Barry Hinckley might think the polls predicting his political
demise are flawed, but according to Occam’s Razor – the theory that the
simplest reason is probably the correct one – no conspiracy theory or
professional blunder needs to have occurred in order to explain his poor
performance among likely voters.
The simplest theory as to why poll respondents didn’t give
Hinckley very high marks is because his ideas are out of step with what Rhode
Islanders want.
He’s a supporter of Paul Ryan’s draconian budget proposal, which
would bleed Medicare dry and privatize social security.
And if that isn’t out-of-step enough for you, consider his
recent statement on WJAR’s Sunday morning News Conference show
that he “would abolish the Department of Education.”
Rhode Islanders don’t want that to happen!
The state gets about $230 million a year in federal funds from the Department of Education, or about 12 percent of its overall education dollars, according to Elliot Krieger, a spokesman for the state Department of Education. Both Providence and Central Falls get about 20 percent of their public education budgets from the federal government, he added.
“Federal funds pay for many initiatives, most notably Title I
(aid to high-poverty schools and districts), Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (funds for students with disabilities, in both public and nonpublic
schools), and school nutrition programs (some of which comes from the Dept. of
Agriculture),” Krieger said in an email.
Elimination of the Department of Education would be a disaster,
though some of Hinckley’s disinterested out-of-state donors who don’t care what
happens to Rhode Island might not mind if our children don’t
have access to good schools.
And, it should be pointed out, that Barry Hinckley is well
within his rights to run for Senate under the mantle of representing the elite
rather than the Ocean State.
But he’s applying faulty reasoning when he suggests polls
depicting his unpopularity are indicative of anything other than exactly that.
Indeed, logical practically dictates that someone who espouses such views
wouldn’t poll well here, where we place a high value on retirement security,
medical care for the elderly and a quality public education for our kids.
Bob Plain is the editor/publisher of Rhode Island's Future. Previously, he's
worked as a reporter for several different news organizations both in Rhode
Island and across the country.
