Stephan:   The sabotage of public education by Republicans, in my opinion, is not getting anywhere near enough attention in the media. Republicans do not want an educated populace because the more education a person has the more likely it is that they will vote for Democrats. What the Republicans want, which is what all fascists throughout history have wanted, is a malleable indoctrinated, instead of educated, populace that can be easily manipulated through their fears and resentments.  A country does not become a world leader in technology, for instance, when the population is indoctrinated instead of educated. This strategy has long-term multi-generational implications, as anyone who spends a few minutes looking at North Korea and its population can easily discern.  Republicans are using school vouchers -- now they are calling them education savings accounts (ESAs) -- and charter and private schools to achieve their ends. Here is a useful explanation concerning what ESAs are all about.