Politics

[fourfive8]

Interesting read, the turn this thread taken for Padawan learners has.

It has become obvious victimology is thriving, alive and well worldwide. The concept and narrative getting really old too. Question for all those so afflicted, especially those non-Americans who have been brainwashed into that mindset. Historically, exactly how does the “privileged class” card play out considering the currently prosperous segments of that class and demographic who were financially 100% wiped out during the Great Depression? Likewise, how did the poor demographic population even survive the Great Depression much less prosper after the Depression? Please explain!

This mindset of a permanently “oppressed class” doesn’t square with reality. My family’s personal experience, past and present, differs 180 degrees from this “privileged class” narrative. A narrative that never seems to evolve nor go away. Such thoughts always remind me of the great quote in the movie Contact when Ellie Arroway says, “Funny, I’ve always believed that the world is what we make of it”.

My daughter is best example I know. She comes from poorest of poor background, a rural mountain village in Mindanao Philippines. She was malnourished when young and is a survivor of a congenital heart defect. I will forever be in debt to and thankful for the Dole corporation for providing her corrective surgery and medical care when she was less than a year old. At age 12 she survived a ruptured appendix, spending nearly a month in a hospital in Gensan Philippines. She is currently a junior in college here in the US pursuing a BSN degree. We have had no advantage based on privilege- zero. Matter of fact just the opposite in contrast with various students “of color” or of politically select “ethnicity” or “racial claim” who have been provided opportunity and financial privilege. The reality is and has been “Whites and Asians” need not apply. Do not lecture me about privilege! We receive no assistance, much less “full ride” yada yada yada. The middle class doesn’t qualify. To save money she has no car and does not drive. She is not scholastically gifted and has to work very hard for good grades, studying an average of 5-7 hours a day, every day. That hard work does pay off though as she has maintained a 3.8 GPA overall with a 4.0 this semester. She is of very small stature and quiet and shy as a church mouse. She speaks 6 languages but English is not her first language. She is knockout pretty- no make up required. She’s 21 years old but looks 12. She avoids any spotlight and wants a future based only on earned merit. If I were a boss, looking for a bright, honest, reliable, hardworking, loyal, employee- I’d look no further. Success by privilege my ass!

 

[Red Leg]

By that I mean that people tend to follow professions that occur in the family - doctors to doctors etc (or similar professions), military to military, trades to trades.

Yes, I know you didn’t mention wealth but what you said before it tends to not occur as frequently in poorer households as well (lack of books, creativity inspiring things etc). Makes it significantly harder when your parents aren’t pushing you to strive for more.
I’m aware some poorer households are lifestyle choice (drink/smoke/gamble etc) and just laziness. Like you said, push hard and you can go places, but without encouragement for the child the motivation is often lacking.

Ah I didn’t realise my post would be interpreted as wealth @sgt_zim I mean sure being born into wealth certainly helps one be wealthy, ha!

I am tracking now. What you describe is one of the real issues facing children trying to mature in single parent, or more recently single grandparent, environments. The Great Society and subsequent assistance based policies have monetarily rewarded successive generations of such environments where virtually no child is inspired to improve his or her lot through education. The public education system supporting those communities has become an equally complicit failure. It is one reason the voucher system is so critical to allow those parents who do care to break their children free of that cycle through an actual education - the sort of initiative the democrat party and Randi Weingarten have fought with great success.

 

[Red Leg]

If Putin can determine the membership of our negotiating team, I would not take it as a good sign that our negotiating position is going to be particularly firm with Russia.

MSN

 

[deewayne2003]

I am tracking now. What you describe is one of the real issues facing children trying to mature in single parent, or more recently single grandparent, environments. The Great Society and subsequent assistance based policies have monetarily rewarded successive generations of such environments where virtually no child is inspired to improve his or her lot through education. The public education system supporting those communities has become an equally complicit failure. It is one reason the voucher system is so critical to allow those parents who do care to break their children free of that cycle through an actual education - the sort of initiative the democrat party and Randi Weingarten have fought with great success.

Well said... And your statement about generations struggling from single guardian households dependent on the Federal government was put on full display with hurricane Katrina.

As people displaced by the storm were resettled throughout Texas you could tell the major differences in education as well firm reliance on government support made it clear the "great society" laws had created anything but.

