I first posted about the Tea Party vacation liberty school a few days ago. If you haven't read that post do so now, and come back.
When I read about the curriculum that was being taught at these "schools" I was horrified at the nature of the lessons. It got me thinking, not only about propaganda but about the most famous user of it. I realize that this might be considered inflammatory, I just want to make you think.
I have found some striking parallels between the Tea party school and the Hitler youth.
The age of children being "taught" in the Tea party school is 8-15 The Hitler youth programs targeted children ages 10-17.
This is the prime age for teaching children a way of thinking. They are willing to please and very receptive, as they have not fully developed their own belief system yet.
The Tea party school is teaching kids that America was always right and is a perfect nation. The Hitler youth were taught the same thing. People who said anything negative about Germany were called "unpatriotic". This should sound familiar, Fox news does this a lot.
Hitler approved teachers were told to downplay German defeat and place the blame on someone else . This is what is being taught at the Liberty school. Kids are taken into a crowded room and told to navigate stacked chairs to get to the gym (America) where everything is fun and perfect. If you never have to share.
The more I look into this Liberty school the more frightened I become. The whole point of the Hitler youth was to create an army loyal to Hitler and his ideas. It is the same with this Liberty school. Sharing is not communism, it's nice. I am sure most parents take their kids to the park because there is plenty of swings for the kids to take turns on. These Tea party people are teaching kids that every kid needs his own personal swing set to be happy.
What oh God will happen to us as a nation if this type of indoctrination takes hold. What will these kids teach their children and so on.
People all throughout Glenn Beck's 9-12 project have one victories against teaching a comprehensive view of history.
America is not perfect, and it is not UN-American to say so. To vilify a president who had a policy you didn't like, is dangerous. It is also ignorant. Our founding fathers were not saints, and all democratic presidents are not demons.
Reference's
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/Nazis_Education.htm
www.huffingtonpost.com/.../vacation-liberty-school-t_n_647822.html
Friday, July 30, 2010
Weatherman project
I will not devote a lot of time to this, because it is so stupid it is beneath me to talk about. If you don't watch Glenn Beck, he has dug up some old manifesto written in 1969, and is trying to tell America that our current government is implementing the ideals laid out therein.
It is in part his involvement with this manifesto that led bill airs to be imprisoned. Well I really am not surprised, it is close to election time so GB and Fox news have to amp up the paranoia to get people to vote for the "do nothing" Republican party. Telling the American people that doing things like extending unemployment benefits,and giving people access to health care is part of some conspiracy to over throw the government, makes all their inaction look heroic. "We are not doing nothing, our inaction is saving you."
I would hope that people have more common sense than that, why would someone join the government only to put himself out of a job?
The fact is, Glenn Beck is angry at the sate of this nation, he doesn't like the fact that a government would feel responsible for it's people. So he is calling everyone radicals and fascists. It is easy to do this when you don't know what those words mean.
Adolf Hitler didn't take care of the poor, he didn't take care of anyone. Starting in 1936 he was starving the mentally disabled to save money. He killed those who needed help, is GB suggesting that we should do the same thing.
In a way he is. He is saying that social programs are wrong and should be repealed. When he talks about "personal responsibility" he is saying that if you cannot pay for everything yourself, you need to work harder or don't eat.
But I digress, GB is addicted to the word communist, everyone is a communist to him. By Beck's way of thinking Martin Luther King was a communist. After all he wanted people to be treated as equals.
Beck would have you believe that Obama's father was a communist. He was highly educated and wanted to improve his home nation, there is no evidence that I can find that proves he was a communist. By the time Obama Sr. went back to Kenya it was already a republic. Obama Sr. spoke out against socialism.
I would be careful what you believe from GB, after all early on he was telling the American people that our president was a Muslim, which turned out to be not true at all.
It is in part his involvement with this manifesto that led bill airs to be imprisoned. Well I really am not surprised, it is close to election time so GB and Fox news have to amp up the paranoia to get people to vote for the "do nothing" Republican party. Telling the American people that doing things like extending unemployment benefits,and giving people access to health care is part of some conspiracy to over throw the government, makes all their inaction look heroic. "We are not doing nothing, our inaction is saving you."
