At the start of the school year, all the teachers in the district are usually invited to hear a speaker come in and talk to us about education. Last year, we brought in a very interesting teacher consultant from a major university, who told us that the best way to make students feel safe in our classrooms is to viciously attack anyone who express a strong opinion, belief, or ideal, particularly if they are libertarian or conservative.
As it was explained to us in our opening day celebration of learning, the reason that we as teachers need to attack people expressing support for traditional marriage, or for being anti-drug, or for believing in creationism, is that these ideas and beliefs make other students feel uncomfortable. For example, let's say there is a student in the classroom who is having sex before marriage, and someone says that is immoral- well, now that student feels bad, and so the teacher needs to step in and attack that other student for making that person feel bad.
Let's say that the teacher is giving a lecture on man-made global warming, and a student says that he doesn't believe in it- that student may encourage other students to also doubt the teacher, and thus they are subversive, and need to be viciously attacked. Or let's say that another student thinks that it is wrong for the school to remove crosses and install footbaths, like they did at University of Michigan last year- well, that student will make Muslim's feel uncomfortable, and that's a no-no, so they should be silenced.
As this sermon went on, I grew more and more disgusted that this professor was actually encouraging us as teachers to attack conservatives and libertarians simply because their beliefs may make liberals and progressives feel bad or guilty. But shockingly, when I looked around the room at the faces of the other teachers, many were nodding along. As my ideas and ideals were viciously attacked by this visiting professor, I felt more and more uncomfortable and upset.
Afterwards, I talked to another teacher about how I made to feel guilty and bad by this guy, and she told me "now you know how liberals and progressives feel all the time." I guess in a way she was correct- when I talk about being a good person, doing good things, not bothering other people, letting them live their own lives, giving to charity, going to church, keeping my own property, and other things like that, I guess I am making liberals feel guilty and bad.
Somehow though, I don't think using schools to make conservatives and libertarians feel bad as some sort of perverted retribution is supposed to be their function.
Opening Day Message: Viciously Attack Conservatives
Challenging Inheritance Traditions-Village Diary
Village Diary seeks to overturn traditional inheritance customs within Cameroon that disenfranchise children and widows:
In our region of Cameroon, when the head of a household dies it is common to see family relations (brothers, uncles, etc.) or members of the community claim rights over the property of the deceased. Without legal wills testifying to the contrary, homes, farm plots and related property are often usurped by others. This property should pass to the rightful heirs, namely the widow and her children, to safeguard their future.
Challenging Inheritance Traditions-Village Diary
Village Diary seeks to overturn traditional inheritance customs within Cameroon that disenfranchise children and widows:
In our region of Cameroon, when the head of a household dies it is common to see family relations (brothers, uncles, etc.) or members of the community claim rights over the property of the deceased. Without legal wills testifying to the contrary, homes, farm plots and related property are often usurped by others. This property should pass to the rightful heirs, namely the widow and her children, to safeguard their future.
List of Things Named After Obama
Out of curiosity, I went on yahoo and I typed in the search "list of places named after George W Bush." Nothing. I tried Amazon and Wikipedia- nothing. On the radio today I heard a liberal talk show host talking about how Obama was not the egotistical, self-centered, and self-loving President- that it was Bush who was all those things. This is similar to a lot of what I heard through 8 years of Bush's term of office- that he was the type of guy who thought a lot of himself and who went around the nation naming things after himself. Turns out, the liberal radio host was wrong on this, as were all the Democrats who thought it would be Republican like Bush acting like a king and building monuments to himself.
On the other hand, the lord of czars Democrat Barack Obama already has dozens of things named after him. According to wikipedia, which has a handy list of things named after Barack Obama, Obama has already had schools, streets, and mountains named after him. I suppose that it is all of the many accomplishments that he has put in place during his short 7 months as President- nationalizing auto companies and banks, increasing the unemployment rate with massive spending bills, and give-aways to politically connected individuals all around the nation.
California has two schools named after Obama's greatness- the Barack Obama Charter School in Compton and Barack Obama Academy in Oakland. In Minnesota, there is the Barack and Michelle Obama Service Learning Elementary in Saint Paul. In New York there is the Barack Obama Elementary School in Hempstead, and in Plainfield New Jersey there is the Barack Obama Academy. In Opa-locka Florida you can drive down Barack Obama Avenue and in Antigua and Barbuda you can visit Mount Obama.
All of his worship for Obama would simply be amusing if it didn't signify something more. I noticed this happening early on- Second School Named After Obama - but really didn't fully understand the phenomenon until I started to really think about The Religion of the Democrats . I suggest here that this worship of Obama is because liberals think that he is the One, the one who has hidden knowledge of the way of the world, and that by following him and worshipping him, they too can be part of the new kingdom of heaven that Obama is creating here on Earth. Louis Farrakhan called Obama the Messiah last week!
Or maybe I'm just reading too much into the fact that Obama already has more buildings and streets named after him than Bush 43, Clinton 42, and Bush 41.
Retooling for the Informal
More on the informal in Stealth of Nations:
Two articles on Africa show the importance of engaging the informal economy.
First, The Daily Trust from Nigeria points out that government policies must be retooled "to encourage our small entrepreneurs who constitute the informal sector with a view to developing and enhancing their businesses." The writer suggests that 5 to 10 million Naira per local government per year (a pittance: $30,000 to $60,000) is all it would take to make the local economies bloom.More here
Second, the BBC points to the Eastleigh neighborhood of Nairobi, one of the most run down communities in the Kenyan capital -- but, significantly, not one of the poorest.
Marketplaces, and a million little lean-to repair shops and small-scale factories are what most urban Africans rely upon for a living. But such is their distrust of government officials that most businesspeople in the informal sector avoid all contact with the authorities
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Retooling for the Informal
More on the informal in Stealth of Nations:
Two articles on Africa show the importance of engaging the informal economy.
First, The Daily Trust from Nigeria points out that government policies must be retooled "to encourage our small entrepreneurs who constitute the informal sector with a view to developing and enhancing their businesses." The writer suggests that 5 to 10 million Naira per local government per year (a pittance: $30,000 to $60,000) is all it would take to make the local economies bloom.More here
Second, the BBC points to the Eastleigh neighborhood of Nairobi, one of the most run down communities in the Kenyan capital -- but, significantly, not one of the poorest.
