we are the majority: public education & public opinion tim potts the majority party pa parss...
TRANSCRIPT
We Are the Majority:Public Education & Public Opinion
Tim PottsThe Majority Party PAPARSS ConferenceApril 26, 2012
Our Public Schools are Under Attack
Common Wealth to Private WealthThe “public” is under attack:•Public transportation•Public safety•Public libraries•Public health•Public parks and lands•Public welfare•Public pensions•Public univerisities•Public employees
The Majority of Pennsylvania Voters Support Public
Education
PA Voters Support School FundingF&M March 2011
Support school fundingCut school funding
The Arts are Essential
Support arts edu-cationOppose arts edu-cation
93% Support a Broad Curriculum
•Advanced placement courses•Career and technical courses•Arts•Foreign language•College courses
…4% Don’t
Voters Supported Funding Increases in 2008, 2009 & 2010
SupportOppose
62% Support Equity
•The state should “take steps to increase funding to poorer districts…to reduce funding disparity even if it means less funding… to wealthier districts.”
…28% oppose this strategy
Our Bully Pulpit
Use every opportunity to tell the public what the polls have proven
•79% of PA voters don’t want to cut state funding
•82% want funding maintained ▫Even in “hard times”▫Even if it means cutting other programs▫Even if taxes must be raised
If They Want to Talk Free Market, Give Them Free Market
•Bond rating and audits
•Broad and deep educational experiences •Long-term thinking
•Competition for talent
Why don’t our representatives actually represent us?
•The people have a right to govern themselves, and the role of government is to help them do it.▫Look for opportunities to get the word out ▫Use negative polling to your advantage. ▫Ask your lawmakers to come to a board
meeting and tell the public what they’re doing.
▫Post online comments to your paper’s website about what the public wants.
“NO ONE WANTS HIGHER TAXES!!!!!!!”
Not true – and we can prove it.
Life in the echo chamber.
•“…where exactly was this poll taken??? Cal-State Berkley Campus, or maybe an Occupy Philly / Wall Street encampment?? …Was it 'truly' a fair sample of "The Majority of PA Citizenry'! Somehow, I think not...”
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It’s your choice…
We are The Majority
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