Wednesday, November 30, 2005

"America Will Not Run"

President Bush has again refused to let politics scare him into a hasty retreat. His speeches are getting him plenty of good publicity too. I imagine this will probably bring his poll numbers up if only temporarily.

Fox Story | Al Bawaba Story | Washington Times Story | New York Times Story | Washington Post Story

Monday, November 21, 2005

California Special Election

Well, I have restrained myself from ranting about the results of the Special Election held here in California earlier this month. Depressing, Disappointing and Dysfunctional are words I associate with the people of California for voting the way they did on the 8th. I am ashamed that more conservative voters didn't think that it was important enough for them to get out and vote. Although what McClintock says is true "we didn’t lose any ground in this election", to me it was still an unfortunate setback.

The people of California threw out a governor who was corrupt and voted in a governor that appeared to have a promising plan for saving the fiscal crysis of the state. However when he presented his plan (or rather a part of it) to the people for a vote, they said no. Why?

The Answer: Powerful and corrupt organizations like the CTA and major unions spread their agenda through lies, deception and convoluted inaccuracies to capture the people of California.

It seems people are willing to believe lies, but not people who say that others are lieing.

Infant Education in England

England has decided to spend over $1.2 billion on an education program for babies from birth to 3 years (Read The Story). Aparently the English, like Rob Riener in California ( search ), think that babies shouldn't be allowed to just simpy be babies. They must have government funded education programs. Is this incredible or what?

Here is an excerpt of a London Times article on the subject:

They will be taught mathematics, reading and writing, according to Beverley Hughes, the Children’s Minister. She argued that research showed that earlier education helped children to develop faster both socially and intellectually.

But parents will not be guaranteed childcare under the Bill, despite government promises of a universal service. Instead, local authorities will have a legal duty to provide childcare facilities for working parents only where it is “reasonably practicable”.

"Ms Hughes said yesterday that the Bill was a bold move, adding that it would provide a “coherent framework that defines progression for young children from nought to five”."

Ms Hughes said: “It is a truly radical Bill enshrining in law the duty of local authorities to reduce inequalities amongst the youngest children and improve outcomes for all... “It brings, for the first time, the provision of integrated early years education and care into the mainstream of the modern welfare state.”


Read the London Times article.

Search for topic in Google News

Still Holding Out - Eminent Domain

Several landowners in New London, CT haven't moved out yet. Their land has been claimed by the city since they used their "eminent domain" powers to redistribute property to those who would pay higher taxes to the city. "We still have hope that we'll get to keep our homes." said one landowner after many weeks of fighting to keep their private property.

According to a NY Times article some people are actually moving in to some of the apartments that have been accuired by the city.

This is the first time that eminent domain, a legal concept that has been around for hundreds of years, has been used to redistribute property to private entities for the purpose of creating higher tax revenue.

Saturday, November 19, 2005

McClintock Is Optimistic

Being as close to the California Legislature as he is, I find it hard to understand how Tom McClintock finds the energy to continually be so optimistic about California politics. The man is amazing and I admire for that. He just keeps on fighting. Recently he said of the special election:

"As we look back and analyze the results of the special election, it is important to remember that, in the grand scheme of things, this was a setback, not a cataclysm. I firmly believe that it cannot distract us from our long-term struggle for the soul of our great state."

If he can be enthusiastic, then I shouldn't think that I have an excuse to be disgruntled about the pushed agendas of Union bosses and and liberal Democrats.

God bless you Tom McClintock, I'm proud to have you as part of our government.

Friday, November 18, 2005

100,000 California High School "graduates" not qualified!

The fear of many public school officials has come to fruition now that the high school exit exams have been taken. The discussion now is whether to actually stick to the original use for the exam. The whole point is that those who don't pass the exam don't exit the school but must remain in school unil they either drop out or pass the exam.

Many people would rather just give the failing students a diploma regardless of their abilities. This is just like paying someone to run a company when all they do is sit and do nothing. When will these students be introduced to the real world? When will they be tought that they can't just bum around and excel. You have to work hard to do well, and you must do well to move up.

Thursday, November 17, 2005

What Is An Original?

Alexis de Tocqueville once wrote, "History is a gallery of pictures in which there are few originals and many copies." When I first read this I thought it was quite profound and yet as I thought further I saw that he missed something essential when making this statement.

When you read something profound you might wonder from where the thought derived. Ecclesiastes talks about how there is nothing new under the sun. Perhaps the author realized that all thought could be traced to a single source.

In the beginning God made Man in His own likeness. Therefore Man is apt to reflect the Character of God’s own person. But since man fell in the garden, and thus separated himself from God, he is therefore at enmity with God. Those that are brought into a united relationship with God through his saving grace can once again bear a resemblance to Him because they are brought back in touch with His Character through the Holy Spirit, which indwells them.

I propose that all thoughts and ideas are derived from others presented before them eventually leading back to one foundational principle. All ideas, all philosophies, all systems of thought are either derived from the Character of God, or from a denial of or resistance to Him. Many great men throughout history have built upon the works of their predecessors. Thomas Jefferson for example wrote the Declaration of Independence not from his own self-conceived notions of liberty, but from men that came before him and essentially the very essence of scripture, which discusses the fundamental concepts of freedom and liberty.

God is the Father of all truth and all knowledge. It comes from Him and not from us. When we wish to imitate some great men we are just admiring qualities that have their beginning in the Character of God himself. Paul wrote, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.” We need only look at God to find that true originator of all thoughts, ideas, and truths. After all, He did create the universe.

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Drug Sniffing Dogs in Public Schools - What Next?

Right here in California schools are having to use drug sniffing dogs to catch kids in posession.

Read Full Story

I can't imagine being the parent of a child enrolled at this school (or any other with a similar program). Do parents care so little about their children that they would sent them off to be with other children who are known to be so sold out to drugs and alcohaul that the school must use a dog's nose to keep kids in line. Just incredible.

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

The Use Of Quotes

For several years I have been fascinated with using quotes from other people to help me understand and help others to understand why I hold a particular view on something. Sometimes I will use a quote because I feel like I need to have backup for what I am saying. Often when trying to convince someone of something it makes a big difference if the concept is accepted by others as well.

However, just because I found someone else who says the same thing doesn't make it true or right. We must weigh all things against the absolute truth of God's word. Anything that I say or any other person says is prone to error. But we have access to the only truth, the truth that never changes, and is never prone to error. God's word is truth (Psa. 119:160, John 17:17).

Today I read an article that made me think about why I like to use quotes from other people to make a point or to back up something I am trying to express. The point made here I think makes a lot of sense.

I suppose it is rather ironic that I use a quote from someone else in order to explaine this. However it did seem to be the best way to get someone else to see what I saw.