Well, two months late, but here it is, the first in what will hopefully become a long list of Podcasts. This one is important, I think, because of what’s happening on Tuesday. Anyhow, take a moment and listen, will you?

Download Vouchers Worst Case Scenarios

JM Bell Podcast Broadcast #1 Transcript

Figuring out Worst Case Scenarios is basically what I do for a living, and with that in mind, I am troubled by the entirety of the voucher program that the chuckleheads from Amway and WalMart have foisted on Utah by buying off Republican legislators.

So, why do these billionaires from out of state want Utah to spend their time and money giving Utah the voucher? I have a clue. They think that you’re all Sheep. I mean, one look at your legislature, and you can kind of see where they’re coming from.

It’s troublesome, it’s dishonest, and, to date, I’m having a hard time finding someone in the Mainstream Media that has followed the hypothetical dollar to its figurative end.

There are not enough private schools in Utah to deal with a mass influx of new students, where, oh, where will we find them?

This is pretty simple math. 93% of Utah Students are in Public Schools. They’re packed in pretty tight, too. With low teacher salaries, archaic school planning by the UBOE, goofy behavior by elected school boards and Republicans running the show up on the hill with no chance of actually having to be accountable for their voting behavior, it’s little wonder that people are desperate to fix stuff.

ith this is mind, my head snaps to the weird behavior of certain Republican legislators who made policy on Charter Schools and then went into business building them. Totally unethical, in my view, but, alas, they stayed in the legislature until they had business plan ready to go and all legal and stuff, and them drifted away and made a boat load of money.
I have no doubt that the PCE / Amway / WalMart cabal will do he same thing. They’ll build crappy school after crappy school with slick brochures and ignorant alumni all on the backs of the taxpayer. It’s like having your pyramid scheme insured by the FDIC.

Private School Thoughts

I have nothing but respect for almost every private school in Utah RIGHT NOW. Most of them are stellar institutions of learning and wish I could afford to send my kids there. I really do. And that’s not a reflection on Public Schools, but on my laziness as a parent. I want my kids at a private school so that there’s a tighter degree on their moral behavior. Something about the image of a nun in her habit smacking my son upside the head with a yard stick for making out with a girl in the hall appeals to me.

Accreditation / College Degrees and Teacher Accountability

This is where I drift into possible freaking out. I brought up this subject with everyone’s favorite on-air voucher whore, Ethan Millard from Salt Lake City Spin. I talked through the simple fact that the voucher bill, as it is currently written, is so full of holes that anyone, for any reason and with any agenda can open a school. Anyone. With ANY AGENDA.

There’s no oversight, see? Pretty Cool, huh? I’m looking forward to the day when the doors to the JM Bell Academy For Militant Progressive Gifted Children.The scenario that pops like a nightmare into my head is a school roster made up of freaks and weirdos from across these United States.

Imagine David Koresh teaching comparative religion. Imagine Curtis Allgier as teacher’s aide to David duke’s Diversity studies. Warren Jeffs can teach Home Ec and Women’s studies and Joe Stalin can coach the football team.
Ethan and his ilk, though, have a plan. A mighty and fool proof plan. Are you ready? If something like this happens, the legislature will make a law against it.

Never mind that this very bill will violate the hell out of the Utah Constitution by giving money to religious schools. Never mind that the State will face millions in court costs that, if I figure correctly, they’ll pay for it all out of education funds. Now, on top of it all, the state will add more grounds for law suits by discriminating against whatever screwball religion, hate group or Militant Progressive School decides to open it’s doors to take advantage of the state’s larder after we pass this damaged and indecipherable piece of legislation. If this voucher bill passes, no only will we see schools kind of like this, but when the legislature makes them against the law (and I think Ethan is showing entirely too much faith in the legislature there) they’re all going to sue us.

With that happy thought, remember, you’re vote on Tuesday is more important than you think. So take the time, and vote.