Rubber rooms for teachers

Unions had their place and did great things for the American worker, but I think now is the time for the pendulum to swing the other way for a bit.

New York City has about 700 teachers who are sitting on their duffs... not teaching, not doing anything creative for children. They have been accused of everthing from sexual offenses to a child having a hat on and singing in the classroom. I think the system has gone overboard.

What has happened to our work ethics? We are so fearful of being politically correct, so controlled by union contracts that the huge corporations' products and teaching of our children is no longer the main point/attraction but a sideline. These teachers are collecting their $70,000 a year paychecks and painting watercolors, writing novels, staring at walls. There is something hugely wrong with this picture.

Here is what is wrong with the picture (emphasis is mine):

Once their hearings are over, they are either sent back to the classroom or fired. But because their cases are heard by 23 arbitrators who work only five days a month, stints of two or three years in a rubber room are common, and some teachers have been there for five or six (YEARS).

I'm thinking, can't the school system do something about this? Here's an idea. Tell the union that their arbitrators must work five days a WEEK not a month just like the rest of us working slobs have to work. I guess that is too novel, though.

I look at the state of the union and I realize the waste is more than the piled up garbage in America. Why didn't congress give every American a check for $1 million? It would have been a WHOLE lot cheaper and would have stimulated the economy in an astronomical way. Oh, guess that wouldn't have worked, though, because all the little businesses would have lost all their little workers. However, I do believe it would have worked a lot better than the bail out. All you have to do is look at each lottery winner over the past umpteen years to know that within a year or two, the poor would be poor again and the rich would have made a lot more. But, hey, the car people would still have their jobs and the mortgage companies would still be in business. I can assure you, I would have put my $ 1 million to a LOT better use than AIG did, or Chrysler, or any other bailout receipient. Hind sight and all that!

If God Should Speak

Another treasure I found in old files on my computer. This particular piece is all over the web, but I've tracked down who the author is. You can find the original at:

If God Should Speak

Joyce Faye Russell

New Labor Forum
No. 9 (Fall - Winter, 2001), pp. 146-148
"Our Father which art in heaven....."
---Yes?

Don't interrupt me. I'm praying.
---But you called me.

Called you? I didn't call you. I'm praying. "Our Father which art in heaven....."
---There you did it again.

Did What?
---Called me. You said, "Our Father which art in heaven." Here I am.....What's on your mind?

But I didn't mean anything by it. I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day. I always say the Lord's Prayer. It makes me feel good, kind of like getting a duty done.
---All right. Go on.

"Hallowed be thy name....."
---Hold it. What do you mean by that?

By what?
---By "hallowed be thy name"?

It means.....it means.....Good grief, I don't know what it means. How should I know? It's just a part of the prayer. By the way, what does it mean?
---It means honored, holy, wonderful.

Hey, that makes sense. I never thought about what "hallowed" meant before. "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
--Do you really mean that?

Sure, why not?
---What are you doing about it?

Doing? Nothing, I guess. I just think it would be kind of neat if you got control of everything down here like you have up there.
---Have I got control of you?

Well, I go to church.
---That isn't what I asked you. What about your bad temper? You've really got a problem there, you know. And then there's the way you spend your money---all on yourself. And what about the kind of books you read?

Stop picking on me! I'm just as good as some of the rest of those people at the church.
---Excuse me. I thought you were praying for my will to be done. If that is to happen, it will have to start with the ones who are praying for it. Like you, for example.

Oh, all right. I guess I do have some hang-ups. Now that you mention it, I could probably name some others.
---So could I.

I haven't thought about it very much until now, but I really would like to cut out some of those things. I would like to, you know, be really free
---Good. Now we're getting somewhere. We'll work together, you and I. Some victories can truly be won. I'm proud of you.

Look, Lord, I need to finish up here. This is taking a lot longer than it usually does. "Give us this day, our daily bread."
---You need to cut out the bread. You're overweight as it is.

