Sunday Reads
This has been a glorious weekend to be outside, but in case you are in and looking for something interesting to read, here are a few suggestions:
Kabuki Democracy: Why a Progressive Presidency Is Impossible, for Now — this is a year old, but still has alot of wisdom about the state of Progressive politics and is worth reading in its entirety if you haven’t.
This house believes that the internet is making journalism better, not worse. — The Economist conducts internet-based Oxford-style debates on various topics and this week they took on the News vs the Internet. Jay Rosen takes the proposer side and Nicholas Carr takes the opponent side. These debates (including comments from viewers) take a few days. That link is the Opening Day arguments, the second day rebuttal is here, and there will be more next week.
Major General James Cartwright: Budget cuts could force a return to the draft — This is a short read, but take note of this. I think that this is the first appearance of a line of argument against defense cuts that we’ll be hearing alot more of.
THE PROGRESSIVE PLEDGE: What Candidates Must Believe to Earn My Vote — This blogger has taken the Teabagger Candidate’s Pledge (the one that claims that African American families were much better off under slavery) and drafted his own Progressive’s Pledge. You need to go see the whole thing, but here is a bit juxtaposed with the Teabagger one:
Teabagger (TB) Pledge: 1. I promise Personal fidelity to my spouse.
Progressive (PR) Pledge: 1. I pledge that My intimate relationships are none of your goddam business. Initials:_____
TB 2. Respect for the marital bonds of others.
PR 2. I don’t give a shit about the marital vows of others. Initials:_____TB 3. Official fidelity to the U.S. Constitution, supporting the elevation of none but faithful constitutionalists as judges or justices.
PR 3. I will uphold the US Constitution and its separation of church and state, and I particularly note that it never mentions God, Jesus, or the Book of Leviticus. Initials:_____
[…]
TB 12. Recognition that robust childbearing and reproduction is beneficial to U.S. demographic, economic, strategic and actuarial health and security.
PR 12. I don’t give a shit whether you have kids, how many kids you have, or whether you own pets. I would prefer, however, that mega-church morons who think that Moses came down from Mount Vernon and gave George Washington the Declaration of Independence stop breeding altogether. Initials:_____
What are you reading today?
More on Disgraced State Rep. Joe Booth (R-VoTech):
Brian Bushweller asked JFC for bond funds for Kent County Sports Center, for kids to play soccer, field hockey and similar sports. Booth: “I have a huge problem with it competing with somebody who has a private entity … I think there has to be specific language ensuring it doesn’t compete with private business.”
From 6/22 DSN: “Booth said he would have difficulty supporting construction of a Kent County Sports Complex if it were to compete with a similar complex in his district. Sports at the Beach in Georgetown holds baseball tournaments and has been 100 percent privately funded since it opened its doors nine years ago.”
Booth is a state senator, right?
Why is Atty Gen’s office holding up Barbieri legislation to keep kids from having to register as sex offenders for the rest of their lives, when Family Court determines it’s not needed?
http://legis.delaware.gov/LIS/lis146.nsf/vwLegislation/HB+137/$file/legis.html?open
Mike’s bill to reform expungement process passed [HB 177].
No wonder the crustaceans are trying to eliminate Dave Sokola. He’s behind this sensible proposal:
Our attempt to make our government more efficient and cost effective by consolidating the three vocational school districts into one school district has run into opposition. Vocational school administrators have said it won’t save money, you would lose local control, taxation would be inequitable and so on. One mobilized their students against Senate Bill 5, claiming our intent was to damage the quality of education provided.
To be clear, our intent is to ensure we have the most cost-effective school organizations, allowing maximum investment in the classroom. We believe there is another option that addresses the administrators’ issues.
Rather than consolidate the three votech districts into one district, were commend consolidating them into existing school districts. We do this today to address other needs, such as the Autism program in Sussex County, ILC and PEAK programs in Kent County and Sterck School in New Castle County.
By consolidating the vocational schools into existing districts, we generate additional savings by eliminating all non-instructional administrative and support positions. Since two of the three superintendents have announced their retirement, now is the ideal time to make this change. This approach also eliminates the need to develop a statewide tax system.
Our recommendation should also reduce the cost of leveling-up teacher salaries. Consolidating them with a local district should reduce the variances estimated by the original approach. Unions can and should be expected to honor their existing agreements with teachers and address this issue during the next collective bargaining session.
This approach uses an existing educational structure, increases savings, capitalizes on two superintendents’ retirements and removes other barriers used to reject the initial effort. Our goal has always been to provide all students with the very best possible education at the best value to the taxpayer. We believe this approach will assist us in accomplishing that goal.
Darryl M. Scott
Terry L. Schooley
David P. Sokola
Sports at the Beach has been running in the red ever since it opened. It tried to get the County Council to take it over and run it, but that failed. Then it tried to force the schools in the area (through legislation that went nowhere) to be forced to use their fields. It should never had been built, especially since it’s about 23 miles from the nearest beach.
Kudos to the Governor:
http://www.communitypub.com/news/x121476781/Gov-Markell-vetoes-helmet-law-repeal
16 miles to rehoboth, 14 to Lewes Beach and the cape.