Friday, March 31, 2017

People Miss Their Pre-ACA Policies

Here is a link that supports Jerry's view. It is an interesting challenge.
CNN People Miss Their Pre-ACA Policies
  • For the system to work, everyone needs to pay more than they hope to need...
  • Because some of them will need much more thsn they pay...

Thursday, March 30, 2017

Disabled or Just Desperate

A gift from Laurie...
"An off topic link... Although a tiny bit related as John so loves to put down people he judges as irresponsible. So who are a large group of the so called takers?" WP Rural Americans: Disabled or Just Desperate?
Well I am happy to not let you down.  It is sad that so many people somehow qualify for SS Disability, but maybe Bureaucrats running the system feel they need more mouths to justify their jobs...
"There are 13 million working-age Americans — ages 18 to 64 — receiving disability payments. This number includes every working-age person who receives benefits through the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program or both."
And look...  These folks are happy to help find your ailment for you... How did our country and it's citizens get here?


No wonder SS Disability was and will again be insolventIt looks like we had better raise that FICA tax rate higher to help pay for these great benefits. Comic Source



Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Children Before Adults

The latest G2A Healthcare post went far afield, so I moved the "hold adults accountable" comments here. As is often the case, I stated that society should stop putting the wants of adults ahead of the needs of kids and I get energetic push back.
"Parents should be held accountable for ensuring their kids are fed, have good hygiene, they are prepared for Kindergarten, get to school, do their homework, etc. Seems pretty basic." G2A 
"Parents should be held accountable for ensuring their kids are fed, have good hygiene, they are prepared for Kindergarten, get to school, do their homework, etc. Seems pretty basic.  Sure, let's send them a statement at the end of every year. 
We really need to get away from the idea that sniffing with disapproval at stuff is some sort of policy. I would love it if all parents prepared their kids for Kindergarten, made them do their homework, and if moms had milk and cookies waiting for the kids when they come home from school while wearing pearls. Some kids do have that environment but others don't and while I can't prove a causation between those factors and doing well in school, researchers just might find a correlation for that very thing." --Hiram 
"I am not "sniffing with disapproval" I am proposing our society should do something to hold these unqualified and/or irresponsible adults accountable.  Please note... No cookies, pearls, etc required... 
"Parents should be held accountable for ensuring their kids are fed, have good hygiene, they are prepared for Kindergarten, get to school, do their homework, etc. Seems pretty basic." G2A 
"I am not "sniffing with disapproval" I am proposing our society should do something to hold these unqualified and/or irresponsible adults accountable 
I do tend to equate accounting with sniffing with disapproval. Well, I suppose we could spend millions in running people's families for them, but I just don't see much of a will to do that. Whining is much cheaper and much less intrusive. These days it's just so easy to hold parent's accountable for sending their kids to kindergarten, we can just send them a text, and all will better. 
Why didn't anyone think of that before?"  --Hiram 
"our society should do something"
That language is almost ready for the legislature. Keep it up!" Sean
"Hi Guys,Now I have a lot of policy ideas for putting unlucky kids first. Unfortunately as noted many times, liberals are more concerned about the adults. (Public employees and Baby Makers)  Oh well..." G2A 
"Please demonstrate the causation between whacking teachers unions and student performance." Sean 
"Unfortunately there is nothing I can write that would convince you. 
However any employee group that fights performance measures is definitely not dedicated to the well being and success of their students.
  • One of my long running gripes is that they don't even have Parents rate the class and teacher? Link 1  Link 2
  • In what service industry would that be tolerated? 
But please feel free to keep defending these adults and denying the unlucky kids the best performing system." G2A 
"Unfortunately there nothing I can write that would convince you." 
I'm going to grade you down for effort, then. 
"But please feel free to keep defending these adults and denying the unlucky kids the best performing system."
I'm not opposed to reform. I just don't think that the evidence shows that whacking teachers unions is the key to unlocking it."Sean

