Democrat Harry Reid once famously observed that Barack Obama's popularity is partially based on the fact that he is "light-skinned" and "has no Negro dialect unless he wants to have one." A skill which was amply demonstrated when the president recently addressed an awards ceremony for the Black Congressional Caucus, and did everything except whip out a banjo and sing "Mammy."
The Harvard-educated president was suddenly dropping g's at the ends of words, and using the term "y'all," no doubt reflecting his early upbringing in the Deep South...of Indonesia.
And while Barack Obama's condescending style of presentation was troubling, his actual message was flat out racially offensive. According to the president, the reason Black employment numbers are so bad is that Black people are complainin', grumblin', cryin' and lounging around in bedroom slippers rather than putting on their "marching shoes."
And just who should these allegedly whiny layabouts be marching on? Why, the people in Washington "who are fighting us!" Like those obvious racists in the Tea Party who, according to one member of Obama's audience, would like to see Black citizens "hanging on a tree."
Except there's a little problem with the president's tent revival speechifyin'. Specifically, Tea Party favorite Herman Cain (who has twice as many Black parents as Barack Obama) just won the GOP Florida straw poll by a landslide... collecting more votes than runner-ups Perry and Romney combined.
Barack Obama's shuck-and-jive race-baiting not only demeans the Black demographic whose vote he so covets, but also demeans the struggles of the Civil Rights movement and the office of the presidency itself. This being the case, Hope n' Change will be delighted if it turns out to be Herman Cain who eventually throws Obama out of the Whitehouse and slams the door afterward.
And Mr. Cain? Don't forget to change the locks.
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41 comments:
While I would not fear a Herman Cain presidency, I would fear for him. His business skills will not be sufficient protection against the shark feeding frenzy that is D.C. politics. I would rather see him cultivated as a vice-president in a conservative administration, learning under someone who is familiar with shark wrangling and nasty hand-to-hand political combat. I believe he would then be ready to do battle in that unique arena.
Good thing he stopped when he did - could have slipped into an Earl Butz (U.S. Secretary of Agriculture under Presidents Nixon & Ford) inspired gaffe - he already covered the loose shoes thing. What if he had told them to leave behind their bedroom activities and warm bathrooms to "press on"?
Earl Butz
Well, being comedic myself this AM, I can't waaaaiiiiitttt for Obama to come to a gay crowd and lisp and sashay a bit!
Oh, poor man, we got ourselves a "don't donate, don't vote" campaign going on right now. I never liked the man; I didn't vote for him. But you know my ninnies, they tend to vote for whomever says barely a nice thing about them. Maybe a Republican should try that; see what gives, eh? Something like, oh: "we don't get it; but we'll leave you alone; and cut your taxes too!" Yes, that might tip the rest of my fellows over to our side. (What can I say? I'm trying to save a country here.)
Meanwhile, weirdly, I thought of this this morning: I provide hundreds of jobs! Why, without me smooching a sissy every now and then all the "family values" poseurs would not have jobs. And do they thank me for their jobs? No, they do not. But still, it is I who puts food on their tables, shoes on their kids' feet, and pays their mortgage. Why, I'm a bigger job creating machine than Obama ever was. And I don't need no friggin' teleprompter; I just got to wake up in the morning!
Oh my, I'm just laughing my tuckus off; I think I shall call all my aunts and uncles, cousins and siblings today, and see what's up. Oh, don't worry; they think I'm a little nuts too. :)
@Angry Hoosier Dad- I'd fear for Herman Cain, too. Whoever the GOP nominee is, they're going to be facing a one billion dollar smear campaign. How can we actually wish that on anyone we respect? And while I haven't made up my mind on who I hope the eventual nominee is, I'm hoping that Herman Cain plays a significant role in the next administration. He has intelligence, honesty, optimism, and leadership that Obama can only dream of.
@Alan Markus- Frankly, I think the president "Butzed" already with his accusations. Can you imagine the outcry if a white politician told black people to stop crying, take off their bedroom slippers, and get to work?
