Two Columns

Two pretty good and not unrelated columns in Sun's newspaper. One, by Leonard Pitts, explores the recent pummeling journalists have received over the actions of a few of their own. He's right in explaining that there are rules to follow in journalism, that integrity matters, and that "expedience [might be] sometimes compromised." (I rearranged some of his words, but didn't take from their meaning.) It's not easy to do what Pitts did, to take some of his profession to task for violating ethical standards. He's to be commended. Although we don't always agree, esp of late, Pitts is a good columnist, one who writes well and has insightful, thoughtful ideas. He's certainly well worth reading.

The other column was by Walter Williams. Again, I don't always agree with Williams, who is sometimes far too simplistic, but he's always like Pitts--thoughtful, insightful, and worth reading. His article focused on cheating by teachers and administrators on student test scores. It seems answers were changed by teachers, they gave answers to some questions, and they allowed lousy students to sit close to good students, making it easier to copy/cheat. For their part, administrators allowed or even encouraged this to happen, maybe even changed answers themselves, and falsified test scores for their reports. Why doesn't any of this surprise me? First, the pressure for teachers and schools to have continually improving test scores (ultimately an impossibility) is getting intense. Most teachers have never been through the rigors required of quality education, so they are not prepared for such pressure. Hence, the cheating. Stupid policies and laws, that's what it is (but not to excuse the cheating). Of course, education, as I have often said, brought this on itself--no need to go into that now. Second, many educators surely have ideological problems with "tests" (and grades). How then to explain the incredible grade inflation of the past 20-30 years? Third, does all this ring true of the philosophy of "positive self-concept(image)" which has been far more important than actually learning and knowing anything over the past few decades? It reminds me of a couple of incidents in another lifetime when I was teaching in the high school. (If one teaches for 40+ years, one gets to see a lot of "incidents.") Both involved a North Central Accreditation process. The process involved self-evaluation, an invitation to cheat, er, at least skew results. One dept in self-evaluating didn't score itself high enough, according to the NCA building "steering committee." "Oh, you're better than that," the committee said, returning the self-evaluation survey to the dept to redo. The dept has some smart folks and, although it honestly answered the first time, knew what was wanted of it. So it merely went through and graded itself the highest it could. "Ah, now, that's better." It may have been the same NCA process or maybe a later one, but when I filled out my individual one for my dept, I noticed my results weren't counted. Why I asked why, I wasn't given an answer, although it was obvious. I didn't rate the dept high enough, so my "self-evaluation" of the dept wasn't included. When the visiting NCA team came to the school to assess the, ahem, "self-evaluation," it blindly (and ignorantly) accepted the findings of the school and its depts. I remember approaching the team leader, a principal at a downriver high school (which told me something right away!), and telling him the above. I mentioned the "self-evaluation" was dishonest and, therefore, inaccurate and that his report should reflect that. From the typical administrator look I saw in his eyes, I knew I was being ignored and that none of my concerns would be addressed. When the final report came out, there was nothing of those concerns, which I still think are very real. So, Willams' article is not at all surprising to me. Oh, here's another one. In the last year or two of my teaching at the hs, about half a dozen or more of the younger teachers were taking the same online course--for credit, for degrees, for more pay. Once a week, after school, the half dozen or more teachers taking the course would meet in the same room, with the computer, and do their own work together. That says a lot about Williams' column and the integrity of online courses, soon to be the new rage.

Out to walk Roscoe....

Just Asking

I understand the ideas behind sprinkling systems for lawns. BTW, did you know that David Buick (of Buick car fame) held a patent for inventing an early sprinkgling system? (He also patented a process for attaching porcelain to bathtubs.) But... Why do people put the sprinklers on timers? OK, so they don't have to turn them on by hand, as if that isn't the epitome of laziness! During rainstorms or even the day after a good drenching, there go the sprinklers! And the roads and driveways will be growing this year! The sprinklers are doing a great job of watering them, too! (Postscript: Out running today after the hard rain, it was hilarious to see quite a few front yards with several inches of water--and more--halfway up to the porch from the culvert, yet the sprinklers were on!)

If we need Zip Codes (and we've had returned mail because of wrong Zips), they are obviously key. Then, why must we continue to put cities and states on envelopes? So, if one of them is wrong, the mail still gets delivered? But if one of them is wrong, it is usually returned.

