February 2, 2007 · 5:37 am

Judgements

If you have perused my posts, especially those dealing with policy and/or legislation, you will note that I make judgements on the intent of those promoting their policies.  Many times, I find that my initial judgements were ill informed.  Those times are the result of talking to the initiator, listening, then making an assessment of the policy intent.

I keep telling myself I will learn not to jump to conclusions, or at least, to wait until the advocate of a policy matter either clearly annunicates his or her position or proves to be without credibility.  Discourse is good.  Debate is honorable.  Losing is not bad.  Poor judgement, however, is devastating.

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February 2, 2007 · 5:09 am

Dead poets and politicians

Actually, the way society respects each is diametrically opposed.  Dead poets, at least the good ones, rise in respect. Dead politicians (dead in the political realm, not corporeal), well, as a friend once said:

No one wastes goodbyes on  dead politicians

Anon

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February 2, 2007 · 5:03 am

Blast from the past

Found the blog of a good high school friend…

She seems to have regressed to old english … but otherwise, she is dabbling with lots of Web 2.0 tools for her teaching.

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February 1, 2007 · 7:42 am

Y2K – Ver 2.0

Time, or the measurement thereof, has been an important tool for the military and governments for centuries.  Congress in its infinite wisdom has decided to change the date for daylight savings time switching to March 11 — 4 weeks earlier than usual (this was done in 2005 — so don’t blame the new majority for this one).  Now business, and individuals, will bear the cost.

Call this Y2k v 2.0

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February 1, 2007 · 4:51 am

Cost of Freedom

An editorial by the Augusta Chronicle is concerned about the costs to human freedom that may be incurred as a result of proposed abatement of global warming.

Why don’t they have the same concern when it comes to the proposed infringment on liberties created by our responses to terrorism?

If you were to calculate probabilities of being effected by either warming or terrorism — multiply that probability by the cost (or damage) incurred should such an event affect you — would there be any appreciable difference in the result?  Now, calculate the diminishing value of liberty as a result of the “solution” proposed for either event.  Which side of the balance sheet wins?

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Filed under Policy

January 29, 2007 · 1:03 pm

A question of (micro) management?

The Georgia Constitution has this to say about who governs the University System:

(b) The board of regents shall have the exclusive authority to create new public colleges, junior colleges, and universities in the State of Georgia, subject to approval by majority vote in the House of Representatives and the Senate. Such vote shall not be required to change the status of a college, institution or university existing on the effective date of this Constitution. The government, control, and management of the University System of Georgia and all of the institutions in said system shall be vested in the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. (Article VIII , Section IV(b))

Now, Look at the bills offered thus far regarding admissions, management of students, etc:

So, how does all this legislation fit within a conservative philosophy of government?

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January 26, 2007 · 7:56 am

Intellectual Diversity

A bill has just been introduced in the Georgia House of Representatives that revives discussion from 4 years ago, led by Mr. Horowitz, alleging that Georgia’s public colleges were led by communists and liberals and thus our students were being forced to learn things that they did not agree with.

Oh, Mr. Horowitz also testified to the Georgia Senate in 2003 stating that K12 administrators were even worse — calling them “Stalinists.” I guess he would know, being a Berkley educated communist himself.

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Filed under Education, legislation, Politics

January 25, 2007 · 10:59 am

A thought for today

We are what we repeatedly do.
     Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit. 
                                                                                  Aristotle

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January 24, 2007 · 1:07 pm

Kids do the darndest things!

I was interviewed by a fifth grader who has collected interviews with a number of state legislators…

Funny, a fifth grader has figured out the most effective way to show people what legislators are doing and thinking — and companies like Cox, Gannett and others still can’t figure it out…

My money is on Jhonny

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August 14, 2006 · 9:17 am

Friedman, markets, education

Dr. Milton Friedman addressed ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) last month.  CSPAN saw fit to air his remarks which I saw on cable yesterday.

Dr. Friedman mentioned how important it was for citizens in a democracy to possess a basic functional literacy about how their government worked, the principles upon which the government was founded, and how to gather information necessary to make sound decisions for themselves.

So, does it not then follow that government should make access to information a priority?

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Filed under Government, LMI, Uncategorized