@Jim Hlavac- Obama does seem to have a chameleon-like ability to take on the characteristics of groups he's talking to. He's Irish! He's Jewish! He's Muslim! He's Amos & Andy! So he could probably pass himself off as Gay-ish without too much trouble. After all, he's already considered metrosexual, and there doesn't seem to be much of a record of his having dated any members of the opposite sex in his youth. On the other hand, he's said to have spent a lot of time at "Man's Country" in Chicago, so he must be straight, right...?
obama's remarks were undoubtedly demeaning and offensive. Sadly, however, I suspect that he will again get 90+% of the black vote no matter how big a fool he makes of himself.
If Herman Cain is on the 2012 ticket he should spend some time talking with Clarence Thomas in preparation for the 'Uncle Tom' label he's sure to be tagged with.
For generations, the Democrats have considered Black America their slaves. "Vote for us or it's back to Jim Crow" has been the message since the '60s. (Never mind that it was always Democrats who were responsible for Jim Crow)
But something seemingly miraculous happened during the "evil" Reagan '80s; the black middle class, which was but a demographic speck at the beginning of the decade, exploded. As more of Black Americans became better educated, more affluent, more successful and more self sufficient, many started to realize that the Democrat agenda of set-asides, "Affirmative Action", high taxes and regulation for the productive was actually hurting them.
When the Bush/Obama neo-Keynesian economic agenda began to take its toll, it was Black Americans in the emerging middle-class that took the biggest hit. These are the people who have been fighting to escape the life of the underclass and have had a taste of success. They can't be happy. And more of them are now coming to the realization that more of Obama can't be good for them.
Having followed Herman Cain for the last several years, I can't help but like the man and his message. His ideology is Reagan on steroids and he's a proponent of the FairTax. But @Angry Hoosier Dad is correct; Cain is not ready for prime-time. Washington will eat him alive as President. However, he'd make an excellent VP choice.
That he won the straw poll was a surprise, and yet it really wasn't. Cain simply doesn't have the well-groomed stage presence that a Romney or Perry has. But what he does have that they don't is a strong, uncompromising message. It's a message that the GOP front-runners should embrace less they become another McCain and we end up with other 4 years of Obama.
Nice to see Mr Cain finally getting some traction. Bachman's in the tank, Perry's 'inner scumbag' is beginning to wear thin, and Mitt's all 'who else you got?' - Mr Romney, meet Mr Cain - and stay out of his way... IF he gets traction, and can turn it into momentum, he just might be electable..
@Stilton: I think some of the groups you accuse of having Øbama amongst their number are now offended. In any case, there is so LITTLE incontrovertible evidence of Øbama's past that he can claim ANYTHING and get away with it. (Or, at least, the Pocket Press let's him get away with it...)
Remember all the cold war era spy lore depicting "plants" in our country being so efficiently and effectively trained that they should be able to slip into any crowd and fit right in unnoticed? The "coincidence" of this man's history with that image; the circumstances surrounding his election and the lack of corroborating evidence regarding the majority of his past.... Hmmmm. In that same lore, the usual flaw was that the "plants" didn't quite understanding of the culture - there was always that niggling little detail that would trip them up. That might even explain the seeming naïveté with statements Øbama's made vs. what is considered "socially acceptable". BUT, I descend to conspiracy theory by entertaining such thoughts. And - heaven forbid! - get the DNC triffids screeching "Birther! Birther!" while pointing my way...
I think that Herman Cain's electability was severely damaged by Øbama's own election and subsequent performance - racism may be considered dead, but we have a bottomless capacity for classifying based on overt characteristics and creating stereotypes within our collective mind. Steele's performance at the head of the RNC doesn't help, either - many thought he was brilliantly conservative, only to be disappointed time and again by the reality of his statements and actions after taking that lead role (everyone recall the "big tent" episode?). Finally, the "press" may characterize his nomination as the GOP "appeasement front" to show how big our tent actually is, and how we're now pandering to the minority vote.