Why do so many supermarkets seem to build their parking lots on hills or slopes? Maybe they have hidden cameras and watch, laughing all the time, as shopping carts go rolling all over the place.

For that matter, why do so many online things, surveys, order forms, whatnot, have drop-downs for entering state names? Isn't it a lot easier and less time consuming just to let the filer/filler write MI or MA or NV? (Postscript: Hey, in filling out a survey this AM, I was surprised to find I could enter the state myself, without a drop-down. It saved a few seconds.)

Why do so many people think they can write? This goes for newspapers, magazines, and books. I am continually amazed at how poorly suupposed "writers" misspell words, have incomplete sentences, toss out incomplete ideas, use wrong grammar, etc. I know where the quality English teachers are, but where are the editors?

I still think I could have been a weatherman. Are they right at least half of the time? Maybe so, but it sure doesn't seem like it. Now, we're supposed to be having "light rain." Can it rain any harder outside of the rain forest? It's coming down in buckets.

Mon Thoughts

I had what I thought were some great thoughts, but they disappeared with a blip in the house's power. Hmmm.... With the hot weather and increased power usage for air conditioners, what does that say about how power will be available with millions of people plugging in their cars every night????

Saul Anuzis, former MI Rep Party Chair, had a great comment.... "Raising the Debt Ceiling is kind of like increasing Blood Alcohol Levels to Solve Drunk Driving." Yep.

Recovery? Hmmm.... I see more abandoned homes around here now than last year and the year before and.... And, perhaps not as dramatic, but telling nonetheless, more people are letting their lawns go to pot (no, not drugs!). They aren't mowing as often or carefully (no trim); weeds are proliferating; etc.

Walter Williams cites a study showing only one in four high school seniors knew that the Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the Constitution. Hmmm.... If they don't know that, what is the likelihood that they'll know what's in them? Of course, to a growing population which thinks the gov't should provide everything, why would knowing their rights be important? Fewer than 25% knew G Washington was the first President. And on and on.... This isn't the thrust of William's piece, but this isn't hard to fathom. For how many years has the education establishment disrespected history and civics? C'mon, which of us hasn't had a coach for a history teacher, not because he actually knew history, but because "anyone can teach history?" How many times were teachers who didn't have enough courses in their own disciplines given history classes to fill out their schedules, not because they knew any history, but because "anyone can teach history?" And for how long did the state achievement tests include English (both reading and writing), math, and science, but not history or civics? When the social studies were added, the scores didn't count! I blame ignorant administrators for much of this; after all, they were the ones scheduling these teachers, perpetuating the myth that "anyone can teach history." School boards have missed golden opportunities to emphasize that the past and its people are important. Instead of naming schools after giants fo the past, school boards name their schools after plants, bodies of water, and even generic city names. Go ahead, count the number of high schools in Michigan named after A Lincoln, Washington, and Jefferson. OK, I'll give you a break--use your fingers, but you only need one hand and will still have a couple of fingers left over.

And the tenure laws are the problem! We elect loons to office, nationally and on the state and local levels. "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves...."

Some Thoughts

These fools in DC, from both parties.... They (both parties) have created a grossly bloated government.

They spend too much money. In fact, that's been the problem over the past few decades--in the spirit of compromise and bipartisanship (oh, I detest that word!), Reps have, little by little, caved in and given the Dems what they want. It wasn't one giant increase in spending and programs, most superfluous and even detrimental, but a little here and a little there. Adding up all those "littles" has created a giant mess. I remember telling principals and superintendents (and the union!) that "this" and "that" were wastes of school district money, but I was always pooh-poohed. "Those are just drops in the bucket," I was repeatedly told. I retorted, but if enough "drops" fall in my sink at home with the stopper shut, it will overflow, won't it?

Of course, it's history so it doesn't matter and isn't at all important, but Hitler didn't create his Third Reich overnight. He was given a little here and took a little there. He made alliances (hey, isn't that "bipartisanship?") with people he could use. But they could never use him--it was always a one-way relationship. Doesn't that sound familiar? Not to people who've been told history isn't important.

