We Can Do Better!

"The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only legitimate object of good government."

- Thomas Jefferson

QuestionItNow Blogs

21st Century Family Values

Children ...
why do you cry?

Parents ...
What will you find?

On 10/16/05 Whaler responded to my QUESTIONS poem from the QuestionItNow Voices Blog. I have taken some editorial liberties in republishing Whaler’s comments. If I am not true to his intent, I am sure he will let me know.

Your questions can be answered by answering the first two questions. If you do this, the rest of the answers will fall into place.

If we focus on why children are crying, and what parents will find, it means we have our priorities straight. And we will raise children who understand the value of freedom and liberty.

Then these children will become the lawyers, politicians, and preachers of the future. They will have been given the correct direction and motivation to do the right thing for their families and country.

The big problem with this formula is how do we do this? Why are the children crying? Are they hungry? If so, what are they hungry for?

Are parents really even looking for anything truly important? Or are they too busy trying to keep up with the Joneses and doing things that really don't equate to raising healthy kids. Are we even raising our own kids anymore?

When I grew up there was not one daycare in my neighborhood. Today daycare is a huge industry. Why are we having children we don't want to sacrifice for?

I know, I know, times are tough. We are all told it takes two people working people to pay the bills. Why do we assume this is true? It really doesn't have to be this way. Our commercial culture tells us our priorities are in buying "stuff". Who is spending the quality time to raise healthy confident children and who are encouraged to think for themselves?

We also have to make children part of a family, contributors to the common good, not spoiled children whose family revolves around them and their whims. Parents have to take interest and pay attention to what their kids are doing. Parents can not assume they know what their kids are up to. Where is the discipline? We need to give kids direction - whether they like it or not. We can not be too afraid to be the tough, stubborn parent.

Too often we are afraid to do something our children won't like and they will rebel, take risky chances (like we used to) and do something that may get them into trouble. Hey, that is part of the learning process. People need to learn from their own mistakes, even if our friends may whisper about our kids not being as wonderful as their little Johnny. We still need to be there to nurse their wounds and defend them, when the time is right.

Parenting is damn hard work but our collective future depends on us doing a good job. We all need to re-focus and re-dedicate ourselves to leaving the world in better shape than we found it. Our children deserve this!

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GROWTH

Plant a seed
for every tree that falls.

Adapt and respond to survive,
unless you don't believe in evolution.

Open new doors.
Tear down old walls.

R.E.B.

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U.S. Education System Leaves Too Many Behind

In a study published last month by the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development www.oecd.org the United States ranked sixteenth out of twenty-one countries in High School (upper secondary) graduation rates (2003). U.S. Male students were graduating at a 72% rate and female students did slightly better at 75%. Clearly, too many American children are being left behind.

In marked contrast, Germany, Greece, Norway, Japan, Ireland, and Switzerland graduated over 90%. The Czech Republic, Hungary, Denmark, Poland, Finland, France, Italy, and Iceland had graduation rates between 80% and 90%.

This decline in educational attainment is coming at precisely the wrong time. The time of high paying manufacturing jobs is a thing of the past. A high-tech knowledge economy based on innovation is the strength of America today. We can not afford to allow other countries to pass us up in these areas.
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When American Children Need Education - Bush Department of Education Delivers Propaganda

Manipulation of facts and news distortions are nothing new in Washington D.C. Voters and taxpayers must pay attention to stories that appear beyond the front page. The following story has not been well covered by the main-stream media.

The General Accountability Office (GAO) www.gao.gov is the non-partisan congressional watchdog that investigates how the government spends taxpayer funds. It is charged with helping to bring accountability, integrity, and reliability to our government.

On September 30, 2005 the GAO determined the Bush Department of Education illegally mislead the American people and misused taxpayer dollars to market No Child Left Behind. The Bush Aministratin produced videos that it misrepresented as news to help sell No Child Left Behind to minority audiences. "Because the Department's role in the production and distribution of the prepackaged news story is not revealed to the target audience, the prepackaged news story constitutes covert propaganda."

In making this ruling, the GAO "applied the publicity or propaganda prohibition to forbid the use of appropriations for (1) covert propaganda, (2) purely partisan activities, or (3) self-aggrandize activities."

This sort of abuse is disturbing in the best of times. To engage in this type of activity when American children need world-class education is disgraceful. To improve public education in this country we need open and honest dialogue. There is no room for media manipulation when America's future is at stake.
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Rome did not Collapse in a Day

The Roman Empire failed to evolve enough in its thinking to adapt and survive a rapidly changing world.

America needs to learn from the Roman demise. We need to invest in public education and entrepreneurship to compete in the global economy.

Defend America - FUND EDUCATION

Use Every Brain to Win in the World

Is the Cold War over? Is the American Empire in decline? Will Communist China be the next Super Power? Where will America lead the world?

The answers to these question lies with everyday Americans. We can no longer rely upon downsizing, Chapter 11 declaring, campaign contributing, outsourcing, global conglomerates to keep America competitive. Too many huge corporation have shown their incompetence is surpassed only by their arrogance and greed.

America's future depends upon entrepreneurs who start innovative, profitable companies that help solve the worlds problems. Some of these small businessmen -Bill Gates - have done and continue to do tremendous things

America needs to lead in global high-growth, high-tech industries. Fortunately opportunities abound - alternative power sources, efficient transportation, communications technologies, security technologies, homeland security, disaster recovery, and health care to name a few.

In order to lead in these areas, America needs to re-focus her resources on world-class public education. Education must focus more of its resources on teaching 21st century skills in entrepreneurship, technology, creativity, and democracy. This will help create the next generation of high-tech innovative company builders. The companies these people launch & grow will create jobs, pay taxes & improve our quality of life.

To build the companies of tomorrow, America needs to declare & win a 21st Century War on Illiteracy & Poverty in America.

We must win with education. Our children deserve a fighting chance. We need to take care of each other before we try to solve the world's problems. It is time for America to lead by example.

If we fail to educate and innovate, we will lose. To remain competitive in the future, America must leverage every willing brain in our country. We must fund & improve public education to build a better America.

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