RSS Feed MenuWhile being formally observed by an administrator the other day, one of my students who likes to show up completely stoned to class (he only attends about once or twice a week) kept blurting out, “Man, this is bullshit, man.” I wanted to jump out the window.
While guiding kids through a lesson on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, a student drunk off his rear end (9:00 a.m.) started cracking jokes about my glasses and outfit. I kicked him out and lost my cool, asking him if he is proud of the fact that he’s still in high school and only a couple years younger than me. He’s just about 20.
I take a break from posting when all my thoughts on kids, urban issues and urban education would be highly negative. I think you all have a good grasp on the things that happen in inner city schools; do you need me to tell you they are bad, that kids cuss at adults and fight and carry on; or that girls get pregnant or boys locked up for selling drugs?
I didn’t think so.
Read these two books and decide for yourself where you fall when it comes to the education reform debate:
One is Real Education by Charles Murray. He doesn’t even include schools like mine in his studies because he says there are some inner city schools that exceed all outsider imagination as to what goes on in them. I would say mine is one since we are actually being shut down by the state at the end of the year for failure and persistent danger.
Another is Whatever it Takes, which is a biography of Geoffrey Canada, the education crusader in New York City who founded the Promise Academy in Harlem.
Murray makes me as a teacher cheer because he makes me feel like it’s not all my fault that some kids are far behind and there’s not much I can do in my short time with them to bring them all the knowledge they need. His basic premise is that some kids aren’t college bound and some are and we shouldn’t try and trick ourselves into thinking all kids are going to be or want to be scholars.
Tough makes me as a teacher cheer because he takes into account all the things that inner city children have to go through and then tells the story of people who work to achieve the American Dream in the most difficult and destitute places.
Canada, the man featured in Tough’s book, takes some hard shots at liberals when it comes to education. This is interesting because Canada comes from a tough inner city childhood background and longtime career as a community organizer. He says in the book that the people who seem to care most about education (liberals) are the ones who destroy it. Canada runs his school like a company – promoting success and personal greatness and high expectations for all.
You can’t understand urban schools by watching Coach Carter or Freedom Writers or by immersing yourself in The Wire. Read up to find out where you fit. Policy ideas should stem from both these studies and histories.
Cforchange // Mar 26, 2009 at 5:23 am
I get it, the hood where I work has had it’s schools closed 5+ years ago. Most decent families have left the community so what is left is as you describe. I have a good vantage from my window of what occurs when the teens don’t show up in school – they shuttle drugs from the back door of a bar to a nearby video store then to a apartment building. Their parents are involved and are junkies. and these “children” have a new flock of babes that appeared last summer. The cycle continues. As I’ve said before, stop entitlement payments to the parents, collect the children and place them in full time daycare aka children homes and this would cease. Legalize drugs and institutionalize the parents who are terribly addicted or jail them if they are addicted and commit crimes – especially those that make the community dangerous. The solution is very simple – we just need to decide if those making a living off of the grief cycle can sacrifice themselves and admit they’re part of the problem because we have failing solutions right now. I HOPE Obama gets a handle on this because he knows that the sober inner city poor really don’t like the part they play in this game.