It's all like losing weight. To get someone who is obese trimmed down, do we give him more food? Do we tell her not to exercise self-discipline by not working out? So, Obama, the Gang of Six, etc. want to fix the budget problem--vast overspending--by spending more money and not cutting needless programs? How stupid!

We have created a mess. People are now dependent. Government rewards bad behavior and punishes good behavior/success.

Obama and his ideas are dangerous. I keep wondering if he's a dupe, a willing dupe, but one nonetheless, perhaps like Hirohito in WW2. I can't see him with all of these ideas, certainly not ideas of his own making. I don't think he's particularly bright. I know people made fun of Bush's intelligence (rightly or wrongly), but Obama is certainly no smarter than W.

But the Republicans are also barking up the wrong tree. Here in Michigan, the Rep gov and his lackeys in the state legislature are making changes. But, as I've always and frequently said, "change" and "good" are not synonymous. For instance, the state Reps cut the state business tax--a good move, if.... I have asked the governor several times (with no reply, of course) why the tax cut on businesses didn't come with an assurance that the saved money would be used to hire more people or to lower prices, which would spur demand and then create more jobs, instead of merely lining the pockets of business execs. I pointed out how the financial bailouts (from the gov agencies to Wall Street to banks...) all did just that--made the execs who helped create the problem even richer while not helping the poor slobs who are being hurt by it. And, in dealing with education, the Rep gov and his Rep legislature are completely out of their league, just as the former Dem gov and legis were. But, no response, but like no responses from past governors. I did get a reply from a state legislator who's a prime mover and shaker on all this "education reform" (and remember "reform" and "better" are not synonyms). His ideas are, plainly, stupid. He and his/their legislation are punishing people who aren't the root cause (but still culpable) and allow those who are the problem to remain in charge, in effect, to remain the problem. But his reply never confronted my questions and criticism, not at all!

It's all very frustrating and I hope the staunch Reps in the House and Senate hold their ground. Enough of this compromise and bipartisan crap.... That, little by little, got us into this mess.

Like always, esp in the schools, just my lonely opinions....

Budget Plan

So, apparently, there is some movement on the budget. And, it appears, it isn't good movement.
Some Republicans have agreed to a White House plan that includes a $1 trillion dollar tax hike--that's no misprint, one trillion dollars! Who are these loons?!?!? And our own Michigan Congressman Sander Levin claims, "The Republicans are trying to get rid of the second half of the 20th Century." This guy is supposed to be intelligent. Maybe much of the second half of the 20th Century needs riddance! How can he not see how bloated the federal gov't is? Isn't he one of the wealthiest in the Congress, at least his family? Why doesn't he give up all his wealth, maybe down to $50K a year, and donate it to taxes if he believes so strongly federal programs and spending? Oh, he doesn't believe in it if it's his money--it's other people's money he wants to spend.

Gee, am I surprised I haven't received any answer to my lengthy letter to Governor Snyder? No, not really. As several people told me, he won't answer because he thinks he has all of the answers. Well, as I've blogged here, I think he has some answers. I've refused several opportunities to sign recall petitions. I don't think he should be. But I do think he needs to listen to people other than merely the ones to whom he listens. Are all of these politicians alike? Do they all think they and only they have the answers? Are they that arrogant? Are they that elitist?

Note, the above cites a member of one party and one from the other party. I think both parties are bad. They need to be replaced. They have made it difficult, some say impossible, for a new party to emerge. Is there any more evidence needed that both the Dems and Reps are anti-democratic?

Gee, $1 trillion in new taxes????? BTW, who is going to pay these new taxes? And, when those (could it be the dreaded wealthy?) folks lose their $1 trillion, how many jobs will be lost or not created? Steve Wynn, the Las Vegas billionaire, ripped on the federal government, specifically Obama and his folks. He said he and other people of wealth are not investing because they fear what they see coming out of DC. They are sitting on their money until the climate becomes more favorable for investment. I wonder why the unemployed aren't parading in the streets--it's jobs for them which aren't being created. It's the people they voted for who have created such an anti-investment climate. We all know why. The gov't gives them money to keep them quiet--unemployment, welfare, ADC, Medicare/Medicaid, etc. What is the derisive term historians have given to the exact same thing the Romans did to keep the masses quiet when they were being raked over--Bread and Circuses? Give them all that gov't money and then pound them with football, American Idol, and other smut on television. Bread and circuses, almost 2000 years later.

