that any of those things make him a man of the left.

1. He gave big to defend gay marriage last year.

- and so have a lot of capitalists. doesn't make them "of the left".


2. He's been described as a libertarian.

- Libertarians aren't leftists, especially the types who fund Reason magazine.


3. He's mostly given to Democratic candidates.

- that's becoming more meaningless every day, since the Party has moved so far to the right since the 60s.


4. His mother and stepfather were big supporters of charter schools.

Libertarian/capitalist/"free market" policy; nothing to do with "the left". The left opposes it. But I'm not surprised Bezos' wealthy parents like the idea.


5. Amazon's PAC gives to both parties.

As does big capital generally. Because it wants total control.

[VanillaRhapsody]

31. did I use the term "man of the left"?

I said..."Left Leaning Libertarian".....

and I provided evidence to back it up.....

[ND-Dem]

49. what is 'left' about his libertarianism? i don't see any left positions in your 'evidence'.

[sabrina 1]

38. He's against Public Education, how on earth does make him in any way, left?

[MohRokTah]

3. Just bought To Kill A Mockingbird in eBook format on Amazon.

My wife wanted to re-read it before the new Harper Lee novel is released.

[ND-Dem]

5. you mean the one harper didn't authorize, but someone made a phony quote saying she did?

Questions I Have About The Harper Lee Editor Interview

You have probably heard, by this point, the news that Harper Lee is finally releasing a companion novel for To Kill A Mockingbird after over 50 years. Pretty exciting news, right? Her publisher has probably had a lot of time to figure out their publicity rollout and has also definitely made sure that she wants them to publish said companion novel, yes?

Especially since Harper Lee has always made it very clear that she would not release another book, and since Harper Lee is currently in a nursing home, and since her sister and lawyer died last year, and several third parties have begun suing one another for the right to use Harper Lee’s name…

you would definitely think they would be sure to have all their ducks appropriately rowed before making such a significant announcement, right?

At the very least, they would have talked to Harper Lee about it, right? To get her, you know, permission?

Read more at http://the-toast.net/2015/02/04/questions-harper-lee-editor-interview/#4JaFTdmugsxEsAT8.99


No doubt Amazon will take a cut of the action.

[MohRokTah]

7. Article I read said she signed off on it and is fine with it.

But I read legitimate news sources and don't take blog posts as gospel, sorta like the blog post in the OP in this thread.

[ND-Dem]

10. why am i not surprised...

I'd say you haven't followed what's been happening with harper lee at all, in the news or anywhere else.

Here, is the LA Times legit enough for your sensibilities?





But soon voices were raised in concern. Lee, who suffered a stroke in 2007, now resides in an assisted-living facility in Monroeville, the Alabama town that inspired Maycomb. Her elder sister, Alice, who for most of their lives served as Harper's attorney, died in November at age 103. Was Harper Lee really a full participant in the decision to publish the book?

A new statement released Thursday says she is. "I’m alive and kicking and happy as hell with the reactions of 'Watchman'," Lee said in a statement provided by her publisher, Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins.

That statement stands in contrast to the community around her. "Multiple residents of Monroeville who have known Harper Lee for years said Wednesday that they believe the 88-year-old author does not possess sufficient mental faculties to make informed decisions about her literary career," AL.com reports.

Lee has always ducked interviews with the media, but now a security guard is posted at the facility where she lives, warning off would-be interviewers. The facility staff are not allowed to speak to the media without first going through Lee's attorney, Sonja Carter.

Her editor, Hugh Van Dusen, told New York Magazine that even he doesn't speak to Lee directly. "She's getting progressively deafer and more blind, and that’s where things stand. I don’t hear from her.... I think we do all our dealing through her lawyer, Tonja. It’s easier for the lawyer to go see her in the nursing home and say 'HarperCollins would like to do this and do that' and get her permission. That’s the only reason nobody’s in touch with her. I’m told it’s very difficult to talk to her."