barker13 // Mar 26, 2009 at 6:03 am
I read Murray’s “Real Education” back in late 2008; was so impressed that I purchased the books as a Christmas present for my daughter who plans to start her teaching career this coming September (if she can find a job). Every American teacher and administrator should read “Real Education” as well as every school board member and indeed every American with any interest at all in fundamental educational reform. Tom… let me ask you – as a teacher, as a professional, as a peer to other teachers – what percentage of your peers could HANDLE Murray’s book? Seriously… go back to Murray’s own characterization of the type of people who read books like “Real Education,” what percentage of YOUR peers (teachers you work with, teachers you know, peers you perhaps pursued your masters with as fellow students) would not only be able (willing???) to get through the book cover to cover, but also would be able to follow Murray’s arguments based upon the evidence he highlights? And of those… how many would simply reject Murray’s conclusions and proposals, based either upon ideology or self-interest? (*SIGH*) As to Canada’s “Whatever It Takes,” based solely upon reading your posting I’m going to read the book. Thank you. BILL
ChristianMiller // Mar 26, 2009 at 7:26 am
Cforchange Obama doesn’t care. The Democratic Party thrives on these types of problems and it is not in their basic interests to actually DO anything. It is in their highest interest to PRETEND to do something, and to demonize and divide and empower victim mentality. As long as they can keep people angry and ignorant and voting for them, why should they actually change anything? While you moderates who want to actually change things don’t see is that you are operating in an ideological environment that will continually thwart you, and demonize you while you do it. I am past caring about these issues until the basics get straightened out, because it is A) futile and B) doesn’t address the cause of the problem.
Cforchange // Mar 26, 2009 at 9:38 am
Franco – Duh, Duh and double Duh. Of course I know this is big business Democrat style. FYI, so is the Special Olympics – so I too wish Republicans would start acting like Republicans… There is nothing ideologic about my environment actually it’s true reality. Your beautiful little suburban setup is going to be rocked by what I’m seeing incubate regarding the street scene. I see it’s tracks heading right into mid America suburbs. So keep your head in the Disney or the Main Line with not a care in the world. Please don’t pay attention to reality – what is really happening all around you and be thankful that I a realist attend every public safety event and help law enforcement every way I can. If you heard Hilliary proclaim that it’s our insatiable drug appetitie fueling the border wars – she’s very correct. If you can’t spot your neighborhood junkie(everywhere) you are irresponsible. I know this to be true about you because you have said you are from PA – well, we have the dubious distinction #1 and #2 cities in US for black on black homicides – this is THE symptom and that is fact. Our cultural problems are exploding and it has nothing to do with nebulous faith – it’s chemical addiction. Your lack of caring when things are coming apart at the seams is why our party is becoming small, inclusive and highly regarded as out of touch.
insightdeluxe2 // Mar 26, 2009 at 10:26 pm
Cforchange seems to imply that the problem of urban despair is simply a drug problem. I have to disagree. Drugs are a symptom. Their illegality does make them more of a threat, but if it wasn’t drugs it would be alchohol or religion or anything that lifts the mind and spirit out and away from reality. The issue the article above confronts is how to educate urban children. As an educator the best way to address urban education in my mind is to tailor education to fit reality. Just like drugs, alchohol, sin, and religion all serve to numb and distract one away from reality, education today needs to confront it. Education must confront reality and prepare students to live ant thrive in it. That means an education system that is not afraid to teach urban students to be active in the fight for social and economic justice. This does not mean that students should not learn reading, writing and arithmitic, but it means that academic skills must be a foundation for self and community improvement. Learning must empower not be just a technical tool. the biggest problem is that urban students do not see themselves in the reality in which they live. Who is the last young, Black male to interview the President or the Prime Minister of China on national TV? It’s only middle. aged white males. Urban children have to combat this public and corporate marginilization of their values and realities. Urban eductaion must show them the way out of this psychological marginalization by the dominant culture and give them the skills and practices to confront these injustices. Discipline, physical education, single-sex education, and rites of passage as pillars of the curriculum are also key. But, urban education must be a means by which students can learn the skills and practices by which to challenge, change, and create a better reality.
