Turn of the Century and a New Gilded Age

Last year, the National Center for Education and the Economy (NCEE) announced the release of a new report:  ‘Tough Choices or Tough Times’.  The report was a plan to privatize the public schools and to transform them into vocational schools governed by Regional Economic Authorities (REA).  The purpose of the REA’s would be to develop the economy in their region and to coordinate the K-12 curriculum to meet the needs of the businesses within the region.   The following is an excerpt from the report:

... It is now clear that the most effective strategies for economic development are technology based and regionally focused.  It is also clear that the most effective way to provide a real future for people who need jobs is to provide training that is related to the economic future of the region those people live in, for jobs in growth industries.

…These authorities would not only be responsible for coming up with development goals and strategies for their regions, but also for coordinating the work of the region's education and training institutions to make sure that each region's workers develop the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in that labor market.

We settled on the word “authorities” to describe these new bodies because we wanted to convey the idea that they need to be more than debating societies.  They need to be able to raise and spend the money needed to develop their regions over time.  If these new bodies are as successful as we think they will be, the federal government should consider lifting many of the restrictions on the separate programs they will administer and permitting them to combine the funds from these programs in ways that are more likely to lead to both strong economic growth and strong job growth, especially for the most vulnerable people in the country.
 

This is the communist system.   This is how communism is implemented.  A region is defined.  They are given authority and the money to manage their region.  Elected officials in traditional governing bodies are powerless to do anything about it - because the region is authorized from a higher governing level and they have the money to buy cooperation from the influential locals.  The agenda comes through a facilitator in a lead position in the regional authority.   

This systemic change has been in progress for the last 37 years.  It is the result of the "Reagan Revolution" and 'supply-side economics' which as we've come to realize is laissez faire capitalism.  Laissez faire capitalism leads to collectivism as a means for the wealthy and powerful to solidify their control.  

Laissez Faire capitalism is a killer of the psychopathic variety.  It must destroy all existing institutions and rebuild them in a totalitarian model thus ensuring perpetual control.  It uses the collective for control of the individual.  The few at the top control the many by restricting the essential elements needed for freedom. Education, property ownership, food and economic opportunity.  People living under this system are like dogs on a chain.  Their lives are dependent on how well their masters treat them. 

This isn't the first time that America has faced this beast.  At the turn of the last century, we went through the same thing - "The Gilded Age" which is defined in Cambridge Dictionary as:

"characterized by a greatly expanding economy and the emergence of plutocratic influences in government and society."

Our ancestors had the courage and the moral fiber to stand against feudal control of the masses.  The question is... Do we?

Find out just what people will quietly submit to, and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed on them, and these will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress. ~ Frederick Douglass, African-American slave, and later abolitionist.

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Regionalism and Education

Vicky Davis
September 18, 2007

Vicky L. Davis was a Computer Systems Analyst/Programmer who spent 20 years designing and writing computer systems for large corporations and state and local governments.  For 15 of those years, she worked as a Contractor, which gave her exposure to a wide variety of different businesses and their internal applications and operations.   She has traveled extensively and has lived in nine states in the course of her life’s adventure.

To amend title 40, United States Code, to provide a comprehensive regional approach to economic and infrastructure development in the most severely economically distressed regions in the Nation.

(1) The Delta Regional Commission.
(2) The Northern Great Plains Regional Commission.
(3) The Southeast Crescent Regional Commission.
(4) The Southwest Border Regional Commission.
(5) The Northern Border Regional Commission.

 

Powers- In carrying out its duties under this subtitle, a Commission may

(1) hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, and print or otherwise reproduce and distribute a description of the proceedings and reports on actions by the Commission as the Commission considers appropriate;

(2) authorize, through the Federal or State Cochairperson or any other member of the Commission designated by the Commission, the administration of oaths if the Commission determines that testimony should be taken or evidence received under oath;

(3) request from any Federal, State, or local agency such information as may be available to or procurable by the agency that may be of use to the Commission in carrying out the duties of the Commission;

(5) request the head of any Federal agency, State agency, or local government to detail to the Commission such personnel as the Commission requires to carry out its duties, each such detail to be without loss of seniority, pay, or other employee status;

(7) accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations or services or real, personal, tangible, or intangible property;

(8) enter into and perform such contracts, cooperative agreements, or other transactions as are necessary to carry out Commission duties, including any contracts or cooperative agreements with a department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States, a State (including a political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality of the State), or a person, firm, association, or corporation; and
 

Sec. 15501. Economic and infrastructure development grants

(a) In General- A Commission may make grants to States and local governments, Indian tribes, and public and nonprofit organizations for projects, approved in accordance with section 15503--

(1) to develop the transportation infrastructure of its region;

(2) to develop the basic public infrastructure of its region;

(3) to develop the telecommunications infrastructure of its region;

(4) to assist its region in obtaining job skills training, skills development and employment-related education, entrepreneurship, technology, and business development;

(5) to provide assistance to severely economically distressed and underdeveloped areas of its region that lack financial resources for improving basic health care and other public services;

(6) to promote resource conservation, tourism, recreation, and preservation of open space in a manner consistent with economic development goals;

(7) to promote the development of renewable and alternative energy sources; and

(8) to otherwise achieve the purposes of this subtitle