How the Progressive Agenda for RI - for the USA - Hurts Families

The cloud around the silver lining of September's Rhode Island Democratic primary (that dislodged a half dozen entrenched legislators) is that a handful of progressive Democrats are now in office or vying for the role in November.

The real two-party system we have operating is within one Democratic party: the left and the far left. The far left progressives should just call themselves what they are - socialists - and succeed or fail on the merits of their philosophy. But that would take courage to come out in the open. 

Instead, they shroud their ideology under the Democratic banner, making it seem legitimate, palatable. Normal. What they appear to say they want has some mass appeal. Problem is, what they say and what they intend to implement are different.

The progressive plan for Rhode Island - and the country - may sound good at protest rallies and in debates, but when you look beyond headlines and flashy sound bites, the agenda ultimately hurts the working families it purports to defend.

Raise the Minimum Wage

It’s a nice slogan but early results are not great in the cities that adopted it, and economists and academics admit the long-range consequences on small business are unknown. Ask the owners of your local pizza shop or neighborhood corner store how many new employees they will hire at $15 an hour? There's your anecdotal but practical evidence that the mandatory wage hike will hurt families and small businesses who cannot afford it.

Rhode Island needs better jobs with better pay. That comes from attracting new business, plus clearing the way for existing business to grow in a free market. Remember that government does not create jobs (unless it is to grow itself). Government can only make it easier - or harder, as Rhode Island government seems obsessed with doing - for the private sector to create real jobs that grow the economy.

For example, if businesses are paying more in government taxes, licensing, and fees - some imposed indirectly through surcharges on gas, electric, and telephone services (by the way, have you really looked at your own cell phone bill lately?), it is that much more unlikely small businesses can expand and hire more people. It is another abuse of power for government to impose a higher minimum wage for jobs whose skill level does not warrant that pay scale. All things considered, the free market organically controls the prevailing wage, not government coercion.

The Rich Should Pay Their Fair Share

While corporate welfare and taxpayer subsidy of private investment are never a good deal for taxpayers, low taxes on all business is good policy.

Permit me to take a short step back: government does not earn wages to pay for what it does, nor is it entitled to the wages we earn. Government - municipal, state and federal - can only confiscate money from true wage earners.

That said, for a "fair" tax system, lawmakers have to stop crafting customized tax deals and close tax loopholes. Progressive Democrat candidates - from local school committees to the candidate for President - are lying to your face when they call for higher taxes on the rich but do nothing to close loopholes and special deductions only the ultra rich can use. Cut taxes and close loopholes. That is fair.

Invest in Education

Another convenient soundbite. After all, who doesn't want well-educated kids?

But the inconvenient truth is the $2,318,681,514* (that’s $2.13 billion) Rhode Island already funnels into preK-12 education is not educating our children. More than 50% is spent on administration. High school graduations are down for the past five years, while drop-out rates have gone up.* Rhode Island is 8th highest in spending but 33rd worst in graduation rates.* Enrollment is down but cost per pupil is up.

The results of the current "investment" in education are abysmal. Throwing more money at K-12 education tends to grow administration and bureaucracy, rather than improve any of the 'knowledge gain' of children. Test scores are just a smokescreen. Ask an English professor of college freshmen how fulfilling his or her teaching experience has become. Remedial classes are the new prerequisites. And too many graduating from college are not equipped to function in the workplace.

We need to change the way we invest in education for success that works for the students. That's re-thinking how and where the current money is spent before another new dollar is allocated.

On November 8, the last thing we need at the State House is even one more progressive Democrat working against you and for their own brand of special interests. Know where your candidates stand and whether they are an enemy of the Constitution or an advocate for your liberty.

*SOURCE: Rhode Island Department of Education 

The Arrogance of Incumbency - Get To the Back of the Line, Boys

Write-in campaigns are the lame attempt by losers to recover from the sting of their arrogance of incumbency.

Here in Rhode Island, we have two newly chewed-up and spit-out, but still sticky gum globs clinging to voters' shoes. Two too-long-entrenched Democrats who lost in the September primary - Jan Malik of Warren and John DeSimone of Providence - launch write in campaigns this week.