That distance has caused people to question the publication of this book now. "There’s cause for some skepticism about whether Lee, reportedly in poor physical health herself, really wanted this book published," Scott Martelle writes in the L.A. Times' Opinion pages. "After all, she had six decades to find it in her files if she was interested in having the public read it."

http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-harper-lee-is-she-really-happy-as-hell-20150205-story.html

[MohRokTah]

11. I'd say you've been following bogus assed blog posts.

Sorta like your OP.

[ND-Dem]

14. I changed it for a LA Times article, so check again.

Here’s an author who has staunchly refused interviews and publicity since 1960, who hasn’t breathed a word about her interest in publishing another book to either family or friends, but who is suddenly fine with releasing her decades-old Mockingbird prequel, despite the fact that it doesn’t sound like anyone at her publisher has actually been in touch with her about it? This brings up questions! This is the most madness-inducing interview I have read in I don’t know how long.


Read more at http://the-toast.net/2015/02/04/questions-harper-lee-editor-interview/#4JaFTdmugsxEsAT8.99

[MohRokTah]

15. Nope, no take backs

I don't click links edited into posts.

[ND-Dem]

17. Yeah, I guess if you don't look at it, major media coverage doesn't exist. Just like amazon's labor

violations don't exist if you don't look.

[MohRokTah]

19. Dude, we get it. You've got a hardon to take down Jeff Bezos.

Can you keep it to three threads per day?

I promise I won't post in any if you promise to keep it to three threads per day.

[ND-Dem]

22. I think debate on the issues is healthy. Try and keep up your end, though. Your rebuttal has so

far mostly consisted of "But I like it! I don't mind sweated labor, intellectual property or labor theft! Cause it's convenient for my life!"

[MohRokTah]

23. There is no debate. I am not going to end my assocaition with Amazon and you're not going to...

convince any Amazon customers to change their habits with your hardon threads.

[pipi_k]

56. Hell no!

In fact, just because of these Amazon/Jeff Bezos hatefest threads, I'm going to use Amazon even more. And recommend it to friends and relatives.

In fact, earlier today I used it to send a birthday gift to my daughter-in-law.

Her birthday is the 15th, and even though I nearly forgot, I could still order today and get free two day shipping, so it will get to her by the 13th.


PS...I also bought "To Kill a Mockingbird" for my Kindle last week

[sabrina 1]

43. Dude, we get what you are doing, it was funny at first, but it's getting boring at this point.

[sabrina 1]

39. I'd say you are wrong. If you have something to contradict the information regarding the publication

of her, please post it. Otherwise you are simply attacking a source, when there are dozens of sources saying the same thing. But providing nothing to back up your claims.

[msanthrope]

62. Interesting that you've rec'd this thread.....nt

[onehandle]

8. Probably could have gotten the ebook for free from your local library system.

Many classics that Amazon sells for profit are available.

[MohRokTah]

9. I want it in our Amazon library.

Cost was $3.99. That's a bargain, IMO.

We have nearly 2000 books in our Amazon library.

I buy a few on my wish list every month.

[sabrina 1]

46. You really are overdoing it a bit, don't you think? We GET the act ... so don't try so hard.

[MohRokTah]

16. I'll also note, many of the books in our Amazon library come from Gutenberg. eom

[ND-Dem]

20. That's because Amazon steals the free labor and charges for it. lol, what a great business model!

Amazon charges Kindle users for free Project Gutenberg e-books

By Rob Pegoraro


Kindle readers, take note: You may have been paying for books you could legally download for free--in nearly identical editions--elsewhere.

The titles in question aren't just public-domain books that have long been freely available at such sites as Project Gutenberg. They appear to be the exact Gutenberg files, save only for minor formatting adjustments and the removal of that volunteer-run site's license information.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fasterforward/2010/11/amazon_charges_kindle_users_fo.html

[ND-Dem]

24. Its the washington post saying it, not me. You know, the major paper Bezos just bought?

The titles in question aren't just public-domain books that have long been freely available at such sites as Project Gutenberg. They appear to be the exact Gutenberg files, save only for minor formatting adjustments and the removal of that volunteer-run site's license information.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fasterforward/2010/11/amazon_charges_kindle_users_fo.html

[MohRokTah]

25. I don't downlad the shit from Amazon. I fuckign told you.

Take a fucking cold shower already!