Yes, what we've created in "the second half of the 20th Century" isn't always so good. Some senior citizen was moaning about cuts in Social Security, what he "worked for and deserves." It's as if nobody else, certainly not the despicable wealthy, ever "worked for and deserves" what they get and have--just him. It's like the guy who thought the wealthy should pay more taxes, "their fair share." Trying to tell him they do fell on deaf ears. Asking why he opposed paying taxes on his public sector pension was met with, "But I earned it!" Again, I guess the wealthy don't "earn" their money. See what we've created, Congressman Levin? Thanks.

Two Columns

I was struck by a couple of columns over the weekend. One related the story of a man, destitute and ill, who felt compelled to rob a bank of $1 in order to be arrested, convicted, and sent to prison where he could receive treatment for what ails him. The man's story, at least initially, is pathetic. If all is as it seems, there should be something to help him. But the columnist goes on and on about this is why we need ObamaCare, to show we are a compassionate, caring people. If it means more taxes, well, so be it. He admits he grumbles, as we all do, about paying taxes. But, if it will help people like this man, we all should be willing to pay more. At face value, it's hard to argue the point. But, like so many such bleeding heart stories, there might well be more to the story. At least there are a lot of questions that must be asked. What are this man's ailments--how serious? There were no agencies (of the untold many) to help him? Is he overweight/obese? Does he drink and/or smoke? Has he ever? What about drug usage? When he did work, what did he do with his money? For instance, did he have a cell phone, a big screen tube, etc.? These are some of the questions that need to be asked and answered before someone can start blathering about "should" pay more taxes. Of course, we should want to help others in need. It's reasonable to question how the "need" came to be. It's also debatable that one "should" be forced to help, involuntarily, through taxes. Oh...the columnist never said anything about himself, that is, if he voluntarily contributed more to taxes.

Another used the theme of asking who you would allow to watch your children. The premise was a prelude to a discussion of the current budget, default, etc. carnival going on in DC. Now, up front, I think that this columnist must have a relative at the newspaper--I've said before I don't know how he gets space in the newspaper. His arguments, almost always, lack any reason. Well, almost immediately, he loses me again. When Bob Dole raised the question in the '96 campaign.... The columnist then suggests that Bill Clinton could watch your kids just as well, because he's an honorable, trustworth, etc. guy. Yeah, right! Have our standards of decency sunk even lower than I think?

Out....

Fri AM Musings

Gus commented, with sarcasm, a while back, "...got to find the money somewhere." Yep, as long as the gov't continues to spend money, that's true. It was most poignant this week, thanks to the almost always spot-on Charles Krauthammer. Obama wants to tax corporate jet owners. He was pretty nasty toward them. (I'll omit, for the time being, any comments about all the jetting around he does--on our dimes! And I'll save for later anything about his wife's 22 personal assistants on the gov't payroll.) There's something wrong, not with the jet owners, but with spending when the scenario is examined. If the proposed tax is collected, it could finally pay off the debt, well, just the national debt incurred last year, in 5000 years! (As Krauthammer explained, "that is not a typo." And Obama also wants to eliminate a tax break received by oil companies. That will do a lot more for paying off the debt. If both the jet and oil taxes collected, not enough money will be obtained to pay off the deficit spending for the past February alone! No doubt, Obama's supporters will say something like, "We have to start somewhere" or "Every little bit/drop helps." Funny, when one brings up some expenditure, the usual gov't spending nuts' response is, "Oh, that's just a drop in the bucket." (And that's what at least three of the principals I worked under said to me on more than one occasions, "That's just a drop in the bucket.") Apparently, "We have to start somewhere" doesn't include spending cuts.

It's hard to believe there are no major candidates aiming to square off against Sen Debbie Stabenow. I know she has a large war chest, several million bucks. But if anyone deserves to be sent home, it is she. She is one of the problems in DC. First, she is known, humorously or otherwise, as "Do-Nothing Debbie." Second, if she finally decides to "do something," it's the wrong thing--higher taxes, more gov't spending. I would think Reps would be chomping at the bit to challenge her because she is so defeatable. Does money carry that weight?

