Obama apparently now granting waivers from "No Child Left Behind."
Does anyone else agree that anytime the President is allowed to offer waivers for a federal law, such as Obamacare, that it demonstrates 1: that the law is NOT a good one, and should be repealed, and 2: that as the article above says, that it allows the President to treat citizens unequally?
Gun control laws are another good example of the unequal treatment of citizens in a nation built on the concept that "all men are created equal." Advocates for gun control laws are often surrounded by their own gun-toting bodyguards.
Education, health care, and gun control. Just three examples of political discrimination. I'm sure that the list is longer.
That reminds me...The Federal raiding of the Gibson guitar company. The Martin Guitar company, however, is doing business as usual. Maybe it's because Martin contributes to Dems, while Gibson contributes to the GOP, or maybe it's for some other reason. But one is targeted, while the other is not.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Bill Gates and Education
An interview with Bill Gates appeared in the WSJ a couple of days ago.
What I find surprising is how an innovator like Bill Gates is apparently blinded by his own political convictions. Either that, or he's made a deal to keep Microsoft out of trouble.
You'll see in the interview how he hedges on his answers--how he comes close to admitting how unions interfere with improvements in education, but stops short.
I'd like to ask Gates where he sent his own children to school. I'm willing to bet that he ensured that they got the best possible education, and I'd bet that it wasn't through public schools. In my opinion, Gates could have avoided funding numerous studies simply by looking at what he has done as a parent for his children. What if he tried to help other students get the education his own children got, rather than throwing it away in the public education system? Has he considered starting his own private school system? It would be in his own self-interest to help train his future workforce.
What I find surprising is how an innovator like Bill Gates is apparently blinded by his own political convictions. Either that, or he's made a deal to keep Microsoft out of trouble.
You'll see in the interview how he hedges on his answers--how he comes close to admitting how unions interfere with improvements in education, but stops short.
I'd like to ask Gates where he sent his own children to school. I'm willing to bet that he ensured that they got the best possible education, and I'd bet that it wasn't through public schools. In my opinion, Gates could have avoided funding numerous studies simply by looking at what he has done as a parent for his children. What if he tried to help other students get the education his own children got, rather than throwing it away in the public education system? Has he considered starting his own private school system? It would be in his own self-interest to help train his future workforce.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
seriously?
Michele Bachmann's candidacy is being grilled over...headaches?
Take a look at the ailments of former presidents at this link.
Incidentally, though I'm a big fan of Bachmann, I don't have a favorite candidate yet. (Well, I do, but she hasn't entered the race yet.) But this "scandal" is ridiculous.
Take a look at the ailments of former presidents at this link.
Incidentally, though I'm a big fan of Bachmann, I don't have a favorite candidate yet. (Well, I do, but she hasn't entered the race yet.) But this "scandal" is ridiculous.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Teen Lit
First, read this article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303657404576357622592697038.html
Then, read this one: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304314404576411581289319732.html
And then, some comments: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304450604576418213590713904.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_MIDDLEThirdBucket
I was an avid reader growing up, and I think I lived during the transition from no teen lit to the now very-popular YA fiction genre. Judy Blume was popular, and I remember seeing "Outsiders" on the shelves at school, but I wasn't really interested in those kinds of books. Instead, I read Agatha Christie mysteries, the "Anne of Green Gables" series, and a ton of other books that were pretty tame. I do remember one book about a girl who becomes a drug user, which was pretty graphic, and I can't say I was the better for having read it.
In high school, I would collect "Recommended Reading" lists that were made up mostly of classics, and I made it a goal to read as many as I could. I remember being surprised that "Pride and Prejudice" was a comedy, rather than a book about poverty and racism, and I remember discovering that "Frankenstein" was a beautifully written book--to my relief, not quite as scary as I had anticipated. I fell in love with Gilbert Blythe, Mr. Darcy and Mr. Rochester, and strove to emulate Anne Shirley, Elizabeth Bennett, and Jane Eyre.
My life has truly been enriched by wonderful literature, and I feel bad that there are such low expectations of today's youth--that there is this assumption that if it's not edgy, they won't read. One of the comments above talks about a mother-daughter book club, and I want to keep that idea tucked away in my brain until my daughters are older. I'm in a great book group at the moment with some great friends. I hope I can participate in a similar experience with my children, their friends, and my friends.