Granted, the Democrat candidates who replaced them are even worse enemies of the Constitution: progressives who are openly campaigning to grow government, violate my rights, and make me pay for the insults on top of it. Fortunately, these two progressives are facing formidable opponents on November 8: Libertarian Daryl Gould in District 67 Barrington - Warren, and Republican Roland Lavallee in District 5 Providence.

But to their credit, the progressives walked the streets, knocked on the doors, shook the hands, and made the deals to get their supporters out to vote.

The incumbents, on the other hand, took their name recognition - and their constituents - completely for granted, believing they could not possibly lose.

John DeSimone was House Majority Leader - number two in the House leadership! First elected in 1992, he was turned out of office because he did not take his opponent or his constituents' concerns and anger seriously. Adding insult to injury? He lost by less than 25 votes.

Jan Malik, elected in 1996, was defeated by a more decisive margin by his anti-Second Amendment opponent, 44% to 56%.

Twenty-four and 20 years respectively. Way.Too.Long to be in office. And to be obnoxiously deaf to constituents and vote instead with special interests? All the more reason they both were voted out. 38 Studios and RhodeWorks truck tolls are part of the reckoning.

Now they wage a write in campaign? Apparently their arrogance knows no bounds.

Get to the back of the line, boys. You blew it and you were fired. Go home for two years like every other candidate who lost a race. You're embarrassing yourselves.

Another View on Hillary Clinton's 'Basket of Deplorables' Blunder

"Memo to candidates: Stop generalizing and psychoanalyzing your opponents' supporters. It never works out well for you." 

'OK,' I thought to myself. 'Nice lead.' (And it sounds like the advice someone should have given Allan Fung before he called his opponent's supporters Block-Heads.)

Domenico Montanaro's article for NPR provided some sound analysis and reasonable commentary about Hillary Clinton's 'basket of deplorables' blunder. That is, until Montanaro was infected by the same disease he diagnosed in Clinton: liberal elitism — liberals talking to liberals about a group of people they don't really know or hang out with, but feel free to opine about when talking to each other:

"When the GOP ticket lost [in 2008], it was, well, bitterness toward Obama that, in part, gave rise to the Tea Party."  

Wow. Really? I'm not even sure the equivocal 'in part' tucked in the middle of the statement redeems it.

As an "inaugural member" of the real Tea Party movement locally, I can tell you bitterness and Obama had nothing to do with my involvement. My motivation and that of so many of my fellow Rhode Islanders was nonpartisan bipartisan outrage, revulsion, and volcanic opposition to a government - still led by a Republican president, mind you - that no longer represented constituents in any way. No bitterness there, just plenty of anger and outrage at the arrogance oozing from Congress in Washington. The infamous bail out of the "too-big-to-fails" exposed the corrupt and incestuous corporatist system of banksters and politicians colluding to protect and enrich themselves and screw the taxpayers obligated to pay for their games and gambles. That happened at the hands of Congress in October of 2008 - before the election of Barack Obama.

For the millions of us around the country whose awakening against a rogue unaccountable government was ignited by the bailout, John McCain's loss was no loss for us taxpayers. He and Obama were part of it and represented pitiful choices - two sides of the same wooden nickel - just like Obama and Romney four years later, and Clinton and Trump now. False choices. But that's another blog.

I wonder how many individuals associated with the pure, pre-Republican-commandeered Tea Party Montanaro knows or hangs out with. By his liberal elitist remark, I would guess none.

A Case Against Tolerating Panhandling (or Why Do Your Rights Trump Mine?)

I do not pretend to have a solution to the panhandling problem in Rhode Island. It is complex at its core. But I do know I should not be shamed and forced into tolerating and accepting behavior that infringes on me. That is the biggest lie of "tolerance," another result of political correctness.

If they have a God-given right to beg - and under the First Amendment, apparently they do - it is likewise my God-given right to go about my business unmolested. 

The First Amendment does not protect all speech; aggressive and threatening speech is not without limits. But your definition of aggression may differ from mine. I do not have to hear words threatening bodily harm to feel intimidated. Whether that is right or wrong is beside the point. I have the right to travel and conduct my business without unwanted and uninvited encumbrance or intrusion by another.

