Politics of the Productive

Faculty Members Against School Funding

I quote, "The opponents' petition voices concerns that wealthy donors would have inordinate influence over the institute's research. The petition also said that Friedman-esque positions, such as privatization of Social Security, would be foregone conclusions, and that the state and nongovernmental organizations would be regarded with "distinct suspicion.""

...from this article...

...and I can't help but correlate a growing suspicion of educators who fight so diligently against private money (heaven forbid some citizen wants to put money toward an educational purpose instead of having it forced from them through taxation).  The amount of cash into the educational facilities all over the country probably loses at best only a few hundred million a year, at worse a billion plus, in private donations because of these types of persons - AKA - assholes.

This really disturbs me at a high level, meanwhile we have communists and other such persons running around perpetuating the death of America, in America, but heaven forbid we act as a proponent of the country.

Well Spoken

The government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
  - Ronald Reagan

Jeez, I sure with Bush boy would have taken some lessons from Mr. Reagan.

I Did Some Education Research, Conclusions...

So here's the deal.  Some friends and I got into various discussions about why, what, and how to resolve the education issue.  Well more to the point, why public education fares so poorly in the first place.  First point I'm going to make, dollars that public schools spend don't correlate to actual performance very well at all.  Especially when compared to each other, when compared to private schools they are even more screwed up and performance seems to be the last concern on the minds of teachers in public schools.  The closer and more factually related correlations appear to be on some of the oddest things such as unions, or the lack thereof, and other odd things.  The one underlying factor that seems to come out when things are researched is that when teachers are motivated, students do well, when teachers are concerned with their union, pay, or some other unrelated item, the students suffer.  But it primarily boils down to how the teachers behave and perform.  Little else is as directly related as this.  As for dollars spent per student, either $2k or $20k, the performance difference is null without teacher motivation.

One thing about public schools is they have an inordinate ability to NOT motivate teachers.  This inherently is the greatest failing of public education.  If a motivating system could be incorporated the entire education of America would likely improve some, and definitely would improve greatly.  I digress, enough of me rambling, on to the numbers, charts - and FACTS.

Institute of Education Sciences:

In Oregon the expenditures for 04-05 break out as following.  Amount per capita for elementary & secondary; $1,346.  Amount for college and universities; $750.  Amount per capita for other education (i.e. private education subsidies, school programs, etc); $69.  The total expenditure for all is $2,166 per student.  Total expenditures by state per student amount to $6,520 per student.  A gap of $4354 between the total expenditures of the state and the per capita expenditures of the individual.  Link is available here:  http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d07/tables/dt07_029.asp?referrer=list

Another very interesting fact by basis of GDP is available here:  http://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/2008/section4/indicator38.asp

According to that write up the US spends more as a percentage of GDP the the vast majority of countries.  As seen in this graph http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d07/tables/dt07_025.asp?referrer=list one will notice that the percentage of GDP spent on education has continually risen over the long term.  In the last three years there has been a slight decrease of 0.1 percent in two years to decrease from 4.7 percent of GDP to 4.5 percent.  This number also has continually risen for the expenditures per student.

http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d07/tables/dt07_026.asp?referrer=list here we see in real 06-07 dollars the price expenditures on Elementary and Secondary Schools went from $155 billion in 1959-60 all the way to $972 billion in 06-07 (this later number is derived from a "total", the accumulative total also is noted closer to the 9-10k dollar amount, all these numbers are inflation adjusted dollars!)  http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d07/tables/dt07_001.asp?referrer=list

If one looks at the number of students, provided by this chart http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d07/tables/dt07_003.asp?referrer=list we see that in 1959 there were 35,182,000 students enrolled in elementary and secondary public schools.  In 2006 there were 49,370,000 students enrolled.  With the previously stated 06-07 dollars that equals out to a 1959 average per student of $4,405 and a 2006 average of $19,688 per student (this being the fed and state total expenditure).  Even half of this amount is more than double what was spent per student in 1959.

Two facts that can be derived from the above information, is that Oregon has some of the highest teacher pay rankings per state and has some of the fastest growth in teacher pay (regardless of what some policy wonk groups seem to perpetuate).