"Public schools are under attack because they are successful. For members of an anti-government party committed to the idea that government can never work, that is intolerable." --Hiram 
Sean,  I am okay with being graded... It is the Teachers and their Union that fight tooth and nail to not be graded or held accountable. This reminds me of an oldie but a goodie.  G2A Test is Too Hard 
"Hiram,  If you consider these examples of success, please remind me not to ask you for your criteria again.   Based on the MDE numbers, it looks like the Mpls and St Paul districts have a total of ~72,000 students... And proficiency scores of ~38%... 
Here is a link to Wayzata and Minnetonka school district result for comparison.
Sean,  Unfortunately the necessary reforms can not happen with the Union as it currently is. 
Their focus is too maximize employee compensation, safety, control and job security. Please remember that is why they exist... They are an employee union, they exist to benefit employees. 
They do not exist to help the unlucky kids, the country or the tax payers. If you disagree, please explain your rationale. 
I keep hoping that someday the Union and Teachers will change their focus away from tenure, steps and lanes to performance and excellence, but I see no sign of this so far." G2A 
"You're seriously comparing Minneapolis and St. Paul schools to Wayzata and Minnetonka? Without looking at the vast discrepancies in student population demographics? 
"Unfortunately the necessary reforms can not happen with the Union as it currently is."
Your "reform" solely consists of whacking the union."  Sean 
Sean, Actually no I am not comparing Mpls/St Paul results to Wayzata/Mtka.  Hiram wrote following and I am providing evidence of how incorrect he is. 
"Public schools are under attack because they are successful. For members of an anti government party committed to the idea that government can never work, that is intolerable." 
The unfortunate reality is that the public social services and education systems are failing millions of kids each year. Do you disagree?" G2A

Sunday, March 26, 2017

Can Charities Carry The Burden?

A gift from Laurie.
Here is a link / topic very fitting for your blog as it comes up fairly frequently in comments and is likely to be very timely with the GOP in charge of the budget and budget slashing.

Can Religious Charities Take the Place of the Welfare State?
My answer is no way, as you know. Thoughts?

People in Political Bubbles

Anonymoose provided me and interesting opportunity here.  I thought the topic was so important that I made it its own post.
"I'm not interested in going round after round where you repeat the same nonsense that you believe is so brilliant but is really only a way for you to explain how much better you think you are than 'those' people who've not lived up to your standards. 
You are bad at this in that you always come back to the same talking points. Instead of these conversations and arguments leading you to a new thought, you somehow lead yourself right back around to where you've always been. 
And you ask other people to change and grow so they can be 'deserving' of living in the greatest country on the planet, all while not changing a single thing about your own ideas.

So instead of those other people changing in order to please your sense of fairness, perhaps it's time to reevaluate your own personal sense of what's fair. In other words: start with yourself.

Anonymoose"


"Actually I started with myself long ago when I figured out that I should help others by increasing my charitable giving greatly. Then I took action and kept doing it, I even made make up payments after my laid off period. I do not say this to brag, I say this to try to help people understand that generosity and giving starts at home, not at the State and Federal capitols. Giving away someone else's money is not sacrificing for others. 
As for... "Instead of these conversations and arguments leading you to a new thought, you somehow lead yourself right back around to where you've always been." 
That does seem to be the norm of human nature. I have been discussing topics with this group of people for ~8 years and I am pretty sure that no one has greatly changed their minds in any substantial way. Though I think they all appreciate a chance to state their views and learn how the other side thinks. 
Please remember that G2A is not about convincing anyone of anything, it is just a safe place the discuss very thorny issues. (see blog statement below) 
"Raising social involvement, self awareness and self improvement topics, because our communities are the sum of our personal beliefs, behaviors, action or inaction. Only "we" can improve our family, work place, school, city, country, etc." 
So what would being good at this look like? 
Whose views should I adopt and support? (ie Hiram's, Laurie's, Sean's, Jerry's, yours, Dems, GOP, Progressives, Tea Party, other) 
Which of you are correct and which of who are idiots? 
How would one know? 
So if you dislike listening to and disagreeing with opposing views, then maybe retreating into a Liberal bubble is safer and more enjoyable for you. I however think that this is the problem with our country, people keep listening to people who reinforce their version of reality and avoiding people with a different version that those people support equally strongly. No wonder we are split. 
The "tastes great" and "less filling" people just keep yelling at each other. Certain that they are correct and everyone else is an idiot. Or worse yet insisting that those other guys are out to hurt people and/or America." G2A
 Thoughts?

Saturday, March 25, 2017

MCAs and Analysis

I guess this piece does not surprise me at all.  MP Good at Collecting but Not Using 


RDale has historically given MAP tests in the Spring and Fall to help them know how the kids are learning. The results are available for the Teacher to use soon after the test is taken. Where as the MCA's are only given in the Spring and the results are not known until Late Summer. 


The MCA's may work well to grade the schools, but they are a bit late to actually help the kids.  Thoughts?