Marketplaces, and a million little lean-to repair shops and small-scale factories are what most urban Africans rely upon for a living. But such is their distrust of government officials that most businesspeople in the informal sector avoid all contact with the authorities
Congressman Peters Townhall Tuesday (Sept 1st)!
Looks like Democrat Congressman Gary Peters has finally decided to show up in his district and talk to his constituents. He didn't come to the Healthcare Rally in Birmingham or the Heathcare Townhall in Troy. He hasn't talked to his constituents when they call him on the phone, and hasn't met with them when they've requested a meeting. But it looks like he has finally decided that now he will meet with the people who sent him to Washington , after weeks of this national and important discussion raging.
According to his Congressional Website, here are the details:
CONGRESSMAN PETERS ANNOUNCES HEALTH CARE TOWN HALL
What: Health Care Town Hall Meeting
Who: Congressman Gary Peters and local residents
When: Tuesday, September 1, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Where: West Bloomfield High School, 4925 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield, MI, 48323
Please note: This event is for residents of Michigan's 9th congressional district only. Thank you.
Michigan's Congressional 9th District includes residents of Waterford, Pontiac, Farmington, Royal Oak, Troy, Bloomfield, Birmingham, Rochester, and other parts of Oakland County, Michigan. For a map to West Bloomfield High School, you can click here.
Everyone please come out for this event, because you know he is going to likely be busing in government employees, union members, and other special interest groups. Tell your friends and family- this is probably the only real chance you and other residents of these areas will ever have to get your voice heard on this major issue.
Are Nigerians Ready?
Within an analysis of Hillary Clinton's scathing speech to Nigerians Salisu Suleiman writes and asks:
True, our backs are broken, our dreams stolen, our resolve molten. But we must ask: Where are those to fight to change? Who will tell Nigerians that dying in silence would be a great betrayal of our heritage? Are Nigerians ready to fight for true liberation? Are we ready to wrestle our fate from with the motley that claim to be Africa’s biggest party; but have reduced governance to a banal cabal who only pledge the perpetual pillaging of public property for private purpose?More here
Are Nigerians Ready?
Within an analysis of Hillary Clinton's scathing speech to Nigerians Salisu Suleiman writes and asks:
True, our backs are broken, our dreams stolen, our resolve molten. But we must ask: Where are those to fight to change? Who will tell Nigerians that dying in silence would be a great betrayal of our heritage? Are Nigerians ready to fight for true liberation? Are we ready to wrestle our fate from with the motley that claim to be Africa’s biggest party; but have reduced governance to a banal cabal who only pledge the perpetual pillaging of public property for private purpose?More here
Healthcare Isn't a Right
At the healthcare rally in Birmingham (My Report from the Birmingham Healthcare Rally), one of the signs that I noticed a supporter of Obamacare holding up said "Healthcare is a right." Curious, I asked her what she meant by that. She told me that when everyone is born, the government should guarantee for them all the healthcare they want without them having to pay anything for it. She said that it was a right for everyone to get drugs, services, treatments, and whatever they need just whenever they want.
Curious, I asked her where this right came from. She gave me a blank look before saying "the government." That wasn't true, I pointed out- if the government had given her the right to healthcare, she wouldn't have to be fighting for it. She said that she wanted government to give her the right to get whatever healthcare she wanted without paying for it. I pointed out that that wasn't a right- that was an entitlement.
Rights, as I told her, were given to us by God, and existed before government was there, and will exist after government is gone. Before government and after government, I still have certain rights, such as the right to live, the right to live in freedom, and the right to keep and earn property. Before government existed, I asked this supporter of Obamacare, did she have free healthcare? After government is gone, will she still get free healthcare?
No, she replied, but she didn't care- she just wanted free healthcare. I told her it isn't free- she'll have to pay for it, I'll have to pay for it, and most likely with the government running it, we'll both be paying more and getting less. She replied she didn't care, healthcare was a right, and then started saying "bah-bah-bah-bah-bah" over and over until I grew bored and left (I made up that last part, but essentially that's what sheep say).
Today, I'm watching clips of various politicians from Obama to Kennedy all say over and over again with conviction that healthcare is a right. Do they really know what that means, or are they just like the lady I confronted, someone who wants something for nothing and tries to cloak their language of theft and tyranny in the language of freedom and liberty?
Support $10 for Tark
Although I am not a big fan of contributing campaign money to races outside of my area, I am a big fan of sending messages and supporting quality candidates. Via powerlineblog I heard about , Hugh Hewitt's latest winning idea- "$10 for Tark" . Support a quality candidate and signal your opposition to Obamacare with a $10 contribution to Harry Reid's opponent for the Senate in 2010- former UNLV hoopster Danny Tarkanian. But he is an impressive guy in his own right and should be a formidable candidate- read his bio before you decide to give.
Contribute to Tark here. Then email Senator Reid here, and copy Hugh (hugh@hughhewit.com). My check is on the way.
On Capitalism-Reuben Abraham
In Zoo Station Reuben Abraham on Capitalism:
More here"Capitalism at its core is basically agnostic," says Abraham of ISB. "It does not try to be inclusive or exclusive. Capitalism is about optimal allocation of resources. The more it is allowed to thrive, the higher the number of people who will be impacted positively by [its] growth. So, in that sense, being inclusive is perhaps a natural process. But for this to happen, what is really needed is more liberalization and fundamental reforms. For instance, until 1995 the fruits of telecom were not available to 95% of the country. Because of the reforms in this sector, [they are] now available to 50% of the country.... In this sector, capitalism has become a force for good. We could have the same thing happen over and over again in different sectors."
Corporations naturally go for high-margin customers in the beginning, Abraham notes, but given that there is a very small number of high-margin customers in India, they will have no option but to look at other segments of the population. "These are natural consequences of a well-regulated market at work. The problem really is: What is the optimal amount of regulation in a sector and who decides that? In my opinion, it is an iterative process. This is a journey that needs to be figured out by trial and error."
If regulatory reforms don't take place, "corporations will be forced to do inclusive capitalism [Ed Note: Not sure what this means]. Otherwise, there will be social unrest. The issue then will be about the level of commitment of the corporates given that they always have to walk the thin line between their responsibilities toward the shareholders and the society at large."
