RANT: Speed cameras

Thursday, August 7, 2008

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/blagojevich/
1095739,CST-NWS-blago07.article

http://tinyurl.com/62jq3e

Say cheese, speeders
SPRINGFIELD | Gov hopes to raise millions to fight crime by putting cameras on interstates
August 7, 2008
FRANK MAIN Crime Reporter/fmain@suntimes.com

*** begin quote ***

To make good on his offer to help Chicago combat violence, Gov. Blagojevich envisions putting speed cameras on interstates across Illinois — and using the revenue to form an “elite tactical team” that would operate in Chicago and other cities.

*** end quote ***

When will folks realize that the political class is sticking it to them. This is nothing more than fund raising and highway robbery.

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RANT: Stinker “Mama Mia”

Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Fromt he movie "Mama Mia"

From the movie "Mama Mia"

Stinker Alert!

This chick flick could only be loved by a chick in need of a flick! I was suspect of it when I heard the casting. MS as Mama … nahh. PB and the romantic make lead singing and dnacing … absurd.

Whoever cast this should hang up their credentials. It ruins the movie.

I had the great pleasure to see the original cast play in London. Probably the best I’ve ever seen.

This movie is the probably the worst. And, I’ve seen some stinkers.

No amount of good hard work by the second string can save it.

Save your money and wait for it on free TV. Then all you’ll waste is your time.

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RANT: Air-Travel Pass Data Stolen From SFO?

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/08/05/1539231&from=rss

“Clear” Air-Travel Pass Data Stolen From SFO
Posted by timothy on Tuesday August 05, @12:12PM

from the is-kip-hawley-thetan-clear? dept.
Privacy Security Transportation

*** begin quote ***

Kozar_The_Malignant writes “A laptop containing the unencrypted security data for 33,000 travelers using the Clear system was stolen at San Francisco International Airport on July 26, according to CBS5 Television. The Clear system allows travelers who register and pay a $100.00 annual fee to speed through airport security by using a smart card at special kiosks in some airports. TSA has suspended new registrations in the system, which is run by a private contractor, Verified Identity Pass, Inc., a subsidiary of GE. The laptop was apparently stolen from a locked office at SFO. The company has now decided that it might be a good idea to encrypt the data in their systems. They are in the process of notifying customers that all of their personal data, including name, address, SSi number, passport number, date of birth, etc. has been compromised.”

*** end quote ***

Ahhh, your gooferment at work. Why am I not surprised!

I had to take a break at work and blog this one. It’s just sweet!

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RANT: Ron Paul on the Housing Bill 7/23/08

Thursday, July 24, 2008

RANT: The long “All Star” game or where was Alex anyway!

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Well, one thought that always occurs to me is that the need a rule that ends the game after say the tenth inning.

I’d suggest that the team who scored the run that creates the tie loses. The other team got to the “high water mark” first. Like in a race, I got to my run total before you did.

But, I could live with a “King Me” rule to create drama. Like in checkers, I get to the back row and create a king. When I match your run total, I win.

As I said, I could care less which winner rule MLB would choose, I’d just like to over after ten innings. Watching the Mets over the years, I’ve been in excruciating pain of extr innings many times. Even the player secretly beg for an end.

:-)

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RANT: Energy policy — put Congress in an asylum

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Message from Luddite:

*** begin quote ***
I hope congress allows drilling offshore, drilling in Alaska, windmills out west, solar anywhere…and stop getting in the way of progress.

*** end quote ***

But, it is not just drilling. We need new refineries (NIMBY) and nukes. Oil doesn’t go into cars; gas does. France get 80% of its electricity from nuke; the US less than 5 (? or so I have heard touted). That’s a disgrace. We need private enterprise to be freed from gooferment regulation to invent us out of this box. Congress should be in a box!

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RANT: Rangel rents N.Y. apartments at bargain rates

Friday, July 11, 2008

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25629176

Rangel rents N.Y. apartments at bargain rates
State, city regulations require that they be used as primary residences

*** begin quote ***

Rep. Charles Rangel is renting four apartments in one building for rates that are far below market value. He has been a critic of landlords’ callousness but hasn’t had much to say about the real estate company that owns the building.