Hey, wait a minute! What is this, "Criticize me day"? Here I was doing my religious duty, and all of a sudden you break in and remind me of all my hang-ups.

---Praying is a dangerous thing. You could wind up changed, you know. That's what I'm trying to get across to you. You called me, and here I am. It's too late to stop now. Keep praying, I'm interested in the next part of your prayer.....(pause). Well, go on.

I'm scared to.
---Scared? Of what?

I know what you'll say.
---Try me and see.

"Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us."
---What about Ann?

See? I knew it! I knew you would bring her up! Why Lord, she's told lies about me, spread stories about my family. She never paid back the debt she owes me. I've sworn to get even with her!
---But your prayer? What about your prayer?

I didn't mean it.
---Well, at least you're honest. But it's not much fun carrying that load of bitterness around inside, is it?

No. But I'll feel better as soon as I get even. Boy, have I got some plans for that neighbor. She'll wish she had never moved into this neighborhood.
---You won't feel any better. You'll feel worse. Revenge isn't sweet. Think of how unhappy you already are. But I can change all that.

You can? How?
---Forgive Ann. Then I'll forgive you. Then the hate and sin will be Ann's problem and not yours. You will have settled your heart.

Oh, you're right. You always are. And more than I want to revenge Ann, I want to be right with you. Ann, I want to be right with you.....(pause).....(sigh). All right. All right. I forgive her. Help her to find the right road in life, Lord. She's bound to be awfully miserable now that I think about it. Anybody who goes around doing the things she does to others has to be out of it. Someway, somehow, show her the right way.
---There now! Wonderful! How do you feel?

Hmmmmmm. Well, not bad. Not bad at all. In fact, I feel pretty great!

You know, I don't think I'll have to go to bed uptight tonight for the first time since I can remember. Maybe I won't be so tired from now on because I'm not getting enough rest. ---You're not through with your prayer. Go on.

Oh, all right. "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
---Good! Good! I'll do that. Just don't put yourself in a place where you can be tempted.

What do you mean by that?

---Don't turn on the TV when you know the laundry needs to be done and the house needs to be picked up. Also, about the time you spend coffeeing with your friends, if you can't influence the conversation to positive things, perhaps you should re-think the value of those friendships. Another thing, your neighbors and friends shouldn't be your standard for "keeping up". And please don't use me for an escape hatch.

I don't understand the last part.
---Sure you do. You've done it a lot of times. You get caught in a bad situation. You get into trouble and then you come running to me, "Lord, help me out of this mess, and I promise you I'll never do it again." You remember some of those bargains you tried to make with me?

Yes and I'm ashamed, Lord. I really am.
---Which bargain are you remembering?

Well, there was the night that Bill was gone and the children and I were home alone. The wind was blowing so hard I thought the roof would go any minute and tornado warnings were out. I remember praying, "Oh God, if you spare us, I'll never skip my devotions again."
---I protected you, but you didn't keep your promise, did you?

I'm sorry, Lord, I really am. Up until now I thought that if I just prayed the Lord's Prayer every day, then I could do what I liked. I didn't expect anything to happen like it did.
---Go ahead and finish your prayer.

"For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever."
Amen
---Do you know what would bring me glory? What would really make me happy?

No, but I'd like to know. I want now to please you. I can see what a mess I've made of my life. and I can see how great it would be to really be one of your followers.
---You just answered the question.

I did?
---Yes. The thing that would bring me glory is to have people like You truly love me. And I see that happening between us. Now that some of these old sins are exposed and out of the way, well, there is no telling what we can do together.

Lord, let's see what we can make of me, O.K.?
---Yes, let's see.....

Christians' worldview has changed

I stand amazed at how flighty humans have proven to be. We can't seem to keep on the right track no matter how gloriously God makes Himself available. He provided America for those who desired to worship Him freely. It was not for those to worship any demon or idol, but for Christians. All one has to do is read historical speeches of our founding fathers or historical documents, or even read the inscriptions on the buildings in our capital. Everything points to the one true King of the universe. How sad it has taken less than 250 years for our ardor to go sour.