I would hope that people have more common sense than that, why would someone join the government only to put himself out of a job?
The fact is, Glenn Beck is angry at the sate of this nation, he doesn't like the fact that a government would feel responsible for it's people. So he is calling everyone radicals and fascists. It is easy to do this when you don't know what those words mean.
Adolf Hitler didn't take care of the poor, he didn't take care of anyone. Starting in 1936 he was starving the mentally disabled to save money. He killed those who needed help, is GB suggesting that we should do the same thing.
In a way he is. He is saying that social programs are wrong and should be repealed. When he talks about "personal responsibility" he is saying that if you cannot pay for everything yourself, you need to work harder or don't eat.
But I digress, GB is addicted to the word communist, everyone is a communist to him. By Beck's way of thinking Martin Luther King was a communist. After all he wanted people to be treated as equals.
Beck would have you believe that Obama's father was a communist. He was highly educated and wanted to improve his home nation, there is no evidence that I can find that proves he was a communist. By the time Obama Sr. went back to Kenya it was already a republic. Obama Sr. spoke out against socialism.
I would be careful what you believe from GB, after all early on he was telling the American people that our president was a Muslim, which turned out to be not true at all.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Bush tax cuts
Well this is the big topic right now, it is something that I am very happy to address.
First it is important to understand that in 2000 President Bush wanted to extend tax breaks to those in the top two percent of income earners in the U.S. He had a majority in the house and senate, but it wasn't a "super majority", so the bill was debated. It was not agreed on so had to go to reconciliation. Incidentally, when Obama used reconciliation it was ominously called the "nuke option". Anyway if a bill that will raise the deficit is passed this way, it must include what is called a sunset clause. This clause is just what it sounds like, a time when the bill will risk fading away. Anything that will increase the deficit and is not agreed on must "set" after ten years.
Well ten years have passed and the law is set to expire. The problem is that the Republican party does not want it to expire. That is fine, these things happen. The problem is that they are telling us that the President is going to raise taxes. That is simply not the case, some bills need to expire our government has done it before.
Well it is an election year, a very important one, so just make sure you understand the fact behind the talk.
First it is important to understand that in 2000 President Bush wanted to extend tax breaks to those in the top two percent of income earners in the U.S. He had a majority in the house and senate, but it wasn't a "super majority", so the bill was debated. It was not agreed on so had to go to reconciliation. Incidentally, when Obama used reconciliation it was ominously called the "nuke option". Anyway if a bill that will raise the deficit is passed this way, it must include what is called a sunset clause. This clause is just what it sounds like, a time when the bill will risk fading away. Anything that will increase the deficit and is not agreed on must "set" after ten years.
Well ten years have passed and the law is set to expire. The problem is that the Republican party does not want it to expire. That is fine, these things happen. The problem is that they are telling us that the President is going to raise taxes. That is simply not the case, some bills need to expire our government has done it before.
Well it is an election year, a very important one, so just make sure you understand the fact behind the talk.
All unempoyed people are drug addicts, so Orin Hatch says
As many of you know there are two bills sitting in limbo at the moment. One would free up money for small business expansion, the other would extend unemployment benefits.
Right now unemployed people get up to 99 weeks (that is a little over two years). I will admit that is a long time, but we are in an employment crisis right now. I guess there are VERY generous states out there. Most give benefits for six to nine months. It is important to note that the extension would go to those whose benefits are set to expire after only six months.
Whether you agree with extending benefits or not, you should never do what Sen. Orin Hatch of Utah did. Sen. Hatch made the claim that all persons needing unemployment benefits are drug addicts. In a short video Hatch said: "We can't give money to people who are just going to spend it on drugs". This comment was in response to the ongoing unemployment benefits debate.
Looking perhaps to protect his image Sen. Hatch is hiding comments like these in a bill that would require all welfare and unemployment recipients to be drug tested.
This might sound good, but think of the ramifications.
First the violation of privacy for millions of people. Guess what Hatch poor people are American too. You cannot suspend our rights to make yourself look better.
