Good Intentions

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/28/obamas-extended-school-year-dire-economic-effects-critics-claim/

I honestly don't think that President Obama is trying to ruin our kids' lives or the tourism industry with his latest idea to expand school hours, days or weeks to match those of other countries. But I am opposed, and not just because I don't want to follow in the footsteps of those other countries who, in spite of their higher test scores, still have worse economies than ours.

First of all, I am only sending my kids to school so that they, or I, can avoid being labeled weird by their/my peers. The fact that Jeff has already un-learned the alphabet in two weeks of Kindergarten has me re-thinking my choice, though. What else will he un-learn at school? My plan was to take the free time away from school to teach him the things he really needs to know, like math, science, reading, music and morality. More time at school means less time for me.

There is no second of all, the first one pretty much covered it.

The Wild Swans At Coole

by William Butler Yeats

The trees are in their autumn beauty,
The woodlands paths are dry,
Under the October twilight the water
Mirrors a still sky;
Upon the brimming water among the stones
Are nine-and-fifty swans.

The nineteenth autumn has come upon me
Since I first made my count;
I saw, before I had well finished,
All suddenly mount
And scatter wheeling in great broken rings
Upon their clamorous wings.

I have looked upon those brilliant creatures,
And now my heart is sore.
All's changed since I, hearing at twilight,
The first time on this shore
The bell-beat of their wings above my head,
Trod with a lighter tread.

Unwearied still, lover by lover,
They paddle in the cold
Companionable streams or climb the air;
Their hearts have not grown old;
Passion or conquest, wander where they will,
Attend upon them still.

But now they drift on the still water,
Mysterious, beautiful;
Among what rushes will they build,
By what lake's edge or pool
Delight men's eyes when I awake some day
To find they have flown away?

Good article (s)

http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jphillips/2009/09/15/feel-good-policy/#more-224646

Joseph Phillips' mention of facebook members ranting about health care reminds me of why I deactivated my facebook account. I am tired of being railed against by even people I respect, who seem to feel that facebook gives them the security of being behind a computer, and not face to face with friends who have now become their opponents.

Truth is, I'm a chicken. I use this site to stand for my beliefs, knowing full well it's read by one, two, or maybe three people. Way to speak out, Jen! Oh, and kudos to those who marched in Washington D.C. on September 12th. I would have loved to have been there.

Back to Phillips' article. He makes a great case for true compassion (one that creates actual results), and progressive compassion (moral platitudes with good intentions but poorer actual results). As I wrote in a blog before, one isn't compassionate who insists that someone else foot the bill for his long list of social injustice.

My family grew up with little health insurance. It was too expensive. We didn't go to the doctor much. Nor to the dentist. Guess how many cavities I had? zero! We also didn't eat much sugar, and we brushed our teeth. My mom was, and still is, very much a teacher of healthy habits.

Now, that's not to say people don't need to go to the doctor more often than we did growing up. But I do believe everyone needs to be aware of the consequences of each decision they make. And I believe that they should know exactly what they're paying for, whatever it is: health care, taxes, cigarettes, candy, a new car, whatever.

Right now, most of our costs are hidden under withheld taxes and employer-supplied insurance plans which give us a feeling of security, because we trust someone is taking care of us. We don't pay attention to where the money is actually going. We don't know how much various medical tests are costing, nor how much our prescription drugs are worth. And we don't see how our tax money is divvied up to pay for schools and parks, or our nations' defense, or for ACORN-supported brothels, or Maritime domain awareness.

So, maybe if we knew just how much the treatment for heart disease really cost, we'd think twice before delving into that cream-filled donut, or chocolate-peanut butter cheese cake. And if we did, fine. It's our choice. Just so we know what it will cost us in the end.

The SPEECH!

Obama's Address to School Children

My alarm over the news that Obama would be addressing our nation's school children has been mocked, derided, and called "silly."

Perhaps I haven't taken a "middle of the road" approach. I believe parents who share similar points of view are like-minded people who disagree with Obama's policies and politics, and frankly, don't trust him.

First of all, this man has never stopped campaigning. Were I as conniving as I believe him to be, I wouldn't hesitate to try and "reach" those impressionable young minds between the ages of 17 and 15, those kids who will be voting in the 2012 election. I wouldn't put it past him.

Second of all, the manner in which this speech was announced didn't fit the definition of "transparency," as have none of laws or executive orders he has signed. I learned about this on Fox news. My own school district didn't have time or see fit to inform me. And the fact that there were two lesson plans, the original, and an edited one, revealed to me ulterior motives.

Having read through the entire speech, I cannot see anything overtly wrong with it. The message of personal responsibility is a valuable one. If only he held his own advisers to that same standard.

Some small points of contention:

All people in politics really love to glorify the single mother. Maybe it would have been useful in his speech if he told girls to avoid teenage pregnancy so they could finish school. Just a thought.

The plug for "solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and AIDS, and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment." Curing cancer is great, go for it. AIDS is sad, which is again why kids should be encouraged to live chastely. (But that would be too political, I know.) And more environment? That is SO old news. Earth Day gets more love from teachers than all other Holidays and subjects combined. Obama's reference is but a drop in the bucket. But I can't ignore the fact that scientists who oppose the "overwhelming" evidence of Global Warming are intimidated and silenced.

And while Obama makes a big push for kids staying in school, and puts in a little endorsement of the work he's doing to make schools better, his own daughters won't have to listen to this speech! And kids who can avoid the public school system through homeschooling or vouchers and private schools will still have a major advantage.

Obama day?

More on education, specifically in response to Obama Day on September 8.

trying not to overreact

Anyone know if Obama's speech to America's children in their very own classrooms is coming to Idaho schools? No news on KTVB or the Idaho Statesman.

Just curious.