Barna Group asked Americans some pointed questions back in March to determine the worldview of Christians: Whether the world view is Biblical or Secular.

As a base, Barna set the standards as this:

For the purposes of the survey, a “biblical worldview” was defined as believing that absolute moral truth exists; the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches; Satan is considered to be a real being or force, not merely symbolic; a person cannot earn their way into Heaven by trying to be good or do good works; Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth; and God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe today. In the research, anyone who held all of those beliefs was said to have a biblical worldview.

These same questions were asked in 1995, 2000, and 2005. Astoundingly, only 9% of Americans have a Biblical Worldview. But the thing that makes me cry (I'm not talking crocodile tears here, either, I'm talking the nose-honking kind of sobbing) is that less than one out of five born again Christians have a Biblical worldview. Born again Christians were catagorized as those who believe that Jesus died on the cross for the sin of the world, rose again, they confessed their sins, accepted what He did for them and were going to Heaven when they died because of Jesus Christ.

These statistics have remained basically flat since 1995 with just a few percentage points fluctuation.

Only one in three American adults believe there is such a thing as absolute Truth, and only 46% of born again Christians believe in absolute moral truth.

But, here is the kicker. Of all self-professing born again Christians, only 79% believe in the inerrancy of the Bible. I wonder how can anyone who believes Jesus will bring them to Heaven when they die can NOT believe in the absolute Truth of the Bible?

How can anyone plan to stand in the throne room of God, with His train filling the place, His glory blinding all around Him and say, "Well, God, I believe your Son, but I don't believe everything You said in the Bible. I tried to live a good life, but some of Your Biblical principles are just way out there around Pluto. I just couldn't swallow it all. Now, where's my crown?"

And they stand there looking up at God unflinchingly and say, "Oh, by the way, God, I don't believe that Your Son lived a completely and totally sinless life while He was here. Yeah, and there are 38% of all Your born again children that agree with me."

Oh, LORD, have mercy on Your children!

The End Times are definitely here. Matt 24:12 And because lawlessness shall have been multiplied, the love of the many will grow cold.

1Timothy 4:1 But the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, cleaving to deceiving spirits and teachings of demons, 2 in lying speakers in hypocrisy, being seared in their own conscience, 3 forbidding to marry, saying to abstain from foods, which God created for partaking with thanksgiving by the believers and those knowing the truth.

The Barna Group's survey also found these alarming statistics: The research data showed that one pattern emerged loud and clear: young adults rarely possess a biblical worldview. The current study found that less than one-half of one percent of adults in the Mosaic generation – i.e., those aged 18 to 23 – have a biblical worldview, compared to about one out of every nine older adults.
Other groups that possess a below average likelihood of having a biblical worldview included people who describe themselves as liberal on social and political matters (also less than one-half of one percent); Catholics (2%); Democrats (4%) and residents of the Northeast (4%).

I have a sore heart because of this. If we are not deeply careful, then we will wake up and find our Christian values and morals completely compromised. In fact, we are already there. One has only to look at how God felt about His Chosen People, Israel, who had the same attitudes that we Americans have today, to understand the dire peril we face right now. I think our best strategy is to fall to our knees, no better yet, fall on our faces and implore God's mercy on His children. To beg Him to open the stopped up ears and blind eyes, to pour the Spirit's understanding and wisdom into our leaders. Otherwise, we'll be marching to Babylon.

I feel betrayed...