*** end quote ***

Where are the prosecutors? Malfeisence by an elected federal official?

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RANT: Hey Governor Corzine … … still wanna hear about state cars? … (continued) …

Monday, July 7, 2008

You don’t? TOO BAD!

This morning 07 July at 0715 edst on Route 295 South milepost 43 … …

… … a silver olds (I can check the rear of the car he was so close) sg 24 722 … …

… … up my ass at leisurely 70 (Your serf speed limit is 65) … …

… … I was slowly passing lots of traffic otherwise I’d have been cruise controlling in the right lane … …

… … tailgating the poor peon in his way (me!) … …

… … I moved over when it was safe maybe a quarter mile tops … …

… … your bozo blew by with a dirty look and maybe a Hawaiian finger greeting … …

… … never left the left lane (Do you teach them to do that, or is that a qualification for working for the state of nujerzee!?) … …

… … as stomped on it to jump to tailgating the next poor slob who was less than 10 car lengths in front!!!!!

Any way I am sure that he was hurrying to getaway from I assume trenton to protect and serve me.

Arghhh!

Arghhhhhhh!

P.S.: Dear reader, I don’t write these every day. Just when I ARRIVE early for work, particularly agitated aggravated and have to wait for my employer workstation to get online.

P.P.S.: This one really torqued me off. I may even call the gripe line for state cars in Trenton when I calm down!

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RANT: The Social Security scam

Saturday, July 5, 2008

http://www.freestateproject.org/node/13577
http://www.freemindstv.com/episode68.html
Free Minds TV July 4, 2008 (EP 68)

At the 22 minute mark of this video, FreeMindsTV tackles the Social Security Scam.

Forced “saving”!

Younger workers are screwed.

# – # – #

They nail a few points but overlook many of the flaws and falsehoods of the “plan”.

* It’s racist. It’s sexist. It transfers money from poor minority men to rich white women.

* It’s inter generational socialism.

* It’s unfair to people who die young; cheats their estate of all their savings.

* Ties into cigarettes and the morality around that. Politicians can’t get us to quit smoking because of its impact on tax collections and life span. If we seriously quit smoking, social security would go broke faster!

* It has been changed by politicians to our determent over time — from voluntary non-taxable to involuntary taxable! What Congress bestows; can and will be changed.

* An American educated economist in the 70s successfully moved Chile from socialistic social security just like here to private system without government control. Much to the people’s benefit. In a country where 70% of the people were illiterate. Amazing how people can understand and manage their own money.

* It has a negative rate of return. Not counting inflation, I’ve seen studies that assumed constant value of the dollar, and estimate the ROI of SocSec at between a negative one and two percent. Figure in inflation and it’s a joke.

* It ties into the inflation rate in several ways. Social Security takes your ‘contribution’ wink wink in more valuable dollars now and pays you back in less valuable dollars later. Then you get to spend your social security check on much more expensive stuff. Since inflation is not uniform across products.

* It give the politicians yet another slush fund. And, employs all those relatives and voters.

* It distracts the tax payer from the real issue — liberty!

Argh!

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RANT: Why Shakir Can’t Read

Saturday, June 28, 2008

http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/06/why_shakir_cant_read.html

June 28, 2008
Why Shakir Can’t Read
By Helen Cadogan

*** begin quote ***

All across America, schools are confronted with Shakirs who either do not show up for school or who attend school but hang out in the hallways, bathrooms, and other hideaways. Even in well disciplined schools, there are Shakirs who go to class and put their heads on the desk. They refuse to work; the same way, their parents refuse to attend parent-teacher meetings. They sleep, they disrupt, curse, fight, and do no work. Many of those who do work, do it indifferently; they go through the motions expecting to achieve high marks for minimal effort. Moreover, even when these Shakirs have done no work at all, they expect to graduate.

*** end quote ***

But, I am robbed to pay for this nonsense?

Welfare is the root of this evil. And, the Gooferment loves welfare. It empowers Gooferment on so many levels: willing voters who vote for more dole; more dole requires more state workers; and of course there are contracts to give out as political plums.

