The American "education" machine is broken!





Latest Analysis, Commentary and Opinion*
(The title of each article is linked to the complete article)

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

‘Next bubble: $600 trillion?‘
   Economics piece by Offsite (4/20/10)

As interest rates begin to rise worldwide, losses in derivatives may end up bankrupting a wide range of institutions, including municipalities, state governments, major insurance companies, top investment houses, commercial banks and universities.

National Security Risk Posed by Climate Change Policy, New Report Finds
   GreeenIsm piece by Press Release: Christine Hall (4/20/10)

Department of Defense Urged to Review Climate Change Policies - Washington, D.C., April 20, 2010 - Climate change alarmists have tried marketing their “fix-it” solutions to the public in several ways. Their latest tactic? Convincing people on the center-right that climate change is a national security threat. It’s a plausible argument - but is it accurate? More importantly, don’t climate policies pose security risks of their own?

Taxes on Wealthy lead to Pain for All
   Taxes piece by Kevin Price (4/20/10)

“Soak the rich” is a favorite battle cry for politicians seeking reelection and advocates of social justice, but in the end, it creates injustice for all. This will clearly be seen as a consequence of the recent health care bill, as well as with the President’s ambitious efforts to dramatically increase the tax on capital gains.

America’s all-out spiritual battle, part 3
   Culture Wars piece by Guest: Marsha West (4/20/10)

WHAT DOES SATAN HAVE HIS CLAWS INTO NOW? - The enemy’s strategy is to nudge.  In the name of tolerance, diversity and unity we’ve been nudged into normalizing sodomy.  In some states, public school children are actually being taught how to become homosexual or bisexual.  They’re being taught that cross-dressing’s okay, too.  Society is being forced into accepting controversial sexual lifestyles to include same-sex “marriage.“ More and more “gender confused” individuals are opting for “sex reassignment surgery” which is doublespeak for what was once called a “sex-change operation.“ Mixed-up men and women have the surgery to change their genital organs from one gender to another.  Worse yet, some supposedly “gender confused” children are wondering if they should be surgically altered!  What’s next?

Doctors in the US Vowing to Quit Or Retire
   ObamaCare piece by J. D. Longstreet (4/20/10)

ObamaCare Driving Doctors out of Business! What if you went to school for 6 to 8 years to earn your medical degree?  Suppose you had HUGE student loans to pay off as well as set up a practice and purchase the necessary equipment you need as a doctor to treat your patients properly—and suppose you had to submit to more training practically every year of your career to stay abreast of new treatments, new equipment, and new federal and state laws pertaining to your practice of medicine.

Monday, April 19, 2010

When A Community Cares
   Society piece by Thomas D. Segel (4/19/10)

Harlingen, Texas, April 19, 2010:  The entire congregation watched as a young boy took us on a video tour of a room.  Quentin Hale was showing us the complete renovation of our church attic into a freshly painted, newly floored, carpeted and neatly arranged storage room. This was a volunteer effort.  It was Quentin’s Eagle Scout project that took almost 300 hours of personal service and labor performed for other people in his community.  It was also noteworthy that this project was unveiled on April 18th, the start of National Volunteer Week.

Kelly Ripa Fundraising for Global Green USA
   GreeenIsm piece by Offsite (4/19/10)

Kelly Ripa, morning talk show host and Regis Philbin sidekick, is working with Electrolux to host her first live webcast in support of Earth Day and Global Green USA.

Industrial Wind and the Wall Street Cap and Trade Fraud Part 1
   Energy piece by Guest: SARTRE (4/19/10)

Financial scandals are not new. Schemes to leverage risk and cheat the public are mainstays of the mad “Cap and Trade” stratagem, in the ongoing war, against genuine free enterprise. The latest ploy is the industrial wind swindle.

The High Holy Day of the Environmental Religion
   GreeenIsm piece by J. D. Longstreet (4/19/10)

Earth Day…. a Celebration of the New Paganism - We are about to witness a worldwide pagan rite – the worship of the earth, the worship of Gaia, (Earth Mother). Earth Day is the worship of nature—rather than Nature’s God.