Second is cost, this measure would place a huge burden on the DWS.(Department of Workforce Services) Instead of helping families, families would be turned away so that these drug tests could be paid for. Lets say for the sake of argument that a drug screening costs $300, DWS is currently fielding one thousand applications for services a day. If each of these has to be drug screened that's $300,000 dollars. Plus testing for all of the people already receiving aid. If the goal of the Republican party is fiscal responsibility, Sen. Hatch should be ashamed of this proposal.
Here is a newsflash Republicans, poor people hate welfare fraud too. For every person that does not need assistance a family that does is denied. The problem is that usually those committing fraud, are doing so with the help of someone inside DWS. So when it comes time to balance the budget, these people are never audited, and the rest of us are.
I am so tired of being called a liar, a thief, a cheat, an addict. I am A hard worker who can't find work. I am a human being who deserves compassion. All poor people deserve to have access to the same constitutional protection as everyone else.
Don't just take my word for it read the article.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20007929-503544.html
Right now unemployed people get up to 99 weeks (that is a little over two years). I will admit that is a long time, but we are in an employment crisis right now. I guess there are VERY generous states out there. Most give benefits for six to nine months. It is important to note that the extension would go to those whose benefits are set to expire after only six months.
Whether you agree with extending benefits or not, you should never do what Sen. Orin Hatch of Utah did. Sen. Hatch made the claim that all persons needing unemployment benefits are drug addicts. In a short video Hatch said: "We can't give money to people who are just going to spend it on drugs". This comment was in response to the ongoing unemployment benefits debate.
Looking perhaps to protect his image Sen. Hatch is hiding comments like these in a bill that would require all welfare and unemployment recipients to be drug tested.
This might sound good, but think of the ramifications.
First the violation of privacy for millions of people. Guess what Hatch poor people are American too. You cannot suspend our rights to make yourself look better.
Second is cost, this measure would place a huge burden on the DWS.(Department of Workforce Services) Instead of helping families, families would be turned away so that these drug tests could be paid for. Lets say for the sake of argument that a drug screening costs $300, DWS is currently fielding one thousand applications for services a day. If each of these has to be drug screened that's $300,000 dollars. Plus testing for all of the people already receiving aid. If the goal of the Republican party is fiscal responsibility, Sen. Hatch should be ashamed of this proposal.
Here is a newsflash Republicans, poor people hate welfare fraud too. For every person that does not need assistance a family that does is denied. The problem is that usually those committing fraud, are doing so with the help of someone inside DWS. So when it comes time to balance the budget, these people are never audited, and the rest of us are.
I am so tired of being called a liar, a thief, a cheat, an addict. I am A hard worker who can't find work. I am a human being who deserves compassion. All poor people deserve to have access to the same constitutional protection as everyone else.
Don't just take my word for it read the article.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20007929-503544.html
Did I miss something?
Warren Jeffs, self proclaimed prophet of God, had his conviction over turned because of a supposed technical error. I have lived in Utah for the majority of my life, so I am familiar with polygamy. What I simply do not get is how okay with this sick practice people are. I am talking of coarse of men who marry children, if an adult woman wants to share her husband that is not as bad. As long as the "sister wives" are not committing welfare fraud.
What really bothers me about this is not only will this man get away with damaging the life of a young woman. He will come out looking like the victim. Part of the problem is that the LDS church has remained silent on this subject. Sure they ended the practice, but they have yet to come out against men like Jeffs, Green, and Kingston.
I find this further troubling in light of all the work they put into ending prop 8 in California. The church claimed that grown men and women wishing to be in a relationship was bad for the family; yet they remain silent about the horrible abuse going on right here in Utah.
Texas better get it's act together or the horrors doled out by this pedophile will never be punished.
What really bothers me about this is not only will this man get away with damaging the life of a young woman. He will come out looking like the victim. Part of the problem is that the LDS church has remained silent on this subject. Sure they ended the practice, but they have yet to come out against men like Jeffs, Green, and Kingston.