On Capitalism-Reuben Abraham
In Zoo Station Reuben Abraham on Capitalism:
More here"Capitalism at its core is basically agnostic," says Abraham of ISB. "It does not try to be inclusive or exclusive. Capitalism is about optimal allocation of resources. The more it is allowed to thrive, the higher the number of people who will be impacted positively by [its] growth. So, in that sense, being inclusive is perhaps a natural process. But for this to happen, what is really needed is more liberalization and fundamental reforms. For instance, until 1995 the fruits of telecom were not available to 95% of the country. Because of the reforms in this sector, [they are] now available to 50% of the country.... In this sector, capitalism has become a force for good. We could have the same thing happen over and over again in different sectors."
Corporations naturally go for high-margin customers in the beginning, Abraham notes, but given that there is a very small number of high-margin customers in India, they will have no option but to look at other segments of the population. "These are natural consequences of a well-regulated market at work. The problem really is: What is the optimal amount of regulation in a sector and who decides that? In my opinion, it is an iterative process. This is a journey that needs to be figured out by trial and error."
If regulatory reforms don't take place, "corporations will be forced to do inclusive capitalism [Ed Note: Not sure what this means]. Otherwise, there will be social unrest. The issue then will be about the level of commitment of the corporates given that they always have to walk the thin line between their responsibilities toward the shareholders and the society at large."
Obama's Support for the Arts- Propaganda of the State
What is the purpose of art? I'm not an art history or philosophy major, so I don't really know the answer to that, if there is truly one answer, but I can tell you this- I don't think the purpose of art is to promote the state's interests.
At one time, this was believed to be the purpose of art. Many regimes around the world felt that literature should serve the national interest or it had no inherent right to exist (source). These regimes felt that art should be used by a regime to promote their beliefs. In particular, these regimes felt that posters especially could be used as a way to blatantly present the beliefs of their political party party. These people felt that art should be used to convince the people of the beliefs of the state. The posters this regime wanted created were usually simple and got to the point, and it was intended to target the emotions of the people that looked at it (source).
Enough history. Today, Barack Obama is attempting to promote art that does the same thing. Recently a blogger writing at Big Hollywood was invited by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to take part in a conference call that invited a group of rising artist and art community luminaries “to help lay a new foundation for growth, focusing on core areas of the recovery agenda - health care, energy and environment, safety and security, education, community renewal.”
The call was hosted by the NEA, the White House Office of Public Engagement, and United We Serve. The call would include “a group of artists, producers, promoters, organizers, influencers, marketers, taste-makers, leaders or just plain cool people to join together and work together to promote a more civically engaged America and celebrate how the arts can be used for a positive change!” There were approximately 75 people participating, including many well respected street-artists, filmmakers, art galleries, music venues, musicians and music producers, writers, poets, actors, independent media outlets, marketers, and various other professionals from the creative community.So, to summarize, our President, through a group called United We Stand, is organizing artists and giving them guidelines on what sort of art to produce. The art will promote the interests of the Democrats and try to persuade voters to support their views. This is propaganda, and as the group was informed, Obama regarded propaganda as very important, perhaps even calling it "a weapon of the first order".
Backed by the full weight of President Barack Obama’s call to service and the institutional weight of the NEA, the conference call was billed as an opportunity for those in the art community to inspire service in four key categories, and at the top of the list were “health care” and “energy and environment.” The service was to be attached to the President’s United We Serve campaign, a nationwide federal initiative to make service a way of life for all Americans.
We were encouraged to bring the same sense of enthusiasm to these “focus areas” as we had brought to Obama’s presidential campaign, and we were encouraged to create art and art initiatives that brought awareness to these issues. Throughout the conversation, we were reminded of our ability as artists and art professionals to “shape the lives” of those around us. The now famous Obama “Hope” poster, created by artist Shepard Fairey and promoted by many of those on the phone call, and will.i.am’s “Yes We Can” song and music video were presented as shining examples of our group’s clear role in the election.
Obama has a strong arts agenda, we were told, and has been very supportive of both using and supporting the arts in creative ways to talk about the issues facing the country. We were “selected for a reason,” they told us. We had played a key role in the election and now Obama was putting out the call of service to help create change.
The machine that the NEA helped to create could potentially be wielded by the state to push policy. Through providing guidelines to the art community on what topics to discuss and providing them a step-by-step instruction to apply their art form to these issues, the “nation’s largest annual funder of the arts” is attempting to direct imagery, songs, films, and literature that could create the illusion of a national consensus. This is what Noam Chomsky calls “manufacturing consent.”
This website has some good ideas on the sort of posters that Obama would like created. Check it out to get a taste of what is to come under an Obama administration. Oh, and if you haven't guessed it yet, you'll have to click on the links to find out what sort of regimes of the past saw art the same way that Obama does.
David Petraeus says a special Cherokee word to soldier in coma, soldier wakes up!
60 minutes story where Lt. Brian Brennan was severely wounded in Iraq and faced unbeatable odds but, as David Martin reports, he made a remarkable recovery with a little help from a special Cherokee word spoken by General David Petraeus.
Watch CBS Videos Online
Rhee's Leadership Drives DC Public Schools Students Out The Door
Chancellor Michelle Rhee’s leadership continues to drive students away from DC public schools and to shrink the public school system
Washington DC: How to Wipe Out a Public School System
and its attendant graphic
there have been some developments that make the situation worse than it seems and we may see these lines cross sooner than we thought. I actually heard another favorable report on Rhee on NPR (funded by Bill Gates) today where the commentator actually said Rhee was struggling to keep kids in the public schools. I had to pull over to the side of the road. They just don't get it. That Rhee - and Klein, et al. - were chosen to preside over the demise of the public school system, not its resurgence. Their goal is to one day have zero schools under their direct management so they can be left to go to press conferences at successful charters, whose $370,000 a year CEOs will bow and scrape in genuflecting thanks.
Gary Imhoff writes in DC-based themail
Leah Fabel’s article in the Examiner is well summarized by its headline writer: “Enrollment in DC Schools Plunges as Students Go Elsewhere”(http://tinyurl.com/mc9moq).“By Monday’s first school bell, charters project at least 28,000 students, or about 2,400 more than last year, while DC Public Schools expect about 45,000, or 2,000 fewer than in spring.”
