In doing some research on our Constitution for the entry below, I came across an interesting bit of trivia. Well, interesting to me. One of the following three signed the Constitution of the United States of America, which one?
George Washington
Thomas Jefferson
Benjamin Franklin
The answer can be found here.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Government?
I have been thinking about this for some time, and I am not sure I know the answer.
But I believe a lot of politicians don't have an answer either. So, here are some of my thoughts, right off the top of my head, balding as it might be.
What is the purpose of government?
Why do we have so many governments?
Do we really need all these governments, and their continuous law making?
After much consideration, I have decided that government is an extension of the feudal system that evolved in Europe. Government has evolved from the system of kings, lords, knights, priests, bishops and such. We, the common citizen, are surfs of course.
We have a federal government because we had to replace King George with something. We, the 13 colonies, needed to unite for common defense. In creating this replacement, the framers took on a number of other tasks for the federal government; among them being the issuing of money, and the control of interstate commerce.
Let's compare that to a recent federal law passed by both houses of Congress and signed by our President. Public law 111-148, March 23, 2010. Depending on formating, it contains between 906 and 2197 pages with somewhere between 384,000 and 418,000 words. (I am not sure how you count all those numbers in this law.)
The title of this Federal Law is "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act." The Table of Contents for this law runs 12 pages; thats three times longer than the Constitution!
Did any legislator read the whole thing? How many people are employed, full-time, to interpret what it says? Do you know what it says? How many people will be employed to enforce it? Do you know what it is going to do to your life? Why does it take 4 years to go into full effect? The Constitution went into effect as soon as 8 states ratified it. Maybe four years is how long Congress thought it would take us to take cover, or maybe it had to do with elections in 2012. Perhaps it is the amount of time needed to set up a new federal bureaucracy to manage it, and budget for the operations an maintenance of that bureaucracy.
Well, one thing I know is that over all, given the time to prepare, Medical insurance costs are going up, and benefits are going down. I have just recently been informed that Walgreen's Drug Stores will not be accepting my Drug Prescription Plan starting next year. Do you remember what happened when Congress passed a law to "protect" us from those unscrupulous credit card companies?
But I believe a lot of politicians don't have an answer either. So, here are some of my thoughts, right off the top of my head, balding as it might be.
What is the purpose of government?
Why do we have so many governments?
Do we really need all these governments, and their continuous law making?
After much consideration, I have decided that government is an extension of the feudal system that evolved in Europe. Government has evolved from the system of kings, lords, knights, priests, bishops and such. We, the common citizen, are surfs of course.
We have a federal government because we had to replace King George with something. We, the 13 colonies, needed to unite for common defense. In creating this replacement, the framers took on a number of other tasks for the federal government; among them being the issuing of money, and the control of interstate commerce.
We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.This is the preamble to our constitution. The document is four, handwritten, pages long, and lays the foundation for our government, all three branches. Yes the pages are quite large, but still, hand written. It contains just 4,500 words.
Let's compare that to a recent federal law passed by both houses of Congress and signed by our President. Public law 111-148, March 23, 2010. Depending on formating, it contains between 906 and 2197 pages with somewhere between 384,000 and 418,000 words. (I am not sure how you count all those numbers in this law.)
The title of this Federal Law is "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act." The Table of Contents for this law runs 12 pages; thats three times longer than the Constitution!
Did any legislator read the whole thing? How many people are employed, full-time, to interpret what it says? Do you know what it says? How many people will be employed to enforce it? Do you know what it is going to do to your life? Why does it take 4 years to go into full effect? The Constitution went into effect as soon as 8 states ratified it. Maybe four years is how long Congress thought it would take us to take cover, or maybe it had to do with elections in 2012. Perhaps it is the amount of time needed to set up a new federal bureaucracy to manage it, and budget for the operations an maintenance of that bureaucracy.
Well, one thing I know is that over all, given the time to prepare, Medical insurance costs are going up, and benefits are going down. I have just recently been informed that Walgreen's Drug Stores will not be accepting my Drug Prescription Plan starting next year. Do you remember what happened when Congress passed a law to "protect" us from those unscrupulous credit card companies?
Saturday, July 16, 2011
What were they thinking?
It seems to me that for years now, since the early 1990s, America has not been working to make America a great country, or world leader in economics.
Big government and big business have not been working to make this country better, stronger, or a world leader. Look at all the companies that have left America, because they could make more money with their factories outside the United States. Are these not American companies making products for Americans?
Once you start closing the factories and laying off workers who do you think is going to buy your product? Unemployed Americans? Why does China hold more American debt than any other country? Must be that they have the money to lend. Where did they get it, from the Chinese people? Maybe they got it from us every time we buy something that says, "Made in China."
We are buying oil from the middle east to drive our cars made in Mexico. Meanwhile, the government is requiring Americans to buy light bulbs made in China.
Why are Mexicans trying to get into this country? They have most of our jobs now.
Big government and big business have not been working to make this country better, stronger, or a world leader. Look at all the companies that have left America, because they could make more money with their factories outside the United States. Are these not American companies making products for Americans?
Once you start closing the factories and laying off workers who do you think is going to buy your product? Unemployed Americans? Why does China hold more American debt than any other country? Must be that they have the money to lend. Where did they get it, from the Chinese people? Maybe they got it from us every time we buy something that says, "Made in China."