In terms of the GOP field, I like Cain very much. He's been spot-on regarding just about every issue I heard him speak on. And he would, in my opinion, never become the cultural chameleon Øbama plays – truly intelligent folk; REAL people rarely need to…
(And am I the only one that has to hit "preview" a half-bazillion times before blogspot works properly and shows a preview?!)
BEST...CARTOON...EVER! As a white person, even I was embarrassed by Obama's Al Jolson impersonation. How can any self-respecting African-American still support this clown? I shudder to think how much lower he will sink before this thing is finally over.
@CenTexTim- I'm sure Obama will still collect huge numbers of black voters, even though he's demonstrably done nothing for them. Those who decide they've had enough of him will, unfortunately, probably stay home on election day rather than give a Republican their vote.
@John the Econ- It's sad to see what's become of the black middle class in this country. And I think a big part of the problem is the Left's insistance on keeping black citizens "in their place" - as a helpless but "cared for" source of votes. In my mind, the Democrats are the party of "The Good Massa."
@Pete(Detroit)- I'd normally think that Herman Cain just wouldn't have the experience necessary to be elected president, but Barack "Present!" Obama changed all that. Experience is seemingly no longer a requirement.
@Emmentaler- I'm not big on conspiracy theories, but it is something of a mystery how a truly alien being was elected president. The man clearly knows almost nothing about America, and dislikes what little he knows.
Regarding Cain, I've already heard too many on the Left dismiss him as the Right's "house negro," saying that his popularity is some kind of ass-backward proof of the Tea Party's racism.
On a tech note, I always use the "preview" button myself before making a post, and haven't had any problems needing to refresh it. Is anyone else having a problem? (Not that I'd know how to fix it...)
@Anonymous (immediately above)- Glad you liked the cartoon! True story- I took a nosedive off a ladder a couple of days ago, but fortunately broke my fall on a concrete floor. No permanent damage, but I sprained an arm pretty badly and have been given some high-quality painkillers. So when I created today's cartoon, I summoned Mrs. Jarlsberg to ask her "Is the minstrel thing a fair criticism, or are my drugs too strong?" She said "go for it," so I did. (By the way, I'm down to regular ibuprofen now, as I got tired of feeling like I was a regular at an opium den.)
"Don't forget to change the locks." And count the silverware!
@Stilton: Sorry to hear of your near-earth skydiving incident having gone so horribly awry.
My niece has a blog on Blogspot, and I note that the same "defect" occurs there. It might have to do with my employers backward IT department or firewall as, though it has been eons since I posted from there, I don't recall jumping through similar hoops to post from home. In any case, no worries. I get through (sometimes to my further embarrassment...)
On another note: did anyone else catch Schumer's feigned indignation over OnStar's ability to continue to collect data from consumers who have deactivated the service? C'mon! That pales in comparison to the TSA strip searches Schumer and crew made SOP for anyone still willing to fly. Further evidence of the multiplicity of standards these liberals hold dear...
Stilton:
How do you know Mrs. Jarlsberg wasn't setting you up? Two points: First, she doesn't have to take the heat and second, she's a wife, isn't she?
Remember the sage words of Danny Vermin: "Dames are put on this earth to weaken us, drain our energy, laugh at us when they see us naked."
Stilton, Unfortunately the "preview", or even hitting the "post comment" first ALWAYS (for me) results in having to do it a minimum of 3 times before my comment actually gets posted. It has remained that way since we had the previous conversation about it right here, some time ago.