Chancellor Michelle Rhee’s leadership continues to drive students away from DC public schools and to shrink the public school system, and she continues to escape public criticism for it. But she realizes that her Teflon coating can’t last forever, so she also continues to make optimistic predictions that stand little to no chance of coming true: “Rhee said she expects regular public schools’ declines to level off by next year and enrollment to creep up soon afterward.”
One person who understands the importance of keeping an urban school district’s enrollment figures up is Robert Bobb, DC’s former city administrator and school board president, who this year is in Detroit as the emergency financial manager of its schools, trying to persuade and beg parents to keep their children in the public schools (http://townhall.com/news/us/2009/08/22/robert_bobb_hits_streets_to_coax_students_back).
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
Bill Turque in the Washington Post, August 24, 2009
37,000 to Start D.C. Public Schools Today, Well Below Budget Figure
Despite an advertising campaign and an early push to sign up students, the D.C. public school system will begin classes Monday with an enrollment of about 37,000 -- 17 percent below the total at the end of the last academic year, officials said over the weekend.
Enrollment in regular public schools often grows during the year, as students and parents complete paperwork and some transfer from public charter schools. But a spokeswoman for Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee declined to predict whether the system would reach 44,681 -- the audited enrollment figure from last school year and the basis for its $760 million 2010 budget.
Moreover, because the school system moved up the start of its annual enrollment process from July to April, the late surge could be smaller than usual."We anticipate a much smoother start to school with fewer families needing to enroll during the first few days," said Jennifer Calloway, Rhee's spokeswoman. She added that last year at this time, only 15,000 students had completed enrollment. In addition to a radio and bus sign ad campaign ("Go public and get a great free education!" said some spots), principals visited homes, held community barbecues and conducted enrollment fairs in concert with immunization clinics held by the District's health department.
Regular public school enrollment in the District has declined by more than half since 1980, while the public charter community has grown dramatically since the independently operated schools began in the 1990s. More than a third of the city's public students attend charter schools, which project an enrollment of about 28,066 this fall, up more than 10 percent from last school year's 25,363. Some analysts say public charter enrollment could surpass the regular school population by 2014.
The vastly different trends have made enrollment politically contentious. Rhee has said she expects persistent declines to bottom out, with the school system's numbers perhaps starting to edge upward. But the D.C. Council voted May 12 to hold back $27 million of the 2010 budget, because it found implausible her projections for an increase of 373 students, to a total of 45,054.
Council members contended that the charter schools would be drawing more students from regular schools. The council projected regular public school enrollment at 41,541, based on trends from the previous three years. Both sides eventually agreed to use last school year's number -- 44,681 -- as the benchmark.
D.C. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray (D) said Sunday that the 37,000 total is "probably low," given the school system's history of late enrollment. But he added: "I do question the likelihood of getting 7,681 enrolled between now and the first of October," when the first official count is taken.
Posted by The Washington Teacher, Story courtesy of Ed Notes On Line, Gary Imhoff-themail & Bill Turque/The WaPo
Influencing Cybernetics
The use of African material culture as a form of analog representation is particularly vivid in cases of recursive information flow. In African architecture, recursive scaling – that is fractal geometry – can be seen in a variety of forms. In North Africa it is associated with the feedback of he “arabesque” artistic form, particularly in the branches of branches forming city streets. In Central Africa it can be seen in additive rectangular wall formations, and in West Africa we we circular swirls of circular houses and granaries. This is not limited to a visual argument; the fractal structure of African settlement patterns has been confirmed by computational analysis of digitized photos in Eglash and Broadwell (1989).
Recursive scaling in Egyptian temples can be viewed as a formalized version of the fractal architecture found elsewhere in Africa, and is most significant in it’s use of the Fibonacci sequence. The sequence is named for Leonardo Fibonacci (ca. 1175-1250), who is also associated with an unusual example of recursive architecture in Europe. The Fibonacci sequence was one of the first mathematical models for biological growth patterns, and inspired Alan Turing and other important figures in the history of computational morphogenesis. Since Fibonacci was sent to North Africa as a boy and devoted his years there to mathematics education (Gies and Gies 1969), it is possible that seminal example of recursive scaling is of African origin...[continue reading]
Influencing Cybernetics
The use of African material culture as a form of analog representation is particularly vivid in cases of recursive information flow. In African architecture, recursive scaling – that is fractal geometry – can be seen in a variety of forms. In North Africa it is associated with the feedback of he “arabesque” artistic form, particularly in the branches of branches forming city streets. In Central Africa it can be seen in additive rectangular wall formations, and in West Africa we we circular swirls of circular houses and granaries. This is not limited to a visual argument; the fractal structure of African settlement patterns has been confirmed by computational analysis of digitized photos in Eglash and Broadwell (1989).
Recursive scaling in Egyptian temples can be viewed as a formalized version of the fractal architecture found elsewhere in Africa, and is most significant in it’s use of the Fibonacci sequence. The sequence is named for Leonardo Fibonacci (ca. 1175-1250), who is also associated with an unusual example of recursive architecture in Europe. The Fibonacci sequence was one of the first mathematical models for biological growth patterns, and inspired Alan Turing and other important figures in the history of computational morphogenesis. Since Fibonacci was sent to North Africa as a boy and devoted his years there to mathematics education (Gies and Gies 1969), it is possible that seminal example of recursive scaling is of African origin...[continue reading]
The People vs a Person
One vivid moment that occurred last week at the Birmingham Healthcare Rally (My Report from the Birmingham Healthcare Rally) was a confrontation that I had with a supporter of Obamacare. She had a sign that said "Healthcare for the People." I asked her who 'the people' were, and she began sign about 'the people,' and how 'the people' were taken advantage of by corporations, and how 'the people' had hope only in a government of change, etc. I tried to talk about each of these points with her, but in my frustration I only was able to get out 'I am a person.'
Thinking back on this event, it really speaks to a larger debate in our society, between those people who are working on behalf of 'the people'- some mythological group of middle-class multicultural liberals- and those who are working on behalf of 'person's'- individuals who are real people who have different ideas and beliefs. To liberals and supporters of Obamacare, a person now means nothing- 'the people' instead matter, and this way of thinking is not new.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau believed that the people were the main force in society, not individual person's. Rousseau believed that each person must give up totally all of their rights to the 'the community as a whole' in order to be more free- in other words, individuals no longer matter and what matters instead is the people. You give up your right to choose your own healthcare decisions, you give up your right to choose how you power your home, you give up your god-given right to make your own decisions on smoking, and instead, 'the people' make these decisions for you, and you are somehow then more free.