We are buying oil from the middle east to drive our cars made in Mexico. Meanwhile, the government is requiring Americans to buy light bulbs made in China.
Why are Mexicans trying to get into this country? They have most of our jobs now.
From the web site, mexicotoday.org
Poor people want to get rich, rich people want to get richer. Politicians want to get re-elected. Everyone wants the good life, but who defines that life? CEO's want bigger profits. Labor unions want more wages, everyone wants a free lunch. There is no free lunch.With an Increase in Mexican Investment, Mexican Manufacturing Rates Are Growing
Fri, 2011-06-24
With manufacturing rates rapidly rising since last year, Mexico is fast-becoming a world-leader of the manufacturing business. In 2010, Mexican manufacturing rates jumped up to 2.261 million vehicles, a staggering 50 percent increase from 2009. Fast-forward to May of this year, May alone yields a five-month boost for Mexico exports. As reported by the Mexican Association of the Automotive Industry, Mexico produced more than 213,000 cars in May and saw a 21.3 percent increase in exports.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Have I mentioned Education?
When I was in my Masters program, I took some classes on statistics. These weren't so much classes on how to make statistics, but on how to interpret them. With statistics, you can prove just about anything. Let's look at America's "failing education system." Supposedly, we are failing our students when we compare America with other countries. Well, what are we comparing?
Most countries, have different education systems and goals than we do. Lets look at some areas where there are differences.
First, and most obvious, is language. How can you compare tests in different languages? Are the tests on the same material? Are the answers to the questions given the same degree of difficulty? What is expected of the student in the answer? In the SATs, students in America are allowed to use calculators on the math sections. ( I don't know what they do in China.) When I took my college entrance exam we didn't have calculators. Are today's test questions the same as the test I took? Has math changed that much? Are we testing the use of calculators or knowledge of math principles?
Second, different countries have different systems. The concept of the same eduction for every student is not universal. In Germany, students take different educational tracts after the elementary grades 1-4. Better students take more advanced courses and different subjects. Many countries have selective schools based upon student performance and expectations. In America equal opportunity has been confused with the same education for all. We have taken ability out of the equation. We assume that everyone should have the same education. Why? When I was a student in a rural community, farm management was an option, wood and metal shop was an option, typing was an option. Everyone didn't have to take and pass a math test to get out of high school. Take 1000 people at random and give them a test. Now take 1000 people who ranked in the top 1/2 of their sixth grade class and give them the test. Which group will perform better? What are the odds?
Third is size. It should be obvious that the size of the population will create a lower average. Without looking up actual numbers, If a country has 1,000,000 students and another has 10,000 students the odds are the test group with one million will have a lower average, but that group will also have more high scores.
If you are reading or hearing about America's dismal performance in an educational test as compared to other countries, consider:
If we want top scores, then only let the top scores go to school.
If we want a balanced education for all children in America regardless of capability, life goals, language and citizenship then we must accept that the average education will be less than maximum possible performance of the best. I am not saying that the best won't do better, just not their maximum. I am not saying all children don't deserve and education, just that they should have the education that meets their needs.
I say, give every child the opportunity, but don't keep them in something that is beyond their ability until they just drop out. Give them the education that will give them productive, meaningful, happy lives. We aren't all rocket scientist. I know I'm not one.
Most countries, have different education systems and goals than we do. Lets look at some areas where there are differences.
First, and most obvious, is language. How can you compare tests in different languages? Are the tests on the same material? Are the answers to the questions given the same degree of difficulty? What is expected of the student in the answer? In the SATs, students in America are allowed to use calculators on the math sections. ( I don't know what they do in China.) When I took my college entrance exam we didn't have calculators. Are today's test questions the same as the test I took? Has math changed that much? Are we testing the use of calculators or knowledge of math principles?
Second, different countries have different systems. The concept of the same eduction for every student is not universal. In Germany, students take different educational tracts after the elementary grades 1-4. Better students take more advanced courses and different subjects. Many countries have selective schools based upon student performance and expectations. In America equal opportunity has been confused with the same education for all. We have taken ability out of the equation. We assume that everyone should have the same education. Why? When I was a student in a rural community, farm management was an option, wood and metal shop was an option, typing was an option. Everyone didn't have to take and pass a math test to get out of high school. Take 1000 people at random and give them a test. Now take 1000 people who ranked in the top 1/2 of their sixth grade class and give them the test. Which group will perform better? What are the odds?
Third is size. It should be obvious that the size of the population will create a lower average. Without looking up actual numbers, If a country has 1,000,000 students and another has 10,000 students the odds are the test group with one million will have a lower average, but that group will also have more high scores.
If you are reading or hearing about America's dismal performance in an educational test as compared to other countries, consider:
- What are they comparing, top scores or average scores?
- What is the test group size for each country?
- Did the tests cover the same content?
- Where all test groups of comparable students as to age, type of school?
- What is the countries mandatory educational requirement?
If we want top scores, then only let the top scores go to school.
If we want a balanced education for all children in America regardless of capability, life goals, language and citizenship then we must accept that the average education will be less than maximum possible performance of the best. I am not saying that the best won't do better, just not their maximum. I am not saying all children don't deserve and education, just that they should have the education that meets their needs.
I say, give every child the opportunity, but don't keep them in something that is beyond their ability until they just drop out. Give them the education that will give them productive, meaningful, happy lives. We aren't all rocket scientist. I know I'm not one.
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