Keep public institutions public

Kentuckians should hurry, before elections, to read Jane Mayer’s “Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right” to realize what’s going on in our state.

Simply, public ownership is being sold, given away to private ownership. Public/private partnerships often end up under private control.

Koch Brothers’ dark money has now infiltrated both state public flagship universities via capitalism institutes.

Gov. Matt Bevin and GOP legislators have laid siege to state government to anoint/appoint capitalist cronies, using taxpayer money for resultant lawsuits. State parks and charter schools are opening shots for privatization. The University of Kentucky’s president and trustees use taxpayer money to sue to keep secrets.

The fastest way to stop the bleeding of taxpayer money to privatize public institutions and programs is to vote Nancy Jo Kemper and Mayor Jim Gray for Congress and a straight Democratic ticket.

Vote to keep taxpayers’ “commonwealth.”

This story was originally published October 14, 2016 at 5:48 PM with the headline "Keep public institutions public."