As for nominating and possibly electing Cain ... I have said from 'Day One' of this administration that the Obummer has probably permanently crippled 90% of the GOOD politicians of color (in our lifetimes anyway)simply by his own adminstrations (and the Wookies' low/no class) actions. America has come along way since the early 50's regarding the acceptance and equality of all colors. Unfortunately, all it takes is one bad apple to reverse 99% of all the good that has been done. I cannot say it is right, fair, or proper, or correct thinking! Absolutely it is not ... but what I am hearing from many who DO VOTE is "He may be a very good, intelligent man/woman ... but look what we got with the first person of color we gave a little power to at the ballot box! Sorry, but I am not voting for another one, no matter how good they look!" Racism? Yes, unfortunately it really is. But it is ALL the fault of the Obummer and his cronies like Jackson, Sharpton, Holder, Johnson, et al - ad infinitum, and others that were propelled into places they were not qualified for ... just because they ARE people of color! Those redneck stereotypical folks (from farms AND cities) who eased up and gave the 'person of color' a chance ... feel betrayed, and as I have been told literally hundreds of times personally, and read in thousands of blog entries ..."it will be a cold day in hell before I ever vote for another "person of color" (insert the usual derogatroy name between quotes here) after seeing what this one has done!" I wold like to think that if nominated Cain would get elected - but let's face reality here ... I don't see it happening. A sad state of affairs in our great nation right now - but as I read the attitudes and mindsets of people of America as real close to being in the mindset of the 40's and 50's regarding race. EVERY speech and proclamation form 'His Lowness' merely adds fuel to the fire of racism. Fortunately for our country a LOT more people of color in our nation are finally seeing just what he is doing and they too are mad as hell!
@Emmentaler Limburger ... I have been telling people that has been happening since way before OnStar even became public knowledge and 'available'. No one wanted to listen. That is why I drive OLD vehicles, and use OLD cell phones. Big Brother has been watching for a real long time!
Doc is off his soapbox now!
I don't get it. Don't ALL Harvard professors talk that way?
Seriously, I can't wait until he starts getting REALLY desparate and his "Homey the Clown" act emerges.
Stilton, meds or no meds, today's funny should go into the vault in the top ten funniest; maybe even THE funniest ever! I have been sniggering all damn morning! My boss is giving me strange looks.
What, oh what would people of color do if we had a Cain / Rubio ticket?! Never mind.... I don't think I want to know the answer to that.
Emmentaler, I post from work and we have the firewall from hell. I can preview with one click, but it takes two more clocks on "Post Comment" to get my silly comments to post.
Dang it! That's "two more CLICKS..." not clocks.
@Proof- They can keep the silverware. Who else would want to use it?
@Emmentaler- Schumer does seems to be highly selective about what he considers a violation of privacy. Maybe he's been driving to places he shouldn't be going...?
@My Dog Brewski- Nah, Mrs. Jarlsberg is solidly on my side, and the side of truth and justice. And whether or not she laughs when I'm naked is nobody's business except ours. And maybe Onstar.
@Doc Northern Nevada- Sorry about the preview clicking problem. I don't have any idea how to fix it, other than to ask the Whitehouse to stop tapping the posts on this blog.
On a more serious note, I think one of the great tragedies of the Obama administration is the damage he's done to race relations in this country. Rather than being the healer he was hoped to be, he's done nothing but fan the flames of racial hatred. As you point out, it's totally unfair...but there probably is a growing bloc of voters who are declaring that Obama was not only our first black president, he'll be our last one.
@Colby- Glad you liked the cartoon. It was pushing the limit, but I was genuinely offended by Obama's antics. And I've subsequently read online that Maxine Waters isn't too happy about Obama's remarks either. Which marks the first time that Maxine and I have ever agreed on anything.
If Cain gets the nomination, he has a very good chance of winning the election. The people voting in Republican primaries are not the people who decided to give hope a chance in 2008 and vote for Obama. They held their noses and voted for McCain. They didn't factor in race then and they won't in 2012. Herman Cain can gain momentum and go all the way, if he gets enough supporters to send in their contributions to keep the campaign going. (Hint)
@JimH: does that little trot that O does, with the tyranosaur arms, does that count as a sashay? I defer to your judgment.
And I MEANT to say that if we had TWO black men running for president in 2012, the racists would just have to stay home & cry in their beer & wouldn't THAT be sweet!?