I don't know why I'm surprised. I actually did expect it, and we were even warned that it would happen. Our President is as naive as a new born babe if he thinks that the "extremism" he is talking about can be confronted or controlled. I quote:

CAIRO (AP) -- Quoting from the Quran for emphasis, President Barack Obama called for a "new beginning between the United States and Muslims" Thursday and aid together, they could confront violent extremism across the globe and advance the timeless search for peace in the Middle East. "This cycle of suspicion and discord must end," Obama said in a widely anticipated speech in one of the world's largest Muslim countries, an address designed to reframe relations after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

The problems go a lot deeper than Obama can possibly recognize because he has no clue how passionate religionism can be. He's had a very easy life, so has no clue what a Cause can do to the hearts of mankind. And, Jihad is a Cause.

Ethically, he thinks he is right because this is what he promised during the campaign. He would sit down and talk with these Islamic peoples who dared to come to our shores and try to destroy us through use of airplanes as bombs and rhetoric as verbal swords. These guys are not playing around and would as soon stab us in the back as smile at us on the street.

Where, I ask, is Obama's fleet of advisors who have actually read the top secret reports on Jihad activity in the U.S. and around the world? He doesn't have a clue how to deal with this religious based war. He's trying to use reason, when it is a Faith-Based problem. I am appalled and the American public is betrayed.

Obama is fixing to hand over the U.S. to these extremist in an attempt at peace, and it's going to be all wrapped up like a Christmas package. And this part of his speech makes me cry:

In a gesture to the Islamic world, Obama conceded at the beginning of his remarks that tension "has been fed by colonialism that denied rights and opportunities to many Muslims, and a Cold War in which Muslim-majority countries were often treated as proxies without regard to their own aspirations."

It is an implied statement casting blame upon the U.S. as the "bad guy" in all this. Really? I wonder what our boys with boots on the ground in Iraq and Afganistan think about denied "rights" and denied "opportunities" and "proxies"? How about the feelings of the thousands of wives, mothers, and children of the fallen soldiers who happened to be in the wrong "opportunity" when these violent muslems were exercising their "rights"?

You can find a tribute to Maj. Steve V. Long here. I wrote the tribute because I feel so deeply appreciative that so many have given their lives for our freedom and so many have given their lives for the Freedom of the Iraqi people. Did you think of that, Mr. Obama? Have you looked, Mr. Obama, at how costly the freedom of other people has become and are you willing to flush that cost down the proverbial toilet?

This is what I received in my inbox from the White House about 10 minutes ago:

Hello -
As a Senior Advisor to the President, I'm here in Cairo, Egypt where I watched President Obama deliver an unprecedented speech calling for a new beginning for the United States and Muslim communities around the world.

We all know that there has been tension between the United States and some Muslim communities. But, as the President said this morning, if all sides face the sources of tension squarely and focus on mutual interests, we can find a new way forward.

The President outlined some big goals for this new beginning in his speech -- including disrupting, dismantling, and defeating violent extremism. It was a historic speech, and since many Americans were asleep at the time it was given we wanted to make sure you had a chance to see it:

Majority-Muslim countries around the world are filled with extraordinary people who simply want to live their lives and see their children live better lives, just as in America. Indeed, part of what makes America great is having nearly seven million Muslim Americans living here today and enriching our culture and communities.

We can extend that kind of relationship abroad. It won't always be easy, but if we make an effort to bridge our differences rather than resigning ourselves to animosity, we can move toward a more peaceful world over time.

Thank you, David Axelrod Senior Advisor to the President

Just how do you propose to deal with unreasonable people, Mr. President? What mutual interests do we have with Jihad, Mr. Obama?

I think it is time that the Demorats take their head out of the sand and really look at the problem in a new way. Terrorists have a Cause that is embedded deep in their hearts. You can't change their minds because they believe they are right. I don't have a solution, I wish I did. But, I know making deals with a terrorist is not the way to win friends and influence people who have been stung by terrorism.

Congressman Gene Taylor

Gene Taylor is a Democrat--notice I did spell it correctly this time. Although, he is a Democrat, he is an honorable man, as well as one who is deeply concerned for his constituents. I wrote him a letter concerned about recognizing gay marriages and this is his reply to me.