Argh!

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RANT: Airlines “suck”?

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Recent Iowa trip was a hoot. It gave me enough to blog about for eons.

Let’s take the flight home on Continental’s ExpressJet service from Omaha NE to EWR.

First, departure time was changed from 1115 local to 1150 local. Never an explanation. I had printed boardign passes the night prior that say 1115. No one EVER mentions a word about that.

OK, we board. And, push from the gate.

We get out on the taxiway, and a bad news announcement.

(Argh, note to self and all travelers, carry a recorder to capture the announcements!)

Something like, EWR just closed due to THUNDERSTORMS. We have no gate. Get out the way. We will be sitting for an hour out somewhere quiet. No gate; not worth going back and unloading and reloading.

They let us use “electronic devices”. Cell phones galore. They fed us. Yuck, (We carry our own always, no big deal.)

An hour later, still closed. 45 minutes more, not worth going back and unloading and reloading.

Take off. BUT, warned that we will have some loops to allow EWR traffic to clear. Argh!

A leisurely flight, air time was supposed to be under three hours. It was closer to four.

Arrive EWR some four hours after schedule.

Arrive a EWR. Luggage comes out somewhere. (Not where we were told.)

Our limo driver says “What thunderstorms?”

Who do you believe?

Argh!

#####


RANT: Much ado about nothing — the Olympics

Monday, June 16, 2008

http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/06/15/american-becky-hammon-called-traitor-for-representing-russia-a/

American Becky Hammon Called ‘Traitor’ for Representing Russia at the Olympics
Posted Jun 15th 2008 9:55AM by Michael David Smith
Filed under: Women’s Sports, USA

*** begin quote ***

Becky Hammon is an American who plays for the WNBA’s San Antonio Silver Stars. She’s also going to play in the Olympics in Beijing — but not for Team USA.

Instead, Hammon will play for Russia’s Olympic basketball team. Hammon has no Russian ancestry, but she has played professionally in Russia, and she became a Russian citizen to aid her basketball career. In the eyes of the International Olympic Committee, that’s good enough for her to play for Russia.

That doesn’t sit well with some in this country. During a CNN interview, Team USA women’s basketball coach Anne Donovan referred to Hammon as a “traitor.” Similar sentiments were expressed today on ESPN’s Outside the Lines.

*** end quote ***

WHO CARES!

It’s not like the Olympics means anything.

Except maybe to keep the illusion of ‘country’ going.

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RANT: Another great example of man’s inhumanity to man

Sunday, June 15, 2008

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/15/opinion/15kristof.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

The Weapon of Rape
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
Op-Ed Columnist
Published: June 15, 2008

*** begin quote ***

… my most indelible memory from my most recent visit, last year, came as I was interviewing a young woman who had been gang-raped.

I had taken her aside to protect her privacy, but a large group of women suddenly approached. I tried to shoo them away, and then the women explained that they had all been gang-raped and had decided that despite the stigma and risk of reprisal, they would all tell their stories.

So let’s hope that this week the world’s leaders and diplomats stop offering excuses for paralysis and begin emulating the courageous outspokenness of those Congolese women.

*** end quote ***

And ‘world leaders’ debate global warming’, and one half the world’s population is targeted by this ‘strategy’. Maybe not today, right now, but if it’s ever deemed ‘acceptable’, it’s a gun aimed at every woman.

Another great example of man’s inhumanity to man.

Argh.


RANT: slapstick doesn’t come cheap

Saturday, June 14, 2008

http://www.lewrockwell.com/akers/akers86.html

*** begin quote ***

This slapstick doesn’t come cheap. The TSA, which annually eats about $6 billion of our taxes, has gobbled $36 billion since it began operations in 2002. That means we’ve spent $1,800,000 to keep each of those 20,000 terrorists off our flights – not counting the Department of Homeland Security’s billions. Heck, let’s disband the TSA and pay off Al Qaeda instead. Six billion divided among 20,000 terrorists gives every man $300,000 per year. Tell me they’d rather live in caves than retire to some Mediterranean mansion on our money.