Someone standing on the corner holding a sign is not the problem with panhandling. It’s the personal approach – encroachment – into what was once politely considered “personal” space to make the direct ask that's the problem. 

To intrude upon another who is minding his/her/their own business with the unsolicited ask can feel very threatening, very aggressive, and makes me vulnerable as I shift focus from what I was doing (minding my own business) to search in my bag for the dollar or two. I do have a right not to be subjected to that.

This is not limited to Providence, but the compassion Mayor Elorza intended when he decreed that police should ignore the law and not enforce the ordinances has done little or nothing to help the plight of the needy or to get at the fundamental problems. 

It has, however, seriously ramped-up the number, and invited and emboldened opportunistic "syndicates" or "career" panhandlers who obfuscate the problems and prevent real solutions. Plus, social service providers will tell you not to donate because it is not an effective solution.

I am not asking for police aggression - I already said I do not know the right answer - but I, and others like me who just want to be left alone, do not want to be shamed by the sanctimonious into tolerating others’ infringing behavior.

Third Party Emerges as Only Real Alternative for Many

 

Gary Johnson is not taking away votes from Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump.

Gary Johnson is giving back the vote, reengaging all those disenfranchised and disillusioned voters who would otherwise stay home - stay out of the election altogether - rather than cast a vote for either Clinton or Trump.

Rabid followers of the Democrat and Republican candidates will not be swayed from their polarized positions, planted firmly on opposite ends of the seesaw, no matter what Johnson or anyone else says.

It's the huge space in the middle, filled with unhappy, frustrated, and confused patriots who know that the two "choices" being offered are not good for their country, not good for their state, not good for their family. Those are the voters - a huge number of them - who are paying attention to Johnson and may be swayed to vote for him.

Repeat: The option for them - so many of them - is to otherwise stay home.

"And if, in four years, you decide you don’t like peace, prosperity, and freedom, you can always vote tyranny back into office again."

A Mother's Axioms (Still True After All These Years)

The marvel of life is that it is a journey of continuous opportunities for learning, many times from the most unlikely sources. I am amazed at the education I have received from my four children. Each is unique in his (three) and her (one) approach, but their lessons have not failed to elucidate. Often, the lessons seem to contradict my long-held beliefs. However, their wisdom is worth sharing. Here is a sampling of the new axioms:

If you leave the empty ice cube tray on the counter, it will refill itself.

 A drink of water tastes best when drunk out of a fresh glass each time.

 Spills needn't be wiped up; they evaporate with time.


The wallpaper looks much better when loose seams are torn away.

Painted woodwork makes an excellent drawing surface.


Toilets are not meant to be flushed unless the equivalent of a roll and a half of toilet tissue has been used.

 Always leave one square of toilet tissue on the roll. It's the considerate thing to do.



 Light switches are made to be turned on. And left on.

 A napkin is always within arms reach. It's called a sleeve.

 Doors close best when slammed.

 All chairs are rocking chairs.

Chore time exists to renew fascination with neglected toys.

Blowing on the tops of furniture works as well as using a dust cloth.

The family room must be constantly maintained at a moderate level of mess to be considered comfortable.

For every toy that is put away, two must be taken out.

 If at first you don't get permission, cry, cry again.

Clothes are more accessible if left on the floor.

Parental instructions must be conveyed at 88 decibels to be heard and followed.

Following hours of after-school silence, the day's routine activities must be discussed at bedtime.

 Books without pictures beg for crayon illustration.

 Beds make the best trampolines.

 Bedtime is a suggestion.


 Announcing "Bedtime!" elicits hunger and thirst.

 The later the hour, the greater the desire for a long bedtime story.

Mom's news programs on television signal it's time for kids to wrestle on the floor in front of the TV.

 Church services produce the irrepressible urge to poke at siblings sitting next to you.

 A phone call for Mom implicitly permits family room gymnastics, raiding the refrigerator, climbing up onto shelves, turning up the television volume, arguing over toys, or any and every combination thereof.


