Today marks the Senate hearing for two more of Trump's cabinet appointees.   The potential nominees for Department of Health and Human Services, Dr/Rep Price has already shown a propensity for illegality and conflict of interest which fits right in the Trump regime.  But the one that fascinates me is Betsy Devos, Secretary of Education.




We have two Senators from the State I used to live, Murray from Washington and the other, Alexander in Tennessee where I currently live are on the panel.  Of course Murray has a few issues to bring up but Alexander in true partisan politics thinks this woman is the second coming of Christ or whatever Southerners do to validate their idiocy.  Idiocy that is a result of a lack of education and the heavy dose of Jesus to compensate as a result.




Jennifer  Berkshire,  who seems to be one of the few Journalists who covers Education and does so independently on her blog  Edushyster, found a few interesting facts about the iron lady in the Chanel Suit.  I have seen some stories but nowhere near as complex and compelling about Ms. DeVos and her intent masked as "school choice."  Her article entitled the Red Queen is a must read for those who need a more comprehensive analysis of DeVos and her family empire.


I doubt Senator Alexander will ask any tough questions as here in Tennessee it is a moderate version of  the same type of system that Michigan has, immense private religious based schools and a constant push for vouchers, charters that are all over the map with incompetence and corruption and of course a hot mess of public schools.


I am in such a one today.  The Teacher I am subbing for was let go.  Apparently in some "altercation" the Teacher shut the door on a Student's finger leading to his arrest and  to potential lawsuits etc so he is gone.  There is another job vacant as well with their permanent Teacher starting today who seems utterly clueless but is a Coach and that is big plus in these schools as they have the machismo to at least discipline the kids.  Just leave the door open is my advice.


I have subbed here before and it was the first school I ever set foot in in Nashville. I thought I would never come back but here I am in a room that has managed the last week to only have two subs and not yet descended to chaos.  The computers are broken, many missing keys and the reality is that they are just one of many schools that have idea where to go or what to do to fix their brokenness.


I am sure Ms. DeVos will sweep in with her Chanel suit and pray the evil away.  She sounds possibly more batshit than Trump and that says something.


As for the rest of Trump's cabinet we have a Doctor who will not be using his gifted hands to treat patients and is going instead into directing public housing, I see the parallels.  Then we have the Department of Labor oligarch who hates labor.  And the best part is that he is moving his headquarters and himself to Tennessee, WELCOME.


Today the Tennessean, a supposed newspaper, did a poorly written and researched article about the growth of Nashville never mentioning that wages have remained stagnant in the area for over a decade (but they see that oddly as a good thing), that health care is marginal, that despite all the schools few grads remain leaving Nashville with a less than 30% population with higher degrees despite the bullshit they tell people, that and the number of supposed migrants moving here daily/monthly/hourly.   Add to that the now  high costs of living here without sidewalks, bus transportation and an aging infrastructure that has never truly dealt with the potential for natural disaster. 


This is hardly the city of now when it comes to anything but BS.  In my building alone with a free months rent upon move in we have seen in the last six months several units turnover with one acting as an Air Bnb.  And I suspect it is the cost of living in them not to mention the relentless train noise with no one advocating for a silent zone it makes the appeal less so.  Add to that the units are overpriced and with utilities an 1800/month unit split between two is well over a grand each.  And few of my neighbors earn anywhere near the supposed average of $23/hr. as here in Nashville,  costs and earnings are not in parity.


And this is the new beginning of an era for the rest of America.  The reality is that the long time dream of America being run by private industry is now less than 3 days away.  Yes we will now become the United States of Partnership in America.  Think of how well that has worked for the prison system.  Another Tennessean company!!   God bless your heart!