“I just want Freedom”

A bumper sticker I saw today said “Give me my money, my gun and my freedom: You keep the change.”
Freedom? In Florida? Ha. A thing of the past.
The legislature that runs and spouts on the agenda of less government intrusion and more personal freedom is about to pass SB1070 which at this writing gives any police jurisdiction the right to ask ANY ONE, ANY TIME AND ANY PLACE with no probable cause for proof that they are citizens.
Of course, Canadians and Europeans (read white people) are exempt from having to prove they are citizens if they have their own passports. What about a Jamaican here on holiday that leaves their passport in the hotel? Screwed. The Brazilian? Screwed. All the rest? Screwed.
Me? No, I don’t look like a Mexican roofer, but by god if some cop asks me for proof of citizenship you can visit me in jail. Resistance is the only way to fight this kind of “Freedom”.
What crap. But, scary crap. And Governor Scott says he will sign it into law if it gets on his desk. I wonder if he carries his passport or birth certificate around with him. Oh yeah. He doesn’t have to. He looks “European”.
Image: www.memegenerator.net

Tired?

And while we are at it, let me say this: I am tired of citing essay after essay for accuracy and then having somebody deny the facts. I am tired of ignorant people in the world refusing to see what is before them, or making up some lane alternative to “explain the truth” as they want it to be.
I am tired of trying to logically present facts and truth and documenting, just to have someone tell me “It jest ain’t so” .
So starting with the essay before this little disclaimer I said at the end : “Content: Do your own damn looking up. I’m tired of citing truth and then having it denied.”
I may just be tired. Full stop. But I am at least “up to here” trying to make sense of sensible issues to insensible morons with cheese for brains, or worse, with religion for brains.
Think I am tired?
Image: www.sodahead.com

Miracles My Ass

Boy oh Boy. The fire is getting turned up on education. For years education has been viewed in this country as the territory of the liberal, and the antidote was “Vouchers”. That didn’t fly in most states so the conservative business oriented went instead for “Charter Schools” which are public financed private schools without the accountability of a public oversight.
The stats are clear: charter schools do not produce better results. But, they do pay their teachers less, have no tenure or pesky unions, and no need in most states to follow a curriculum required by the more rigorous public schools. Yes, I know. Some charter schools are very accomplished, but many are just religious wolves in sheep skins. And some are just business rip-offs.
The best schools in the world, typified by Finland, are 100% public with mandatory attendance and well paid, well respected and well protected teachers.
America was once like that. And then we were the envy of the world. Now we are sinking fast in the “business model” of education. Bulls***. Since the conservative agenda started to chip away at schools in the late 70’s and early 80’s, America’s schools have declined steadily. The target is now the higher education system (look at the most recent budget for Pennsylvania for an example, or Florida for that matter) to see the future.
Too late to wake up, though. Kids coming up today are already screwed. Only a miracle would help, and who believes in that?
Oh yeah, you do. You think it’s a Miracle when a Japanese woman and her grandson are found alive after the tsunami. Bulls*** again. The real miracle would have been a great big hand diverting the flood so 20,000 Japanese men, women and children didn’t die in the first place. Don’t tell me about miracles.
Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/34476833@N04/3850299810/
Content: Do your own damn looking up. I’m tired of citing truth and then having it denied.