Considering we've more than doubled, almost quadrupled expenditures per student we haven't seen similar increases in performance.  This chart here http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=66 also shows this vast increase per student in today's dollars.

The counter is shown in this measurement chart http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d07/tables/dt07_008.asp.  It appears, according to this that the 1960 high school graduation percentage is 63.7 percent while 2007 is 93.5.  I however believe that the measurement has changed several times and have seen numerous measurements in the past that state failure rates or students "quiting" or "dropping out" is high enough to invalidate the 93.5 percent number.

Also it is important to point out, which I haven't collected information for in this blog entry, but overall the ability to graduate has become drastically simplified compared to the qualifications and tests needed in the 60s.  The bell curve has given today's students a drastic increase in high school diploma attainment but has however decreased the quality of a high school educated individual.  This I would hope is a general understanding and knowledge among parents, but I can't trust it to be.

These paltry graduation rates, which seem to miraculously not be represented in the report mentioned above, are written about frequently in media.

• http://chronicle.com/news/article/4231/report-shows-stunning-failures-in-high-school-graduation-rates
• http://www.biz941.com/Articles/2004/04/Bye-Bye-to-the-Bell-Curve.asp
• http://www.kgw.com/education/localeducation/stories/kgw_060508_education_graduation_rates.10381b6.html
• http://www.katu.com/news/education/3620581.html
• http://www.salem-news.com/articles/april092008/oregon_drop_outs_040908.php
• http://www.nrtoday.com/article/20080605/REGIONALNEWS/63737284/1050&parentprofile=1060

In a number of these articles the 93.5 theoretical graduation rate is contested.  I would be strongly hesitant to believe that 93.5 percent of students graduate without some direct "forced pass" of classes and or material needed to do so.

Union AFT:  http://www.aft.org/presscenter/releases/2007/statereleases/SalarySurvey-OR.pdf

Oregon Union School Teachers earned an average of $48,320 per year in 2004-05.  Beginning salary pay was $33,699 per year.  The average national pay for a teacher was $47,602 according to the AFT.

Human Resource Development of the Oregon School Boards Association reported the following:  http://www.osba.org/lrelatns/salary/average.htm

In 2005-06 67% of teachers made between $40-$49,999 per year.  18% made more than $50,000.  For the 2006-07 year the $40k-$49,999 range decreased to 60% and the $50k and above range increased to 27%.  The number below $40k actually decreased 1%.  So overall teachers made a substantial increase in pay overall.  With a percentage over 9% jumping into the highest pay bracket.

Another point that is brought forth on this site, that if the salary is figured the same as a private industry worker's base salary and the retirement is not withdrawn from the amount when the salary is quoted, the teacher salary average for 05-06 is actually $50,048 and in 06-07 it is $50,937 per year.  (http://www.osba.org/lrelatns/salary/average.htm)

Seriously, It's a Good One

Bearing Arms, A Legal Right of Americans

Held:
1. The Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a
firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for
traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home.
Pp. 2–53.
(a) The Amendment’s prefatory clause announces a purpose, but
does not limit or expand the scope of the second part, the operative
clause. The operative clause’s text and history demonstrate that it
connotes an individual right to keep and bear arms. Pp. 2–22.
(b) The prefatory clause comports with the Court’s interpretation
2 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA v. HELLER
Syllabus
of the operative clause. The “militia” comprised all males physically
capable of acting in concert for the common defense. The Antifederalists
feared that the Federal Government would disarm the people in
order to disable this citizens’ militia, enabling a politicized standing
army or a select militia to rule. The response was to deny Congress
power to abridge the ancient right of individuals to keep and bear
arms, so that the ideal of a citizens’ militia would be preserved.
Pp. 22–28.
(c) The Court’s interpretation is confirmed by analogous arms bearing
rights in state constitutions that preceded and immediately
followed the Second Amendment. Pp. 28–30.
(d) The Second Amendment’s drafting history, while of dubious
interpretive worth, reveals three state Second Amendment proposals
that unequivocally referred to an individual right to bear arms.
Pp. 30–32.
(e) Interpretation of the Second Amendment by scholars, courts
and legislators, from immediately after its ratification through the
late 19th century also supports the Court’s conclusion. Pp. 32–47.