Stilt..in reference to Herman Cain, you said...
"He has intelligence, honesty, optimism, and leadership that Obama can only dream of."
I say he certainly does, but I feel that Obama doesnt even DREAM of being a good leader; all he wants is the power to make the changes to this country that he promised when he was campaigning!
And....love the bold cartoon today, really did! It is not the 'non-black" crowd perpetuating racism, it is the other way around! And many don't even know it!
@Doktor Paulie- Thanks for mentioning "the little trot with the tyranosaur arms" - that was my best laugh of the day! (And yes, it would be great if the racists had to sit out the next election.)
@Pryorguy- I agree; Obama has always been about power and never about leadership. And glad that you (and others) took the cartoon in the way it was intended; I hate racism and racists... of any color.
@Readers- Following up on today's topic, here's a lovely article about Herman Cain in which he refers to Barack Obama's recent policy pronouncements as "lies and bullshit." No wonder I love the guy!
I'd like to think that if Herman Cain had run in '08, everyone would be saying, "Barack WHO?" I know I'D have voted for Cain. He's more of a "conservative" than McCain!
Here's a fun link ^_^
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2011/09/26/the_official_obama_criticizer_responds_to_the_president_s_congressional_black_caucus_speech
Now, I'll post my commentary.
@John the Econ,
While I agree that Bush was not a great conservative, I do not believe he was a full keynesian, neo-keynesian, or rhino. He had many great policies that, frankly, would have saved us a lot of mess and headache. He had to fight for everything he accomplished, and things got worse when the demoncrats took super-majority in 2007 - when the 2007 - 2009 recession hit. I'll highlight my favorites.
Bush pushed for laws and regulations to loosen up on the lending market, so banks could decide who was credit worthy to take out large loans. He fought Freddie, Fanny, and Dodd. He lost and was accused of siding with big business and Wall Street by the media. For his fight, he instead received further laws and regulations from Congress, Federal Reserve, ad nauseum to make loans even easier to get - forcing banks to make bad decisions.
Bush pushed two education programs. They worked well in Texas, and I supported one of them. The one I did not support was the one Congress passed. However, "No Child Left Behind" cannot work without education vouchers. For his troubles, the media touted Bush as anti-union, anti-teacher, anti-schools, et cetera.
Bush actively campaigned, starting in 2005, to privatize Social Security and reform other entitlement programs. He instantly became toxic to the touch, and his stance on reform led to a landslide victory for the demoncrats in 2006. When they took over, the media further demagogued issues and flat-out lied about Bush's policies.
There are plenty of faults we can find in Bush 43, but it is important to keep our wits about us and remember what he accomplished and tried to accomplish. He lowered taxes, created jobs, and was responsible for proving just how powerful "Reaganomics" actually are.
Of course, we are now in the Second Great Depression, or the Depression of 2009. Obama has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that keynesian economics do not work. The "Reaganomics" the demoncrats so hate worked for twenty-plus years, and government interference and oversight caused the worst collapse since Franklin D. Roosevelt started the Raw...I mean New Deal.
@Stilt
Your comic this week is great, and it proves a very important point. Obama doesn't have a clue what he's doing. He has none of the qualities PotUS needs to have, and he's slowly/quickly transforming our country into a third-world mess. He is divisive, and he is quickly turning toxic.
He also proves how race is an invention of the left, and, therefor, racism is a tool of the left. The ideology of race was created by Darwin and carried out by Marx and other statists. It was an excuse to enslave humans. After all, the Bible is rather clear about the evils of slavery. If people of other tinted skins were 'beneath' human, then they could be culled as easily as cattle.
The game of the left has to always been to demean and dehumanize 'lesser' people. When their arguments are countered with competent and qualified individuals like Cain, West, or Rubio, they can only stand back and try further 'race' baiting, and certainly hate mongering.
@JustaJeepGuy: Many liberal democrats are more conservative than McCain. Just sayin'...