Lyndon Baines Johnson 1963... "These Negroes, they're getting pretty uppity these days and that's a problem for us since they've got something now they never had before, the political pull to back up their uppityness. Now we've got to do something about this, we've got to give them a little something, just enough to quiet them down, not enough to make a difference... I'll have them ni***rs voting Democratic for the next two hundred years".

Personally I think allowing parents to decide where their children are educated is critical to improving our nations horrible track record under the Department of Education.

 

[Wheels]

If Putin can determine the membership of our negotiating team, I would not take it as a good sign that our negotiating position is going to be particularly firm with Russia.

MSN

I don't see in this article that Putin is dictating the negotiating team. Kellogg was involved in the starts and stops of the Ukraine mineral deal. Witkoff is a long time trusted friend of Trump who seemed to get the Gaza situation under control fairly fast. Rubio and Waltz aren't pro Putin. Could it be that Trump has just lost faith in Kellogg.

 

[Datchew]

Not only isn't it champagne, it isn't even beer.

It's good for pouring on your legs when you step in an ant hill or as a solvent for cleaning your tools after changing the oil. That's about it.

 

[Red Leg]

I don't see in this article that Putin is dictating the negotiating team. Kellogg was involved in the starts and stops of the Ukraine mineral deal. Witkoff is a long time trusted friend of Trump who seemed to get the Gaza situation under control fairly fast. Rubio and Waltz aren't pro Putin. Could it be that Trump has just lost faith in Kellogg.

Not likely - unless losing faith means upsetting the KGB thug in the Kremlin - and not surprising considering the deference we seem determined to show the Kremlin.

Kremlin told U.S. it didn't want Trump's Ukraine-Russia envoy at peace talks

Keith Kellogg “is a former American general, too close to Ukraine. Not our kind of person, not of the caliber we are looking for,” a Russian official told NBC News.

www.nbcnews.com

I have very little faith in this president with respect to our national interests and Ukraine. He posted this blather on Truth a few hours ago.

We had very good and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday, and there is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end — BUT, AT THIS VERY MOMENT, THOUSANDS OF UKRAINIAN TROOPS ARE COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY THE RUSSIAN MILITARY, AND IN A VERY BAD AND VULNERABLE POSITION. I have strongly requested to President Putin that their lives be spared. This would be a horrible massacre, one not seen since World War II. God bless them all!!!

There are no thousands of surrounded Ukrainian troops. I can only assume he is referring to the withdrawal from much of the Kursk salient. The Russians seemingly feed him a false narrative which he passes to his uncritical supporters, and pleads with Putin to resolve while getting rid of the one experienced member of the negotiating/advisory team that knows anything about military operations. What a deal maker.

 

[Datchew]

Again, I completely disagree with you. If your thesis were correct, Canada should have outperformed the US.

Let’s take it to a different level. Charles Koch deployed the principles of Austrian economics in the leadership and management of his enterprises. These principles have driven what is likely the most astounding private company success story in history. These principles work.

Russia wouldn't be doing to badly either. Or Africa.

 

[WAB]

I am tracking now. What you describe is one of the real issues facing children trying to mature in single parent, or more recently single grandparent, environments. The Great Society and subsequent assistance based policies have monetarily rewarded successive generations of such environments where virtually no child is inspired to improve his or her lot through education. The public education system supporting those communities has become an equally complicit failure. It is one reason the voucher system is so critical to allow those parents who do care to break their children free of that cycle through an actual education - the sort of initiative the democrat party and Randi Weingarten have fought with great success.

The democrats have to oppose the voucher system. Public education is key to their indoctrination of future generations. We absolutely have to break this cycle and allow people from all demographics freedom of choice and control over their children’s education. Responsibility for the child rests with the parent, not the government.

 

[Datchew]

The democrats have to oppose the voucher system. Public education is key to their indoctrination of future generations. We absolutely have to break this cycle and allow people from all demographics freedom of choice and control over their children’s education. Responsibility for the child rests with the parent, not the government.

Amen

 

[Aaron N]

The democrats have to oppose the voucher system. Public education is key to their indoctrination of future generations. We absolutely have to break this cycle and allow people from all demographics freedom of choice and control over their children’s education. Responsibility for the child rests with the parent, not the government.

Care to give a cliffs note version on the US public education system? And why people want to see it abolished?

 

[gbflyer]

Care to give a cliffs note version on the US public education system? And why people want to see it abolished?