How about if voters deal with this campaign money in their own ways. How about we find out what candidate has received how much money from whom. Then, we vote for the other guy. First, we send a message that our elections can no longer be bought. Second, we make it so the large campaign donors have wasted their money.

OK, in Las Vegas we passed many restaurants with simply outrageous prices. Hey, even the buffets were far too high. But, if that's what people will pay.... Then, I ask, no matter the price, can any meal be better than the one I had at Antonio's last weekend for $15????? I think not. Some places might offer more food, although I did bring home about 1/3 of my meal along with four breads. At Antonio's, the main course was outstanding, the pasta fagioli was great, and the bread has never been equalled. So, what do the $40 a meal places have to offer?????

Speaking of food, the pizza at Antonio's is also wonderful. About the only one, recently, that I've liked better is De Luca's pizza, with the real, not the fake salami-style, pepperoni. We had folks over a while ago and ordered pizza and salad. Maybe we were pretty hungry (it was late), but more than one remarked, "Hey, this is good pizza!" Maybe so, but not anywhere near Antonio's or De Luca's--not even in the same ballpark.

How about that guy who returned Jeter's HR/3000 hit? Wow! What a gesture. No doubt some will say he's pretty stupid; certainly he could have received a six-figure sum had he kept and sold it. But he did something that was nice, noble even. So, what pops up? Yep, a possible IRS bill for about $15,000! How typical of gov't! Let's punish the good things people do and reward, even encourage, the bad things they do. I've said it before, but this reminds me of the song the Brits played in surrendering at Yorktown, "The World Turned Upside Down."

It's nice when our elected officials encourage our participation and input. But it's also typical that, if we do offer participation and ideas, esp different ideas, we never get responses--or even the time of day. Since I lambasted Sen Stabenow before, I will admit that I often get responses from her or her office. Now admittedly, almost always the replies have little or absolutely nothing to do with my letters/concerns, but I guess an answer is at least something. Gov Snyder and/or his office hasn't responded to a pretty lengthy letter I e-mailed. Now, it was only a week ago, so maybe there hasn't been time. Still, with all of the "personal assistants...."

Remember, in this time of difficulty, "We have to share the sacrifice!" Well, at least some of us have to "share."

NASA

Granted, over the years NASA has had its share of critics. We've pumped a lot of money into the space program. And, there have been several heart-wrenching tragedies. But, is there another government agency or program that has been more successful? C'mon, nobody can put a man on the moon! Nobody can put up a laboratory in space that we can shuttle scientists to and from! Some might say, certainly I wouldn't, that this has been a colossal waste of money, good only for chest-pumping. Rubbish! Look at all of the advances that came out of the space program. Technical improvements and inventions, health advancements, hey, even Tang! Life is better today thanks to NASA.

So, why is the gov't shutting it down? Why has the President been so adamant about it? Hey, even W. Bush was cutting way back--and I never said he was a good President either! Why don't we shut down the programs and agencies that don't work????? We can start with the Dept of Education and go from there. The list in practically endless. And, we should also trim some of them back. The IRS comes to mind right off the bat, but there are many others.

Speaking of gov't agencies, flying last week brought me into contact with the TSA. It has, no doubt, a thankless job. Folks there, the rank-and-file, not the ding-a-ling leaders, can't win. They have to follow orders/procedures. They take the guff from people. But if something happens again at an airport, involving a plane, someone sneaking into the country, we'll all forget about how we complained about the searches and intrusions. OK, I am not a fan of the full-body scanner. I do think we can and should profile. And some common sense needs to be followed. Remember the 90+ year old woman whose Depends was searched???? I had a brief todo at the LV airport. I set off the metal detector/scanner. I didn't have any idea as to what it might be--I had no keys, no coins, etc. It was my glasses case!!!!! How many times have I walked through carrying it in my pocket and nothing happened? Well, I count at least three other times in the last month--nothing. This time--BUZZ! The TSA agent told me to do something and I complied with nary a wimper. Another agent snapped at me--I don't remember the exact words. But I wasn't pleased at her continued "snapping." Finally, I said, "Hey, I'm just doing what I was told to do," pointing at the other agent. The other one, to her credit, nodded. The second one just turned away, mumbling something. But, again, pretty much it's a thankless job.