Then, read this one: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304314404576411581289319732.html
And then, some comments: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304450604576418213590713904.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_MIDDLEThirdBucket
I was an avid reader growing up, and I think I lived during the transition from no teen lit to the now very-popular YA fiction genre. Judy Blume was popular, and I remember seeing "Outsiders" on the shelves at school, but I wasn't really interested in those kinds of books. Instead, I read Agatha Christie mysteries, the "Anne of Green Gables" series, and a ton of other books that were pretty tame. I do remember one book about a girl who becomes a drug user, which was pretty graphic, and I can't say I was the better for having read it.
In high school, I would collect "Recommended Reading" lists that were made up mostly of classics, and I made it a goal to read as many as I could. I remember being surprised that "Pride and Prejudice" was a comedy, rather than a book about poverty and racism, and I remember discovering that "Frankenstein" was a beautifully written book--to my relief, not quite as scary as I had anticipated. I fell in love with Gilbert Blythe, Mr. Darcy and Mr. Rochester, and strove to emulate Anne Shirley, Elizabeth Bennett, and Jane Eyre.
My life has truly been enriched by wonderful literature, and I feel bad that there are such low expectations of today's youth--that there is this assumption that if it's not edgy, they won't read. One of the comments above talks about a mother-daughter book club, and I want to keep that idea tucked away in my brain until my daughters are older. I'm in a great book group at the moment with some great friends. I hope I can participate in a similar experience with my children, their friends, and my friends.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Great Minds...
Here's an interesting article that goes into quite a lot of detail about education spending, and unions. He makes some interesting points about current efforts to curb collective bargaining won't strike at the heart of the matter. At the end of the article, he makes a proposal--one that, were I running, I would make a central issue in my campaign: tax incentives for people who educate their own children. He goes one step further, and proposes tax breaks for people who provide scholarships for families who can't afford to leave the public school system.
Ultimately, I don't believe government should be involved in education at all. It is a conflict of interest, and the government can't do anything efficiently. However, I don't see this changing because it is too sacred a cow for politicians to touch. Too few are afraid to think outside the box in answering the question, "How do we provide the best education for our children?" But the above ideas--tax breaks--would point us in the right direction.
Ultimately, I don't believe government should be involved in education at all. It is a conflict of interest, and the government can't do anything efficiently. However, I don't see this changing because it is too sacred a cow for politicians to touch. Too few are afraid to think outside the box in answering the question, "How do we provide the best education for our children?" But the above ideas--tax breaks--would point us in the right direction.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Getting to Know Michele Bachmann
The WSJ featured this interview about Michele Bachmann. This is the best article I've read in which I feel like I can understand exactly what this possible candidate represents.
I hope to see similar interviews with the rest of the prospective field.
I hope to see similar interviews with the rest of the prospective field.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Letter I want to write to my son's school, but am afraid to send for fear of being labled a "kook"
Dear Principal,
For Mother's Day, my son presented me with a card that depicted me jumping on a baby tree, while Darth Vader stood by, sword in hand, ready to punish me with his light saber for abusing nature. Jeff's tender message was, "Happy Muthers day Love Jeff and the Earth Mom."
To me, this card represents the indoctrination of our children for political purposes, and points to the reasons children throughout the country are falling behind in reading, writing, math and science. I toured another school in the valley during "Earth Month," and found posters plastered all over the walls admonishing us to recycle and take care of the Earth. Besides noting the irony that all of these posters were a waste of paper, I saw that every single one of them contained multiple spelling and grammatical errors. The teachers did not only fail to correct the errors on these posters, they put them on display!
Global warming is far from settled science. If we want our children to grow up to save the Earth, as we claim, we will teach them the tools that will help them to make their own scientific discoveries. They should be equipped with the ability to reason, hypothesize, calculate, come to their own conclusions based on objective research, and be able to publish their findings free of spelling errors--not be manipulated with propaganda.
Not only did my seven-year-old son's card reflect the alarmist rhetoric he's been hearing in school (which frankly, has him absolutely terrified), it represents those who seek to undermine traditional values by pitting children against their own parents. On Mother's Day, no less!
Sincerely,
Jeff's Mom
For Mother's Day, my son presented me with a card that depicted me jumping on a baby tree, while Darth Vader stood by, sword in hand, ready to punish me with his light saber for abusing nature. Jeff's tender message was, "Happy Muthers day Love Jeff and the Earth Mom."