Even better than Cliff Notes, one sentence.

The professional education programs taught at major colleges in the US turn out NEA members, not teachers.

(Thank you and your red pen Ms. Hansen)

 

[Red Leg]

Care to give a cliffs note version on the US public education system? And why people want to see it abolished?

Dumb and Dumber: NJ Teachers No Longer Need to Pass Basic Reading, Writing, and Math

Facing a teacher shortage, New Jersey will no longer require teachers to pass basic reading, writing, and math for certification.

thenewamerican.com

Truly can't make it up. The American Federation of Teachers led by Randi Weingarten is the union that supports teachers and itself. The American public school student doesn't really have an advocate. They are the largest union supporting the democrat party. Makes reform during democrat administrations impossible.

 

[Rocked and Loaded]

With friends like this, does the environment need enemies?

Amazon rainforest cut down to build highway for COP climate summit

The infrastructure required to host COP30 in Belém is undermining the cause, campaigners say.

www.bbc.com

But ignore the kabuki theater and one just put solar on their yacht so they can keep smugly blaming middle-class Americans.

 

[deewayne2003]

Dumb and Dumber: NJ Teachers No Longer Need to Pass Basic Reading, Writing, and Math

Facing a teacher shortage, New Jersey will no longer require teachers to pass basic reading, writing, and math for certification.

thenewamerican.com

Truly can't make it up. The American Federation of Teachers led by Randi Weingarten is the union that supports teachers and itself. The American public school student doesn't really have an advocate. They are the largest union supporting the democrat party. Makes reform during democrat administrations impossible.

In Oklahoma there is such a shortage of teachers that the state no longer requires a teaching degree and in some cases no degree at all; basically if you can pass the tests for the course you can teach the subject.

 

[USN]

Dang it, I am retired in OKC and thought about maybe doing substitute teaching, nobody said nuthin aboot passin tset on no subjeks.

 

[Aaron N]

In Oklahoma there is such a shortage of teachers that the state no longer requires a teaching degree and in some cases no degree at all; basically if you can pass the tests for the course you can teach the subject.

So wouldn’t the answer be making teaching a more attractive profession as opposed to lowering the bar?

 

[SaintPanzer]

I'm just curious how we are defining "successful". If the thesis is you need to be from a successful family to be successful, how are you defining that? If there is no longer any opportunity to "move up socially", again, how do you know?

From my perspective, here's the thing: In general, anyone has the opportunity to learn basic skills. If you apply yourself, you can learn more skills. Or you can accept the status quo. But does everyone have to go from "nothing" to being a multi-millionaire to be considered successful? Or just hit the median income level?

Must everyone have a brand new car every year?

For those "unsuccessful", what choices have they made?

Some are dealt a poor hand. Others are born on third base, and think they hit a triple. Some just get ahead, because they wanted to get ahead, and applied themselves.

Where else in the world can you be born in one of the poorest parts of the country, look around and see what's happening to others, make choices for yourself and end up going to one of the best universities in the country, be elected to office, and then become Vice President? And who knows what the future holds beyond that?

I'm biased, because I spent too much time with a very meritocratic organization. I know former enlisted people wearing two stars, I was commissioned with a congressman's son, I know those who have had every opportunity who were never promoted past Captain. There are no promises.

So how exactly are you judging "success"?

 

[deewayne2003]

So wouldn’t the answer be making teaching a more attractive profession as opposed to lowering the bar?

Not lowering the bar, because lowering the current bar would require an excavator and trench shoring equipment; rather getting rid of the bar because ever since the federal department of education was implemented test scores, reading and writing ability and especially math have all continually gone down hill.

The department education being formed was the epitome of.......

"The cure for bureaucracy is more bureaucracy!"

 

[CJW]

So wouldn’t the answer be making teaching a more attractive profession as opposed to lowering the bar?

Teaching is already an attractive position. Teaching the next generation and the satisfaction it brings. Ample time off. Relatively low demand, comfortable work environment. Etc.

Multiple problems though. A growing trend of perceived insufficient pay. The influencer influence. Bureaucracy in the system. The current generations kids and their baggage, eg, parents, outside influence, cell phones, loss of respect all around, victimhood status, etc.

Then again, I can think of plenty of teachers who got into teaching primarily because of the schedule and the security. That is its own problem that shorts the students.