 And finally, if it belongs to Mom, it's more fun to play with, use, hide, or wear.



EVERY DAY IS A JOYOUS NEW CHALLENGE!
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM YOUR CHILDREN? : )


originally published in 2007
originally written circa 1994 AND IT'S STILL TRUE! :)

'College Students Terrified Over Chalk Writing' -- How on earth did we get here?

The nonsense at Emory University this week (note this was written in March 2016) reminded me of something I had written a while back about the difference between sheeple groupthink and the power of awake individuals standing together.

How on earth did we get here? College students are "traumatized" - the actual word being used - by the mere sight of the name of Republican candidate for President Donald Trump in chalk around campus? 

Who raised these kids? Who are these cowardly administrators - allegedly grown-ups - running the campus?

The truth is, we didn't raise these kids. The government day camps of indoctrination called schools raised these kids. We just handed them over because we were told we had to. But in a way, we were relieved to do so. We were then free to toil away to keep a roof over our heads, food on the table, clothes on our backs, gas in the car, utilities running, not to mention the occasional vacation. Or we were free to pursue our own personal career development we preferred over the hard, sometimes unrewarding job of raising productive little citizens.

Children spend the best hours of their day in school. The best hours of our day, too. Full day kindergarten does not necessarily produce a better educated child; it just permits longer external influence over children by people who are not the parents And most likely do not share the values of those parents! 

Schools are docks of convenience, repositories of the next generation we're all too busy to raise ourselves. Why? In my opinion, that's manipulated, too. Real grownups are too busy eking out a living to meet the bills and are too exhausted at the end of the day to counterbalance the indoctrination. Hillary Clinton herself has said parents should not be in the way of schools teaching children. Except that is against every single principle of education - the parents are the first and primary educators, responsible for the child. 

It takes a family to raise a child, and it takes parents to educate children, as the involvement of parents is the number one factor determining student achievement.
Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/hillary-clinton-says-education-is-a-non-family-enterprise-137583/#elrg0bcH67BQzvIT.99

It takes a family to raise a child, and it takes parents to educate children, as the involvement of parents is the number one factor determining student achievement.
Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/hillary-clinton-says-education-is-a-non-family-enterprise-137583/#elrg0bcH67BQzvIT.99

At one time that was fine, when schools taught our children the basic skills they need to become productive, rational, independent members of society, placing them in the care of strangers all day might have been OK when those strangers weren't strangers at all, but neighbors you knew, and who knew and shared your values for your kids.  

Instead, and right under our noses, schools have orchestrated the decline of individual critical thought, discernment, and individual achievement - and simultaneously placed emphasis on the value of collective thought, entitlement to recognition through no effort, never mind real achievement.  

It takes a family to raise a child, and it takes parents to educate children, as the involvement of parents is the number one factor determining student achievement. Education is not a "non-family" enterprise; parents are the ones responsible for the education of their children. 

Homeschooling is a great example of this, but even with private and public education parents must be involved. The appeal to teachers "leading the way" is interesting as hardly any classroom teachers were on committees to write, research or validate Common Core development. Also it doesn't seem to leave room for parents who are the biggest stakeholders. 

Schools in large measure - especially progressives within education - have sought to replace parents or see parents as an obstacle, not a partner. Part of the biggest problem with Common Core is that it left parents behind. Their voices were not heard before the standards were implemented. Their voices are not being heard in many states debating this now. Their voices have not been heard in the education establishment, or with idiotic way Common Core-aligned curriculum has kids do math, which leaves parents unable to help their kids, widening the divide at home.

Discipline, self-control, patience, punctuality. The biggest complaint from employers is that young people who show up for jobs don’t have those habits. They don’t know how to conduct themselves appropriately. 

Common Core is just a federal program set up to program children to the politically correct ideals of a time. And let's face it, with government indoctrination from day care and Pre-K to college, the government infuses indoctrination on young minds starting with toddlers. 

 

This is separation of home and state. Isn't that right out of the communist manifesto?  

 

UPDATE IN JANUARY 2023: How FAST the plan to cut off parents from their children has accelerated! Now, government schools are sexualizing our very young children.This has GOT to stop. Stand and intervene.