ChristianMiller // Mar 27, 2009 at 4:43 am
Cforchange, I am referring to the overall ideological environment. I am talking about the national media and political environment, not any local urban environment. And for God’s sake please stop with the assumptions that everyone who disagrees with you is oblivious to reality. This just makes you look silly. You don’t know my history – you would be shocked at what I know and have experienced.Hillary may be correct that the pervasive and insatiable appetite for drugs is fueling the border wars (and a hell of a lot more in terms of problems world-wide destabilizing whole countries besides just Mexico, filling our prisons, promoting a growing and deadly gang culture, I could go on), but this is monumentally stupid and ineffective statement. So what does she want us to do – boycott drugs? Obama should go on National TV (as he is wont to do anyway) and tell all the junkies to be patriotic and put down the needles and flush the dope down the toilet? Hillary can chime in too for added effect. Other than that, the enforcement that has been happening only serves to catch the low-hanging fruit and drive up the price (marginally) and serves to make gangs more ruthless. Your assistance of law enforcement is duly noted, I am sure you feel you are being a concerned citizen, but my “uncaring” comes from a deeper understanding of reality. I would prefer law enforcement drop the farce of fighting an unwinnable war. But Obama isn’t even going to do that much, too politically difficult while he is undertaking wholesale takeover of what is left of freedom in this country. The remaining alternative, to try once and for all to win the drug war, is impossible without provoking massive civil unrest (yeah throw more minorities – well armed ones at that – in jail and see what happens), and fighting the drug war all out would be uncontainable, kinda like what is happening in Mexico. I don’t care about your demographics either. “Black on black” is a phrase that subtly feeds and/or reveals racism. I.E Is black-on-black crime worse? Is it better? why make the distinction? People tend to kill their neighbors and people they know, so what? Do you want to reinforce the ideas of tribe, where killing your “brother” is worse than killing someone else? insightdeluxe2, What a thoroughly insipid post of ideological drivel! You think activism will help? And a young black male interviewing our first black president will finally imbue these lads with the self-esteem needed to make their way in the world and avoid drugs and gang culture? Please. You think drugs are ONLY a symptom? What is a leftist agitator like you doing commenting here at a Republican site?
Cforchange // Mar 27, 2009 at 5:23 am
Insight I totally agree but the population must be in a condition to eduate. We are not there – with every kid worried about a gun, either getting one or keeping track of the one they’ve purchased, watching their back instead of the blackboard. Then there are those who are supporting their family. The condition of the urban child must be corrected. I strongly believe the education cirruculum needs a complete overhaul. Why train the entire population to sit behind a desk? Of course many will fail with this single focus. Franco – so sorry to challenge you – you really do have all the smartest answers. I have no time to banter incessantly with you. But try thinking about others. There is alot of suffering – black shootings in PA are all about drug distribution to white suburbanites- if you’re guilty I may have your plate… Further the activity is quickly spreading to the burbs so you may not be able to avoid engaging in solutions like drug law changes. Crack and heroin are all around you and it will win if you don’t wake up.
Cforchange // Mar 27, 2009 at 7:27 am
Franco: So just when did it become fair that someone can stand on my property and conduct illegal business – pay no taxes and intimidate me with a weapon. So I’m am idiot Republican and you think Viagra pumping old fart John’s giving the poor girls $10 for a trick is honorable. And I bet you think all those shootings are over Yo Momma too. Just who is the idiot? Probably one who is helping assemble a plan that certainly will result in a Democrat replacement for Arlen??? I think I could crank you up into a Rushbo tizzy and we wonder why our party is falling off the map.
ChristianMiller // Mar 27, 2009 at 7:50 am
“The people who care most about education (liberals)” is a false statement. Conservatives care about education as much or probably more. Liberals and leftists have the conceit that they care more and they have the solutions. They also own the ideology that permeates the education curriculum, and infest the entire school system. Yes, I say infest! They own it and they broke it. They have removed discipline and replaced it with “self-esteem” meanwhile, they know by now that it was a disaster and they can’t change it and are lamely trying to cover it up and re-focus the blame to absolve themselves and their hair-brained ideas. I agree that there is too much focus on college education and not a healthy acceptance that all of us aren’t cerebral academics and that it is cruel and self-defeating to expect that from everyone. (There is nothing wrong with being a plumber or an electrician and it can be a nice life and provide a good livelihood) This comes from faulty logic which is RAMPANT in ALL schools nowadays: College educated people make more money, therefore, to make more money you need a college education. This is a logical fallacy which does not take individuals into account, and doesn’t take into account those who dropout of school and society BECAUSE of these pressures (and they are legion). Of course it is not the individual teachers fault, and the fact that you need to be reassured of this reveals you don’t understand the bigger picture, or at least the basic concept that “you can lead a horse to water..” The problem is not just the dysfunctional system but the dysfunctional thinking and philosophy that has created the modern urban environment and the system. Working within the existing system may be noble, and it does reach individuals who are open and salvageable but it doesn’t solve the main problem in the slightest. Mother Teresa ministers to the sick, but someone has to invent a cure for the disease. The cure for the disease is exposing the fallacies that lay behind the politics and stand up to them everywhere!
