Teachers unions influence local politics and Democratic Party primaries very heavily. Yes, the combined voice of a group of teachers can make a significant dif

Teachers unions influence local politics and Democratic Party primaries very heavily. Yes, the combined voice of a group of teachers can make a significant difference. Why? Well, they're affiliated with other unions, to start. Further, as most are state employees, their ability to strike impacts public opinion regarding state government. They've also got a lot of power because they are with your kids 6-7 hours a day. They understand how political they need to be to keep the status quo, and are (at least in my and everyone else I know's experience) more focused on supporting the existing system for long term members than creating a better system for learning.