*** end quote ***

Argh!

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RANT: Google is allowing the blogosphere to be polluted

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

http://york-college.blogspot.com/2008/06/york-college_08.html

Google is allowing the blogosphere to be polluted with trash scrapper sites like this. I’ve run into a bundle in doing Jasper Jottings. Every college in the world is represented with this trash.

They’ve ever got a way of turning off the ‘flag this site’ feature. (Or did Google eliminate it?) I complained to Google and got a form letter back.

Argh!

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RANT: Another blogger is poking sticks in my cage

Thursday, June 5, 2008

FROM MY FRIEND “TIMIDSOULSOLESUPPORT”
(He’s the sole support of his family and can’t afford controversy.)

*****begin quote*****
I don’t want to be this political on my Blog, but you might have use for it.

Check out this quote:

“Government programs also breed highly destructive dependence. How destructive? Well, I once took care of an alcoholic patient who bragged that his government disability checks allowed him to purchase better quality whiskey than he could afford to buy when he wasn’t considered disabled because of his alcoholism. The government thus subsidized his alcoholism.”

From this website http://www.haciendapub.com/article49.html

You can credit me anonymously. Maybe you can give me a cool pseudonym too like your buddy Luddite
*****end quote*****

Now don’t pick on my friend LUDDITE, it’s hard work staying so far behind the technology curve while earning his daily bread as a consultant on “technology project management”. He reviews projects and tells them to hang back from the ‘bleeding edge’. :-)

And when did I become the annointer of ‘kool knickknames’?

Now I’m the dumping ground for all controversy?

Oh well, it’s a well touted ‘fact’ that, in the First American Revolution, only that less than a third favored the Brits, less than a third favored the rebels, and solid third wanted to just be left alone. Fewer than 10% actually fought.

So I guess when the Third American Revolution comes, I’ll have to do the shoot for both of them — LUDDITE and TIMIDSOULSOLESUPPORT. And the seven others too timid to take on the gangs in gooferment.

What was that Churchill quote?

“If you will not fight for right when you can easily win without bloodshed; if you will not fight when your victory is sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves.” —Winston Churchill

Yes, “Third”. The War of Northern Aggression was the Second. The right of the people to peacefully withdraw was defeated on the field of battle. And, that was the end of the American Experiment. The end of the Republic. It just spun along like a out of control comet. Until it winds us up here.

Where the gooferment allows drunks to buy a better brand of booze. And that’s a controversial idea.

Figure out all your taxes, if you can, fellow slaves, so you’ll know just how much a slave you are. It feels like 100% to me.

Wonder if that’s too controversial?

#####


RANT: my ezbake oven won’t work either!

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

http://www.lewrockwell.com/lott/lott63.html

Don’t Buy Political Bulbs
by John R. Lott, Jr.

*** begin quote ***

No matter how well-meaning, politicians frequently fail to understand all the consequences of their laws. Real world costs, the costs and benefits faced by those who will actually have to live with the regulations, often elude those who pass these rules. Yet, even by those depressing standards, problems with the mandated that people will soon be forced to use stand out.

*** end quote ***

And,.

And you want the gooferment to solve YOUR problems.

Now who’s the ‘dim bulb’?

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RANT: Every politician should be forced to show up every day for work until …

Monday, June 2, 2008

http://www.lewrockwell.com/reese/reese460.html

A True Memorial
by Charley Reese

*** begin quote ***

OK, here is my post-Memorial Day gripe. Memorial Day is not the Fourth of July, Flag Day, Armed Forces Day or Veterans Day. It is a day to remember the war dead. You don’t do that with picnics, brass bands, parades, pompous speeches and hype for the current war. “Memorial” and “celebration” are not synonyms. The day was intended for visiting cemeteries, not beaches or amusement parks.

*** end quote ***

I agree. Let’s cut the charade. Turn Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and all the days back into regular days. We don’t need to honor anyone. We’re not serious about it. Why give the gangsters that put us in, and keep us in, these holes a day off.

In fact, I thing that every politician should be forced to show up at their desk every day until we have all our troops back inside the fifty states!