MP MCA vs MAP

Friday, March 24, 2017

Healthcare Plan Pulled

CNN Healthcare Plan Pulled

Here is what our new friend had to add.
"...and the bill goes down in flames.
It's amusing to watch people who hate government fail at governing."
Anonymoose
At G2A Healthcare Bill Fate Uncertain, I proposed that  the GOP has a much bigger challenge since they don't believe in robbing Peter to pay Paul...  Where as the Dems have no moral concern with mauling Paul and taking his money...

Thoughts?

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Advice for Improving Credit Score

I didn't know me and the Mrs. were so unique.  Then again I suppose this statement does describe us pretty well. 
"They're obsessed with their finances. Chances are, if you ask someone with a top tier credit score about their finances, they can easily rattle off their account balances, credit score and savings rate. "
 There is some good advice in CNN Money Credit Scores

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

People are Rational?

Jerry made the following comment on G2A Graduation and Absent Rates, and my daily Dilbert calendar had the following cartoon recently...  I thought it was a sign from God...
"Please explain the difference between "forcing them to be responsible" and "holding them accountable." I'm failing to see the distinction. Maybe what we should consider are the "incentives" in every government poverty or education program? What is the incentive in the current welfare system? To have more children to get more money, to NOT work to avoid cuts in benefits, to not care about getting your kids to school because they don't learn anything anyway, or because it isn't even safe, etc. Compare that with an incentive that says, you can have a job and make MORE money because you can keep receiving benefits, we'll arrange child care, your kids can go to school someplace where the ARE safe and getting an education with extra help if needed, etc. People will react to the incentives (and disincentives) presented to them. They make those decisions intelligently. All government (acting for "society") needs to do is to make sure those choices are PRESENTED intelligently.

One rule I have used throughout my work is that we make it easier for people to follow the correct procedure/process than to work around it. And that getting them to success at greater rates, because of it, is its own reward, driving out the old bad practice." G2A 

Of course the challenge is that there is little that is rational about a woman having her 4th child from her 3rd man when she is barely getting by as it is.  I mean we have now entered into the emotional world where everything does not need to make sense.

The discussion on the Graduation and Absent Rates centered around my beliefs:
  • No one is even trying to force people to be responsible Parents.
  • The Liberals think everyone has a right to have as many kids as they want whether they can afford them or not... 
  • The Conservatives seem to believe that everyone is a wise and capable Parent because they can have unprotected intercourse.
  • Liberals are saying just trust the Teachers and close your eyes...
  • Conservatives are saying just trust the Parents and close your eyes...
  • Both of which have led to millions of children trapped in poverty...
I think America can do better...

Russia, FBI, Trump and Obama

Hate to be repetitive...  Thoughts?
CNN Russia, FBI, Trump and Obama

Gorsuch and Dems with Hurt Feelings

Again little time.... Thoughts?
 CNN Gorsuch and Dems

Healthcare Bill Fate Uncertain

Sunday, March 19, 2017

How Low Can It Go?

Now I am sure Trump wanted to make a name for himself, but I doubt if he wanted to be one of the least popular Presidents ever...  Here are some new approval ratings.
Newest Gallup poll
RCP Summary

Saturday, March 18, 2017

Graduation Rates, Chronic Absence

These 2 important topics got little discussion on MP, so I thought I would give them a plug here. To me they both stress the importance of society needing to take a stronger hand in pressuring Baby Maker(s) to be more responsible Parent(s).  Kids will not learn if they are not at school.

And the fact that when those adults are not, the school personnel unfortunately need to fulfill that need with low student ratios and a high amount of student tracking / guiding / counseling / holding accountable. Which of course explains part of the why MPS is so expensive.  Thoughts?

MP MPS Graduation Rates Up
MP What No One Talks About: Chronic Absences
MP Chronic Absence List

And no I am not calling the Baby Maker(s) evil, bad, etc.  The unfortunate reality is that often the adults and peers in their life modeled ineffectual behaviors and limiting beliefs, so that is what they think is normal.  Without society demanding learning and improvement from them, they will likely propagate how they were raised...

Remember the sad story a personal coach told me.  He was in Chicago and saw a young girl with her Grandma, so he asked the girl what she wanted to do when she grew up.  Unfortunately the Grandma jumped in and answered. "She is going to grow up to be a welfare Mom in the projects just like her Mama".  And we wonder why kids have a hard time escaping poverty? This has to STOP.

Thoughts?

Ps. Please remember that I am not trying to be mean with the term Baby Maker(s).  I just needed a term to differentiate capable responsible mature self disciplined Parents from the other adults who make babies when they can not afford or are incapable of raising them well.  Unfortunately many Baby Maker(s) are still children themselves in many ways.

