“This American Life” episode #624 talks about DeVos and how she formed her education philosophy. It also demonstrates why her education philosophy doesn’t work... but I don’t think she’s gonna listen to that part.

Sadly, I don’t think he’s even going to read the comments that actually answer his question. He’s not here to learn anything.

How do they ignore the evidence that social programs work? Is that information not being disseminated by Fox News and co? Is there a chance that if we were able to somehow get the facts in front of their faces, they’d change their minds? Like, are they good people with bad information, are are they all just horrible…

Also, if you feed them, those dirty inner-city poors won’t come out to my pristine suburban home and steal my lawnmower.

I think you just hit on the underlying fear behind government assistance. No other explanation for their thought process makes sense.

Well, stick around these parts and keep sharing what you know. I’m increasingly afraid of people who believe in woo and crackpot theories and miracle cures and homeopathy — there’s no good reason that the word “homeopathy” should have even made it this far in our common vocabulary — and we need people like you to talk…

Agreed! Also, anecdotally, about ten years ago when I got involved in wildlife rehabilitation and learned about zoonoses (diseases transmitted between species), I realized that animals aren’t all that dirty, and I stopped being such a germaphobe around animal stuff. (I’m still a germaphobe around human stuff.) And,…

Also, don’t confuse moles with voles. The moles might burrow into your body, but they’re only eating your grubs and worms and stuff. Voles use the mole tunnels to nibble at your roots. I wish more people knew this.

Legit funny and a great photo!

Yay! Maybe you’re not an animal lover, but at least you seem to lack the instinct to kill every little insect on sight as though it’s carrying the plague or something! (Seriously, not many folks die from plague nowadays.)

Yes, elderberries are edible, not toxic. I think he was confusing them with some other berry.

Elderberries are not toxic. Are you thinking of pokeberries? Or sumac?

Thank you for giving us clear information in a muddle of anecdata and misunderstanding and correlation/causation confusion.

“I don’t want a home, I’d ruin that, home is where my habits have a habitat” — Such wise, wise words. I go out in public and people think I’m a normal-functioning person — then I get home and go catatonic amidst my clutter.

Ah! I forgot to add Kate Bush to my list. Yes, of course she was in my rotation! I’ll have to check out PJ Harvey.

It was twenty years ago, so I don’t remember most of the list. I remember that it went into detail for each reason, with statistics and stuff. Things like “our marriage is stale/rocky; having a baby will bring us closer together” and “I was an only child and was lonely; my child will be happier if he has siblings to…

And the next one Camden. And then a Jameson. And then a Volkswagen.

I remember in grade school being told that there were 6 billion people on the planet. Then I didn’t hear about it for a few decades and ignorantly assumed we were still around 6 billion now. Because something that has taken thousands and thousands of years to get to 6 billion couldn’t possibly get to 7 billion in 30…

Why not both?

Oh no, I was afraid that might happen! My husband shaves his head and voted for Hillary; please don’t lump them all under one razor!