Michael Garton

Looeyvillian. Yarmuth, LMC Dems, KYGA, Obama, Columbia, and Centre alum; Tweets, photos, etc. are mine - I hope.

[The Nobel Prize @NobelPrize]

BREAKING NEWS
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the 2025 #NobelPeacePrize to Maria Corina Machado for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.

#NobelPrize

[Michael Garton @mgartonky]

I am curious what the definition of “wealthy” is in this context. That aside, regardless of the gap in funding/revenue/spending; what is the breakdown by school district on major expense categories? Classroom teacher pay, materials that are used by students in the classroom, administrative (non-instruction) salaries, staff salaries, transportation, facilities, security, etc.

[Michael Garton @mgartonky]

Given the size of the population served in JCPS, as well as some likely scalability “savings” - it may not be true anymore, but I believe Manual HS, at the time I was graduated,was the largest high school in the county and had the lowest per pupil spend - I would guess JCPS is right about in the middle of the pack.

[Michael Garton @mgartonky]

@DanBorsch @jbaileyky In this context, I think wealthy means higher per capita income. So, Oldham County is the highest. Oldham actually pays their teachers less on average than JCPS. Maybe there are other costs that are higher, but teacher pay would be my metric.

[Michael Garton @mgartonky]

The biggest issue in public higher education funding is that states have greatly reduced their financial support for public colleges and universities over the last two decades. That is all done through the budget process, which is a political process. The overwhelming majority of legislators in Frankfort went to UK, so they generally make sure they fund their alma mater first and cut it last. And, there’s also the college sports thing.

[James Surowiecki @JamesSurowiecki]

Just to be clear, a grand total of 89,106 people who are 99 or older, not millions, are collecting retired-worker Social Security benefits:

[Pete Buttigieg @PeteButtigieg]

If you wanted to cut waste, fraud, and abuse, you would empower the inspectors general.

If you wanted more waste, fraud, and abuse, you would fire them.

[Florida Expert @Matt_Fleming321]

When your country has 50 years to learn one simple lesson: stop voting for Republicans.

And it refuses.

[Michael Garton @mgartonky]

@smarkreilly Look at the size of those bike lanes!

[Michael Garton @mgartonky]

@BeschlossDC That wall-to-wall carpeting had to go!

[Michael Garton @mgartonky]

@elonmusk Sure, let’s take “over 65” out of the Medicare statute.

[Michael Garton @mgartonky]

Ok, but the state is where the power- and the budget - to solve the structural issues TARC is facing - lies. Yes, Metro Council could perhaps take away money from public schools to address the budget shortfall at TARC, but is that the right move? Council cannot change the tax levy that directly funds TARC at the state level. Many many interests, projects and institutions would love to have a direct appropriation that TARC enjoys. While the percentage has not changed, their revenues have greatly increased, while ridership has greatly decreased. Getting people to use public transit vs private cars would be the best use of any additional dollars sent to TARC.

[Michael Garton @mgartonky]

I don’t consider anyone in any particular way. I care about effectiveness. If being effective and winning is part of the problem, I will carry that mantel. The races I embarked on this year, I won. I cared enough to work for less than market rate (or free), but my candidates won. No navel gazing here. I’ve actually gone about raising some of the money you talk about and am ready to raise more for the county party. We do not strut when we win, and certainly not when we lose.

[Michael Garton @mgartonky]

Beth, I’m not coming for you personally. I’m sorry if you took anything personally. Politics is business, and politicians should be in the business of winning. Their paid consultants and strategists certainly should be. But, I am disappointed in your decision to publish an analysis of the election as a “Kentucky Democratic Digital Strategist” with no disclaimer that those views are not necessarily those of the local or state party. Those insights were not cleared through the local party or party chair. You have been paid as an operative and consultant, and are representing yourself as having expert insight, without having a track record of winning elections. The only reason to do something like this is to develop your business, which is perfectly acceptable. I just think you should also let everyone who reads it know that they are your thoughts alone and what your win/loss record is. Rebuilding the party will require a public effort, but let’s keep the navel gazing behind closed doors.

[Michael Garton @mgartonky]

As I said, you are not a volunteer. Donating time and expertise with no results is meaningless. And candidates spent plenty on expertise with poor results, perhaps because of those pro bono hours. Every business spends time and money to make money and build their brand. The county party didn’t win this cycle. Blackwell was winnable. Perhaps even Fowler. You haven’t answered the fundamental question: in the new era of nonpartisan selections, how will you help Democratic candidates win besides cashing their checks?

[Michael Garton @mgartonky]

@BethinLouavul And raising money to pay consultants who don’t know how to win elections isn’t a good business plan.

[Michael Garton @mgartonky]

My point is the cake is baked. If Mitch wants to block him - he will. If he Mitch doesn’t, he won’t. Many public officials do take the responses of their constituents into account on the legislative floor. Mitch isn’t one of them. Let’s spend those two minutes doing something worthwhile, like registering a new voter.

[Michael Garton @mgartonky]

Beth, the only thing that mattered, given the stakes in this election and the resources available, was winning. It was not close. Whether we know more now than Election Day also doesn’t matter. She needed to win. She had the money to win. She should have won. Knocking on 2000 doors a minute for a candidate who could not offer a single change to the decisions made by President Biden can be hard to sell. It’s not about brute force but finesse. Three Democratic metro council members lost on Nov 5th. The county party is responsible for some of that loss. You are on the executive committee and have a leadership role. We have nonpartisan elections coming in the near future. How will we make sure Democrats still win?