ChristianMiller // Mar 27, 2009 at 8:15 am
Cforchange, You are outnumbered and outgunned and the police won’t help you. They are off writing someone a ticket for cruising through a stop sign to fuel the corrupt regimes’ coffers. Yeah, that happened to me while driving through North Phila years ago. I had a business on North American street – an “enterprise” zone. Everyone cruised through this four-way stop sign (just north of Girard Ave) It was a clear view in all directions and of course cop cars did it too. I got a ticket for not coming to a full stop. I told them if they wanted to do some real police work they could find a bustling drug trade just a few blocks away. I’m lucky I didn’t get beat up for that remark but this was not Rizzo’s goons but Wilson Goode’s finest. The fact that Philadelphia and other cities are in the shape they are in is not because of suburbanites doing a reverse commute for drugs and ho’s. Another time while I was walking my dog in Old City some kids obviously scouting to break into cars. A block away, there was a cop sitting in his cruiser, filling out paperwork or writing out a parking ticket. I told him what I saw, and he was belligerent to me, and shrugged his shoulders defiantly. I am out of that city now along with a lot of other productive people. Certainly you have a right to defend yourself and your property. Your tax dollars are supposed to go for that, but they don’t, do they? And Arlen Spector is no different than a Democrat – neither will save you. I guess since the police won’t do anything, you turn your ire on the suburbanites who were smart enough to leave.
ChristianMiller // Mar 27, 2009 at 8:36 am
I was getting trained to write in one long rant and now I can be a little more coherent. Too bad there are so many misguided souls here who can’t understand what is happening anyway. But remember, no HTML (even though many do it and get away with it)
barker13 // Mar 27, 2009 at 8:36 am
OK, that’s weird. All of a sudden the system is allowing paragraph style posting. COOL!Anyway… back to substance… Franco, thanks for actually addressing Tom’s post. One of the key points Murray makes in “Real Education” is that a college education as the goal for all is an absolutely ridiculous goal and in order to even approach this artificial goal we’ve largely turned the average liberal arts four year education into a six-figure pre-requisite for application into a “professional” white collar corporate job.(Tom.. speaking of your original post… are you ever going to respond to my questions posted on 3/26?)Franco… back to you… you’re also right that it’s not middle class suburbanites who have destroyed America’s inner cities. You’re also absolutely on target when you note that liberals tend to hold the conceit that not only do they “care” more about education (and most issues) than conservatives, but that their caring somehow unerringly leads then down the yellow brick road toward policy success – if only conservatives and reality would stop standing in their way. (*SMILE*)As for you, InsightDelux2… was your post meant to be satire…???BILL
ChristianMiller // Mar 27, 2009 at 8:51 am
Barker, Even though I didn’t reference your original post it was an influence on my subsequent post. I think you and I are basically on the same page, and I appreciate this site for allowing me to refine and hone my thoughts on these issues and difference approaches. basically you are saying that regardless of the great points these books make, the culture is so filled with these antiquated progressive (I like that juxtaposition of words) ideas that they have little or no impact. This is a site that seems to pride itself with nuance and offering sober and rational policy initiatives as though we are actually having a debate with leftists and centrists.This is a delusion. There is no debate happening. The “centrists” are mostly drones who hold default left-wing attitudes and don’t know it. And the leftists are not interested in debate or the truth – they are interested in defeating us by any means possible. There is only force, and it has never been more clear to me. This site is akin to petitioning the prison guards for more exercise time for us inmates. You and I want to break out of the facility. And those who want more exercise time are mad at us for giving them a bad name and possibly affecting their pleas for better conditions.