Marital Strife and Your Health
   Health piece by Guest: Rusty Wright (4/19/10)

“Is Marriage Good for Your Health?’” asked the New York Times headline(1). It depends, says current research.  If you’re married, being happily married seems to matter most.  So learn to fight fair.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

NSA Senior Exec Charged with Leaking Classifed Information
   National Security piece by Jim Kouri (4/18/10)

National Security Agency senior executive was charged on Thursday with the willful retention of classified information, obstruction of justice and making false statements, according to a report obtained by the National Association of Chiefs of Police’s Government Liaison Committee.

What Liberals Really Think of Us
   Progressivism piece by Offsite (4/18/10)

We find ourselves in the midst of the latest leftist media attempt to explain to us exactly who and what we conservatives are.  You know the drill:  racist, homophobic, bitter, gun-slingin’, Bible-totin’ Neanderthals.  This effort to define their enemies happens every time the Democratic Party perceives itself to be in trouble.

Conservatives talk Policy Priorities for 2010 Congressional Races
   Elections piece by Kevin Price (4/18/10)

Recently I asked Facebook(1) friends and Price of Business Show Fans(2) what their policy priorities would be if they were running for Congress in 2010. There is no question about it, people are ready for meaningful change and many of their opinions are quite perceptive, in my opinion.

Consumer Mood Unexpectedly Worsens in April
   Economics piece by Offsite (4/18/10)

(Reuters)—U.S. consumer sentiment took a surprise negative turn in early April due to a persistently grim outlook on income and jobs, a private survey released Friday showed.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

What I Fear I Am Not Afraid To Speak Of
   The Republic piece by J.J. Jackson (4/17/10)

Fear, it is said, is a great motivator.  When someone on unemployment sees benefits running out and the fears of starvation, losing one’s house and seeing their children suffer arise it often motivates them to get off their butt and work.  When one hears the footsteps of a burglar ascending the stairs to their bedroom fear often motivates them to collect their gun and prepare to shoot first and ask questions later.  When those who believe they are endowed by God with the right to lead men fear loosing their power the motivation often arises for them to do whatever it takes to keep such from happening by any means necessary.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

‘Did tea-party smear incite KC riot?‘
   Demercrats piece by Offsite (4/15/10)

If there was any one individual at the center of the smear of the tea-party protest on March 20 outside the Capitol, it was Kansas City Rep. Emanuel Cleaver.

Former NSA executive charged with leaking information to newspaper
   National Security piece by Offsite (4/15/10)

A former senior executive with the National Security Agency has been indicted on 10 felony charges related to the leaking of classified information to a national newspaper in 2006 and 2007, the Justice Department announced Thursday morning.

State asks taxpayers for more money, but hasn’t cut out government waste
   Taxes piece by GoldwaterInstitute: Le Templar (4/15/10)

Tax Day is here, and even after everyone has finished paying Uncle Sam, the people of Arizona will be asked to pay even more.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Arizona parents need truth in advertising for schools
   EdukShun piece by GoldwaterInstitute: Matthew Ladner (4/14/10)

Arizona parents need truth in advertising for schools. Senator John Huppenthal is sponsoring Senate Bill 1286 to label public schools with a letter grade of A, B, C, D or F, based on overall AIMS test scores and gains in student learning. The proposal is based on education reforms put in place in Florida a decade ago. There schools with D and F grades have significantly improved when faced with losing students. Arizona schools would do the same.