Make that a requirement and they’d all be home by Saturday. Even if you did it on a Friday.

What a joke!

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RANT: Savage, Christian (MC2007) has an economic plan

Saturday, May 31, 2008

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=32101821

Savage, Christian (MC2007)

*** begin quote ***

Thanks, Everyone, for your feedback. I appreciate it greatly. Sorry for “spamming” you all again, but I received A LOT of feedback so I just thought it would be easier to explain my plan in this mass thread.

However, I don’t believe you understand the concept of what my plan would do.

Yes, it would “triple the Capital Gains Tax” but it will REPEAL (outright) the double-taxation of Shareholder DIVIDENDS.

Think about it: if the Gov’t passed such a law, it would be what economists call a “Negative Externality vs. Positive Externality.” The publicly-traded corporations in the Free Market would respond by deciding to distribute a fixed percentage of their corporate profits in order to avoid paying the higher Capital Gains Tax which they only have to pay when stocks are SOLD.

As a result, investor CONFIDENCE & DEMAND for stocks would sound more attractive to the general public who would see an opportunity to receive “dividend checks” tax-free even if the Company’s stock would fall. More stocks the company sells, the more investment capital is
available for business expansion. So, in essence, NOBODY will pay the “tripled Capital Gains Tax.” [ ; ) ]

best,
Christian

*** end quote ***

Sigh, ahh to be young and idealistic again.

Sorry! I can NOT buy the ‘solution’. On so many levels, I’d suggest that I think you are SO wrong.

First, your ‘solution’ presumes that it is moral for the gang that calls itself ‘government’ to steal from people engaged in non-aggressive behavior.

Second, you overlook the fact that folks have made decisions based on the current set of rules. And, you’re going to jerk the rug out from their plans. because you think this is ‘better’!

Third, you ignore that no matter how perfect your plan is, someone else is going to write, interpret, implement and enforce it. Your ‘pig’ will go into one side and ‘sausage’ will come out the other end. Any resemblance after the politicians and their lobbyists get finished will be purely coincidental.

Bottom line, look to reduce government, and make us all free.

Eliminate the capital gains tax completely, it is just taxing us on the Fed’s inflation. Eliminate income taxes, not just the dividend taxation, it is immoral.

imho,
fjohn68

p.s., I’m old. You youngsters are in need of another American revolution. You’ve all been brainwashed by ‘education’.

# – # – #

RANT: Savage, Christian (MC2007) has an economic plan

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RANT: ‘if voting made any difference it would be illegal.’

Thursday, May 29, 2008

http://channel-surfing.blogspot.com/2008/05/distracted-by-electoral-spectacle.html

*** begin quote ***

In an interview with Chris Hedges in The Nation, he says that he is not preoccupied by the election, as so many on the left have been, quoting his brother, the late Father Philip Berrigan, “who said that ‘if voting made any difference it would be illegal.'”

*** end quote ***

True, true, true!

OK, you go find an anti-war candidate for vote for? The only one Ron Paul was marginalized out of the race.

And, you think there’s a difference?

Sheeple!

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RANT: the ONLY chance we have to get away from the ‘gooferment education’ paradigm is ‘home schooling’

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/05/subway_bans_homeschooled_kids.html

May 27, 2008
Subway Bans Homeschooled Kids from Essay Contest
By Ned Barnett

*** begin quote ***

Subway — the multi-national fast-food sub-shop giant — has shot themselves in the foot. Again. The goal of their latest promotion was to win the loyalty of parents of grade school-aged kids — to increase market share, revenue and profits. It was supposed to be a simple exercise in business marketing and promotion.

*** end quote ***

No Subway for me.

As a nation, the ONLY chance we have to get away from the ‘gooferment education’ paradigm is ‘home schooling’. Every time they embarrass and show up the teacher’s union driven gooferment system for the high-priced under-performing dud it is; that’s one more possible pin tin the balloon.

We can only hope to escape this institutionalize stupidity.