June 2, 2009

Ms Gina Burgess
********
Picayune, MS 39466

Dear Gina:

Thank you for contacting me and expressing your opposition to efforts by some members of the District of Columbia City Council who wish to recognize gay marriages.

You will be pleased to know I have consistently supported marriage as a union of a man and a woman. I will firmly oppose any legislation that comes before the House of Representatives that would allow Washington D.C. to permit same sex marriage.

Additionally, I am a cosponsor of Congressman Broun's Marriage Protection amendment, H.J.Res. 89. My support of the Marriage Protection Amendment is a deeply held personal and moral position. I voted for a similar Constitutional Amendment on July 18, 2006, when I cast my vote in favor of the Federal Marriage Amendment which defined marriage as between a man and a woman. While the amendment received a vote of 236-187, it did not attain the two-thirds majority vote that is required to amend the U.S. Constitution.

Defining marriage as between a man and a woman is far above petty partisan politics for me. While many Republicans voted for the amendment and many Democrats voted against it, the 2006 vote proves that protecting traditional marriage is not a partisan issue. In fact, thirty-four Democrats voted for the amendment, and twenty-seven Republicans voted against it.

In 2004, 86 percent of Mississippians voted in favor of an amendment to the Mississippi State Constitution that defined marriage as between a man and woman. The same amendment also outlaws marriages between persons of the same gender performed in other states or countries. The passage of this amendment clearly defines the opinions of Mississippians regarding the issue of same-sex marriage. I voted to ban same-sex marriage as a congressman in Washington, DC and as a citizen in Bay St. Louis.

Again, thank you for contacting me. If I may be of further assistance, please feel free to get in touch with me.

Sincerely,

GENE TAYLOR
Member of Congress
GT:rj

Scary Sonia Sotomayor

It is extremely scary that Judge Sotomayor may bend the ears of our lawmakers. What I find most disturbing is that "a string" of reversals to her opinions and judgements have been handed down by the Supreme Court Justices.

What does that literally mean? In my humble opinion, it means that she has an opposing viewpoint. In one ruling, she said that the cost of saving fishing was irrelevant to the technology due to the wording of a statute. Whereas, the Supreme Court Justices disagreed that the same clean up with the same results could be done by the companies for billions of dollars cheaper. That's right, B as in Billions of Dollars.

It gives me the shivers that someone who would be still handing down opinions for my grandchildren (if I had any) has this basic and cavalier disregard for economic impact of her rulings.

Judge Scalia wrote that following Judge "Sotomayor's reasoning would cost nine times what was necessary to accomplish" the same thing or nearly the same using more inexpensive technology.

Why was she stuck on technology? Because the wording of the statute was "best technology" which would not allow the EPA to consider company costs.

The EPA's current practice is a reasonable and hence legitimate exercise of
its discretion to weigh benefits against costs ... We conclude that the EPA
permissibly relied on cost-benefit analysis," the majority said in its April
decision.
The ruling sat much better with business advocates than did
Sotomayor's.
"If the best available technology is only so good to save
X number of fish and you have to spend X billion dollars more to come up with
better technology and implement it, those costs are going to be passed on to
consumers and their energy bills," said Glenn Lammi, counsel to the Washington
Legal Foundation.

Is it just me? Am I reading danger here that really isn't dangerous? What else can the Obama regime do to us that isn't already being done?

Come quickly, Lord Jesus, come quickly!

Young Cons

I've provided the lyrics below in case this thing from YouTube doesn't work. I'm new at this, as you know, because I have never done a direct YouTube video on my blog, but I thought this was worthy enough. Oh, not for what it says! Anyone familiar with me and my blog, I'm a conservative and I'm a Christian. I thought this worthy enough because it is so refreshing. Instead of things of hate, or things of Darwin, or things of humanism, we find two college students who are not only Christian but are adamently Christian. These two young men are on the right track and I hope there are more out there who will find courage to step out in faith for their faith because of these men.