To my mind, the only 'qualifications' Cain lacks is having never been 'elected' to anything - perhaps not such a bad thing? He was, after all, WORKING, at a REAL job, turning a company around, providing jobs for people, appointed to run a federal mint or some such thing... buddy seems to know a cow chip from a chip shot...
Agreed, the whole 'raw meat in the piranha tank' thing that clobbered Sarah is headed for him too... and she thought she knew a sphincter from a divot. Then again, a sizable %age of folks think SHE said "I can see Russia from my house" - actually, Tina Fay said it. Sarah's point was that Alaska is an important (Russian) border state, and as Gov she was privy to security briefings... but I digress.
Agreed, a Cain / Obama race would frustrate the living hell out of the bigots - and they can all just stay home, that's fine. Some may even pull heads out and look beyond skin color for a change, and grow the hell UP a bit.
My Fookin' cousin, hick that he is, was saying this summer "they have 'N's' in England too, don't they? But they have a different name for 'em? (I think he was looking for 'Darkies'?)
"Yeah" I tossed out - "I think they call them Citizens." What a concept.. Yeesh..
Then again, English 'blacks' haven't been mollycoddled by the leftist wanktards for the past 50 years, like they have been here - so I suspect there *is* a difference, and the blacks there *do* consider themselves "citizens"...
But WTF do *I* know, midwest cracker boy that I am...
Sorry @DragonAgnstEvil, but I must disagree. Out of the gate, Bush's first legislative effort was to team up with Ted Kennedy. Really. Then instead of reforming entitlements he creates an entirely new one; the Medicare Drug benefit which just helps set the stage for ObamaCare.
With "conservatives" like that, who needs Democrats?
The only true conservative stripe that Bush kept was the line on new taxes.
I think people may underestimate Herman Cain. I, for one, think it would be refreshing NOT to have a politician in the White House...maybe somebody who would govern the White House with a little common sense for a change.
Stilt...."Twice as many black parents as Obama"....CLASSIC!!!!!!!!!!!! hahahaha YES!!!!!!
In with Cain, out with racism....although Dems are probably the most racist ones out there, so it will probably be worse, actually.
Oh no, agree =p I was just pointing out some of his finer points over the years. The medicare thing is a blight for sure, but one thing to remember is how 'weak' he was considered in his first year-ish, maybe even first term. His election was constantly called into question, and he acquiesced far too often.
I'm saying he had some principles to stand behind. I was also saying that he wasn't a full keynesian because, in spite of increased spending, Bush was actually trying to get the debt and deficit under control.
Besides, education vouchers would have reduced the role of government and introduced free market to an industry in desperate need of it. I'd say that was a conservative stripe, right there.
I'm not saying everything, or near most, of what happened during Bush 43's tenure was good. I'm saying we need to point out everything that was constructive and everything that proved the free market system is the only one that works.
I also said Bush 43 didn't campaign on reforming entitlements until his second term. It, of course, proved toxic and fatal to Republicans. I hate that he acquiesced, but I'm not sure we can speak to the pressure and constant heckling he was under until he soundly defeated Kerry in 2004.
The last point, pressure, is something that others have brought up in this discussion concerning Herman Cain. Washington DC is a cutthroat arena, on proven to sap conviction from most anyone. Those who can stand up to it are a rare breed. Before we can change the government, we have to change the pop culture. Else, entitlement reform will remain a pipe dream through it's toxic nature.
I would dare say almost all the politicians in the country need to be treated similar to what Grandma used to say about babies and bathwater ... except for them ... WE NEED TO THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATH WATER!
I know I am dating myself again ... Goodnight all!
The problem I have w/ school vouchers is that some of the money will undoubtedly go to religious based institutions. I had enough of supporting 'nuns from hell' when I was a kid. Never mind some other creeds that teach little girls they'll go to hell for wearing tight jeans, or worse, the ones that say you have to wear a burka to go outside... do NOT want THEM getting tax dollars.