Thursday, March 16, 2017

Trump Budget Proposal

Now I personally think Trump's budget would be much better if he made all those cuts, and cut the military some also...  Of course remember that I think many of the things the Feds do could be done by the States.  And we may have actually gotten closer to a balanced budget and starting to pay down the National Debt instead of continuing to add to it...


CNN Trump Budget
Fox News Trump Budget
VOX Trump Budget



Wednesday, March 15, 2017

With or Without You Continued

Here you go, apparently Kelly G. was frustrated that Scott B. thinks the "with or without you" meeting was a Democratic rally to harass Erik and not a real good intentions town hall.  I tend to agree with Scott... Thoughts?

SS With or Without You
SS Bassett Meeting Critique
SS Guncheon Meeting Defense
G2A Erik Paulson: Wise or Chicken
MP With or Without You
FB With or Without

Work for Medicaid

I find the idea that people on Medicaid may need to work to keep their benefits very intriguing. CNN Possible Medicaid Changes  And it seems aligned to this exchange from the comments here.  MP ACA Replacement and Freedom  As usual when I asked about what the poor should be responsible for, someone inferred that I want them to die... Life Unworthy  Which is silly of course or I would not be as charitable as I am. :-)  By the way, their were multiple responses and I just picked Dennis' as an example.
"It seems that people on the Left like to make that leap...

I do not deem to judge people "unworthy of life", I am asking at what point are free adults in our society responsible for the choices they make in life and the consequences that follow?

Or is it the expectation that the hard working successful people have responsibilities in our society, including that they must keep paying extra to continually clean up after the other citizens?

Do Liberals expect anything from the unsuccessful people in our society in exchange for all the gifts?" G2A

"Seems you make the false assumption that all folks have the capacity to be reasonable rational responsible thinkers, and act on that thought. Our success or failure is not a perfect platform to compare to another, What is that saying "Never criticize a man until you've walked a mile in his moccasins."
Actually I think liberals expect more out of society (successful and unsuccessful people) than conservatives. Gifts?" Dennis

"Please elaborate. What do you expect from the unsuccessful folks who receive a large investment from the tax payers?" G2A
G2A Job Creation Idea
G2A Keep America Beautiful

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Freedom and the Cost

My comment from MP Obamacare Replacement Freedom?
"From Wikipedia "Freedom from Want: The right to an adequate standard of living is recognized as a human right in international human rights instruments and is understood to establish a minimum entitlement to food, clothing and housing at an adequate level. The right to food and the right to housing have been further defined in human rights instruments."

Usually a set of societal behavioral expectations come with rights. Especially if society is going to tax some citizens at much higher amounts in order to provide others with that food, clothing, housing and now healthcare.

I mean we require that citizens pay those higher taxes, it is their responsibility as part of our society... With this in mind, what is the responsibility of those who receive the gifts from society? I mean they are not earning these items... They are purely gifts from the generosity of their fellow citizens.

Our society spend trillions of dollars per year on these gifts and on our public education system. What should we expect in return from the recipients?

I ask because ACA was a very large tax / cost increase that funded in essence a "health insurance welfare" system that has no work requirements. Now that certainly did provide many citizens with the freedom to have health insurance while other citizens were forced to pay a large portion of their bills. In essence one group of citizens were freed from a burden and it was placed on the shoulders of another for better or worse.
Ironically this piece MP Chronic Absenteeism posted today also and I am sure I will be adding comments.  My points will be the usual...
 

Monday, March 13, 2017

CBO Scores AHCA

You know you have problems if you get CNN and Breitbart to agree.  The report came out as bad as we believed.  Thoughts?


CBO Scoring PDF

The Problem with Buy American

Now this a piece that backs up what I have been writing for years. CNN The Problem with Buy American  See the comments in MP Unions for my usual story line, here are a few...
"Well I think this is correct... " Americans have been shopping ... anti-union " Now why is this from your perspective?

My 2002 Suburban came from the Janesville WI plant. My 2010 Mustang was built in Flat Rock Michigan. And both were designed and marketed in the USA.

Now I could have bought "more reliable", more fashionable, better performing, etc product, but I thought it was important to pay a little more and support American workers. I seem to be in the minority of American consumers... Why is that?

In full disclosure: my FJR 1300 is a Yamaha... Harley does not make a sport touring bike. :-)" G2A

"Why do you want to blame the companies and give us American consumers a free pass?

