What is the matter with Oscar

If you want an example of what is wrong with our society, one need look no further than last night’s Oscars.  I have never seen an industry that needs to pat itself on the back so often.  Golden Globes, Screen Actor’s Guild, Oscars, People’s Choice Awards, how many times do these people need to get an award anyway.  The E network has to be the largest waste of resources on Television.  How do people live with themselves when they earn a living commenting on the wardrobe of others?  Then it is passed off not as the comedy that it is, but as something that is “important”.  Let us get this straight people.  Nothing celebrities do on a red carpet is important! I am constantly amazed at the celebrity fascination in this country.  Maybe instead of watching E and reading US magazine, people could pick up a newspaper.  When more people vote on American Idol than vote in a mid-term election one should not wonder why things are the way they are.  We reap what we sow. 

The State Legislature…. behind the back, slam dunk!!!

The Minnesota State Senate voted this week to increase their per diem expense reimbursement.  Why does this cross my radar?  The State Constitution forbids the passing of a pay increase until there has been an intervening election.  That seems to be appropriate,  giving the people a chance to vote on people who gave themselves a pay-raise.  But, there is no such rules for other compensation such as per diem.  Therefore the salary has stayed static for a long period of time but we see these increases in other benefits instead.  That seems rather sneaky.  The truly brilliant part of the measure was that those who vote against it have to make an official request to get the increase.   The bill proponents say that they don’t want those who voted nay to be guilty of hypocrisy by accepting the increase.  For those that passed this bill I think it is too late. 

It will surprise some people to hear me say this but I think the Congress is wrong in considering resolutions regarding the war.  In my opinion this is just the latest issue to be politicized when it obviously shouldn’t.  The Constitution says that Congress declares war.  According to the resolution passed way back when, this authorization was given.  The Constitution gives the President the power as Commander in Chief.  The power to execute the war is his.  The Constitution was drafted so that the people have the final say by electing a new Commander in Chief every four years.  The people spoke by reelecting a President in wartime.  Just because I don’t agree with the direction the commander in chief is taking does not mean a hill of beans.  Congress should be sticking to the things that it is given power over.  The last session was the most inept, inactive Congress in recent memory.  Maybe they should do something for the American people and stop trying to micro manage the executive’s responsibilities.  I say this even though I am in complete disagreement with the way the war has been handled and in complete disagreement with most of the President’s policies.  Sometimes you have to be mature enough to realize that the vote goes against you, or that an elected official disagrees with you.  In that case, I believe, we should follow the process set forth in the Constitution and not play sore loser and find a technicality that will allow us to overturn the will of the majority.   At some point, I hope, the American electorate will decide to elect not on the basis of partisan hackery but on the qualifications of merit.   Only then will the political discourse rise above the current state of Right vs. Left and be about improving the quality of life for all. 

adults who should wear diapers

What is the matter with people? When did the idea of being punctual, taking responsibility for your actions and not being a huge whiner become antiquated concepts.  I am so tired of people who think that their time is more valuable than anyone else’s.  To those people, you are a self-absorbed, inconsiderate jack-a**.  And what is with people thinking that the world revolves around them being pissed off.  The world doesn’t stop when you decide someone stepped on your toes.  Deal with it like a grown up and don’t throw a tantrum like a two year old. 

I’m sorry, but what is the matter with people.  I got out of class tonight and someone had parked their car less than two feet from mine.  I am tired of people who feel that they are more important than anyone else.  I can take mistakes from people, but the self-absorbed attitude has got to stop.  An attitude of entitlement is dragging us down.  Actually that is not true because the effort that dragging us down would take is beyond the laziness demonstrated by the people about whom I am speaking. 

The President has put out his budget proposal for the next year.  Since I am a teacher I will stick to what I know.  The No Child Left Behind Act, while flawed, was supposed to shine a light on the problems with our education system.  Now everyone knows that just throwing money at a problem is not the way to fix it.  I would argue, however, that cutting funds is definitely not going to fix it.  I think with a proposal for a 5% cut in education spending, many children are getting left behind.  When we have the federal reserve chair giving a speech on the importance of education in competing for high income jobs in the global economy, this is not the time to cut eduction.  I have never been fanatical about local control of education.  I have always maintained that there is a role for federal, state and local interests.  What has happened is that the federal government has taken on more of the dictation of what schools will do.  All the while the federal government shifts the financial burden elsewhere.  If the federal government wishes to pass mandates then it has a moral obligation to the children of this country to fund those mandates. 

I’m sorry, the posts have been few and poor the last week or so.   Actually I am not that sorry as no one actually reads this.  Anyway, The No Child Left Behind Act is on my mind today.  In the class that I am taking for my Master’s Degree, my professor made some interesting comments about the origins of NCLB and the impetus for passage.   I have ranted and raved about this to legislators, family members and many other people who did not want to listen so I will keep this short.  While this law calls to light many schools that were bad, it also hurts many schools, teachers and students who work hard and are trying to do well.  This is especially damaging to students who receive special education  services.  Not only are they stigmatized every day, now they are given their own subgroup in the newspaper and can be pointed at as the reason the school is on “the list”.  In a small school that is a big deal.  I have to go now, there will be more on NCLB later after I have a chance to formulate coherent argument rather than spew the distaste I have for the people who passed this law without having any idea of the unintended consequences.

The super bowl is this week.  It is unfortunate that this is just one more area where corporate America has squeezed out the real fans.   How many of the people in the stadium will be true fans of either team.  How many in the stadium would be people who watch football on a weekly basis.  Do you want evidence that this is a corporate event?  How many people watch just for the commercials?