I find this further troubling in light of all the work they put into ending prop 8 in California. The church claimed that grown men and women wishing to be in a relationship was bad for the family; yet they remain silent about the horrible abuse going on right here in Utah.
Texas better get it's act together or the horrors doled out by this pedophile will never be punished.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Glenn Beck calls Obama terrorist (again)
Well watched GB today and his topic was William Airs. So Glenn points out that William Airs was an anti government activist in the 1970's and now works for the government. He said that there was no evidence that William Airs had changed, either in tactic or ideology. UM HELLO! A man who was anti government served time in prison for his crime, and is now working and has worked in the recent past to better his community. Gee Glenn I would like to say that I know a lot of domestic terrorists who help others, but I don't. How can you look at a man who has turned his life around and say there is no evidence of change. His whole life is evidence that he has changed.
The point Glenn was trying to make was that Obama ran for office so that he could bring the government down from the inside. The problem with this theory is that President Obama is not linked to any terrorist activity at all. He served one one committee with a man, who did bad things, served prison time and changed his life.
I said in my introduction that I would not insult the viewers of Glenn Beck, and I won't. But seriously! Are you really going to fall for the oldest trick in the book. Guilt by association.
If you are than here is something you might find interesting.
During the Vietnam war Jane Fonda became very friendly with the Vietcong she took pictures with them and gave them sensitive information. Jane Fonda was a member of the screen actors guild as was..........wait for it............Ronald Reagan. If I were to say that Reagan was anti American because he belonged to SAG along with Jane Fonda, I would be laughed at. Yet Glenn Beck is doing the same thing.
Glenn Beck may think that people who have ever done anything illegal should not be allowed to ever serve on committees, that is his right. What he should not do is mislead his viewers by twisting the truth to fit his agenda.
The point Glenn was trying to make was that Obama ran for office so that he could bring the government down from the inside. The problem with this theory is that President Obama is not linked to any terrorist activity at all. He served one one committee with a man, who did bad things, served prison time and changed his life.
I said in my introduction that I would not insult the viewers of Glenn Beck, and I won't. But seriously! Are you really going to fall for the oldest trick in the book. Guilt by association.
If you are than here is something you might find interesting.
During the Vietnam war Jane Fonda became very friendly with the Vietcong she took pictures with them and gave them sensitive information. Jane Fonda was a member of the screen actors guild as was..........wait for it............Ronald Reagan. If I were to say that Reagan was anti American because he belonged to SAG along with Jane Fonda, I would be laughed at. Yet Glenn Beck is doing the same thing.
Glenn Beck may think that people who have ever done anything illegal should not be allowed to ever serve on committees, that is his right. What he should not do is mislead his viewers by twisting the truth to fit his agenda.
Monday, July 26, 2010
20th aniversery of the ADA
On this date in 1990 when I was 11 the ADA was passed. Six years before I was born 504 was passed. 504 was the law that said that all disabled children were entitled to an education, it was the disabled communities separate but equal legislation. Thirty years later I would go to a school that did not abide by either law. The ADA has straightened 504 and opened up transportation and school opportunities for many disabled people. We still have a long way to go, unemployment for the disabled is still much higher than for other people. Some schools are still claiming that it is not worth making a school accessible to "a few students" . Even despite the fact that a lot of people still have outdated views on what the disabled are capable of, there is a change happening. I have seen the positive benefits of the ADA in the last 20 years, I have even had the chance to help make computer labs at my university more accessible to blind students. My life project is to give the ADA more "balls" to require all businesses to use universal design so that no member of society is left out.
In the mid 1970's 504 came under attack and there was a sit in in a San Francisco federal building. For one month disabled people protested until the law was allowed to remain. In 1990 disabled men women and children crawled up the steps of the capitol building to fight for equal rights and the passage of the ADA. I am proud to count myself as one of the disabled. God bless those who fought and continue to fight.
In the mid 1970's 504 came under attack and there was a sit in in a San Francisco federal building. For one month disabled people protested until the law was allowed to remain. In 1990 disabled men women and children crawled up the steps of the capitol building to fight for equal rights and the passage of the ADA. I am proud to count myself as one of the disabled. God bless those who fought and continue to fight.
vacation liberty school
If you thought indoctrinating youth was just for Nazi's think again.