The same person who complains about Walmart or the company that off shores jobs is often driving a vehicle made over seas or made in a right to work state. (ie weaker union shop) And almost all products have a "Made in ???" sticker, yet we keep buying foreign product.

And as for vehicles, we have this excellent resource... " G2A
http://kogodbusiness.com/reports/auto-index/

Sunday, March 12, 2017

Extremists Control the Country

The G2A Unions are Expensive comments went far afield. And I thought they worth repeating.
"Personally I think the growth of popularity in third party candidates is because both the GOP and Dems are becoming too extreme. I sure wish Kasich would have run as an independent, I would definitely have voted for him over Trump." G2A 
I don't think the majority parties are becoming extreme, but they are painting their opposition in those terms at every opportunity, and the general population believes that rather than examining the issues involved. The extremists in both parties DO tend to control the base of the party and are the most active and vocal, reinforcing the perception. 
For example, I think Democrats are more extreme than ever after seeing a few too many marching vaginas and black-clad rioters. I'm convinced third parties will be merely disruptive until a major issue comes along not addressed by ONE of the majors. 
Not sure if, in the modern era, such a transition can even take place, or if it would be of any value. It is more likely that one of the major parties will be "taken over" by one wing or another, such as the Bernie Sanders Democrats or the Ron Paul Republicans. 
There is one other solution-- "holding their feet to the fire." Someplace along the line, somebody decided that "rioting in the streets" was better than "write your Congressman," but that gets us more of what we have, and good solutions it is not." Jerry 
"Unfortunately given the number of votes that occur along party lines, it seems that the number of good politicians who will think for themselves and listen to their constituents seems to be decreasing. 
I mean look at the grouping of the red and blue dots in this graph... There are few who are near the middle... (ie like my example candidate: Peterson) 
In summary, writing to your rep seems to make no difference... It seems our gov't has become winner takes all. Which probably explains the violent left right swings in our healthcare and tax systems, and likely the protests. (ie Tea Party and Progressives)" G2A
And since Jerry neglected to provide an example, the Conservative extremists may be the folks who are fighting the Ryan Health Bill compromise because they want ACA totally gone, no matter how many people lose their health coverage...

By the way, you can expand the image by clicking on it.

Saturday, March 11, 2017

Healthcare: Right or Privilege

As I have said before, the death of the ACA taxes will definitely be appreciated by those with big incomes and many assets.  I mean ACA imposed a huge tax burden on them, for better or worse. CNN ACA Replacement Is Windfall

Please remember that the USA does not have healthcare problem, we have the best healthcare in the world.  What we have is a healthcare payment problem.  Let's say that good healthcare costs about $4,500/person per year in the USA. (basing that on my families premiums since my company is very diverse age wise)

Though this fascinating slide deck says it is ~$9,000...  I assume that it is higher due to it's including elder care...

Either way when half the households in the USA make less than $53,000 per year...  They have a BIG problem.  And we as a society need to decide if healthcare is a right or a privilege for the wealthy.  Thought?

Tillerson the Recluse

If you watch Madame Secretary you will find this article very strange and disturbing.  Apparently Secretary Tillerson thinks he is a Spy master or something who can hide America's policies, positions, actions, negotiations, etc.  It will be interesting to see how this progresses.  Thoughts?

CNN Refuses Press Pool

Friday, March 10, 2017

Immigrants vs Illegal Residents

Just venting about my recent pet peeve...  I know... "Add it to the list..."
CNN ICE and Police on their Uniform
"Several Los Angeles leaders are asking immigration officials to put a stop to the practice, calling it "corrosive." They argue it undercuts years of police efforts to build trust in immigrant communities and will make witnesses and victims less likely to come forward when crimes are committed.

"Especially in these turbulent and uncertain times, we urge that ICE agents operating in Los Angeles immediately stop representing that they are 'police' officers," the city's mayor, attorney and City Council president wrote in a letter last month."
Now I can think of many terms to describe ILLEGAL residents who are squatting in the USA, but this obsession by liberals to call them immigrants frustrates me greatly.  To me immigrants are people who follow the legal processes of the USA, wait in line with other prospective immigrants and then in time are allowed to enter the USA.


It seems to me that the liberals are trying white wash the behaviors of all ILLEGAL residents, border jumpers, visa violators, etc who were unwilling to follow the laws of the USA. 


And of course then they try to vilify anyone who wants to deport ILLEGAL residents, border jumpers and visa violators by saying they are anti-immigrant, xenophobic, etc...


