40 or 50 years ago there began a concerted GOP effort to get their folks on local school boards. It was practice in politics for higher office. It was also the start of dumbing down and defunding public education. The GOP has always had a long range plan (I can't call it a vision as it is not visionary). Dems can't focus for two minutes apparently nor can they come together; Will Rogers I think said "I don't belong to any organized political party, I'm a Democrat." They have always been like herding angry cats. And never been good at messaging. And it has allowed the current state to happen. (Yes, I'm doing a bit of blaming both sides I guess but I think it's warranted even if the levels or types of guilt are different. Maybe I'm just preparing myself for the worst.)