This paper is a critique of "The Changing Politics of Education: Prospects for the 1980's" edited by Edith K. Mosher and Jennings L. Wagoner, Jr. The author contends that the themes of this "neo-conservative" volume are that (1) resources for schools are dwindling and the future of education will be bleak, and (2) political reforms are impossible to achieve and are not desired by the people. To answer the first contention, the author differentiates between the economic view and the political. Viewed from a political standpoint, improvements are being made and will be made in schools, especially in ways of dealing with problems, reallocating resources, and meeting the goals of accountability, equality, fairness, and the use of power. The bleak economic forecast is based on an assumption that the taxpayer's desire for retrenchment will not be reversed. According to the author, this self-fullfilling prophecy should be avoided. To refute the book's second contention, the author asserts that political reforms, while more difficult and slower in coming than assumed in the early sixties, are not impossible. Desegregation, for example, has made great strides in the south, and Title I funds have made an impact on test scores. Furthermore, these reforms and others like them have, in fact, sprung from popular pressure, although it is pressure from disadvantaged groups. (Author/JM)