Please remember that I am Pro LEGAL Immigrants and anti-people who:
  • budge in line in front of legal immigrants (ie jump border / violate visa)
  • work in the USA ILLEGALLY (keeping wages lower)
Finally, please remember that if all of the ILLEGAL residents were not here...  There would be no "police" trust or ILLEGAL resident witness issues to worry about...  Thank you for humoring me, I feel better now.

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Unions are Expensive

Greta at Minnpost wrote the following:
" But the facts remain that unions’ membership decline in Minnesota has been largely at the hands of automation, globalization, and a business climate that seeks to prevent workers from organizing more than in the past — things that don’t appear to be going away anytime soon."
Of course, that riled me...
"automation, globalization, and a business climate "

Why do folks work so hard to avoid saying the obvious?

Unions declined in the Private economy because they increase the cost of products / services and most American Consumers do not want to pay more to support the higher wages, better benefits, etc of those employees?

And the only reason the Public employee unions have grown is because there is pretty much no competition allowed in that sector and the tax payers don't get to choose their service provider.

I wonder what would happen if we told citizens that their tax bill would be reduced by 1% by making public employee unions illegal again. Would they vote for the tax reduction or not?" G2A
 I think Unions could be useful if they partnered with the employers to ensure only the best employees were in the union ranks, that their education / performance was maintained, etc.  But this demanding more pay, more protections, more etc without adding any measurable value is something that consumers simply will not voluntarily pay for. Therefore if the job can be moved, the consumers will demand that it is.


The reason that service jobs and others can be unionized in a region is because the worker is needed in that city...  Therefore the costs go up and the customers pay it...  Or they hold their convention in a lower cost city.

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Liberals For Effectivity and Efficiency

Well RB commenting on this Minnpost Piece  is trying to convince me that Liberals are for effective and efficient government.  You will need to get all the background there, however here are the last few.
"You do not need to trust Beth to understand the data. It is pretty straight forward.
  • the system rewards tenure, degrees and seniority
  • the system does not reward taking challenging positions, performance or results
  • the system gives higher job security and choice of position / school based on seniority
  • therefore the expensive more senior Teachers often choose the easier students / schools. I mean why not, they get paid the same either way.
  • this leaves the most challenged students / schools who need the best highest compensated Teachers with the lowest paid least experienced Teachers.
  • and it places the highest paid most experienced Teachers with the kids who will do fine with any Teacher. (ie strong family and peer support)
So how do Liberals want to improve the effectiveness and efficiency in this case?" G2A
 
"How about asking teachers? Are you convinced that their tribal loyalties run so deep that they would not support making it easier to get rid of poor teachers?
 
Or perhaps you have no confidence in the abilities of teachers to identify productive solutions? That they are motivated entirely by economic self-interest (a trait that seems to be bad only in teachers)?
 
Should we turn education over to management consultants who have no experience in education, but who have an economic interest in selling something--anything--to a willing buyer?" RB
  
"Well it seems to me that the Public Education system had decades to improve itself. Then a concerned Democrat and Republican decided that it was not, so they agreed to pass a law called NCLB. 
  
I hoped that if the Public Education system and Union members saw the millions of children they were leaving behind every year... That would be enough to motivate them to seriously change... But it wasn't, they chose instead to complain about the goals, tests, intent, funding, etc, etc, etc. 
 
They reminded me of a student who had received a poor grade and blamed it on the test, teacher, weather, etc... Anything but themselves.
  
So those millions of kids are still being left behind each year, little has changed in the "near monopolistic system" and a new group of concerned citizens are more serious about encouraging competition and improvement. For the sake of the unlucky kids. I hope something breaks loose soon.
 
Just curious, do you think anything changed after Beth made MPS aware of how poorly the resources were being used? I do not know... But I think not." G2A

MN Real ID Chaos

MPR MN Real ID


Well, the craziness continues...  The far Right is worrying about Big Brother and the far Left wants to give ILLEGAL residents a LEGAL license.


You know my simplistic views:
  • Go to a National ID and database that contains important information about all LEGAL residents / citizens. (ie citizenship status, voter registration status, sanity status, past crimes, etc)
  • Send the ILLEGALs home until they can become LEGAL
Thoughts on any of this?

Sunday, March 5, 2017

Yes, Trump may be Insane

CNN Trumps Accuses Obama
CNN FBI asked Justice Dept to Refute
FOX News Trump Wire Tap
BI No Wire Tap or Collusion


I am concerned that I may need to use this headline more than once...  Trump finally shows some signs of becoming Presidential and then he takes a big step backwards...