insightdeluxe2 // Mar 27, 2009 at 10:23 am
I thought this site was “New Majority.” Conservatives need to test their ideas w/folks like me if they hope to ever be relevant again…I wonder why Franco really thinks urban America is in the shape that it is. I bet it’s irresponsibility and shiftlesness. History, white supremacy poverty, urban neglect be damned.The question here is what should an educated American be able to do (HS level))? What will be his skill set? What outcomes should American education reach for? Do we need better citizens? Better critical thinkers? Better analytical thinkers? Better problem solvers? More activist? College prep? Better consumers? Change agents? This is where education begins, with a mission. As the Meiji period took shape in Japan at the turn of the 20th century, leaders in that country reshaped the entire education system with the sole mission of modernizing the country to challenge the West for global supremacy. In one generation, Japan wa able to become leader and innovators in science, technology, and, unfortunately, militarism. This is what needs to be done in America. But, as my man Franco and Barker demonstrate, education to most Americans is about knowing your place, “ideology”, or staying out of my yard. Again, and this is not ideological drivel, education must fit reality. And, the urban American reality demands that students learn to lead and make change. Don’t we all agree that urban America needs CHANGE? Needs to progress (oops, there’s that word!)? Lastly, this us/them dichotomy ain’t getting conservatives or this country anywhere. America needs solutions and leadership no matter where it comes from. That’s one reason why Modern Conservatism is dead. It relies too much on someone or something being wrong/illogical/ideological/outside/other/non-Eurocentric. Modern Conservatism relies too heavily on a boogey man and fear rather than reality and debate. Isn’t this what this site is about, broadening the pencil-thin focus of Modern Conservatism??
ChristianMiller // Mar 27, 2009 at 11:26 am
insightdeluxe2 , And who ARE folks like you? Using a mono-culture like Japan for an example is pathetic in comparison to our complex problems. Oh, and didn’t you know they were racists too? Perhaps we need more racism, not less if that is your model for success. That is what works for you Democrat/lefties anyway – foment racism and blame, and if there wasn’t any around what would you do? White supremacy and neglect (by who?) that caused all the problems? Riiiight…. Certainly not welfare incentives that destroyed the black family by substituting government for fathers, and free money for work ethic, and victim narratives to justify it all. No, that had nothing to do with it. Certainly the ideas propagated by racist blacks that learning is “acting white” had nothing to do with the culture of the ghetto had no effect. See, this insightdeluxe2 is a perfect example of avowed leftists salivating over this site. They can’t hide their beliefs and predispositions, they aren’t even aware of them enough to effectively hide them. They come here after reading that Frum hates Limbaugh, like them, and says,”Republicans are trying to re-invent themselves, let me help!” And then when no one agree with their arguments they play Frum’s admitting weakness against him. ( Me, I don’t care) They pretend to be moderate or centrist yet trot out the tired arguments of the left by rote. Then they rely on pure assertion, “this is not about ideology’ OK, got it. We need to end this “us/them” stuff while attacking anyone who disagrees with them as being a racist.