When I was confronting this lady, I was confronting someone out of the French Revolution- this lady singing to me the loud songs of fraternity and equality could very well have been ready to guillotine me for my loud protests of liberty and property. My confrontation with her was playing out a long debate between those who fight for persons and those who fight for the people. Sadly, those who fight for the people and who sing songs of equality and fraternity and wave their flags for collectivization and government control are usually the same type of people who were in control of France during the reign of terror.... and they currently run our government today.
Business based Marshall Plan for Africa?
Glenn Hubbard writes in FP:
In all rich countries, the development of a thriving business sector came before physical and social infrastructure. In fact, the Marshall Plan worked because it made loans to European businesses first, which then paid money back into a national pot to fund commercial infrastructure. Africa has already demonstrated its potential for achieving the same. In telecommunications, for example, Africa has become the first continent where cell phones outnumber land lines, thanks to many excellent African entrepreneurs (and the many terrible government land-line systems). Besides, businesses that have a stake in the maintenance and viability of a given project are bound to be far more apt at building and maintaining infrastructure than aid agencies, which have been trying to do it and failing for the past 40 years. Given that many parts of the continent still lack basic roads, water systems, electrical grids, and more, isn't it time to retire the current, aid-driven system?More here
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Business based Marshall Plan for Africa?
Glenn Hubbard writes in FP:
In all rich countries, the development of a thriving business sector came before physical and social infrastructure. In fact, the Marshall Plan worked because it made loans to European businesses first, which then paid money back into a national pot to fund commercial infrastructure. Africa has already demonstrated its potential for achieving the same. In telecommunications, for example, Africa has become the first continent where cell phones outnumber land lines, thanks to many excellent African entrepreneurs (and the many terrible government land-line systems). Besides, businesses that have a stake in the maintenance and viability of a given project are bound to be far more apt at building and maintaining infrastructure than aid agencies, which have been trying to do it and failing for the past 40 years. Given that many parts of the continent still lack basic roads, water systems, electrical grids, and more, isn't it time to retire the current, aid-driven system?More here
Obama Sets Record for Deficit- 1.2 trillion more than previous record
What is the difference between living 20 years and living 80 years? What is the difference between earning $6 an hour and $24 an hour? What is the difference between eating three bites of a quarter pounder with cheese and eating the whole thing? What is the difference between a toddler bed and a king sized bed? What is the difference in an hour long trip when you drive 15 mph as opposed to 60 mph? What is the difference between a record federal deficit of $455 million and $1.6 trillion? The answer is "a lot of difference."
Barack Obama's budget is not simply "Bush spent a record amount and Obama is too." Obama's budget is not "we need to spend a little more to fight the recession." Obama's budget is not in any way, shape, or form comparable to the previous 200 year history of our nation. Bush's budget deficits, while bad, at least were comparable to Clinton's and Reagan's- you could see the natural progression and most of the deficits were attributable to one specific policy (the war in Iraq). But Obama's first year in office is indeed change- the amount of money that he is spending that our nation does not have is not comparable to anything, and is not attributed to one specific policy (that our nation could debate, discuss, and vote on). Rather, it is an undisciplined orgy of spending on pork, special projects, and who knows what else.
Some liberals shrug and pretend the deficit doesn't matter. They think money is created out of air and has no real value. When the government borrows money, there is less money to be borrowed by private companies, thus limiting growth and development in our nation. The government borrowing of money will encourage inflation, making everyone poorer. The government borrowing of money means that our children and grandchildren will be born owing money for services they are did not agree to- this destroys the principle of democracy. A large government debt is a bad thing.
And this is all without further stimulus packages, a cap and trade scheme, and Obamacare. Things are really bad, but passing any one of those could be the end of the America. Again- Democrat President Obama and the Democrat Congress have are going to set a record deficit in spending this year, quadrupling the previous record deficit of 2008. They (the White House and CBO) say that we will add $9 trillion in debt over the next 10 years- I predict that if you or your friends support and vote for Democrats in 2010 and 2012, it will be $20 trillion and the end of our nation.
Local Event Notice: Health Care Townhall in Troy on Wednesday
Michigan State Representative Marty Knollenberg just let people know that he has decided to hold a Healthcare Town Hall meeting this Wednesday (Aug 26) at 7:00 pm at the Troy High School Auditorium for residents of his district. Knollenberg is holding the townhall for the benefit of residents in his district, who have been asking him a lot of questions and like a good public official, he wants to talk to his constituents and answer their questions.
While only residents will be given first seating,anyone is welcome to come and say hello, and they may open it up if space permits. Attendees will need to bring photo ID showing they live in Troy or Clawson.
Over a week ago, Knollenberg's office delivered an invitation for US Congressman Peters to attend Wednesday's townhall, but never heard back about that, as Peters continues his boycott of his district and refuses to meet or talk to any of his constituents about any issues. A video of the event will be delivered to the congressman's office following the event.
Knollenberg's declared opponent in the next election is also organizing a group to protest this event, and is calling in paid supporters to make it appear like this townhall event is a bad thing. Please show up to talk to them and engage them in friendly and hopefully enlightening conversation, as I did at the last local healthcare rally (My Report from the Birmingham Healthcare Rally).
Contact Chetly Zarko (chetlyzarko@gmail.com) for more information and details.
Decorative Democracies contd
David Kashangaki adds to the conversation about Decorative Democracies:
In a situation in which 'democratic' institutions are the product of a flawed understanding of democracy (that says all the grass roots have to do is vote for the person who gives them the most money and promises everything that people want to hear- knowing that they will deliver nothing), it is highly unrealistic to expect proper institutions to be formed, and that this civil society will be the backbone of them.
It just will not happen. Similarly, trying to transform these institutions by spending vast amounts of donor aid on 'workshops' for the elite won't transform them either. The transformation will come when there is an educated civil society that understands what democracy means; that can tell the difference between empty promises and what is truly realistic about what can be done to develop; that is able to see participation as more than just voting
More here
Via AllAfrica
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Decorative Democracies contd
David Kashangaki adds to the conversation about Decorative Democracies:
In a situation in which 'democratic' institutions are the product of a flawed understanding of democracy (that says all the grass roots have to do is vote for the person who gives them the most money and promises everything that people want to hear- knowing that they will deliver nothing), it is highly unrealistic to expect proper institutions to be formed, and that this civil society will be the backbone of them.
