Those church bells you’ve been hearing every day aren’t an accident.

After decades of hatred, Ohio Republicans and Democrats have come together as a single force of change. Normally they fight over abortion and gun rights, but they now have a common goal; a common vision for the future of Ohio.

The death of public education.

Both parties have a different way to achieve this objective, but at least they can agree on something.

Ohio Republicans have successfully shifted over a billion dollars from funding public education (required by the state constitution) into the hands of private schools under the lie of “school choice.” None of those private schools are required to follow state standards; and many of those vouchers go to wealthy families who can afford it, but they don’t care about the details. It is just one step closer to their end goal.

Not to be outperformed, the Democrats who control Columbus destroy public education in a more covert method.

They allow Columbus City government to pass hundreds of millions of tax abatements for developers and real estate investors. Less money for the city (let the homeless suffer) and less for the Columbus City Schools (CCS) – (their Board of Education are handpicked by the party so there’s never any protest).

Better yet, many parents of CCS students are “working poor” and don’t have the time or energy to follow local politics. They just assume that the FCDP always has their best interests at heart, which they don’t. The Franklin County Democrats exist to serve themselves and their own power structure.

So, celebrate where celebration is due. Year after year Ohio continues to underfund public education. Ohio is ranked #30 in education by U.S. News and World Report (#41 in higher education), but on the bright side at least we’re beating Mississippi and Michigan.

This is by choice. This isn’t an accident.

The people that we are electing to local and state office don’t want public education to be successful. “Those in power fear an educated population.” ~ Noam Chomsky

They will use all their power and influence to distract us from how CCS earns a grade of “D,” yet we continue to elect the same people to the Board of Education. We continue to elect the same people to City Council and the mayor’s office. We are sincerely our own worst enemy when it comes to picking our leaders in Ohio.

So, this Christmas when your uncle starts lecturing the dinner table about how fantastic Ohio Republicans have been for our state, agree with him.

It might surprise him, but it’s true. Ohio Republicans and Democrats have something to celebrate together: the slow destruction of public education.

Pass the mashed potatoes.