As part of Glenn Beck's 9,12 project, which his website says is about bringing back the feeling of community we had after 9,11, there is something called the vacation liberty school.
The creator is a woman named Lisa Alber, and here in her own words is part of what they teach.
As part of Glenn Beck's 9,12 project, which his website says is about bringing back the feeling of community we had after 9,11, there is something called the vacation liberty school.
The creator is a woman named Lisa Alber, and here in her own words is part of what they teach.
ABLER: All right. Actually, it's bubbles. We have communal bubble container and everyone has a wand and they have a squirt gun. And they dip the wands in, if they can, the central bubble unit and that kind of symbolizes communism. They are — they can't shoot their own bubbles. They are supposed to shoot others. They keep track of how many bubbles they get to shoot and pop.
And then, we let them each have their own individual bubble container and blow bubbles and shoot their own bubbles and they realize, "This is better. I can shoot more bubbles this way." And so we — and then we — afterward
, we get them together and discuss, you know, what did you like better.
So a project that is supposed to make us feel connected to one another teaches children that sharing is bad.
This lesson makes me wonder what the faith part of the curriculum is, perhaps she teaches about the loaves and fishes and how Jesus should have let the people who didn't think to bring food go hungry because they were lazy and felt entitled to being taken care of.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Glenn Beck vs Mormon doctrine
I have watched with horror as Glenn Beck has talked to his viewers about God and what God wants. I have also heard him talk about the LDS church, he is a member. What he preaches on his show is not LDS doctrine in fact some of what he says in in complete opposition to what the church teaches. I will go topic by topic.
Social Justice.
Social justice is an idea that has two parts to it. One, the idea that all people should be judged according to their merits not any thing else. Two, the idea that a community should divide resources equally. Now it should be noted that the United states does not ascribe to this second idea at all. It should be noted that the LDS church does. When a person goes through the temple they vow to live the law of consecration. That when the church asks members will give all of their goods to the bishop so that he can give to the people based on need. The church knows that this law is much to difficult for men to live here on earth so we do not live it now. The promise we make is to strive to be the type of people who will live this law in the millennium. So for Glenn Beck to tell his viewers that if they are part of a church that preaches this that they should find a new church, he is being a hypocrite. As far as I know he has not left his faith.
The gift of prophesy.
Glenn Beck has said that on Aug. 28th of this year he will reveal the plan that god has given him for America. That is not possible, God has one representative of the church at any given time and that is the prophet Thomas S Monson. Glenn Beck would have people believe that God would bypass his chosen prophet and speak directly to him. Both the Book of Mormon, and the Bible would call that the claim of an Anti Christ. For those who are not familiar with the term, it is not some son of the devil or anything like that simply a person who claims to have access to revelation that he would not be privy to.
"Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves". Mathew 7:15
Welfare, and the poor.
While on his program Glenn Beck talks of people being poor because they are lazy and how giving to the poor makes them weak, he belongs to a church that reaches out to those in need every day. The LDS church has education programs to help people become self reliant, and welfare programs for those who for whatever reason cannot do so. For Glenn Beck to tell people who need assistance that they are weak and lazy, is to go against the teachings of the LDS church.
"ye must visit the poor and the needy and administer to their relief" D&C 44:6
References
"True to the faith", The book of Mormon", "Gospel doctrine" The king James Bible"
Stay tuned for part II where I will discuss GB's gold and guns
Social Justice.
Social justice is an idea that has two parts to it. One, the idea that all people should be judged according to their merits not any thing else. Two, the idea that a community should divide resources equally. Now it should be noted that the United states does not ascribe to this second idea at all. It should be noted that the LDS church does. When a person goes through the temple they vow to live the law of consecration. That when the church asks members will give all of their goods to the bishop so that he can give to the people based on need. The church knows that this law is much to difficult for men to live here on earth so we do not live it now. The promise we make is to strive to be the type of people who will live this law in the millennium. So for Glenn Beck to tell his viewers that if they are part of a church that preaches this that they should find a new church, he is being a hypocrite. As far as I know he has not left his faith.
