The American "education" machine is broken!





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

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Public Schools Embrace Debauchery and Apostasy Over Christmas Music
   EdukShun piece by Frederick Meekins (12/31/09)

Most Americans would agree that freedom of conscience ranks among our most cherished liberties.  As such, the state should protect this particular right by almost any means necessary and reasonable (especially for citizens).

Housing Prices Poised to Fall 15 Percent
   Economics piece by Offsite (12/31/09)

The run-up in housing prices that began earlier this year may soon be a thing of the past, says Wellesley College economist Karl Case.

That Annoying Issue of “Homeland Security”
   National Security piece by Christopher Adamo (12/31/09)

In September of 2005, the liberal political establishment successfully laid the Hurricane Katrina disaster at the feet of then President George W. Bush, in what was perhaps the greatest propaganda “sleight of hand” in modern history. Mired in corruption as a result of a near monopoly of Democrat political power, the City of New Orleans, and in fact the entire State of Louisiana, was woefully unprepared for the magnitude of the storm that hit it.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

The Ibbetson WrightRoad Victimization Index
   Social Engineering piece by Guest: Paul A. Ibbetson (12/30/09)

Turn on the television, switch on the radio, or open a magazine, and you are likely to hear a discussion on the continual victimization of one group or another based on race, religion, or gender at the very least. Centered within this narrative are the power-wielders with their thirst for absolute control, and the helpless victims that must continually gasp for air under the boot of domination. The Ibbetson WrightRoad Victimization Index offers an easy-to-understand guide to what happens when one group interacts with another, as well as a no-nonsense evaluation of how victimization works in the modern society.

Broadband Blockage
   Internet piece by Offsite (12/30/09)

Why wireless carriers are running out of capacity - Nationwide, holiday sales over the Internet rose by 15.5% this year. But some New Yorkers who tried to purchase iPhones online were out of luck. Late last week, ATandT, which sells the device, began blocking orders through its Web site. Sales resumed Monday afternoon without an official explanation from ATandT of what happened, but an underlying problem still needs to be addressed.

‘Are Taxes the Root of Unhappiness?‘
   Taxes piece by Offsite (12/30/09)

States with the highest taxes also rank as the unhappiest - Does living in a blue state make people blue? It seems so, according to a new study in Science magazine that ranks states according to their happiness. The study finds that New Yorkers are the unhappiest people in America and their neighbors in Connecticut come in a close second, followed by Michigan, Indiana, New Jersey, California, and Illinois. And the happiest states? Drum roll, please…Louisiana, Hawaii, Florida, Tennessee, and Arizona.

Wanted: Another President like Grover Cleveland
   Government piece by Kevin Price (12/30/09)

One of my favorite Presidents was Grover Cleveland. He is one that is largely neglected by the media and historians today, which are indicators of their own as being someone I would likely admire. He is the only President to not serve his terms sequentially, being both the 22nd (1885 to 1889) and 24th (1893 to 1897) President.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Like Mushrooms, Health Care ‘Reform’ Flourishes in the Dark
   Congress piece by Offsite (12/29/09)

NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg criticizes the bill’s lack of transparency - In a key scene in Frank Capra’s 1939 film “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,“ appointed senator (and unwitting pawn in a corruption scheme) Jefferson Smith, played by Jimmy Stewart, suggests to a colleague that perhaps it would be a good idea to read bills before voting on them.

Prepare for a Keynesian Hangover
   Economics piece by Offsite (12/29/09)

In 2008, as the U.S. economy teetered under the weight of years of reckless credit expansion, the Bush administration decided against proposals to sweep out the bad debts from the banking system and then fix the regulatory structure - an approach based on tried and tested models from the SandL crisis and other financial crises.

Air Marshal Program Garners Renewed Interest
   Terrorism piece by Jim Kouri (12/29/09)

A Nigerian man claiming to be part of the al-Qaeda terrorist group was charged in a federal criminal complaint on Saturday with attempting to destroy a Northwest Airlines aircraft on its final approach to Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Christmas Day, and with placing a destructive device on the aircraft, according to documents obtained by the National Association of Chiefs of Police.

Thank you to these businesses
   Business piece by Offsite (12/29/09)

Since I began radio broadcasting 27 years ago, I have tried to come up with ideas for New Year’s resolutions for myself and my listeners. Virtually each time, I have advocated one resolution in particular: For every couple of letters of complaint or oral complaints we communicate about someone or about some company, we should write a letter or make a call to commend someone or some company.

Unhealthy arrogance
   Elitists piece by Offsite (12/29/09)

The only thing healthy about Congress’ health insurance legislation is the healthy skepticism about it by most of the public, as revealed by polls. What is most unhealthy about this legislation is the raw arrogance in the way it was conceived and passed.

North Korea link to Detroit attack investigated
   Terrorism piece by Offsite (12/29/09)

Investigators suspect closed regime may have provided trigger technology - LONDON - One of the links being investigated regarding a terror attack on a Detroit-bound flight on Christmas Day is whether al-Qaida got help from North Korea in setting it up, according to a report from Joseph Farah’s G2 Bulletin.

2009 Award for Political Incorrectness: Calling out the Liberal Lies
   Political Correctness piece by Carey Roberts (12/29/09)

Climategate is not just a story of some fringe scientists who conspired to hoodwink the public and expand the reach of the government. Rather, the real scandal lies in the unholy trinity that emerged among the major institutions of society: academia, government, and the media.

