Department of Education Created by Jimmy Carter

[wowrevolution]

I find that you will get much more success promoting the idea of getting rid of the Department of Education when you include "created by Jimmy Carter."
Don't just say: "He wants to get rid of the Department of Education" say "He wants to get rid of Jimmy Carter's failed Department of Education" and then start talking about Federal regulations, failing test scores, declining grades, and declining position in global education etc etc

[Zydeco]

Also be sure to add that 1) it was a campaign promise that Carter made to the NEA, who wanted to lobby from within the government; 2) that congressional Democrats at the time did not want to create the department since they (correctly) feared it would be nothing but an extra layer of bureaucracy, 3) that the Department of Education is responsible for $1 trillion of our $15 trillion debt all by itself, and 4) that the existence of the ED drives up the cost of education since it reinforces the education cartel that colleges currently (but hopefully not for long) enjoy. For example, the ED has recently begun "cracking down" on online universities that do the job of brick and mortar colleges for 1/10 of the price.

The Department of Education is such a classic government boondoggle: 1) created for short-term political reasons, not for any actual market or even moral demand; 2) legislated into existence and maintaining its power via a cartel; 3) relies on propaganda for its continued existence ("you're against education if you're against the department of education" etc.). When I lived in DC I knew four or five Education Phd's who worked there and each one of them was as disillusioned about it as you can be. All they do is "analyze" data and come up with proposals and theories. No children are helped by their conferences and papers and no one will miss it but those who've been tricked into getting a Phd in Education.

[matt0611]

Also mention Reagan ran on getting rid of it.

[djruden]

Yea, most people don't know about any of this stuff. Always good to do your own research. I like to mention it wasn't created until 1980 and is responsible for programs like 'NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND.' Most people start to understand the concept of getting rid of it as a good thing.

[Zydeco]

+1. Illustrates how quickly a new bureaucracy can dig its heels in. Even the president who won 44 states couldn't get rid of it.

[wowrevolution]

Yeah, it works easily when you say "... created by Jimmy Carter" or "Jimmy Carter's failed..."
If you just say "Department of Education" then it sounds important. You have to always remember to attach Jimmy Carter and "failed" every time you mention it. Even in the campaign commercials. You can't divorce it, it has to be seen as an evil agency of government indoctrination imo and failing regulations that strips the rights of the family and community and that we want to restore the power of the PTA etc etc

[Lafayette]

The Original Star Wars movie has been around longer than the Department of ED.