barker13 // Mar 27, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Franco – call me Bill. (*SMILE*) And yeah… we seem to be somewhat kindred spirits. (*GRIN*)InsightDelux2 – Have you read “Real Change”? It’s a hell of a book! Also, less scholarly but also jam packed with interesting data, allow me to recommend “The Dumbest Generation” by by Mark Bauerlein. (Tom – the recommendation goes out to you too!)QUOTING InsightDelux2: “…as my man Franco and Barker demonstrate, education to most Americans is about knowing your place, “ideology”, or staying out of my yard.”HUH…??? Tom… do you know what he’s (she’s?) blabbering about…??? Rereading my own posts I see absolutely nothing that could have or should have led a rational individual to attack me like that. CforChange…??? Do you have any clue as to why our fellow poster seems to have gone off the deep end?O.K, anyway… putting personalities aside… yeah, InsightDelux2, there’s plenty of “change” I’m in favor of. Do you have a specific question for me…??? (Do you have any comments to make sticking to the thread post – comments about either book Tom cited in his thread post?)As to “solutions,” again, I recommend that you actually READ Murray’s book. (*SHRUG*) It’s full of “solutions.” One key “solution” is to go to a certification vs. broad liberal arts educational system for most entry level professional white collar positions. InsightDelux2… chill, dude. (Or dudette!) (*GRIN*) I see now that what I first questioned regarding your use of “satire” is simply your style and worldview coming through.Carry on! (Oh… and you can call me “Bill” too.) (*WINK*BILL
sinz54 // Mar 27, 2009 at 2:02 pm
barker13: From my reading of the posts by InsightDelux2 (not just in this discussion thread but in other discussion threads on this blog), he appears to be a radical black militant (or sympathizer of such), who believes that the way for blacks to get ahead is to overturn alleged white dominance. He has stated that should be one of the major goals in the 21st century, in fact.I grew up in New York City, and I got to meet plenty of folks like InsightDelux2. They strutted down the street with angry scowls and chips on their shoulders, all the time–which any psychologist worth his salt will tell you is a sure sign of terrible insecurity. Just saying “Good morning!” to them was enough to provoke an angry response.
sinz54 // Mar 27, 2009 at 2:06 pm
Franco: The problem is that there aren’t enough jobs as plumbers and electricians to make up for the loss of manufacturing jobs.In my parents’ day, a decent fellow with decent muscles and a work ethic could get a decent job in a factory, even if he wasn’t the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree. My own dad worked as a factory worker in a shoe factory, back when America still had shoe factories. And he and his wife–my mom–saved enough money to send me to college (with the help of a partial scholarship).But the automation of American manufacturing, and the replacement of much of it by competition from overseas, has sharply limited opportunities in this country for the half of Americans with below-average I.Q.’s.For blacks who finally escaped de jure segregation only in the 1960s, this has closed a major door to them that used to be the way that Americans entered the middle class.
sinz54 // Mar 27, 2009 at 2:08 pm
insightdeluxe2 claims: “Who is the last young, Black male to interview the President or the Prime Minister of China on national TV? It’s only middle. aged white males. Urban children have to combat this public and corporate marginilization of their values and realities.”I’ve got news for you: Urban black children aren’t going to grow up to interview anybody, if they cannot speak and write in grammatically correct English sentences. Their “values and realities” are going to take a back seat to such more practical matters as subject and predicate.
ChristianMiller // Mar 27, 2009 at 4:00 pm
sinz, Kids in the inner-city are for the most part not lacking in intelligence at all in my opinion. It isn’t just a matter of IQ’s It is a matter of personality and orientation. Lots of people who are working class have higher IQ’s than college educated people. Some of the stupidest people I know have degrees, and today a degree is not an indicator of either knowledge or intelligence. Some people like to work outside, or with their hands, or solve problems. I have often been very impressed with auto mechanics and many other non-degreed people (I don’t have a degree myself, and I am not in the least ashamed of this fact) Moreover, white collar jobs often don’t require much intelligence or even much education other than getting past the HR Department – whose members are usually THE dumbest and most incompetent people in any organization themselves.
