Protests against Betsy DeVos before ALEC conference in Denver

“Hundreds march and protest Betsy Devos,” July 20 news story.

“Laughable.” That’s how Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman describes people’s objections to the American Legislative Exchange Council’s significant influence on state lawmakers nationwide. Some of those people protested outside the ALEC conference last week in Denver. While downplaying ALEC’s well-financed attempts to sway votes at statehouses, Coffman noted ALEC does “help with research, with experts,” ideas and legislative language meant to withstand lawsuits. Maybe people’s concerns aren’t so laughable after all.

How many ordinary Coloradans get to sit down and share their ideas with legislators? They likely don’t have lawyers to write boilerplate legislation for their representatives to sponsor.

Maybe Coloradans want to believe their elected officials are actually listening to them instead of a national organization with a narrow political agenda, one that undermines such all-American traditions as public schools and public lands. Maybe it is laughable after all.

What’s all the fuss about? There seems to be an organized campaign against Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who wants to raise the shamefully low standing of United States education when compared to other nations around the world.

DeVos came to Denver to attend a meeting of conservatives. She is a strong advocate of charter schools, which seem to be doing well in Colorado. If Secretary DeVos can raise the standing of American schools, then she should be applauded, not demonized.