I told you, I download the titles from http://www.gutenberg.org/ and email it to my Amazon account.

Totally free. Totally Gutenberg. I even fucking utilize Amazon resources at no charge to me to make sure the titles are available to all account devices.

The titles from http://www.gutenberg.org/ are BETTER than what's available for free on Amazon. Why wouldn't I do this shit.

I'd think you'd like this because it costs Amazon a few pennies to let me have those hundreds of http://www.gutenberg.org/ titles associated with my Amazon Kindle account.

[ND-Dem]

26. regardless of what *you* do, this is what *amazon* does. they steal gutenberg's volunteer labor

and files and charge for them.


The titles in question aren't just public-domain books that have long been freely available at such sites as Project Gutenberg. They appear to be the exact Gutenberg files, save only for minor formatting adjustments and the removal of that volunteer-run site's license information.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fasterforward/2010/11/amazon_charges_kindle_users_fo.html

[ND-Dem]

29. I'm posting about political issues. You have a problem with it. Maybe it's you who needs to chill.

[MohRokTah]

30. No, you're posting about your issues with a single human being.

Last edited Fri Feb 6, 2015, 01:41 AM - Edit history (1)

Great, I get it.

Chill out.

[ND-Dem]

32. You first.

[onehandle]

4. Amazon is Walmart 2.0.

Finishing the job that the Waltons started.

[ND-Dem]

18. +100

[kwassa]

12. The ruthless capitalist approach to education.

Management always hates unions. All the big money for educational "reform" comes from the uber-rich, and much from the tech sector.

They want compliant workers with good math and science skills.

[appalachiablue]

13. Democrats for Education Reform, sounds right up Arne Duncan's alley.

Education Plunder and Profit would be more honest.

[madfloridian]

33. So does our president, so does Arne, so does the Democratic party.

So what do we do about that? Boycott them?

[ND-Dem]

34. did i ask you to boycott someone? you don't seem to have any aversion to people criticizing

those actors, however and making damaging facts known.

[ohheckyeah]

35. I love

Amazon.

[ND-Dem]

36. do you want a round of applause, or what?

[ohheckyeah]

51. Do you?

I expressed an opinion as did you.

[ND-Dem]

54. actually, i copied and pasted news articles.

[rpannier]

37. I loathe amazon

[ohheckyeah]

52. Your

right and privilege.

[sabrina 1]

41. I don't. And now that I am learning all this stuff about them, we will be dropping our membership.

I despise greedy, anti-democracy Corps. Sorry I ever was a member. And their service is awful anyhow, so I won't miss them. We moved from CA back to NY a couple of years ago. We ordered something from them, gave them the new address, and never got it. Called, was told it was sent out. Still didn't get it.

Then we received a call from friends in Ca. I had been sent there, was left on the side of the street and could have disappeared except that a neighbor noticed it and realized who it was for.

I called them again, told them what happened. TRIED to get them to change the address, that took days. They finally picked it up and we got it, weeks later.

I'd rather shop at our local stores. Food is great from the farmers, and we get great service from the local merchants. If I want a book, I'll buy it at our local bookstore, or go to the library.

Haven't bought anything from Amazon for two years anyhow.

[ohheckyeah]

50. I on't have the luxury

of shopping in a store. I had a stroke and the only places I go are therapy and doctor's offices. Amazon has been a life saver for me.

[greatlaurel]

40. It is amazing to see the cheerleaders for Amazon come out of the woodwork when a bad story comes out

It is almost like someone is paying them to say great things about Amazon on a regular basis or in the face of more bad news about their labor practices or their attacks on teachers, unions or other bastions of the American middle class.

The tech sector has sold about as many computers and other gadgets that people can afford or need. Replacements for broken gadgets just are not going to sell enough to maintain their bloated profit margins.The new software like Microsoft Windows 8 is not an improvement, but just an attempt to strong arm people into buying the so-called up grade. The industry knows the only way to keep making themselves richer is to start stealing from the public sector and the best way to do that is to force the privatization of public schools and universities. Kasich and Walker are already trying to dismantle the public university systems in their respective states. Both the Democratic and Republican parties are in full blown bribe mode to get the payoffs from the billionaires to privatize K-12 public schools. The billionaires little snowflakes will get quality educations with real live teachers, but all us proles will have to pay out the nose for privatized and computerized education for our kids. Just look at what is being done to Ohio's public schools to the benefit of the for profit charter schools here in Ohio. The charter schools do not even have to make sure the kids show up to get their money.