The gift of prophesy.
Glenn Beck has said that on Aug. 28th of this year he will reveal the plan that god has given him for America. That is not possible, God has one representative of the church at any given time and that is the prophet Thomas S Monson. Glenn Beck would have people believe that God would bypass his chosen prophet and speak directly to him. Both the Book of Mormon, and the Bible would call that the claim of an Anti Christ. For those who are not familiar with the term, it is not some son of the devil or anything like that simply a person who claims to have access to revelation that he would not be privy to.
"Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves". Mathew 7:15
Welfare, and the poor.
While on his program Glenn Beck talks of people being poor because they are lazy and how giving to the poor makes them weak, he belongs to a church that reaches out to those in need every day. The LDS church has education programs to help people become self reliant, and welfare programs for those who for whatever reason cannot do so. For Glenn Beck to tell people who need assistance that they are weak and lazy, is to go against the teachings of the LDS church.
"ye must visit the poor and the needy and administer to their relief" D&C 44:6
References
"True to the faith", The book of Mormon", "Gospel doctrine" The king James Bible"
Stay tuned for part II where I will discuss GB's gold and guns
Saturday, July 24, 2010
The side of heathcare reform you haven't heard
Hello all,
If you read my intro you know that I am disabled. All ready some of you have jumped to the conclusion that I am lazy a "Tax taker" as Glenn Beck and his cronies call us. Well I will get into that a little later, right now I would like to present for your inspection an argument for the new health care bill.
To millions of Americans the end of exclusion from insurance due to preexisting conditions is an exciting prospect. To persons with disabilities it may mean a chance to finally put a hard fought for education to use.
When any person interviews for a job, he or she is judged on many factors before they are hired, one of these is whether they can pay into a company insurance pool.
By definition a disability is a preexisting condition, so a company who hires a disabled worker does not gain an employee who can help lower insurance costs. This is discouraging to both the employer and other employees, so for the most part disabled people are hired only part time (no benefits) or not at all.
There are thousands of well qualified workers who are out of work. The most recent statistics put it at 70%, that is seventy percent of all college educated disabled people are unemployed. In the state of Utah that stat is 90%. A potential employees insurance (or lack there of) is a very real part of this sad statistic.
I for one am very excited that I will have a better chance of finding work in 2014 when I can purchase insurance.
For most people the nature of their disability does not put them at a greater health risk than any other American. The flip side of that is that the medical and adaptive equipment that they need to lead full and active lives is in most cases as expensive as luxury items. For example a person who uses a wheelchair will go into debt to the tune of 21,000 dollars or more. Imagine, you are unemployed through no fault of your own and need over priced equipment just to live. It is about time that the disabled community is allowed to fully contribute to society.
If you read my intro you know that I am disabled. All ready some of you have jumped to the conclusion that I am lazy a "Tax taker" as Glenn Beck and his cronies call us. Well I will get into that a little later, right now I would like to present for your inspection an argument for the new health care bill.
To millions of Americans the end of exclusion from insurance due to preexisting conditions is an exciting prospect. To persons with disabilities it may mean a chance to finally put a hard fought for education to use.
When any person interviews for a job, he or she is judged on many factors before they are hired, one of these is whether they can pay into a company insurance pool.
By definition a disability is a preexisting condition, so a company who hires a disabled worker does not gain an employee who can help lower insurance costs. This is discouraging to both the employer and other employees, so for the most part disabled people are hired only part time (no benefits) or not at all.
There are thousands of well qualified workers who are out of work. The most recent statistics put it at 70%, that is seventy percent of all college educated disabled people are unemployed. In the state of Utah that stat is 90%. A potential employees insurance (or lack there of) is a very real part of this sad statistic.
I for one am very excited that I will have a better chance of finding work in 2014 when I can purchase insurance.
