native wrote:Unfortunately, very few will get the quality education you espouse as long as the NEA is in charge of education. The values necessary to encourage economic productivity and entrepreneurship are devalued by teachers and politicians alike. Public policy and popular cutlture reward dysfunctional social behavior harmful to children.
IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, do you really believe higher taxes will achieve the goals to which we should aspire?
I agree that the education system is broken and needs to be fixed and that while we have large numbers of highly qualified and dedicated teachers the bureaucracy on all sides (government, administration and unions) is a barrier that needs to be overcome.
While I don't mind a graduated tax rate I do question what is fair and sensible. Jacking up the taxes on the wealthy isn't a good idea.
native wrote:If you believe your own words, why not learn to teach English as a second language and volunteer to do so? Why not coach or referee youth sports teams, or better yet use your acquired entrepreneurial and corporate management skills and volunteer to serve as a board member of a youth activities organization? Why not sponsor science fair awards for both the gifted and the underprivileged? Why not participate in one of the many programs (e.g., junior achievement) that would bring your successful life experiences into the classroom? Why not become a teacher yourself?
I do a number of things as a part of my job and on my own that contribute to the community. I have coached youth sports teams for the last 3 years. I run a foundation that provides scholarships to students. I have spent a considerable amount of time in the rougher parts of Chicago working with community groups and educational institutions to help give disadvantaged youths an opportunity to pursue higher paying jobs with real benefits.
native wrote:Higher taxes, government programs, "community activism," hating America and demonizing white people are not the answer. They are the problem. Chizzeets and many of the other losers who espouse this kind of crap are fakes - some of them have a few screws loose, to boot. I doubt that one in ten of these nuts actually perform useful civic duties, as I am recommending for your consideration.
I generally believe in smaller government but there are instances where government intervention is appropriate. National defense being the most basic but some regulation of business is a necessary evil otherwise we end up with monopolies, environmental problems, etc. as too many businesses would pursue a profit at all costs philosphy. Fortunately the need for unions as dropped considerably as smart businesses understand that their workforce can be a asset to be utilized intelligently and not a resource to be used up and discarded.
Community activism is not by itself a bad thing. This country has a long and successful history of community activism; what would you have called it when German, Italian, Irish, etc. immigrants came to this country and shopped at community stores, hired community contractors, etc.? People should be encouraged to work together to better themselves and their neighborhood(s). They just shouldn't do it at the expense of someone else.
As a white person, I don't feel demonized. Did I have fewer opportunities than a minority when I was working for the larger company? Yes, but I understood why and knew that I could always leave if I didn't like the opportunities I had. When I was on the south side of Chicago helping disadvantaged people there were 10 people telling me thanks for every 1 who was pissed at me because things didn't work out. All those 10 people wanted was a chance at something better, they understood that it was up to them to make something of it. And as a white person, I understand that I started out with a better foundation than most non-whites because of past discrimination. While minorities might have had more opportunities at that larger company than I did, whites had a better chance of getting the education required just to get their foot in the door.
Finally, Cleets is not a loser. I enjoy and generally agree with his posts. I would break liquid bread with him anytime.
