It’s a little cooler here this morning, but it won’t last, so I’m just trying to get by, as I write for tomorrow, day 37.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:18 (average 4:19). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From PR Watch: Despite widespread public opposition to the education privatization agenda, at least 139 bills or state budget provisions reflecting American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) education bills have been introduced in 43 states and the District of Columbia in just the first six months of 2013, according to an analysis by the Center for Media and Democracy, publishers of ALECexposed.org. Thirty-one have become law.
ALEC Vouchers Transfer Taxpayer Money to Private and Religious Schools
News Corp CEO Rupert Murdoch has called public education a "a $500 billion sector in the U.S. alone that is waiting desperately to be transformed."
But this "transformation" of public education — from an institution that serves the public into one that serves private for-profit interests — has been in progress for decades, thanks in large part to ALEC.
Barf Bag Warning! Click through to learn what you will wish was not so.
From NY Times: All economic data are best viewed as a peculiarly boring genre of science fiction, but Chinese data are even more fictional than most. Add a secretive government, a controlled press, and the sheer size of the country, and it’s harder to figure out what’s really happening in China than it is in any other major economy.
Yet the signs are now unmistakable: China is in big trouble. We’re not talking about some minor setback along the way, but something more fundamental. The country’s whole way of doing business, the economic system that has driven three decades of incredible growth, has reached its limits. You could say that the Chinese model is about to hit its Great Wall, and the only question now is just how bad the crash will be.
As always, Krugman supports his case superbly. Click through for an excellent, albeit troubling, read.
From MSNBC: Issa Bird, Issa Plane, Issa Load of BS!
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Like Lawrence, I agree that the law should be enforced as it is written. But Issa and the Republican Party are interested only in manufacturing a scandal, where none exists. They don’t give a damn about the law. To answer Lawrence’s final question, they fall between zilch and nil.
Cartoon:
15 Responses to “Open Thread–7/20/2013”
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Henhouse Protection cartoon – brilliant! Thanks TC. I read Paul Krugman's piece and wanted to copy the last three paras for here in case people didn't have the time to – but my new cheap computer, though otherwise excellent does not like to copy and paste stuff! (Must get that mouse next week!). Excellent article which looks inevitable – Lord help us!
Thanks, Pat.
Do gedt the mouse. I used a laptop as my main computer for years and never did get comfortable using the touchpad.
3:27 I just can't speed up lately. TomCat is just too hot for me!
3:54 Can't stand the heat!
2:58 I am hot!
Critter stole the crunchies out of my box again! 😈
PR Watch ~ I know the teachers here hate the rules imposed on them by ALEC. They are always complaining but I can't nail them down with specifics. They's RepublicanTs, BTW.
NY Times ~ I bet this is one of the reasons "American" entrepeneurs are willing to pull their factories out of China without too much complaining. *** I put American in quotes because I don't see how they can call themselves such when they don't support our country. ***
MSNBC ~ Agreed! Issa load of BS!
Cartoon ~ Yup.
Specifics should be easy. I'm sorry they won't practicre intellectual honesty.
But they are AMERICAN wen it comes to scamming government contracts.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Puzzle — 3:54 Can't stand the heat!
PR Watch — If the old saying "the proof is in the pudding!" is correct, which I believe it is, then there is no pudding!
I am staunchly opposed to public dollars paying for religious or private for profit schools. Education should be available to all at the same level. If a family wants their child educated in a private or religious school, then they should pay the full freight. If the government wants to give them a tax credit for it (not 100%) then fine, but I object to my tax dollars going to a private for profit or religious school.
Between ALEC and the Republicanus/Teabagger party, they want future generations who are indoctrinated and don't know how to think or question. I hope this backfires like an exploding cigar!
Disgusting! Robbing students and future generations to pay an exorbitant salary to an incompetent CEO!
NY Times — It is interesting, China strenuously objected, at least publicly, to the 'for profit' model espoused by the US. It didn't fit in with their communist state ideology. However, the elite, their 1%, usually politically connected, certainly didn't mind making the bucks. And like in the west, the income inequality is very, very pronounced. I think this sentence of Krugman's is an excellent summary:
MSNBC — Lawrence O'Donnell said "So, what are the chances that the Republican House of Representatives will agree to make life easier at the IRS?"
It seems to me, that since the law is already in effect and it is the interpretation brought into force by the IRS that is wrong, that there should be no action required by the House. The only action needed is for the IRS to follow the law.
Cummings sure caughht Issa with his pants around his ankles!
Cartoon — TC, you are in big trouble with the ABF (American Brotherhood of Foxes)! Foxes are cute; Republicanus/Teabaggers are not! Foxes do what they do to survive; Republicanus/Teabaggers do what they do for greed and control!
I might also add these fox cubs are babies, cute, and red – Republicans are old, ugly, and white. Apart from that – you certainly nailed it.
Critter stole the crunchies out of my box again!
I fully agree. They want to teach what to think. I'm old enough that they taught me how to think instead.
Congress could pass an addendum that requires the IRS to interpret the law as worded.
Both are predators. Foxes are, because it's natural. Rewpubliccans are because they love it.
5:47 – A record for me…
Issa is a car thief and dishonorable discharge from the U.S. Military, talk to the hand….
Great job, Richard! 🙂
He gives thives a bad name.
Loved the foxes. Read the Alec article, and yes, it made me want to barf. We have kids in trailers because the school systems don't have enough money to build, teachers who barely make enough to live on, and are also being forced to teach "for the test" and do nothing creative.
I always agree with Krugman.
Bet Faux news won't report Issa's double speak.
Don't say I didn't warn you! 😉
99.6% for me.
Bet you're right!