For most people the nature of their disability does not put them at a greater health risk than any other American. The flip side of that is that the medical and adaptive equipment that they need to lead full and active lives is in most cases as expensive as luxury items. For example a person who uses a wheelchair will go into debt to the tune of 21,000 dollars or more. Imagine, you are unemployed through no fault of your own and need over priced equipment just to live. It is about time that the disabled community is allowed to fully contribute to society.
Extending unemployment benifits
If you go to the Fox news website you will find an article entitled "addicted to unemployment". It is a part of their opinion series. The point they are making is that we cannot help people feed their families until the job market picks up because they will become lazy and won't ever want to work.
I actually understand this line of thought, flawed as it is. The idea that giving to someone will not help them grow is true, people need to be motivated. The flaw in this logic is that it doesn't take into account that the people collecting unemployment were full time (40hr per week) employees. These are motivated people, not a bunch of slackers, slackers don't qualify. The Republican party should have supported the extension of benefits, because they argue that extending the Bush tax cuts will result in more jobs. If they are correct (very doubtful) these unemployed people will be working soon right? So giving them an extra few months worth of benefits won't matter all that much. Look, both Bush and Obama have asked the citizens of this country to bail out rich SOB's who downsized their companies anyway; so don't they deserve the same help in their time of need?
I actually understand this line of thought, flawed as it is. The idea that giving to someone will not help them grow is true, people need to be motivated. The flaw in this logic is that it doesn't take into account that the people collecting unemployment were full time (40hr per week) employees. These are motivated people, not a bunch of slackers, slackers don't qualify. The Republican party should have supported the extension of benefits, because they argue that extending the Bush tax cuts will result in more jobs. If they are correct (very doubtful) these unemployed people will be working soon right? So giving them an extra few months worth of benefits won't matter all that much. Look, both Bush and Obama have asked the citizens of this country to bail out rich SOB's who downsized their companies anyway; so don't they deserve the same help in their time of need?
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Jesse slaughter
I am a big fan of Night line. Tonight they had a story that I felt needed commenting on. It was about and eleven year old girl who made you tube videos ranting about "haters" and other bullies who were bothering her online.
Now you might ask why this is important on a public policy blog, well anti bullying legislation took off a few years ago and is starting to extend to the internet. I am sure that you have heard about the recent suicides of young girls bullied both online and through text message. Anyone who has ever been a kid knows that girls can be horrible and cruel to one another, well the Internet has added a whole new aspect to it.
Just read the comments left on you tube video's the anonymity afforded people by the Internet gives them a feeling of freedom. Things they would never say to a person's face come easy to the fingertips. I was kind of touched by her father "defending" her, but horrified as well. I think his heart was in the right place, but what he should have done is report the abuse without sinking to the same level as these bullies.
By now I think the adages of "sticks and stones" and "kids will be kids" have all but died, parents and teachers have taken forever to learn it but they now know that words hurt and can kill. The question now I feel is can we as a nation create a civil online world for our children to hang out in.
Now you might ask why this is important on a public policy blog, well anti bullying legislation took off a few years ago and is starting to extend to the internet. I am sure that you have heard about the recent suicides of young girls bullied both online and through text message. Anyone who has ever been a kid knows that girls can be horrible and cruel to one another, well the Internet has added a whole new aspect to it.
Just read the comments left on you tube video's the anonymity afforded people by the Internet gives them a feeling of freedom. Things they would never say to a person's face come easy to the fingertips. I was kind of touched by her father "defending" her, but horrified as well. I think his heart was in the right place, but what he should have done is report the abuse without sinking to the same level as these bullies.
By now I think the adages of "sticks and stones" and "kids will be kids" have all but died, parents and teachers have taken forever to learn it but they now know that words hurt and can kill. The question now I feel is can we as a nation create a civil online world for our children to hang out in.
A comment on KSL's "the dream divided"
I am really enjoying this series of news stories done here in Utah by KSL 5. Tonight was about the children of undocumented workers and how they are seen as criminals even though they were to young to have been culpable in the actions of their parents.
I was shocked and saddened that anyone would think of sending young children back to a country they know nothing about. The real tragedy about it is that these children grew up in America and are being punished for a crime committed by a parent or parents.
