Today in 1888, Frederick Douglass became the first African-American to be nominated for U.S. President
PG3
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Wisc anti union law exempting Police and Fire / UNION BUSTING!!!!
Wisconsin Public Employee unions filed a lawsuit in federal court on today seeking to block the state's new law limiting collective bargaining, that the state's Supreme Court on Tuesday.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, claims the controversial measure is unconstitutional because it creates two classes of public workers in the state -- those covered by the new rules and those exempt from them.
The law eliminates most collective bargaining rights for most Wisconsin teachers, road workers and other public employees and requires them to pay more for pensions and health coverage.
But certain public workers, including firefighters and other public safety workers, have been exempted from the new rules.
The suit argues that the differential treatment violates the constitutionally protected equal protection rights of the employees covered by the law.
The measure was passed in March by the Republican-controlled legislature and signed by Republican Governor Scott Walker.
It triggered the largest public protests in Madison since the Vietnam War and prompted a national debate over unions.
These sorts of divide and conquer tactics are not new to union-busting. Those seeking to limit or eliminate union organizing rights have long separated lower and middle management, skilled and lesser skilled workers and now seek to divide those whom THEY deem more vital from those THEY deem expendible. This is union busting at its worst. It is an outrage and is truly UNAMERICAN......!!!!!!!
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, claims the controversial measure is unconstitutional because it creates two classes of public workers in the state -- those covered by the new rules and those exempt from them.
The law eliminates most collective bargaining rights for most Wisconsin teachers, road workers and other public employees and requires them to pay more for pensions and health coverage.
But certain public workers, including firefighters and other public safety workers, have been exempted from the new rules.
The suit argues that the differential treatment violates the constitutionally protected equal protection rights of the employees covered by the law.
The measure was passed in March by the Republican-controlled legislature and signed by Republican Governor Scott Walker.
It triggered the largest public protests in Madison since the Vietnam War and prompted a national debate over unions.
These sorts of divide and conquer tactics are not new to union-busting. Those seeking to limit or eliminate union organizing rights have long separated lower and middle management, skilled and lesser skilled workers and now seek to divide those whom THEY deem more vital from those THEY deem expendible. This is union busting at its worst. It is an outrage and is truly UNAMERICAN......!!!!!!!
Monday, June 13, 2011
CHINA TESTS LESS, US TESTING MORE: Follow The Money?
For the last few years we have been concerned about "keeping up with the joneses" in our attempts at education reform. Since many experts (not necessarily me) feel China will be the driving force in world affairs by mid century, most of the comparison have followed that logic. As we try to "fix'' educational system in so many varying ways as to appear almost fadish, where we seem to now be going in opposite directions from the "Middle Kingdom" is on testing. China's education system has a long history of high-stakes testing. . "Old China" had a tradition of selecting the best students depending on test results, and 5,000 years of culture isn't exactly going to disappear overnight"
China is moving more and more away from high stakes testing being having such a fundamental role. They are looking now at ALL aspects of their system, making the appropriate changes and deciding the merits of their education at all levels on a more holistic plane. At the same time it seems like the US is putting all of its education "eggs" into the single basket of high stakes testing. We're focused on using test results to evaluate students, schools, and teachers alike. And, to do better on tests, we've spent the time since No Child Left Behind was enacted narrowing our educational focus to concentrate on reading and math. This entails tying government funding, teacher salaries, school grades etc more and more on the results of "one size fits all" tests.
This leads me to wonder, WHY? Well, maybe we should just "follow the money" . The school reform has become BIG BUSINESS in this country, with high stakes testing its all pervasive key component. In good old american fashion we have sought out the quick buck at the expense of the long term benefits which come from a solid educational system. We want to remain ahead of the Chinese or at least stay competitive so why do we continue to move in the direction that China has already committed to abandoning or at least de-emphasizing? The simple and honest answer is --- GREED.
http://www.good.is/post/do-we-need-to-ditch-high-stakes-testing-to-compete-with-china/?utm_content=headline&utm_medium=hp_carousel&utm_source=slide_3
China is moving more and more away from high stakes testing being having such a fundamental role. They are looking now at ALL aspects of their system, making the appropriate changes and deciding the merits of their education at all levels on a more holistic plane. At the same time it seems like the US is putting all of its education "eggs" into the single basket of high stakes testing. We're focused on using test results to evaluate students, schools, and teachers alike. And, to do better on tests, we've spent the time since No Child Left Behind was enacted narrowing our educational focus to concentrate on reading and math. This entails tying government funding, teacher salaries, school grades etc more and more on the results of "one size fits all" tests.
This leads me to wonder, WHY? Well, maybe we should just "follow the money" . The school reform has become BIG BUSINESS in this country, with high stakes testing its all pervasive key component. In good old american fashion we have sought out the quick buck at the expense of the long term benefits which come from a solid educational system. We want to remain ahead of the Chinese or at least stay competitive so why do we continue to move in the direction that China has already committed to abandoning or at least de-emphasizing? The simple and honest answer is --- GREED.
http://www.good.is/post/do-we-need-to-ditch-high-stakes-testing-to-compete-with-china/?utm_content=headline&utm_medium=hp_carousel&utm_source=slide_3
Friday, June 10, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Encouraging look at potential of Destination Casinos
Florida Gov. Rick Scott vetoed the $400,000 for a comprehensive gaming study but purely on public financing grounds. Major religious forces are gearing up for a battle against “destination casinos” next year. These casinos would be very different from the current Reservation or Para-mutual based ones. Those are off the beaten track, limited in size and scope as well as lacking the panache of true Vegas-style casinos. The obvious choice would Florida’s Gold Coast (the beach areas of Miami-Dade and Broward counties). Heck I love the Everglades and Big Cypress for outdoor sports but, really, the swamp no place to draw casino goers. As for the Hard Rock in Hollywood, the events and shows they bring in are a real source of revenue but no where near the star power that one or two big, Vegas-style full casinos on South Beach would draw.
Florida’s Gold Coast would instantly become the Casablanca of America, a Tropical Vegas with all the trimmings and more. The state’s coffers would swell and we could really begin to address the needs of Floridians. These swanky locals would not need to draw any locals to gamble away hard earned dollars, they would thrive from tourists and big spenders. Regardless of what any moral argument may be brought up against them next political season , the time for destination casinos in Florida has come, it is NOW and the destination MUST be South Florida’s Gold Coast
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