It was a great comfort, when we were dating, to discover Cory and I shared similar patriotism and political views. Although I tend to avoid listening to talk radio (I despise arguing), we do have stimulating discussions about current events and American ideals. Late last night and not-so-early this morning we were having another series, mostly prompted by Prop. 8 whiplash (my art school is based in San Francisco. I have to take some shrapnel when I stand up for family values). After a while we fell to the current event of the Senate considering to give the failing Big Three billions of dollars to "rescue" them.
My thought: In facing a potential bankruptcy for the all-American Detroit carmakers, it is easy to become sentimental. After all, aren't these the cars that were driving down the all-American Route 66 in its days of glory? Why would such a national legacy be on the verge of catastrophe?
It appears that Americans simply didn't want to buy the cars the companies were making in the first place. If the Senate did throw them the billions of dollars in question, it would be forcing American taxpayers to pay for the very cars that they had chosen not to buy.
Perhaps, if the manufacturers are willing to start over again, they can begin by finding out what it is their modern American customers want in a car.
Showing posts with label Vote. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vote. Show all posts
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Proposition 8
Even after the votes have been counted, the heat is still on about California's Proposition 8. I have a lot of thoughts on the issue. I only put a few in a letter I sent to an editor. In case the letter doesn't get published, or those interested don't get that newspaper, I'll publish it here as well.
I noticed that Molly Metz said California’s Proposition 8 "gives the entire country the right to call us second class citizens," and I wondered, had her voting rights been removed? Was her social security reduced? Was her right to bear arms removed? Was she imprisoned? Our nation has a long, proud history of granting people the right to believe what they will believe.
Often gay rights are called a civil right, and compared to the wonderful revolution that ended limiting citizen’s rights based on their genetic history or national origin. Some psychologists suggest that there may be a gene that dictates homosexual inclinations. If this Proposition 8 called for brain scans that would determine which parts of society would have their rights stripped, it would have been a civil rights issue.
Our founding fathers fled from the social trends of Europe to found a country of religious freedom. When a few of these religions supported values traditional to America, and rejected following a modern European and media trend, the majority of the citizens voted to support them. Should gay rights supercede religious freedom or voters’ choices?
Do I hate gays? No. I love the people. I just don’t sanction their actions.
What Rights Do Gays Have?
I noticed that Molly Metz said California’s Proposition 8 "gives the entire country the right to call us second class citizens," and I wondered, had her voting rights been removed? Was her social security reduced? Was her right to bear arms removed? Was she imprisoned? Our nation has a long, proud history of granting people the right to believe what they will believe.
Often gay rights are called a civil right, and compared to the wonderful revolution that ended limiting citizen’s rights based on their genetic history or national origin. Some psychologists suggest that there may be a gene that dictates homosexual inclinations. If this Proposition 8 called for brain scans that would determine which parts of society would have their rights stripped, it would have been a civil rights issue.
Our founding fathers fled from the social trends of Europe to found a country of religious freedom. When a few of these religions supported values traditional to America, and rejected following a modern European and media trend, the majority of the citizens voted to support them. Should gay rights supercede religious freedom or voters’ choices?
Do I hate gays? No. I love the people. I just don’t sanction their actions.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Superintendent of Public Instruction, Part 2
Remember David Blomstrom? One of the candidates invited to this forum, but who neither replied to the invitation, nor was present? Well, I accidentally came across him responding repeatedly and heatedly to a blog that supported Randy Dorn, former chair of the K-12 house education committee (the one in the Legislature). Trying to be thorough and objective in my notes, I've added included the link to that candidate's views.
What strategies would you promote to encourage and support minorities and students who are different?
Randy: recognize differences. Have their parents involved in all the grades. Eliminate roadblocks. In the Math section of the WASL we need to eliminate the essays. We need to follow the guidelines of the National Math Advisory Panel. We’re way off!
Donald Hansler: I am opposed to any discrimination. We need to improve the ESL program. The high drop-out rate is because of the WASL program (kids with test anxiety). We need two levels of HS diplomas: one for those who can pass the WASL, and one for those who can’t.
Dr. Terry B.: (Referenced House Bill 1209). We need high standards in all skills. We have statewide core standards. The achievement gap is because of racism in society. We need respect between communities and school. We need to have resources to support. Native Americans: we recorded Tulalip stories from tribal members to incorporate into the children’s reading curriculum.
Enid Duncan: we all function differently in different parts of the brain. Look at new developments in science.
What is your vision for education for the next 20 years?
Donald Hansler: I’d make a lot of changes. E-mail me for details. We can develop a fair, efficient education system in this state, then the country, then the world.
Dr. Terry B.: All kids in our state will meet state standards. We need to fully fund education for all kids in the state. We need a connection between K12 and higher education.
Enid Duncan: We need to do something now. Don’t wait 20 years! I took my struggling child, labeled “IQ of 59” across the country to Harvard. The man did not use papers, but used his body to learn he is very dyslexic. I didn’t sit idle.
Randy Dorn: Beyond tenth grade, kids choose interests so they can choose a career, not a job. We need more resources. It may take 1-on-1 or 2 or 3 to get struggling kids up. We want education everywhere. Have quality and skilled teachers in every classroom; that will take more resources.
Randy: recognize differences. Have their parents involved in all the grades. Eliminate roadblocks. In the Math section of the WASL we need to eliminate the essays. We need to follow the guidelines of the National Math Advisory Panel. We’re way off!