Good and Bad

In the past month or so I've visited the idyllic Amherst, MA and the eccentric Strip of Las Vegas, NV. Wow! These are two completely different cultures, no, different worlds! What a contrast!

Just to remind people, my pension is not the problem with what's wrong today. I (and my pension) had nothing to do with giving money to incompetent and greedy CEOs on Wall Street, the banks, the auto companies, etc. We had nothing to do with Fannie Mae and the incredible story of gov't malfeasance (from Congress and the President to the independent agencies) that ruined the home market. We had nothing to do with state legislators and a governor who decided it was easy to spend other people's money (even money they don't have!) like drunken sailors. Need I go on?

A couple of recent court rulings defy credibility. No, I'm not talking about that case where it sure seems like the mother murdered her little daughter, but was acquitted. She might well be innocent, although her behavior was outrageous and despicable. From what I understand, that's all the prosecution had, evidence of outrageous and despicable behavior. Not only couldn't the prosecution say who murdered the poor little one, but neither could it say how the child was killed. No, not that case. The Supremes last week said Calif can't regulate violent video games sold to children. I read some of the reasoning in the majority opinion by Justice Scalia. It falls woefully short of the usually stellar thinking Scalia gives us. In fact, this defies logic. So, in sum, it's OK to keep pornography from a 14-year old, but not violent stuff? A 13-year old can't see a naked woman, but can play a video game in which he strips her down to almost the bare essentials and then tortures and murders her? Utterly ridiculous. The ruling isn't even consistent with the normally conservative views of Scalia and his supporters. Foolish ruling indeed. And the 6th Circuit ruled Michigan's law against affirmative action in college admissions is illegal. What? The law, patterned after other states' and the federal civil rights laws, was passed in an initiative by about 16%, a sizable majority (in an election, that's certainly a landslide). If the law doesn't discriminate (and it doesn't), if it doesn't violate the Constitution or federal law (and it doesn't), how can it be illegal? It is troubling because, once again, it is a sign that some people think they are smarter than the rest of us. That's OK, as long as the self-anointed aren't in positions of government and can dictate their own views of what is "right" or "wrong." Like the financial managers, the czars, these judges are threatening "government of the people, by the people, for the people." They are undemocratic.

What if, in light of these self-anointed elitists, "We the People" just said, "No!"?????? What if we decided to take our gov't and, indeed, our country back? What happens when the government and its officials are corrupt, stupid, or undemocratic? Are we bound to accept what they do and rule?

Did you see the Time Mag article on the Founders? It's online somewhere and was written, I expect, for Independence Day. It's also all wrong. The author, whoever the guy is, is ignorant of the Founding. He has no idea what the Founders were doing. Like the czars, judges, etc., he must be convinced he knows more than we do and is smarter than we are. Find the article and read it--you'll find out he's wrong, not only about the Founders. He doesn't know more than we do and he's not smarter than we are.

Speaking of history, I see another recent study came out and showed how woefully ignorant of US History our students are--from jr high to high school to college. Very few know even the basics of their own country's history. That then makes it a lot easier for demagogues to make outrageous claims about the US. How can anyone, for instance, who knows anything of US History believe a President who claims the US "isn't exceptional?"

Again, I laugh (not Ha Ha funny) at the educational "reformers." They are all wet. C'mon, what message is being sent (and received) when we glorify and make multi-millionaires of very mediocre athletes and entertainers (I'm being generous here)? This wasn't the case in previous generations, when education, not athletics or entertainment, was seen as the stepping stone to a good life. There's another thing that will have to change before education is really "reformed." What are the odds of that happening?

How about evaluations for politicians and corporate executives? Everyone is all worked up about evaluating teachers. Anyone who knows me also knows I think far too many people are teaching who shouldn't be. And, that goes double for administrators. But let's try evaluating the pols and CEOs--that is, without the lies and distortions that accompany them.

While in Las Vegas, I read the local papers for several days. (I'm not a big fan of USA Today, pabulum in my view.) But the op-ed pages in LV newspapers had some very good articles, columns, editorials, and letters. Not all of the ideas reflected mine, but they were good ideas, well-presented and convincing. There are some smart people in this nation--why do we listen to those who aren't so smart?