Cancel Earth Day, Stop Green Guilt
   GreeenIsm piece by AynRandInstitute: Alex Epstein (4/14/10)

WASHINGTON—“We are told that Earth Day is about enjoying nature, anticipating exciting green technologies, and promoting human health,“ writes Alex Epstein, fellow with the Ayn Rand Center. “It isn’t. It is about guilt for the very thing that makes enjoyment, technology, and health possible—our industrial, capitalist way of life. When environmentalists tell us to be ‘green’ on Earth Day by turning out our lights, hand-washing our clothes, and not using our cars, they are saying that what we do every other day of the year is wrong—that it is destructive and ‘unsustainable.‘

‘STILL a Nationalist?‘
   The Republic piece by J. D. Longstreet (4/14/10)

Back in 2005 I wrote an article entitled: “I’m a Nationalist.“  Over the weekend, while doing a bit of light research, I came across the piece—and read it again.  Honestly, I can’t see that anything has changed my mind.  If ANYTHING I am MORE of a nationalist today than I was 5 years ago. Why?  One word: “OBAMA!“

Opening the Door on Obama Intentions
   ObamaNation piece by Kevin Roeten (4/14/10)

Anyone watching recent events incorporated by Obama has got to wonder were we, as a nation, are going. As a recent caller indicated on a call-in to the Rush Limbaugh Show the deficit is sky rocketing. It’s going ballistic with no downturn. On 4/2, the federal debt was estimated at $12 BILLION by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) They expect a debt of $20 BILLION by 2020. But what most don’t seem to realize, is that Obama may want the deficit to get that high.

Arizona Legislature should avoid a stealth gas tax increase
   Taxes piece by GoldwaterInstitute: Byron Schlomach (4/14/10)

The House Natural Resources and Rural Affairs Committee recently modified Senate Bill 1154 with a “strike-everything” amendment that seeks to increase the state’s gasoline tax. Some years ago, a “temporary” tax of 1 cent per gallon was passed to help clean up leaky underground gasoline storage tanks. That tax is scheduled to end in 2013. SB 1154, as amended, would extend this tax for another five years.

The Solace of Poor U.S.-Israel Relations
   Foreign Policy piece by Daniel Pipes (4/14/10)

Things are not always as simple as they seem; the current crisis in U.S.-Israel relations has a silver lining.

Monday, April 12, 2010

‘Is Romney Grasping at Straws?‘
   Elections piece by Aaron Goldstein (4/12/10)

Mitt Romney’s political fortunes got a bit of a boost over the weekend when he won the straw poll at the Southern Republican Leadership Council meeting in New Orleans.  Romney won the straw ballot by a single vote over Ron Paul.  Sarah Palin finished a distant third despite giving a barnburner of a speech.  Meanwhile, Romney was absent from the proceedings altogether.

The Current Firefox “Minefield” Browser Looks To Be A Winner
   Internet piece by Malcolm T. Hedges (4/12/10)

I’m now running an ‘alpha’ version.  Which so far seems to perform superbly.

‘Palm for sale: What’s the best case scenario?‘
   Computers piece by Offsite (4/12/10)

Palm is putting itself up for sale and reportedly has recruited Goldman Sachs and long-time Silicon Valley investment banker Frank Quattrone to get the deal done. Palm has gone from darling to selling itself in just a few months. Here’s a look at the best (and worst) case scenarios for Palm’s future, developers and customers.

How Bart Stupak mirrors Neville Chamberlain
   Progressivism piece by Robert E. Meyer (4/12/10)

It was once claimed that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. In his time, Neville Chamberlain was probably the poster child for such a sentiment. In the aftermath of the passage of health insurance reform, we can hastily place Democratic Representative Bart Stupak in the same category.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

‘Why are U.S. Trees Growing Faster?‘
   GreeenIsm piece by Guest: Dennis T. Avery (4/10/10)

CHURCHVILLE, VA - Trees in the U.S. are growing 2-4 times as fast as their long-term norm. The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center at Edgewood MD says it is because of global warming, according to a recent press release. Don’t bet on that.

U.S. has ‘enough oil to be independent’
   Energy piece by Offsite (4/10/10)

Energy analysts say demand for crude oil will double by 2035, but some argue that with vast untapped petroleum reserves that can be accessed by new environmentally safe technologies, the U.S. can become energy independent if it has the political will.