The stupider the electorate, the easier it is to convince someone to vote for you. Most schools are run by the government. You do the math (at least you still can.)

The objective of the NEA--the second largest political donor in the U.S. with 92 percent going to Democrats--is to maximize the number of dues-paying teachers and use that money to wield political power. Their primary goal is to ensure that no plausible alternatives to socialized education can be attempted. Everything else, including whether or not socialized education is the best way to educate children, is pretty much beside the point.

I too have noticed that National Geographic is largely becoming an environmentalist/liberal mouthpiece--I have written them more than a few letters on some subjects they have dealt with--but I still think it's worth the subscription. At $34 bucks a year, it's still a bargain for the thick, profusely illustrated magazine, and there's one or two items each year that make the whole subscription worth while.