insightdeluxe2 // Mar 27, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Whoa, fellas! You all are throwing darts at me, some personal! I don’t remember getting personal…Anyway…I am responding to the premise of the book: Educating America’s young to for the reality of the 21st century. Sinz’ and Barker’s and Franco’s posts do not. They only attack or point out personal anecdotes or demonstrate a misunderstanding of education and its purpose. It’s about education!! How do we educate the young particularly the urban young. We all need to understand that the urban youth do not exist on some island. they are us. they vote. they pay taxes. they consume. they are us. For too long this country has marginalized urban youth, labelling urban culture as valueless and primitive and alienating urban values/aesthetics. Think about it. We call people in this country who aren’t Euro (males) “minority.” Yes, there are fewer in population, but only in America. It is the Euro who is the real global minority. It is their values/aesthetic and culture that is given the most value and prominence in the melting pot of america, and it is this obstacle of insignificance that many urban youth struggle against psychologically and culturally. Shakespeare is important. the Italian Renassaince was important. But, where is the urban voice in our society? BET? SportsCenter? I ask you all to consider this as a reality that hinders youth from embracing education or American values. It can be a cop out I admit and issues of parenting and self-discipline/determination are key, but we can’t dismiss this. (please read the miseducation of the black child by Hare and hare) As an educator, I see the value of some of Murray’s premise that education isn’t a one-size-fits-all thing and that fundamentals are key. but, isn’t this the Bell Curve guy? Wasn’t his premise there that Blacks lack the intellectual capacity to succeed in a traditional, Western-style educational system? Grain of salt w/this dude. but his premise in his latest book pretty much reflects my earlier stated mission of education. It must fit reality! (that was what the example of japan was meant to demnonstrate) But, the question remains, how do we educate all of America’s children?? Solutions not attacks or insults!! Solutions! “Radical Black Militant?” That’s a compliment where I come from! A response to the legacy of forced labor, gov’t sanctioned terror and segregation, and cultural marginalization/genocide can never be radical enough (see haki madhubuti) Sinz, that dude on the NYC subway is the hate that hate created!! the African will never be fully American. Don’t get me started…I gotta go, but i leave all my friends here w/a suggestion to lift conservatives out of their self-created exile. i suggest you all take a look at what conservatives in the UK are embracing. They call it Conservative Progressivism which attempts to localize power to communities rather than individuals. Power is decentralized but focused not at the single individual but at the community. there’s more to it, but it makes sense and seems to be last best hope for conservatives in America…but the question is what would Reagan do?
barker13 // Mar 30, 2009 at 10:14 am
This is sure a buggy site. Once again… for whatever reason… the site just won’t let me post a reply I just penned to Franco/Sinz/InSight.As evidenced by the McCain campaign… “moderate” Republicanism has a distinct tendency towards… er… INCOMPETENCE.FIX YOU WEBSITE, WEBMASTER!!!BILL
barker13 // Mar 31, 2009 at 8:32 am
Re: Sinz54; 3/27/2009, 2:06 PM”…The problem is that there aren’t enough jobs as plumbers and electricians to make up for the loss of manufacturing jobs.”* OK… let’s try this one paragraph at a time…Agreed. We need to resuscitate American manufacturing via revising tax policy (lowering corporate taxes, which btw, wouldn’t even exist in a perfect world… but that’s another debate) and targeted trade policies that serve concrete U.S. interests first and ideological theory second. Folks… even those of you who would go down with the “USS Free Trade,” let me ask… as contingency planning, shouldn’t our economic policies include plans for WINNING a trade war (should one erupt) just as in the bowels of the Pentagon there are plans to win a war against… er… Canada. (*SHRUG*)(Oh… and as an aside, since you mentioned shoe factories… aren’t New Balance sneakers still made mainly in America?)BILL
barker13 // Mar 31, 2009 at 8:34 am
In any case… if there has to be such a thing as government economic policy, it seems like a no brainer to me that reviving the fabled American manufacturing base should be a – perhaps the – main governmental policy of both Democratic and Republican politicians. BILL
barker13 // Mar 31, 2009 at 8:43 am
Nope… got through the two posts below and now I’m blocked again. Has anyone else ever run into such a buggy “commercial” site?Webmaster: You obviously pay attention to the comments section (since you’re prone to remove posts willy-nilly); what’s the deal…???BILL