To me, this card represents the indoctrination of our children for political purposes, and points to the reasons children throughout the country are falling behind in reading, writing, math and science. I toured another school in the valley during "Earth Month," and found posters plastered all over the walls admonishing us to recycle and take care of the Earth. Besides noting the irony that all of these posters were a waste of paper, I saw that every single one of them contained multiple spelling and grammatical errors. The teachers did not only fail to correct the errors on these posters, they put them on display!
Global warming is far from settled science. If we want our children to grow up to save the Earth, as we claim, we will teach them the tools that will help them to make their own scientific discoveries. They should be equipped with the ability to reason, hypothesize, calculate, come to their own conclusions based on objective research, and be able to publish their findings free of spelling errors--not be manipulated with propaganda.
Not only did my seven-year-old son's card reflect the alarmist rhetoric he's been hearing in school (which frankly, has him absolutely terrified), it represents those who seek to undermine traditional values by pitting children against their own parents. On Mother's Day, no less!
Sincerely,
Jeff's Mom
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Your thoughts?
A homeless woman is arrested for enrolling her son in a school outside of her boundaries. She is being accused of stealing the price of her son's education. See article here: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/04/25/arrest-homeless-connecticut-woman-enrolling-son-school-illegally-sparks-debate/
Apparently, Connecticut doesn't have an open-enrollment policy? Also, notice the price tag for one child's education--$15,686! Here's another example of "waste, fraud and abuse" that our leaders are so fond of touting.
Apparently, Connecticut doesn't have an open-enrollment policy? Also, notice the price tag for one child's education--$15,686! Here's another example of "waste, fraud and abuse" that our leaders are so fond of touting.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Lack of Poetry
I haven't posted poetry in some time. I haven't been in the mood. Plus, I realized I was breaking copyright laws by posting some of them.
My mom should be published, and technically, I should still ask her permission even though she hasn't been (as far as I know!), but here's a poem she wrote:
Obscurity
There is something to be said for fame–
that glittered glory that excites the senses to heights of ecstasy.
I am content to capture bits of color here below
and silently wait to shower some unsuspecting soul
with my rainbow.
My mom should be published, and technically, I should still ask her permission even though she hasn't been (as far as I know!), but here's a poem she wrote:
Obscurity
There is something to be said for fame–
that glittered glory that excites the senses to heights of ecstasy.
I am content to capture bits of color here below
and silently wait to shower some unsuspecting soul
with my rainbow.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
"tough decisions"
President Obama said it was time to make some "tough decisions" in his most recent speech, but in the same speech, proceeded to tear apart Paul Ryan for doing exactly that. When Obama talks "tough," it's awfully one-sided.
His idea of a responsible decision is to raise taxes on the "wealthy." Nearly half of all Americans do not pay taxes at all. Is nearly half of America poor? And is the other half "wealthy?"
Before we go attacking our "rich" neighbors, consider the following:
Were we to confiscate 100% of the income of the well-off, it would not cover the national debt. Wouldn't even come close.
Secondly, history has shown time and time again that when tax rates go up, tax revenue goes down. If Obama were serious about bringing down the deficit and debt, he would not be threatening tax increases.
On a somewhat related note, a facebook friend of mine in one post wrote about the injustice of our tax code. He subsequently posted a "recall Tom Luna" post. Here we have the same thing--someone talking about "tough choices" and necessary reform, but rebelling against the elected official who has made some very tough calls which will serve to alleviate the financial strain on our state's budget.
I just wanted to point that out.
His idea of a responsible decision is to raise taxes on the "wealthy." Nearly half of all Americans do not pay taxes at all. Is nearly half of America poor? And is the other half "wealthy?"
Before we go attacking our "rich" neighbors, consider the following:
Were we to confiscate 100% of the income of the well-off, it would not cover the national debt. Wouldn't even come close.
Secondly, history has shown time and time again that when tax rates go up, tax revenue goes down. If Obama were serious about bringing down the deficit and debt, he would not be threatening tax increases.
On a somewhat related note, a facebook friend of mine in one post wrote about the injustice of our tax code. He subsequently posted a "recall Tom Luna" post. Here we have the same thing--someone talking about "tough choices" and necessary reform, but rebelling against the elected official who has made some very tough calls which will serve to alleviate the financial strain on our state's budget.
I just wanted to point that out.
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