Comments by "girl from the bronx by way of el barrio" (@girlfromthebronxbywayofelb7288) on "Meet the Press full broadcast — Jan. 1" video.

  1. Increasing the quality of our public schools nationally is essential.
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  2. The ability to evaluate the value and accuracy of information is dependent upon a quality public school system nationwide. States that starve their public schools in the name of low taxes are a threat to the republic. We have already seen how "I love uneducated voters" can lead to dangerous conspiracy theories that erode fair elections. It seems that some politicians in some states are happy with an undereducated population that might be less engaged, might put up with book banning, might have low voter turnout, might be an underclass dependent upon low wage subsistence work. States with the lowest academic performance should be monitored and remediated with additional instruction in civics, global history, USA history, critical thinking, propaganda techniques, demagoguery, and persuasive writing. Let's do the work.
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  3. Quality public schools and sufficient funding to make that happen, especially in low tax states, is a key part of this discussion. Critical thinking must be taught at all ages.
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  4.  @myfriendgoo2816  Totally agree. So disappointing to see a Marcos return to power there, probably largely because the other guy was even worse!! Yuch. I think USA is way overdue for "moon shot" funding for public education and social studies instruction that would be managed on the Federal level, like Title One funding. This would prevent Alabama or Mississippi (for instance) from misdirecting the funds from the localities that most need the academic support. (Think of how Mississippi directed money away from Jackson for decades, although it was clear their water system needed state funding.) If it could be done through an after school program, that might be even better, because it could avoid the politics of local school boards.
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