[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: The War on Accountability

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
The War on Accountability
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1244308980.shtml


   Paraphrasing a favorite quote of mine from the movie As Good As It
   Gets:

     "How do you write about Democrats so well?"
     "I picture a Republican, and I take away reason and
     accountability."

   In this sense, there are "good" Democrats, certainly more numerous
   than unicorns and gyascutuses. There are "bad" Republicans, probably
   even more numerous. But just as "dog" and "cat" are useful
   categorizations regardless of breeds, it is accountability that
   ultimately separates Democrats from Republicans.
   And the war is on, the War on Accountability.
   Let me illustrate by following up on the [1]Minnesota 2020 hit piece
   on charter schools in Minnesota. Mitch Berg and his commenters have
   fisked this thoroughly at Shot in the Dark in [2]two [3]parts. See
   also this [4]Wall Street Journal opinion piece. What this all boils
   down to is that the DFL's special interest in government run public
   schools is "too big to fail" and must be protected. From whom? Charter
   schools. From what? Accountability.
   It's almost laughable how DFL sees the charter schools as the
   unaccountable entity. Quoting Minnesota 2020:
     * "Although charter schools receive taxpayer funds, they are not
       subject to the same checks and balances taxpayers have the right
       to expect."
     * "Traditional schools are governed by elected school boards.
       Taxpayers who disagree with the way their money is being spent
       need only go to the school board meeting and voice their concern.
       Ultimately, voters can exercise their rights and vote school board
       members off the body."

   Charter schools save the taxpayers money. Charter school customers
   have the ultimate control: they can leave to find a better one, maybe
   even a public school. But who could possibly hope to unseat even the
   worst School Board in the state? (That would be St. Paul in my
   opinion.) And by the way, were the situation reversed, would Minnesota
   2020 demand that the public schools be closed?
   Taxation with representation beats taxation without representation,
   but it's no guarantee of accountability. Look at what Jeff Johnson is
   finding on the Hennepin County Board. Look at the DFL taxapalooza
   session of 2008. When their backs are against the wall, the DFL moves
   the wall.
   We had decades of bi-partisan common sense on bonding, holding to an
   agreed 3% debt service rule. But when the DFL felt it had to bond far
   more to please its special interests, did it set priorities and
   continue to be fiscally prudent? No, they simply retired the 3% rule.
   Anything goes now.
   Look at this session. Again, the DFL would not set priorities, even
   within itself as their large House and Senate majorities bickered
   until the end over taxes. Even then, they scrapped a session's worth
   of work to scribble up a new "compromise" that even had their own
   complaining. But the real problem was accountability.
   The DFL refused to let their spending plans be held accountable to the
   money available, and even that money may not be there if the economy
   continues to contract. They would not set the priorities needed to
   live within their - our - means. Instead, they vilify the Governor and
   put on a Sally Struthers act because they didn't get that last $300
   million to expand Minnesota's version of socialized medicine yet
   again.
   Nationally, we see spending unthinkable even a year ago. Again,
   accountability as in fiscal restraint had to be dispatched to make way
   for all those programs. Promises for "accountability" for that
   spending, well, how's that coming along, Sheriff Biden?
   Getting back to our schools, accountability isn't just about finance,
   it's about results, like test scores. When the Minnesota math test
   proves too hard, what's the answer? Remove the accountabilty. High
   school graduation rates are appalling in many districts. What's being
   done? Nothing. A third of our graduates need remedial coursework
   attending Minnesota public colleges. What's being done? Nothing. These
   are just statistics.
   Minnesota is a terrible place to open a business if the nature of your
   business doesn't require a local presence. That's why 3M is slowly
   becoming 3T, why Texas alone is where over half the new jobs are.
   What's the answer? Raise taxes, to invest in our intellectual
   infrastructure, of which we demand nothing in return. All that matters
   are good intentions - and a signed check.
   "How do we convince voters that limited government is good for them?"
   asked Tony Sutton, candidate for the GOP party chair. I don't know how
   to phrase it convincingly, but in a word it's all about
   accountability. If it doesn't work, however seemingly wonderful like
   Head Start, end it. It lowers our standard of living.
   And if there are better ways like Charter schools, the Public schools
   must at least not get in their way.

References

   1. http://tinyurl.com/nmo93b
   2. http://www.shotinthedark.info/wp/?p=4878
   3. http://www.shotinthedark.info/wp/?p=4886
   4. http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110004863