It just will not happen. Similarly, trying to transform these institutions by spending vast amounts of donor aid on 'workshops' for the elite won't transform them either. The transformation will come when there is an educated civil society that understands what democracy means; that can tell the difference between empty promises and what is truly realistic about what can be done to develop; that is able to see participation as more than just voting
More here
Via AllAfrica
Don't Extend Unemployment
Once in my life I was laid off and drew unemployment benefits. Before the crazy wacko's in the swamp say that I'm a hypocrite for speaking out against them when I took them, let me point out the way that unemployment benefits are paid. Roughly, my employer takes the money they would be giving me every paycheck and instead gives it to the government to hold, with no interest paid. When the employer has to let me go, the government then gives me the money that it took from me in the form of unemployment benefits, minus the loss that money would have made as an investment and minus the cost of administering this program. So I don't have any problem drawing on my own money for a while.
The key here is for a while- after a certain point, I would be drawing more out of the system then I paid in. That's okay too, up to a point, if you consider unemployment benefits as an insurance program against losing a job- some people will draw out more money, just like in healthcare, and others will pay more in- it's a gamble.
Currently, Michigan provides unemployment benefits for up to 79 weeks, or about a year and a half. I know the economy is poor, but if you were desperate enough for the money, you could find a job after one and a half year's of looking- even if the job was in the food service industry or retail industry. You might have to adjust your lifestyle, but there are jobs out there that would put a small roof over your head and food on your plate.
Michigan Democrats feel that this isn't enough time though, and want to extend unemployment benefits out to 105 weeks- over two years.
I'm no expert in economics, but let me explain how this will work. Instead of being forced to seek gainful employment in jobs that people feel are 'beneath them', and instead of changing their lifestyle to a more reasonable level, people will continue to sit on unemployment, draining the system of money without adding back into it. At a certain point, more people will draw out of the system than draw in, and the system will began to crash. And when it crashes, it will then have to be supported by tax money. That tax money will come from those employed and from businesses, and that will lead to more unemployment. More people on unemployment, for a long time, higher taxes, etc. The government, in its attempt to help out people, will create a loop on unintended consequences of bad- just like they have in Michigan.
The harder the government has worked to get Michigan out of its crisis, the more Michigan has deepened and lengthened its crisis. The only way out now is through faith- faith in people, faith in the unseen hand of the market, and faith that when challenged to get a job, people will respond by doing jobs out there that need to be done.
The Democrat's proposal also has other bad parts to it- providing benefits to people with jobs (part-time) and giving benefits to those who have lost part-time jobs. If passed, it will hurt our economy.
Extending unemployment benefits, just like nationalizing the healthcare, are the road of good intentions. My grandma always used to tell me where that road took people.
Opposing National Socialized Healthcare Movement
Over and over, I hear from supporters of Obamacare the following argument- right now there is no choice on what kind of health insurance I can get. The supporters of national socialized healthcare believe that there are no choices available. This argument is so incredibly wrong that it is either advanced by idiots or those who are liars. If you open a phone book or look online, there are dozens of healthcare providers in your area who would love your business.
The supporters of Obamacare should be saying that there are no healthcare insurance plans that they can afford. That argument is even more interesting- it would be worthwhile to ask people who make this argument what sort of car they drive, how often they go on vacation, where they eat out to dinner at, and how big their house is. If they are poor, they are already on some form of government-provided healthcare- rather, many of the people who support Obamacare have money, they just choose not to spend it on healthcare.
Let's say though that healthcare insurance was expensive, beyond what is reasonable to expect an average person or business to pay. If that is the case, how does moving healthcare system to an inefficient government with tremendous overhead and fraud lower the cost opposed to thousands of businesses who compete based on cost and who make their living in being as efficient as possible? On what basis or logic or history do people believe that having the government run the healthcare system would provide lower costs and yet still provide the quality of service that they expect?
In reality, the high cost to healthcare is a problem- but the problem lies in government regulation, fees, and limits to competition. There are solutions advanced, such as tort reform, that would lower the cost of healthcare insurance and yet still provide service. And yet there are still people out there that still want to put us on a national socialized healthcare system- a system that likely will raise the cost of healthcare insurance and lower the quality of service.
One has to wonder- are the supporters of this policy stupid, or just liars about their real goals?
Building a Continental Art Ecosystem
Osei G. Kofi gives a number of reasons for the poverty of contemporary artists within Africa and of African heritage.He contends that:
A crucial factor is that Africans, rich Africans, refuse to buy art. The concept of “putting money on the wall” is alien to them. A while ago a major US business magazine did a cover spread on one of the newly minted billionaires of the Black Economic Empowerment class of post Apartheid South Africa. The paintings on the walls of the sumptuously appointed homes were distinctly run of the mill. There were no Jak Katarikawes, Marlene Dumas, William Kentridges, E. Saidi Tingatingas, Lilangas, Malangatanas, or Cheri Sambas. And yet these are some of the African artists slated to join the Rothkos, Modiglianis and Picassos of posterity.More here
Building a Continental Art Ecosystem
Osei G. Kofi gives a number of reasons for the poverty of contemporary artists within Africa and of African heritage.He contends that:
A crucial factor is that Africans, rich Africans, refuse to buy art. The concept of “putting money on the wall” is alien to them. A while ago a major US business magazine did a cover spread on one of the newly minted billionaires of the Black Economic Empowerment class of post Apartheid South Africa. The paintings on the walls of the sumptuously appointed homes were distinctly run of the mill. There were no Jak Katarikawes, Marlene Dumas, William Kentridges, E. Saidi Tingatingas, Lilangas, Malangatanas, or Cheri Sambas. And yet these are some of the African artists slated to join the Rothkos, Modiglianis and Picassos of posterity.More here
Parents Alarmed At Hazardous Conditions & Asbestos At DC's John Burroughs Elementary
From the looks of progress, this will not happen. At 4:10pm, Saturday, August 22 dust is waifting through the air in the building, while our teachers are rushing to prepare their classrooms for the children. There is dust everywhere and sawing, hammering, nailing, moving is going on as I type this email - please download the pictures, taken just minutes ago to see a sample of the existing conditions.