Finally, some solid news to strike down the blatant disregard of individual rights and liberty of anti-gunners.  I stand vindicated of the arguments, debates, and conversations that I've had over the years.  It is also nice to know that something that Government is supposed to do (in this case, the Supreme Court) it finally did!

Thank you Supreme Court.

For I am an Unreasonable Man, Fortunately

Just Thought This Comment Was Interesting...

Pick just about any major out-of-control issue, and you can find politicians and other government figures coming up with all sorts of non-solutions to the problem that serve to do little more than placate the masses into believing that something is being done.
…
Hollywood suggests that spies and terrorists sit around and photograph things. The real intelligence services know better, but the reality is that to Joe proletariat, hassling photographers who are taking pictures of landmarks presents the illusion that the government actually is in control of the situation, when the reality is that nothing could be farther from the truth.

Another Random Quote that Stuck

Fascism in America, it's already been assumed...

"When fascism come to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross."

-Alexis de Tocqueville (1835)

Americans Should Remember This at ALL COST

"They came first for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant.

Then they came for me,
and by that time no one was left to speak up."

--Pastor Martin Niemoeller's poem, inscribed on a stone in New England Holocaust Memorial, about the inactivity of German intellectuals following the Nazi rise to power and the purging of their chosen targets, group after group.

I fear though, that it has been ignored and is almost lost entirely upon this generation.

Obama Day

Portland, Oregon.

Obama stopped through today, so I get to be peppered with the propaganda everywhere.  Last week, or maybe is was a week ago, Hillary came through and that was wretched and disgusting.  Obama is now taking his stab at the populace.  I'm happier about that then Hillary, but still seeing political propaganda EVERYWHERE gets so very very old.

With that rambling I leave my audience a quote.  A quote that about sums up the level of thought that is rampant today as the lefties run around with their little stickers, signs, and cheer everywhere.  Let Portland back at its regular weekend activities of weirdness and self contained political insanity.  Its more interesting than the boring and trite mediocrity of national politics.

Quote of the Day:
Opinions are like armpits: Everybody has two of them and they stink most of the time.
--Anonymous

Hypocrisy from Beggers to Lowly Business Ethics

One day when I was walking to work. One of the “bums” was eating some food he had just received from a passerby while begging. His dog was begging away at his side in turn for a cut of the food. He turned to the dog and popped him lightly on the nose. He then stated to the dog, “Don’t be a bum, no begging, it’s lowly and impolite”.

...and in the goofy corporate world of hypocrisy...

For greed, all nature is too little.

Quote of the Day:
For greed, all nature is too little.
--Seneca, Roman statesman and author

Rome

Katyn Massacre

So it seems I've stumbled on a piece of cowardly history, mostly cowardly based on what Western Europe did by betraying Poland at the beginning of World War II.  The other event, that is by far horrible, was the Katyn Massacre.  Which I just discovered by researching the statue I saw while in New York.

At the beginning of WWII Poland was left hanging, almost literally.  The country was walked through by Germany, then stabbed in the back by the Soviet Union, all while Western Europe turned their eyes away to the monstrosity of it all.  Western Europe having promised to step in, to offer military assistance, cowardly backed out of their promise and went whimpering to the tables to discuss that Germany stop.

Needless to say this massacre took place even amid the whimpering response of Western Europe.  Only after WWII was won, the Communist Soviet Empire collapsed, and socialist tendencies fell apart did Poland finally regain some semblance of real autonomy.  It has been a hard road for Poland, no thanks to the Soviet Union or the cowardly actions of Western Europe.  Hopefully they're on their way to healing and getting things going forward.  For a bit more, check out the Katyn Massacre on Wikipedia.

Fred!? It's a Republic not a Democracy

I've said it a million times.  It was founded a Republic and it exists as a Republic, not a sloppy ole' Democracy.

People, especially in the United States should REALLY learn the differences.  Even "public" persons at TriMet don't seem to keep it straight.

But I digress, his point is he has, as do the board, to remove or limit whatever ads they see fit.  The public has the right to go petition for a redress of grievances against them for not showing it.  However I doubt that anything would be done about something that could be somewhat confusing and outright offensive.