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RANT: If Bob Barr is a ‘libertarian’

Monday, May 26, 2008

http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/021174.html

May 25, 2008
6th Ballot: Libertarian Party Nominates Bob Barr
Posted by Eric A. Garris at May 25, 2008 04:32 PM

*** begin quote ***

The final total:

Bob Barr: 324
Mary Ruwart: 276
NOTA: 26

*** end quote ***

If Bob Barr is a ‘libertarian’, then I don’t know what a ‘libertarian’ is!

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RANT: Bad ‘public transit’ why?

Sunday, May 18, 2008

http://www.bluejersey.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=7829

*[new] Bad ‘public transit’ why? (0.00 / 0)

May I take a stab at it?

First, it’s not ‘public transit’. It is a gooferment boondoggle to reward friends, punish enemies, and feather various politicians’ nests. Once you realize that it will all make sense. Based on that standard, it makes perfect sense. It delivers graft, jobs for supporters, and a ton of campaign issues to run on.

Want good ‘public transit’?

It’s easy. Just throw the gooferment out of it. Spin it out to the employees. Auction it off. Of best, give every taxpayer a share of stock in it. No regulations, no laws, no mucking about in any way by the gooferment.

Want it faster?

Eliminate all taxes on earnings from providing transportation services.

We’ll have all sorts of solutions, sizes, and shapes. Heck, with that type of incentives, I’ll go into supplying the public with transit.

alibertarianin08824
at gmail dot com

by: alibertarianin08824 @ Sun May 18, 2008 at 10:18:27 PM EDT

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RANT: compassionate

Saturday, May 17, 2008

“In political life today, you are considered compassionate if you demand that government impose your preferences on others.” – John Stossel

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RANT: Name one government program that is a success?

Saturday, May 10, 2008

FROM A FORUM EXCHANGE

You probably want to believe in the FEMA myth too. It would be comforting. “I’m from the gooferment and I’m here to help” — help screw up your life worse than it already is.

Sorry, couldn’t resist.

I really do believe that, at the root of all human problems, our belief in government, the force that we give it and it wields against our fellow man, is our downfall as human beings. Like a mental disease. Like a parasite. Like a desert mirage.

When challenged, I always ask “Name one government program that is a success?” Bear in mind that buying a hammer for 5k$ is not a success. Effectiveness and efficiency. I have yet to hear of one.

Disclaimer: I stole this idea from the Free Talk Live podcast.

Arghhhhhh?

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RANT: seeking “intelligent life” at the other end of the keyboard

Sunday, May 4, 2008

*** begin quote ***

Received your email seeking “intelligent life” at the other end of the keyboard. Pretty hard to find this in today’s society. I’ve become a cynic but I see remedial math and English courses for college freshmen, liberal thinking that says abortion and euthanasia is ok, 25% of high school female students having STDs, students in high school and college who believe they are entitled to a grade of A or B for just showing up, and other signs of entitlement and liberalism. You got me started!

*** end quote ***

I’m only a 68BEEE, (paid extra for that Electronics E), and agree with your assessment. I believe that a Secular Progressive fascist / socialist movement captured our education system. Horace Mann led the adoption of the Prussian education system in Massachusetts in the 1850s. It spread like wildfire. Mann is often considered “the father of American public education”. Unfortunately for us, and know to many of the then elite, the Prussian education system, which is virtually unchanged from its roots, was designed to make cannon fodder and factory workers that could be easily led by the elite. What you are reporting is the result of that remarkable German Engineering. And it ain’t a BMW. IMHO the American Catholic Church, and others rolled over and played dead. They let their children be kdnapped by a runaway State. Look to the European history of the great tension between Church and King. When the King oppressed, the people used the Church to balance. Liberalism once meant moving from an autocrat to a laize faire human rights society. When the elite looked at post-revolutionary America free, energetic, and uncontrolable, they “knew better”. Since then it has been a parade down to perdition. Government is a parasite on humanity. I can’t find one redeeming aspect of it. Now we are supposed to worship the godless State who provides all things. I thought the Communists lost the Cold War? Unfortunately the chickens will come home to roost, with dire consequences, for all of us. Maybe we won’t see the ‘fun’. I hope I won’t. History teaches us that those periods are very bad experiences.

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