I Want My, I Want My MLB
   Sports piece by Aaron Goldstein (12/29/09)

As a diehard baseball fan a small part of me dreads the final out of the World Series.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Chutzpah! U.S. demands Israel explain terrorists’ deaths
   Foreign Policy piece by Offsite (12/28/09)

Suspects were heavily armed, murdered Jewish civilian two days before - JERUSALEM—The Obama administration yesterday demanded the Israeli government explain why its military eliminated three terrorists in an operation this weekend.

Man Flew Into LaGuardia With Firecracker
   National Security piece by Offsite (12/28/09)

NEW YORK (CBS)  - A passenger who flew into LaGuardia Airport on Sunday night was questioned by FBI agents after allegedly boarding the flight with an explosive device in his possession, CBS 2 has learned.

Tea Parties: The Biggest Mistake We’ll Make in 2010
   The Republic piece by Warner Todd Huston (12/28/09)

It’s the end of 2009, the “aughts” are over, and we are about to embark on a new year—and what else are they but the “aughts”? Well, besides mostly a horrible and thankfully passed decade. In any case, we are at the end of the year and that means two things: lists about this year and predictions for the next. I’ve chosen the prognosticator’s art for this piece with the subject of what will likely be our biggest failure or mistake in 2010: the Tea Party movement.

Taxpayer Robbery Gate
   ClimateGate piece by Guest: Paul Driessen (12/28/09)

Senator Boxer is compounding the Climategate scandal with cover-up and obstruction - Aside from ideologues, hydrocarbon haters, Gaia worshipers, profiteers and power-grabbing politicians, most of the sentient world is beginning to realize that the hysteria over global warming disasters is based on dubious to fraudulent temperature data, analyses, models, reports and peer reviews.

The Choice Between Prosperity and Decline
   Economics piece by Jeff Lukens (12/28/09)

This land of a free people and a free-market economy has generated a great wave of innovation that has benefited all of humanity. The essence of freedom and prosperity that moved around the world in past 200 and some years has been driven primarily by the United States. With our economy now stagnating, it has become more important than ever to return to the basic Constitutional freedoms that have made prosperity possible.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

‘Are we on the Path towards Hyperinflation?‘
   Economics piece by Kevin Price (12/27/09)

There is a great deal of discussion about inflation and even hyperinflation, but most are not really aware of what either are and how they come about. Inflation is not, as you have often heard, “high prices.“ High prices are among the symptoms of inflation. The classical definition of inflation, simply put, is “too much money chasing too few goods.“ We have a great deal of that going on in our economy today. The result is not only high prices, but outrageously high interest rates (which are right around the corner) and a massive drop in the value of US bonds in the eyes of international buyers. Those bonds are one of the primary vehicles our country uses to avoid bankruptcy, because of the size of our debt and deficits.

The family that’s socialist together, stays together
   Social Engineering piece by Offsite (12/27/09)

And while “Everybody’s Fine” is a film filled with touching performances and creative storytelling, its subtle message is nonetheless unequivocal: Dad’s world is done and diseased, and it’s time for him to embrace junior’s wisdom. Out with the capitalist American dream and in with the touchy-feely tenets of a postmodern socialism:

1 in 3 fear punishment based on friends, acquaintances
   Police State piece by Offsite (12/27/09)

Americans perceiving ‘chilling’ loss of right to associate - There’s a new “chill” that has nothing to do with claims of global warming or climate change and everything to do with the failing confidence Americans feel in their own freedoms, according to a new poll.

Teaching America as ‘hellhole’ called ‘brainstorming’
   Social Engineering piece by Offsite (12/27/09)

A lawyer for the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities campus has confirmed to an educational rights organization that a plan described by a critic as teaching America as a “hellhole” hasn’t been adopted, and came about because of brainstorming efforts by the education department.

Why I Signed The Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience
   Religion piece by Guest: David Huntwork (12/27/09)

It is one thing to judge, and another to excuse. The Manhattan Declaration does neither. I found this to be a rather profound statement by a large number of Christian leaders taking a stand for the foundations of civilization, the family, and the sanctity of human life. People of faith have to work together to preserve and protect the fundamental principles of morality from those who seek to destroy them. This declaration brings together numerous Catholic bishops, Orthodox clergy, and Evangelical leaders and as an evangelical Christian I will gladly partner with other types of Christians on the common concepts that form the backbone of Christianity.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

I’m Trying To Learn About Graphics And Painting On Computers
   Software piece by Editor (12/26/09)

Over the last year I have been hunting and finding such software tools.  The variety of capabilities and functionality is wide.

U.N. poised for a gun grab
   Progressivism piece by Offsite (12/26/09)

If you think the Obama administration doesn’t need help in dreaming up new schemes to reinterpret the Constitution and add new restrictions on our freedom, think again.

Chris Matthews: Alinsky ‘our hero’
   Progressivism piece by Offsite (12/26/09)

Just five days after affirming on air that he is a liberal, MSNBC host Chris Matthews exclaimed that radical community organizer Saul Alinsky is one of his heroes.

For Their Next Trick . . .
   Progressivism piece by Offsite (12/26/09)

Look for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to try to circumvent the traditional conference committee process by which the different versions of health care reform passed by each house will be reconciled. If so, it will be the latest example of violating principles of transparency and accountability in the single-minded pursuit of legislative victory.

Michigan Forces Business Owners Into Public Sector Unions
   Shadow Government piece by Offsite (12/26/09)

After hemorrhaging members for decades, labor unions have hit upon a new way to shore up their annual dues revenue - Flint, Mich. - Michelle Berry runs a private day-care service from her home on the outskirts of this city, the birthplace of General Motors. “The Berry Patch,“ as she calls the service, features overstuffed purple gorillas, giant cartoon murals, and a playroom covered in Astroturf. Her clients are mostly low-income parents who need child care to keep their jobs in a city that now has a 26% unemployment rate.