Ventilate when needed. Some construction activities can release large amounts of VOCs into the school, and if the school is already enclosed with walls, windows, and doors, outdoor air can no longer easily flow through the building and remove the VOCs. In addition to affecting the health of the construction workers, these VOCs can also be adsorbed onto other building materials and be re-released into the air later when the school is occupied by children and staff. During certain construction activities, temporary ventilation systems should be installed to quickly remove the gases.
Ventilation is generally needed when "wet" building materials are in use, when using materials that give off an odor, or when using materials that carry a manufacturer’s warning regarding the need for ventilation. Odors from building materials are the result of chemicals being released from the materials into the air, so if there is an odor present, it is safest to provide ventilation that will quickly remove those odors from the building. Examples of potentially problematic construction activities include painting (even with no- or low-VOC paints), spreading of floor adhesives, and use of large amounts of caulk, sealants, and cleaning agents. Additionally, the installation of large amounts of building materials, such as carpet or vinyl-based flooring products and composite wood cabinets and shelves, can require extra ventilation if the material has not been carefully selected or aired-out before being unrolled or unpackaged within the school.
During installation of carpet, paints, furnishings, and other VOC-emitting products, provide supplemental (spot) ventilation for at least 72 hours after work is completed. It is important that an exhaust fan be used to pull the polluted air out of the building, not to push outdoor air into the building. Simply opening windows or doors is not enough to effectively exhaust contaminants in most cases. The fan should be placed in a window or exterior door as close to the work area as possible, and any openings in the window or door around the fan be temporarily sealed with plastic or cardboard. Then open a window or exterior door at the opposite end of the room or building, so that fresher outdoor air will flow across the work area and sweep polluted air out through the exhaust fan. The size of exhaust fan needed will increase as the size of the room increases, and as the amount of gases being released into the air increases. The fan should provide about 5 air changes per hour (5 ACH). Divide the volume of the room in cubic feet by 12 to get the minimum amount of cubic feet per minute (CFM) that the fan must be able to exhaust. For example, a classroom with a volume of 9000 cubic feet (1000 square feet of floor area with 9 foot ceilings) divided by 12 results in a fan of 750 CFM. A 21 inch box fan may be sufficient for a single classroom if the materials are not too strong a source of gases, but would certainly not be sufficient for a wing or a whole school. As a rule of thumb, there may be enough airflow if odors do not spread out of the immediate area where the work is being performed, of if dust or smoke released into the air can be seen to be drawn towards the exhaust fan. As long as the odors or air pollutants are present, the temporary exhaust ventilation must continue to be operated, even during nights and weekends if necessary. Ventilation should continue for a minimum of 24 hours after completion, or until there are no longer any noticeable odors. "
Liberals See Evil Plots Around Every Corner
listen to liberals calling in to talk shows about the problems facing our nation, and inevitably, most liberals identify the problems facing us today as conspiracies perpetrated by Big Oil, Wall Street, Big Business, etc. In fact, it's always a plot. Once you really press a liberal, they always fall back on the fact that the reason why things are not working is that there is some group out there with nefarious ends. It's not the fact that their policies fail, it's always that there is some mysterious group out there trying to screw us over. To a liberal, there is no cause and effect, there is no reason, there is no logic- there is only some evil mechanisms going on in the background.Think about what is going on today, a year later, with this debate about health care, energy, spending, debt, nationalizing of businesses, etc. Listen to the rhetoric of the Democrats- when pressed, they see an evil plot around every corner. It's the KKK, it's fascists, it's astroturf, it's a plot by the insurance companies, it's a ploy by the Republican Party, etc. Democrats are unable to face the fact that their ideas stink, that there policies hurt society, and that they are wrong, so they instead see evil everywhere in the world but in themselves.
Yesterday I talked to a dozen supporters of Obamacare, and all of them showed this impulse to see evil plots everywhere in the world- they would ask me who was paying me (no one), they accused me of being racist (I'm not), they said I was just a tool for insurance companies (nope)- they tried a dozen different ways to pretend I was just a conspiracy, and never tried to talk about history, economics, principles, morals, ethics, or all the other things that really matter in any public policy debate.
The modern day Democratic Party, especially the far left version that people are actually putting in power when the vote Democrat, has an ideology- I discussed this before in The Religion of the Democrats. If you really want to understand why Democrats always see evil plots around every corner, I suggest you read that post.
DCPS Elementary Schools Outperform Charter School Counterparts
Guy Brandenburg, a retired DCPS math teacher analyzed the DC-CAS scores raw data and released the press release below on August 18. Guy reported that DC public elementary schools outperformed their charter school counterparts while the situation was almost exactly reversed at the secondary level with charter schools taking the lead. I did want to share portions of Guy's analysis with my readers. If you are desirous of reading the document in its entirety, please send me an email c/o saveourcounselors@gmail.com or leave a post on my blog with your email address.
REGULAR DCPS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS OUT-PERFORM THEIR CHARTER SCHOOL COUNTERPARTS:
Situation Almost Exactly Reversed at the Secondary Level
"The results from last year’s DC-CAS flatly contradict the media-spread ‘wisdom’ that public charter schools always do better than regular urban public schools. In fact, regular DC public elementary schools out-performed the charter schools on the 2009 DC-CAS in 11 out of 14 categories. Strangely, at the secondary level, the results were almost exactly the opposite: in 12 out of 14 categories, the secondary charter school students scored higher.
These results come from a mathematically simple, but tedious, calculation of the averages of the percentages of students in the various subgroups who were deemed 'proficient' based on their scores on last spring's version of the DC-CAS (Comprehensive Assessment System) exam, which is taken by all DC public and charter school students in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10 under the No Child Left Behind act, or NCLB. The computations were done by this writer by cutting and pasting the data into several Excel spreadsheets, separating the regular and charter schools, and taking averages of the averages provided for each group given in the data on-line.
