CRAFT

[proschool]

CRAFT (Citizens for Fair and Reasonable Taxes) is the organization that gave support to CFO and other groups that were trying to keep school referendums from being passed.

I just visted ther website and I thought everyone would find there analysis of the last referendums to be entertaining.






Updated 05-29-06



It has been two months since the election about 67% of referenda passed when typically 60 – 80% fail. What went wrong and why?



Parents felt pressured by the bullying of the school districts to vote yes even though they wanted to vote no.
Parents felt teachers would retaliate against their children if they spoke out so they did not speak out.
People believed the school district lies.
People did not get to the polls to vote.
People thought the referenda would fail because so many failed in the past.
People were apathetic.


District 300 and District 158 set the low bar for tactics to use to pass referenda. They will use your children’s education, fear and intimidation to pass referenda. Paid professionals from those with vested financial interests in the schools to pass referenda this fall will use these tactics too. If you do not get involved and a referendum is on the ballot there is a good chance it will pass. School employees have the time, money and resources to pass these referenda and they will do everything they can to fatten their wallets, pensions and influence legislators.



What will you do to stop the insanity of our rigidly unionized government monopoly also known as our public education system?

[bob]

Where is the part about when people fight back against their lies, they lose?

[gatormom]

That doesn't fit into their pretty little world bob. You know, the one where school vouchers are handed out on street corners and the evil public schools that twist our children's brains don't exist.

Apparently CRAFT is not going to take these defeats sitting down. Any district ready to introduce a referendum better beware. A wounded animal is a far more dangerous creature.

[lacy]

bob said:

Where is the part about when people fight back against their lies, they lose?

Bob, I'm thinking that you need a different avatar image (like maybe George Soros or something). Because Rush would agree with the CRAFT people.

[bob]

Well, I don't agree with Rush 100% of the time. If one did then one would be a sheep. He has lost some of his appeal since becoming a oxyconten junkie.

A what is wrong with Soros? Here is a guy who survived WWII, came to America and became a self made billionaire thanks to the US way of life.


I like my new avatar better than Rush.

[lacy]

Bob, I like your sense of humor!

[lacy]

I just noticed I am a "warned member". I never saw that before! LOL that's the second good laugh you guys are responsible for today. Thank you.

[momto4]

I wonder if the CRAFT people think that all of our 28,000 or so students should be attending school in just a couple of buildings? How are growing districts supposed to get new buildings without paying for them somehow?

[chicoryowl]

momto4 said:

I wonder if the CRAFT people think that all of our 28,000 or so students should be attending school in just a couple of buildings? How are growing districts supposed to get new buildings without paying for them somehow?

You shouldn't make the assumption that CRAFT cares enough about students to worry about whether students attend classes in a couple of buildings. They'd be just as happy if all of our students went to classes in a pile of asbestos if it meant lower taxes.

[gatormom]

Another interesting post on the CRAFT site.


DON’T PAY THOSE FEES

August is here. According to the school districts it is time to pay those school fees, I say do not pay. The school districts are hoping you forget that you have already paid for your child's schooling with huge property taxes and they are also hoping you forget you have another huge property tax bill due in September.

School districts routinely punish voters who turn down their demands for more money by forcing them to pay fees. Some like Fox River Grove have the gall to charge you fees even though they passed referenda. To impose fees is not only disgraceful, but flatly unconstitutional.

Lets have a look at Article X of the Illinois Constitution (www.ilga.gov/commission/lrb/con10.htm). Pay attention, school boards. Right there in black and white "Education in public schools through the secondary level shall be free." Not "free if you're poor", just plain, honest-to-goodness "free". What part of "free" do school boards not understand? Amazingly, school-wide registration fees at public schools are common.

Since our schools have no respect for the rule of law, perhaps its time for parents to drive the issue home. Across the state, parents should simply refuse to pay any fees not used for their children's extracurricular activities. Tear up your checks in front of them for dramatic effect. If questioned, simply indicate that you're complying with the terms of the Illinois Constitution. The ISBE has already made it clear that schools cannot punish parents who do not pay. (Ask District 36 Superintendent Charles Barber if you have any doubts)

A failed referendum means "Don't take any more of our money". It doesn't mean "Please find devious, unconstitutional ways to take the same money we denied you in the referendum and it does not mean cut programs either." This practice must stop.

[EagleDad]

I really feel sorry for the kids of these nutcakes (or should I say cuckoos for old time sake ;-).

I can just see it now, poor Johnny gets stuck in the middle, because his cheap-ass mon & dad wanted to make a political point by skipping out on a 20 buck fee.

[momof3]

I get the feeling these folks are the same types who council people to not pay any income taxes because they claim they are unconstitutional. On 80/94 EB there's a big billboard for a tax attorney that declares "Don't pay income taxes! I'll show you how!" I wonder if he'll also go to jail with you when you get caught...?

[wvhsparent]

He better watch it too...The IRS is contracting with private collection firms (at a cost greater than hiring their own people to do it, because that's how it was budgeted) to go after delinquent taxpayers.......Gotta love the Fed!

www.dailyherald.com/search/searchstory.asp?id=219661