Why are we allowing tyranny to reign? Why do we sit complacently in our recliners and rail at the TV which does no good? Our generation is paving the foundation for the end times. In a way that is exciting, but in a way it is incredibly sad that we allowed it to get this far.

Serious C:
“Yo this ones for all the young conservatives.
I rep the Northeast and I’m still a young con,
Let your voice release, you don't have to be obamatrons.
I debate any poser who don't shoot straight,
Government spending needs to deflate,
Your ideas are lightweight,
Ya careers in checkmate
I frustrate. I increase the pulse rate
I hate when,
government dictatin, makin, statements, bout how to be a merchant,
How to run a restaurant, how to lay the pavement
Bailout a business, but can't protect an infant
Deficiencies are blatant, young con treatment
I stand one man, outnumbered at my college
Thank you Miss Cali for reminding us of marriage
Can't support abortion, and call yourself a Christian
I support life, you're a puzzled politician
Terrorists were imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay,
Now they're in our neighborhoods, planning out doomsday
No such thing as utopia,
no government can control ya, baby ya,
Reap the benefits hard work, self reliant
Listen to Stiltz, my dude’s a lyrical giant
Yo Stiltz... make it two time... please”
Stiltz:
“I'm 6'9 head and shoulder above the rest
Liberals playin checkers, I'm playin chess
My conservative view is drill baby drill
You can say you hate me but
I'm praying for you still
My dislike for thee most def is not hyperbole
Taxes are the subject and I will spit them verbally
I'm just livin life a conservative philosophy
Sorry Hilary not a right wing conspiracy
We need more women with intellectual integrity
I'm talkin Megyn Kelly not Nancy Pelosi
My main motto is you best work hard
It's not the hand you were given, but how you lay down your cards
I don't speak lies but I spit the facts
28% the new capital gains tax
Porkulus bill lacks a few stats
The more money we spend, the more mine is worth Jack
The Bible says we're a people under God,
Usin radar for radical Jihad
AIG was hooked up by Chris Dodd
A classy gift ain't an Ipod
The standards of my crew ain’t republicans dude
I'm reppin Jesus Christ and conservative views
Study history and true conservative moves
Every single time they refuse to lose
I’m starting to see a modern day Jimmy Carter
When really nothin but a Reagan era starter”
Serious C:
“Yo, We americans son
Hit ya with some knowledge
The movement has begun
Everyone can succeed
Because our soldiers bleed, for us
I said it in the verse,
now I'll say it in the chorus”
Stiltz:
“We young conservatives son
Hard work is our motto
The movement has begun
EVERYONE can succeed cause our soldiers bleed, daily
My views are rock solid, no chance you can break me”
Serious C:
“Phase me, make me, into something that ain’t me
Serious c... can’t nobody shake me
great like the Gatsby, poppin posers like acne
Don't matter if your gay, straight, Christian or Muslim
There's one thing we all hate, called socialism.
It's loathsome, and America ain’t the outcome,
Raise taxes on the people,
And you’re gonna feel symptoms, problems
I gotta message for a young con:
superman that socialism,
waterboard that terrorism”
Stiltz:
“I fulfill the role that's inherently mine
Teaching politics through my rap and my rhyme
I'm signing off this track with a question in mind
How will this country get its precious change in time?
Three things taught me conservative love:
Jesus, Ronald Reagan, plus Atlas Shrugged
Saving our nation from inflation devastation
On my hands and my knees praying for salvation”
Serious C:
“Yo, We americans son
Hit ya with some knowledge
The movement has begun
Everyone can succeed
Because our soldiers bleed, for us
I said it in the verse,
now I'll say it in the chorus”
Stiltz:
“We young conservatives son
Hard work is our motto
The movement has begun
EVERYONE can succeed cause our soldiers bleed, daily
My views are rock solid, no chance you can break me”