On the elementary level, the regular public school students outscored the charter school students in the following eleven categories:
In both math and reading, the entire schools in question (about 48% versus 38% in math, and 48% to 45% in reading): in both math and reading, among the economically disadvantaged (meaning, those eligible to receive free or reduced-price lunches), by about 43% to 37% for math, and 43% to 42% in reading; in reading only, among the educationally disabled (also known as special education students) by a score of 32% to 26%; in both math and reading among LEP-NEP students (that is, students with limited or no proficiency in the English language), by scores of 55% to 48% in math, and 47% to 43% in reading; in both math and reading among black students, by scores of 46% to 37% in math, and 47% to 45% in reading; and in both math and reading among white students, by scores of 93% to 85% in math, and 92% to 91% in reading.
The only three categories where elementary charter school students did better were these:
In math only, among special education students, by a score of 29% to 28%; and in both math and reading among Hispanic students, by scores of 56% to 53% in math, and 49% to 47% in reading.
On the secondary level, the situation was almost exactly reversed......"
Posted by The Washington Teacher, press release courtesy of Guy Brandenburg
A need for Philosophy and Critical Thinking
Ben Hinson writes:
No doubt, there are many many brilliant minds in Africa, but the platform for them to showcase their mental capabilities in the arenas of philosophy, objective argument etc in most cases does not exist...It is a reality that the economically disadvantaged are less attracted to the value of knowledge for its own sake and more attracted to what brings economic gain, and for good cause, after all a hungry man is an angry man. But focusing solely on material gain and not qualitative values leaves a void that ultimately affects leadership, morality and a society's standards.
More here
A need for Philosophy and Critical Thinking
Ben Hinson writes:
No doubt, there are many many brilliant minds in Africa, but the platform for them to showcase their mental capabilities in the arenas of philosophy, objective argument etc in most cases does not exist...It is a reality that the economically disadvantaged are less attracted to the value of knowledge for its own sake and more attracted to what brings economic gain, and for good cause, after all a hungry man is an angry man. But focusing solely on material gain and not qualitative values leaves a void that ultimately affects leadership, morality and a society's standards.
More here
My Report from the Birmingham Healthcare Rally
Today around the nation there were rally's held to oppose the Democrat's healthcare plan, and I attended the one in Birmingham, home of Democrat Gary Peter's. It was a great turn out, and there were quite a few notable people there- Oakland County Executive L Brooks Patterson, County Commissioner David W. Potts, Michigan Governor-hopeful Michael Bouchard, and even theplogprof. It was a good time- saying hello to friends, educating one another about various issues, and sending a message to politicians that the people are opposed to this Obamacare proposal.
There were also supporters of the healthcare plan at the rally, and like the Greeks of old or our revolutionary forefathers, I engaged these people in debate, and the crowd circled us and listened to us as we each advanced our aguments. And every time, through every twist and turn of logic that these healthcare supporters took me, I won the debate by relying on facts, statistics, history, and the core principles of our nation. And every time I won the debate, these liberals would give me the finger or yell 'f-you' at me, and I would simply say that I am trying to fight tyranny and stand up for life, liberty, and property.
My favorite debate was with a guy from England, who, over a course of several minutes, went through all of the talking points of liberals- Bush bankrupted America, spent all our money on the war, Obama needs to put our nation more in debt to dig us out of Bush's jobless recovery, etc. I really enjoyed how proud he was of having not read the bill (HR 3200)- when I started quoting from it, he started yelling that that isn't the bill he supports. I wondered what bill he does support, and he told me that one that would create a heaven on Earth, as if man could create such a thing. After a while it grew tiring to talk to this guy though- his world was a maze of conspiracies and evil capitalists- and when cornered, he quickly would turn to character-assassination- he called me a liar, another guy a stooge, another guy unintelligent, etc. Typical rules for radicals- if you can't win the argument, attack the person.
This was usually the way I won the intellectual arguments- I found it much easier to win the ethical arguments. One Obama supporter (she had an Obama hat on) told me that it wasn't personal- that all she was trying to do was make me pay for insuring more poor people and provide better coverage for those who were in need in our nation. I told her that that was personal- my property was not hers to distribute to those who she favored. Her reply was that the government already does it- she mocked me by gloating about all of the liberal projects that my tax money already funds, and mocked me by saying that now that the Democrats were the majority, they were free to take my money and redistribute it for whatever they wished. When I told her that she was proud of tyranny and gloating about taking away my liberty and property, she said "yes, we can" and turned away from the debate, as if tyranny were something to be proud of.
Recently I bought a yellow "Don't Tread on Me" flag, and I brought that to the rally to wave. One lady, who was holding up a 10 foot long banner supporting healthcare (paid for by a special interest group- it had the logo on the back corner), asked me what the flag meant. I told her that my position on this issue as simple- I don't want government to get in my business, to tax me any more, and to let me live my life in freedom and liberty. She scoffed at that- she said it wasn't really a free world because of all the capitalists and private companies that ran the world, and that the only way we can truly be free is if the government runs everything. I think Stalin and Mao made those same arguments.
The highlight of the afternoon came as I was engaged by a supporter of the single-payer system (that's what her sign said), and told me that my view didn't matter at all, and that I should just pay for the increased healthcare and be happy about it. I told her that I was a person who had rights, and she laughed at me, and several of her friends came and told me that I was in the minority now. I started to grow angry, so I began to yell louder and louder that I was a person, that I was endowed by God with rights that no one could take away, and that those rights were life, liberty, and property. These Obamacare supportes laughed at me, and said that I was in the minority, and I began to yell louder and louder yet- the rights were God-given and include my right to live free and to keep and earn property. Liberals may laugh about these things, but I still believe in the Declaration of Independence and the ideas it espouses- revolutionary ideas that say to fight tyranny such as this proposal.
Don't get me wrong- the overwhelming number of people at this healthcare rally were patriots who were waving flags asking to be treated fairly, asking to not pay for government programs with debt, suggesting positive solutions like tort reform or increased competition, and voicing concerns about the constitutionality of the Obamacare program. They were grandmothers and young children, teachers and car workers, and when spoken to, they were good people who frequently had a good grasp of history and economics. They understand that this healthcare proposal is bad, and they were against it, and the only thing that they are hoping that will change is that they want our leaders, our Representatives and Senators, to hear them and their concerns.
UPDATE I: theblogprof has some great pictures from the event up as well, click here to see his post. I'm visable in one of the pictures.
UPDATE II: Welcome readers from Instapundit and Moonbattery!
UPDATE III: Welcome readers from American Power!