CAR: No disagreement with any of your points, but I would also hasten yo add that, in California, the CTA (California Teachers Assn) is the proverbial 800lb gorilla when it comes to throwing weight and peddling influence, often on issues completely unrelated to schools and teachers.
The CTA wields enormous influence and exerts tremendous sway in Sacramento and largely due to the huge sums of money at its disposal. Where does the lion’s share of this money come from? Union dues. Does this money entitle rank-and-file members to have a say in its disposition, or what issues and causes are supported? Nope.
There are dozens of articles on the CTA and how far and where its reach extends and it is not a benevolent organization, believe me.