Fundamental issue w/ 'education reform' is that you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink - i.e., so long as kids are refusing to learn, they won't. Period.
Are there 'bad' teachers? sure.
Bad Schools? you betchya.
Crappy, unmotivated students? all over.
Pete... I find it hard to believe you'd bring that leftist drivel here. While there are some radical faith-based schools, they are in the minority, and free market pressures would minimize them better than government "I know better" regulations. I had the fortune to attend a school attached to my Church for a year. I regret it was only a year. You want to know what they taught? The Florida ciriculum. You want to know what the dress code was? Same as every school I ever went to - none.
I believe in Free Market and its forces. They will correct education, and stop policy-pushing on our youth. They will also make sure schools that can handle 'problem' students do. There are no such people as students unwilling to learn. Only a system to ostracize them. I find it hilarious that children left behind by the current system learn to excel when introduced to a nurturing environment where teachers actually care.
This was posted on my phone. I'm sure there are errors in spelling and grammar that my Bionic can't catch, especially since I can't see my entire post. Plus, it's hard to type on a phone versus a computer =p
I just can't stand maligning a system that works with a few cherry-picked examples of bad environments.
@John the Econ- I agree that the Medicare Drug benefit was a terrible idea out of the Bush administration and left the door hanging wide open for Obamacare. But I still have a soft spot for George W.
@Dragon Against Evil- You make an interesting point when you say that we really need to change pop culture in order to change the government in a meaningful way. I agree, but how the heck to accomplish that is a huge question. In some ways, I think that's what the Tea Party is trying to do (and with a degree of success that's upsetting to the media).
@Doc Northern Nevada- I'd agree that it's time to throw the baby out with the bath water, but upon taking a good look, I don't think we're looking at bath water or a baby. It's time to flush.
@Pete (Detroit)- I wouldn't want tax money going to the kind of institutions you describe either, but I'd take the risk if it would let the free market work. I believe to the soles of my shoes that genuine free choice in the marketplace will do more to eliminate bad schools (and bad teachers) than any form of bureaucracy.
@Readers- A followup to the cartoon/commentary. MSNBC has now declared that it was "racist" for the Associated Press to not have cleaned up Obama's grammar to sound more Caucasian in their transcript of his speech.
Folks, we're on the other side of the Looking Glass these days...
Well I finally did it! I converted a Communist into a thinking rational human being! It only took me about three years, starting before the 2008 election, but after years of explaining the incompentance of The Dear Golfer, she finally emailed me back saying that she promises not to vote for The Dear Golfer in 2012. Now I just have another 19,999,999 more to go...
Trust me, I understand the need for educational change - Hello, Detroit, you know? Some of the worst stats ANYWHERE, including high per-pupil spending.
I'm just vigorously opposed to tax money going to religious institutions of any kind, for any reason. Period. I have nothing against religious schools, as a class - I understand that my people have fond memories and have received fine educations at them. That would not be MY experience, but hey - willing to concede the possibility exists.
I agree that free market is the way to address this - I just disagree that church schools should be part of that market.
As far as 'student's unwilling to learn' one of the problems in Detroit is 'reprogramming' the kids, getting them to believe that it's 'ok' to seem smart, to know stuff - 'cause the "gangstas" rag 'em for 'acting white'. There *is* a definite culture of 'ignorance worship' if you will, and it's something the good teachers struggle with constantly.
I understand it's a complicated problem - I know LOTS of teachers (Mom, brother, sis-in-law) even dated one for a few years, a bit ago - they do a pretty good job of keeping me up to date on 'school issues'. I think vouchers is one good idea. Single sex schools might be worth a try. Certainly "un-mainstreaming" is needful. But I just don't see how giving tax money to a religious group is remotely a good idea, much less legal.
Old Man - Whoo Hoo!
Someone on this board who has a productive project!
Congrads!
It wouldn't be government giving money to religious institutions. It would be government giving money back to parents to spend at schools they feel are better for their children.
I'll post a full response when I get home at 11pm tonight ;p Phone is bad for typing.
