Hmmmm......

I often don't have a lot of answers, but I do have lots of questions.

Why should I vote for the Democratic candidate for the US House because he's a caring, compassionate, and successful physician, one who's helped a lot of people?  That's the gist of a Democratic ad I recently heard.  Wasn't it just two years ago that the Democrats were lambasting the Republican candidate running against John Dingell for the same thing(s)?  Rob Steele is a successful cardiologist who's performed hundreds and hundreds of open-heart operations (that is, has saved hundreds and hundreds of lives).  But, the Dems averred, we shouldn't vote for him because he was wealthy.  I think I also remember allusions to his big house, but I'm not sure.  Gee, I wonder in what kind of house and lifestyle Dr. Syed Taj, a successful doctor, lives.  His opponent, Kerry Bentivolio, is always portrayed as "a reindeer farmer," as if that's a pejorative and somewhat odd.  I also wonder if the demand for "reindeer" makes Bentivolio a wealthy guy, too.  Somehow I don't think so.  Some Democrats openly assert that Romney "will say anything to get elected."  Well, HELLO!  He's not the only one, apparently.  What's it called?  Situational ethics?  Hypocrisy?  What was it Diogenes went looking for--an honest man?

There was an article I read recently that American manufacturers are looking to hire more skilled workers, but can't find enough of them.  Where are all those "Everybody goes to college!" people now?  I'm a big believer in a college education, just not one for the sole or even primary purpose of job preparation.  But I also believe that college isn't for everyone for a variety of reasons.  And this from one who makes his living teaching college history.  Still, if so many of these folks are concerned about "jobs for the future," where are their calls for training skilled labor?  Is this yet another incidence of unintended consequences--or merely not thinking?

Why don't we name more schools after people who have positively contributed to society, locally or even the bigger picture?  I've noted this here in the past.  What better way to teach people about history?  What better way to send the message that we value those who have improved people's lives, in whatever manner?  Then, the other night, I saw the futility of this idea.  The Waterford schools have three junior highs--Mason, Crary, Pierce.  Mason was the first governor of the state of Michigan and Crary and Pierce were the architects of Michigan public school system.  I asked a class of students, 37 of them, how many had attended one of these schools in Waterford.  More than half a dozen hands went up.  I was encouraged until I also asked, "Did you learn about these guys back then?"  The unanimous response was "No."  You mean, you were never told about the person whose name your school bore?  Nope, I guess not.  I could expect one or two to just not have paying attention or maybe even forgotten.  But more than half a dozen, some pretty good students?  So much for my idea....