Red for Ed vs. Invest in Ed

Some thoughts on the state of Red for Ed and the Invest in Ed Initiative.

My biggest problem with InvestinEd is that, while sold as a RedforEd initiative, it was NOT crafted by us, but by an economically progressive group. The leaders and spokespersons for RedforEd are themselves economic progressives, so they jumped on board immediately.

Even though I personally think InvestinEd is terrible idea, and will vote ‘no’ if it gets on the ballot, I would have signed the initiative if it was crafted with the considered input of the RedforEd rank-and-file.

It was not. This is not a Red for Ed initiative.

From the beginning, there have been questionable actions by the leaders of this movement. The AEA endorsed David Garcia on the kickoff day of RedforEd. We were asked to rally at the Capitol without knowing the demands ahead of time. Their response to the 20x2020 plan was to launch a strike vote. The vote itself was shady because no one knew what, specifically, we were voting for. We were kept in the dark (again) about where the movement was going.

That’s not how a grassroots effort is supposed to work.

If InvestinEd gets on the ballot, we will be told to support it unconditionally, we will be called “disloyal” if we don’t, we will be told it’s the only way to solve the education funding crisis.

My own response will be to keep asserting my truth: I care deeply about public education in Arizona, I will keep working hard to make it better, but I will not standby to see it turned into a tool for a partisan political agenda.

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