I have an opinion as to why Trumpopo is insisting public schools open during the first wave of a pandemic plague:

He made Betsy DeVos secretary of education for only one reason – to privatize our free public education, ensuring superior access to privilege by the wealthy. I’m not saying he or any human being had anything to do with this vicious virus, but I am saying he’s profiting by it as much as possible.

By insisting we send our young to the raging front lines of our war on Covid-19, Trumpopo plans to provoke outraged, terrified, and exhausted Mama & Papa Bears. Scared, protective parents can (and will) demand alternatives, such as distance learning, smaller classes, shorter hours and diverse settings. Public schools are months, if not years (if not decades) away from providing safe education well and effectively.

But, for a hefty price, imperfect but much safer options are immediately available from private educational providers. In a twist of coincidence, many of these part real life/part online institutions are heavily invested in by members of the DeVos family and friends.

Trumpopo may have resigned himself to losing the election. He seems to be quite publicly paying off debts (Roger Stone sentence commuted) and trying to shift policy in accordance with his nearest and dearest kiss-popos and their pet projects, like defunding the USPS in favor of privatized delivery services and hackable email (which furthers his party’s march to squelch mail-in ballots).

He’s a privateer above all else, setting up/settling up business deals while he’s still got the ‘absolute power’ to act above the law. I find myself more willing than ever to believe the worst of him.