I fear for the future of public education. Too many plans & programs, too much reliance on high stakes testing. Throwing money at 'the problem' hasn't solved it. What to do, what to do?

Belafonte opens mouth & inserts other foot.

~LINK~

In the Jerusalem Post interview, Belafonte stuck by his comparison of the Bush administration to Nazi Germany, calling the analogy "not inappropriate" because of the U.S. policy of "detaining suspects without charges [and] creating an atmosphere of fear."
These actions, Belafonte said, are "very much similar to the things that were done when Hitler was on the rise."
Belafonte then went on to explain why he believes Jewish groups would defend President Bush.
"I can understand why Jewish leaders would be prone to protect the image of George Bush and his administration," Belafonte told the Post, noting that the president supports Israel "even when there are questions of the humanitarian, the moral and the political [motivation] of things that are done to Palestinians."

From anyone else there'd be accusations of "hate speech".

Harry, when you find yourself in a hole... stop digging

Income Tax Vs. Consumption tax

Our tax system is a mess. Admittedly our government needs a revenue stream to fund the operation of the United States. We rely on our government to provide Defense, infrastructure, and other functions "for the common good". There has to be a saner, more even-handed method than our current hodge-podge system of Individual Income (48%), Corporate Income (10%), Payroll (34%), Excise (4%) and Other miscellaneous taxes (4%). source: GPOaccess.gov

Everybody feels like they pay too much while others don't pay their "fair" share. Personally, I don't like income & payroll taxes. My money is taken before I even see it. And I don't have any real say in the matter. Being pretty thrifty, I don't buy what I don't need & I "recycle" by buying used - cars, houses, equipment, whatever. I like yard sales. That said, it's pretty easy to figure out that I prefer sales/consumption taxes. I'd prefer to pay my "fair" share when I decide to buy new goods and services, not when I earn my living. The consumption tax encourages saving & investment, and leads to greater participation in an "ownership society".

The Fair Tax Act (FairTax.org) is currently making the rounds in Washington as HR 25 and S 1493. The FairTax Book, a new book explaining the Fair Tax plan is being promoted by it's authors, radio talkshow host Neil Boortz & Congressman John Linder. Perhaps President Bush will make room in his Domestic Agenda and aggressively push for replacing the current twisted tax system, replete with arcane language with a simple consumption tax. As noted by Jan Larson, "The president made tax reform one of the main objectives for his second term. He has vowed to reform the tax code, to make it “pro-growth, simple and easy to understand, and fair to all.”" ~LINK~

I encourage you to read the information available at FairTax.org, buy a copy of The FairTax Book and contact your Senators & Representatives to encourage them to support the Fair Tax Act.

What a bunch of idiots!

This from America's "Civil Rights Leaders": ~LINK~

Bush, GOP Labeled 'Thieves' Who 'Need to be Locked Up'

"They all need to be locked up because they are all criminals and they are all thieves," said Judge Greg Mathis, the star of the syndicated television program "The Judge Mathis Show."

Entertainer/activist Harry Belafonte also used charged rhetoric during the march when he referred to black members of the Bush administration as "black tyrants."

The Bush administration was equated with past policies of slavery and segregation and labeled "the enemy of our (black America's) progress" by Mathis.

I've diagnosed their problem...


...and have a prescription for them.