Great post ND-Dem. Keep posting the truth. We need posts like this to open people's eyes.

[sabrina 1]

42. Most of it is just flame bait. The 'cheerleaders' are working hard to bait the Left. I'm

surprised, at least one of them, is still here.

[sabrina 1]

44. What a jerk. People like this with money, are a threat to this democracy. Thanks for keeping us

informed so we don't enable these anti-Public School morons.

[sunnystarr]

45. Is this your 6th or 7th Amazon bash????

Like I'm soooooooo surprised to see that a business owner in the top 1% is a right wing Repug. I wouldn't be able to purchase much if I had to clear it through that lens. And then we have to include all distribution. I prefer to spend my energies more productively.

[ND-Dem]

48. yes, yes. amazon is such a godsend to the poor. heard that one already, try another.

[LanternWaste]

57. Hi Hannah!!!!

Hi Hannah!!!!

[mackerel]

47. I'm mixed on buying from Amazon. I do buy used books there that a lot of times come

from Goodwill Industries. I buy my new books from the Book Depository.

[Douglas Carpenter]

53. but I already paid for my Kindle

What do I do now?

[appalachiablue]

55. Walmart, Amazon retail cartels, Bank cartels, Media consolidation. What ever happened to

the Sherman Anti-Trust Act? That's right, Reagan lowered the bar.

[hifiguy]

59. Antitrust enforcement has been deader than Dillinger

since Raygun and neither Clinton nor Obama did one goddamn thing to revive it. Which tells you all you need to know about their corporatist priorities.

[appalachiablue]

63. 30 years of business as usual is obviously good for pols, corps & lobbyists in the trinity of power.

[hunter]

58. Will it include free shipping for Amazon Prime members?

Put your kid in a box, UPS picks them up, and a few weeks later redelivers them to you all educated.

[msanthrope]

61. The OP should ring a Bell. nt

[msanthrope]

60. It's nice to see you've moved on from Bill and Melinda Gates, and their free

vaccines.

Damn do-gooders.....

[SidDithers]

64. Bezos is a big supporter of same-sex marriage rights...

And the OP has an interesting history wrt LGBT issues.

Maybe a coincidence. Maybe not.

Sid

[pipi_k]

67. Wow...

I'm really out of the loop on Jeff Bezos, so when I saw your post I thought you might be pulling our legs

But it's true.

Not only does he support it with words, he supports it financially.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/27/amazons-founder-pledges-2-5-million-in-support-of-same-sex-marriage/


So. Just like most everything else in life, there is no clear cut either/or boundary line here.

Are we supposed to hate Jeff Bezos for allegedly mistreating employees who don't HAVE to work at Amazon at the same time he supports people who have no control over their sexuality?

If, indeed, the OP has had LGBT issues in the past, that would explain the sustained Bezos hatefest, I suppose.


PS...Not knowing the OPs history regarding LGBT issues, I did a search but didn't find anything, so I will have to reserve judgement on motive. But that doesn't negate the fact that Jeff Bezos has pledged a whole lot of money in support of gay marriage. So he can't be a total asshole...

[whatchamacallit]

70. Like this

http://www.logcabin.org

[dilby]

65. And I was so worried we would go a week without a negative Amazon story. n/t

[NCTraveler]

66. Not surprised.

Not sure why you think I would be. Then again, I only use Amazon. Never been in love with it. Not sure how that could happen. Must not have fit into your narrative without hyperbole. Is there a rash of people putting I Heart Amazon on their bumpers?

[betterdemsonly]

68. I buy my ebooks at BooksAMillion

If I have to buy something at Amazon I try to buy it from their partners rather than Amazon itself. Many of their partners are bricks and mortar.

[Nye Bevan]

69. I guess the author of this (Diane Ravitch) doesn't *totally* hate Amazon.....

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=diane+ravitch