@Pete(Detroit) said "The problem I have w/ school vouchers is that some of the money will undoubtedly go to religious based institutions."
Quite frankly, I wouldn't care if vouchers were used to send kids to be taught by wiccans. A literate wiccan-educated kid would be more useful to society than the kids that many of our failed public schools pump out.
Re Bush: GWB was a perfect example of what happens when conservatives wish to "go soft" and try to "get along" with Progressives in Washington. It's all a set-up, and they ultimately get rolled. Remember, in Washington, "compromise" is when conservatives back off on their principles, and liberals get to expand on theirs. Other than on taxes and on the wars, GWB always went soft until it was too late to do anything else.
Pete in Detroit....what if, instead of vouchers, people sending their children to religious schools got to KEEP their tax dollars, and donate it instead to their own school? Because while you do not want tax dollars going to religious schools...the ones who choose to send their kids there are STILL paying for other people's kids to attend public school, while also paying tuition for their private school.
Where we live, private schools, even religious ones, are a huge thing, because the public system is so terrible here in the big city area. Anybody with any kind of money is going to put their kid in a religious school, if only to get them out of public.
I'm not necessarily for vouchers either...because to me, if the gov't is paying private schools money, they will eventually want to control them, which means they'll soon end up just another public school. But I was just pointing out that while you don't want tax dollars going to private schools...well...those parents are paying taxes, too...just sayin. :-)
@John the Econ
I think Conservatives learned their lesson with "compassion" towards statists. As Stilt and I said, he was not all bad. He just thought, like others through our history, that compromise was okay or even good. Throughout history, compromise has been bad for human rights. It extended slavery beyond the original laws set forth at our founding, as an example.
@Pete(Detroit)
I told ya I'd type up a good response for you ;)
It is perfectly legal for the government to work with religious institutions. It is illegal to sponsor one religion/creed over another. As an example, the statists have sponsored darwinism and atheism over Christianity. As an aside, darwinism says slavery is okay because one group of humans is superior to another - race. In fact, Christianity is so ostracized that it has been illegally removed forcibly from courtrooms, schools, et cetera.
(as a side note, I said darwinism, not evolutionary theory)
Besides when most Christian Churches attach a school, they do a good job keeping them secular. The last time I checked, I believe 76% of Christian faith-based schools offer religious courses as optional, not mandatory. The majority of private schools are faith-based, and a mere 4% can be considered bad for the reasons you described. No doubt, they are bad, but I'll take 4% bad over an estimated 83% bad, failing, or worse.
The media is hardly unbiased towards faith-based schools. They interpret them all the same in television and movies. They report only the most troubling stories, and they have yet to showcase the merits of private and home schooling. Well, Fox News has been fair towards them.
There are cases upon cases of examples of students taken from bad environments who suddenly and "unexpectedly" excelled in schools where they were given a chance. Part of the problem of the current system is that unions don't care about students. They care about paying teachers more and, in a very real sense, promoting mediocrity. Unions have always been bad/evil, but attaching them to schools is simply immoral/unethical.
If you can move students to environments where they are actively encouraged to do well, they can and will exceed any and all expectations. The lowering expectations set by unions and government have only hurt our youth and further helped push their agenda.
Besides, (Christian) faith-based at least teach morals and ethics, even while being secular. Even if you don't believe in the Christian creed(s), you have to agree with the 4th - 10th Commandments - they make up the bulk or our Constitutional laws. That, and the Golden Rule is always truly beneficial.
Having once sat on a financial board responsible for the management a Christian school, I am quite familiar with what it takes to produce a quality education. And it has relatively little to do with money, as we were able to produce kids who'd enter high school at the top of the class for less than half of what it cost the state to produce functional illiterates.
The key elements were:
Motivated staff & teachers.
Motivated parents.
The inmates do not run the asylum, as they do in public education.
As long as we cling to our Soviet-style monopolistic model of public education, we will continue to slide.
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