Posted 5:16 PM by Gene

Speaking of publicity stunts, we recall the scene early on in that engaging political novel The Last Hurrah where Mayor Skeffington gives a key to the city to some pop musician named Fats. In an unguarded private moment with his newfound friend a smart young newspaper cartoonist the Mayor sighs how they used to give such things to Gertrude Ederles.

Ehdyukayshun reforrm is a constant disaster because a prime motivator is to create speeches and press releases for corrupt politicians. Mayor Skeffington probably never had the time to congratulate a principal except as a quid pro quo. He didn't need the false publicity because everyone knew who ran the system. Today with the system in tatters louts like EDDIE! and SEN. RED-LIGHT and buffoons like the supposedly vindicated DUBYA RUSH to the cameras to proclaim the power of the latest ehdyukayshun elixir in the form of higher test scores. They do so because they are profoundly credulous and truly believe that creating Dilberts creates prosperity; they also do so thinking that selling miracle makers like so much soap creates miracles. The test-score house of cards has collapsed in seeming proportion to the praise heaped upon score-boosting ehdyukaytors, showing them charlatans -- in the least.