Donald Hansler: I am opposed to any discrimination. We need to improve the ESL program. The high drop-out rate is because of the WASL program (kids with test anxiety). We need two levels of HS diplomas: one for those who can pass the WASL, and one for those who can’t.
Dr. Terry B.: (Referenced House Bill 1209). We need high standards in all skills. We have statewide core standards. The achievement gap is because of racism in society. We need respect between communities and school. We need to have resources to support. Native Americans: we recorded Tulalip stories from tribal members to incorporate into the children’s reading curriculum.
Enid Duncan: we all function differently in different parts of the brain. Look at new developments in science.
What is your vision for education for the next 20 years?
Donald Hansler: I’d make a lot of changes. E-mail me for details. We can develop a fair, efficient education system in this state, then the country, then the world.
Dr. Terry B.: All kids in our state will meet state standards. We need to fully fund education for all kids in the state. We need a connection between K12 and higher education.
Enid Duncan: We need to do something now. Don’t wait 20 years! I took my struggling child, labeled “IQ of 59” across the country to Harvard. The man did not use papers, but used his body to learn he is very dyslexic. I didn’t sit idle.
Randy Dorn: Beyond tenth grade, kids choose interests so they can choose a career, not a job. We need more resources. It may take 1-on-1 or 2 or 3 to get struggling kids up. We want education everywhere. Have quality and skilled teachers in every classroom; that will take more resources.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Candidates for State Superintendent, Part 1
All six 2008 candidates for State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) were invited to a public forum at the Marysville YMCA, Saturday, July 19, 2008. Of the public attending, I appeared to be half or less the age of everyone present, who was not a child of someone else there. I felt self-conscious, but was too determined to be informed. Two candidates, John Blair and David Blomstrom, did not reply to the invitation and were not present. The remaining candidates: Randy Dorn, Enid Duncan, Donald Hansler, and incumbent Terry Bergeson were present. I tried to take thorough, objective notes. I will post them as I get them transcribed.
Randy Dorn has served seven years in the State House of Representatives. During part or all of that time, he was the Legislative Member assigned to House Education. He was also there when the House did the Education Reform Bill. He has been a high school principal and is certified to be a superintendent. He recalls one mistake he supported while in the House. Looking back, he sees how foolish it was to require fourth graders to take a two-week test. It took him only a few hours to take the SAT for college. School should be about Hope, Opportunity and Opening Doors, not closing them. We need to look at all opportunities for kids: Military, Technical or University.
Enid Dorn helped the dyslexia pilot program bill. She first came to the US on scholarship. Enid emphasizes brain differences. We think in different ways. She is not about testing.
Donald Hansler is a retired science teacher. He has been involved, off and on since 1951, in scientific research. He has worked with forty different principals. He has spent fourteen years volunteering. He gave out (free) a book, Purls of Wisdom, as well as a hand-out explaining his views. His e-mail address is DonHansler1@aol.com, and he encourages people to e-mail him for his position papers on 18 different topics in education. His book shares his life opinions. He doesn’t believe teaching abstinence in schools is effective at changing teenage behavior, does propose that condoms should be available cheaply in every public restroom in America, the maximum sentence should be five years (ending in either freedom or death) and 92 other ideas.
Terry Bergeson is the incumbent. She has held this position for the last twelve years. She has a Doctorate of Education, and is a former teacher. For the last five years, Washington State has been first in SAT scores (of states where 50% or more of students take the SAT).
What strategies would you promote to incourage and support students who are minorities?
Randy Dorn: recognize differences. Have parents involved in all the grades. We need to get rid of road blocks. We need to eliminate the English essays in the Math section of the WASL (although, of course, essays could remain in the English section). We need to follow the guidelines of the National Math Advisory Panel (NMAP)! We’re way off.
Randy Dorn has served seven years in the State House of Representatives. During part or all of that time, he was the Legislative Member assigned to House Education. He was also there when the House did the Education Reform Bill. He has been a high school principal and is certified to be a superintendent. He recalls one mistake he supported while in the House. Looking back, he sees how foolish it was to require fourth graders to take a two-week test. It took him only a few hours to take the SAT for college. School should be about Hope, Opportunity and Opening Doors, not closing them. We need to look at all opportunities for kids: Military, Technical or University.
Enid Dorn helped the dyslexia pilot program bill. She first came to the US on scholarship. Enid emphasizes brain differences. We think in different ways. She is not about testing.
Donald Hansler is a retired science teacher. He has been involved, off and on since 1951, in scientific research. He has worked with forty different principals. He has spent fourteen years volunteering. He gave out (free) a book, Purls of Wisdom, as well as a hand-out explaining his views. His e-mail address is DonHansler1@aol.com, and he encourages people to e-mail him for his position papers on 18 different topics in education. His book shares his life opinions. He doesn’t believe teaching abstinence in schools is effective at changing teenage behavior, does propose that condoms should be available cheaply in every public restroom in America, the maximum sentence should be five years (ending in either freedom or death) and 92 other ideas.
Terry Bergeson is the incumbent. She has held this position for the last twelve years. She has a Doctorate of Education, and is a former teacher. For the last five years, Washington State has been first in SAT scores (of states where 50% or more of students take the SAT).
What strategies would you promote to incourage and support students who are minorities?
Randy Dorn: recognize differences. Have parents involved in all the grades. We need to get rid of road blocks. We need to eliminate the English essays in the Math section of the WASL (although, of course, essays could remain in the English section). We need to follow the guidelines of the National Math Advisory Panel (NMAP)! We’re way off.
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