I would ask people to look at it another way. If a man were arrested for selling drugs and his kids were in the car with him, would we take his kids to jail? The answer of course is no.
It is paramount that we remember that these children are human beings who like all children are at the mercy of their parents.
When any legislation is created those who create it have to look at many factors.
1. is the legislation enforceable.
2. can we afford it.
3. what are the unforeseen consequences of this legislation.
I grow worried that the social and political atmosphere of today is so negative that we forget that we are talking about people. Whatever you feel about any social situation you should NEVER forget that every issue is complex and that there is no "one size fits all" fix.
I was shocked and saddened that anyone would think of sending young children back to a country they know nothing about. The real tragedy about it is that these children grew up in America and are being punished for a crime committed by a parent or parents.
I would ask people to look at it another way. If a man were arrested for selling drugs and his kids were in the car with him, would we take his kids to jail? The answer of course is no.
It is paramount that we remember that these children are human beings who like all children are at the mercy of their parents.
When any legislation is created those who create it have to look at many factors.
1. is the legislation enforceable.
2. can we afford it.
3. what are the unforeseen consequences of this legislation.
I grow worried that the social and political atmosphere of today is so negative that we forget that we are talking about people. Whatever you feel about any social situation you should NEVER forget that every issue is complex and that there is no "one size fits all" fix.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Utah's immigration list
Hello,
All right this issue is all over the news, and the Fox news message boards are all aflame with praise for the two state workers who created this list. Some are going as far as calling these women "heroes". What really upsets me about this whole story, is the news media has not told us how many of those named on the list are undocumented workers. This matters to me because if these women just picked out Hispanic names and threw them on a list we should know that.
To me this is not an immigration issue, it is a privacy one. I am one of those people who have information stored with workforce services, my privacy should be just as important and protected as anyone else s.
The misconception seems to be that those of us who take offense at this list believe that people should come and go as they please. This is not true, we simply want to see a country that stays true to it's foundation, we are all of us immigrants. The Native Americans didn't ask us to come here.
What we need is to make it easier to legally come to this country. We also need to help stabilize Mexico, they are our allies.
The people on that list are people who are doing the right thing they are using the proper channels to find work and help provide for their families. The women who created this list are not "heroes" they are people who took advantage of a position of trust given them by the jobs they held. They should be ashamed of themselves.
All right this issue is all over the news, and the Fox news message boards are all aflame with praise for the two state workers who created this list. Some are going as far as calling these women "heroes". What really upsets me about this whole story, is the news media has not told us how many of those named on the list are undocumented workers. This matters to me because if these women just picked out Hispanic names and threw them on a list we should know that.
To me this is not an immigration issue, it is a privacy one. I am one of those people who have information stored with workforce services, my privacy should be just as important and protected as anyone else s.
The misconception seems to be that those of us who take offense at this list believe that people should come and go as they please. This is not true, we simply want to see a country that stays true to it's foundation, we are all of us immigrants. The Native Americans didn't ask us to come here.
What we need is to make it easier to legally come to this country. We also need to help stabilize Mexico, they are our allies.
The people on that list are people who are doing the right thing they are using the proper channels to find work and help provide for their families. The women who created this list are not "heroes" they are people who took advantage of a position of trust given them by the jobs they held. They should be ashamed of themselves.
An introduction
Hello,
I am a public policy student, as well as a disabled American. I have grown sick of people like Glenn Beck re-writing history to fit his hate filled agenda. I created this blog so that those who are interested in how social programs really work can read from someone who is familiar with these programs. I hope this will be educational and eye opening. I am not here to insult the viewers of Glenn Beck. I just want to give them the facts behind all the rhetoric.
As this is my first blog, I may not be as polished as some, so forgive me that.
I am a public policy student, as well as a disabled American. I have grown sick of people like Glenn Beck re-writing history to fit his hate filled agenda. I created this blog so that those who are interested in how social programs really work can read from someone who is familiar with these programs. I hope this will be educational and eye opening. I am not here to insult the viewers of Glenn Beck. I just want to give them the facts behind all the rhetoric.
As this is my first blog, I may not be as polished as some, so forgive me that.
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