Bear Pit: now the sole domicile of politics at LuLa

[Alan Klein]

How do you justify that? American Exceptionalism?  You keep telling us that America is the richest, bestest country ever, in the whole history of the world. 

Yet you can't educate your citizens or keep them healthy.

Meanwhile...

The Top 10 Most-Educated Countries (OECD 2018)
Canada — 56.27%
Japan — 50.50%
Israel — 49.90%
South Korea — 46.86%
United Kingdom — 45.96%
United States — 45.67%
Australia — 43.74%
Finland — 43.60%
Norway — 43.02%
Luxembourg — 42.86%

The OECD list compares the percentage of each country's residents ages 25 to 64 who have completed some form of tertiary education: a two-year or four-year degree or a vocational program. Based on the OECD's data, Canada is the most educated country globally, with 56.71% of adults meeting the OECD criteria. Japan has the second-highest percentage of 51.44%, followed by Israel with 50.92%. However, it's worth noting that this list compared only the 43 countries that are members or partners of the OECD, leaving out roughly 150 countries that happen to not belong to the OCED. =Also of note is the fact that these rankings change if the data are divided by age range. For example, compare the percentages for 55-64-year-olds in the tables below with the percentages for 25-34-year-olds. Comparisons such as these offer a glimpse into which countries are increasing support for education and which may be doing less.

This list is from 2018.  This was just more convenient to post.  For current data, here's the link.

https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/most-educated-countries

Let's see,

Google (Alphabet), an American corporation.
Facebook (Meta), ditto
Apple, ditto,
Space X, ditto,
Tesla, ditto,
Microsoft, ditto
IBM, ditto, Intel, ditto,
Speaking of schools, Harvard, Yale, MIT, Stanford, Princeton, etc.


Canada, eh?

[Robert Roaldi]

Let's see,

Google (Alphabet), an American corporation.
Facebook (Meta), ditto
Apple, ditto,
Space X, ditto,
Tesla, ditto,
Microsoft, ditto
IBM, ditto, Intel, ditto,
Speaking of schools, Harvard, Yale, MIT, Stanford, Princeton, etc.


Canada, eh?

Are they going to fix your public schools?

Will you list successful companies that aren't American tomorrow?

[Alan Klein]

Are they going to fix your public schools?

Will you list successful companies that aren't American tomorrow?

I told you what the problem was with our grade schools.  They're run by the government.  We have a great university system because they're private.  The way to fix grade schools is to have private schools. 

What government should do is give back tax money if you enroll your kid in a non-government school.  Where I live in NJ, it costs $19,000+ a year for a school kid.  Are they kidding? In a 32 kid class, that's $600,000.  That's ridiculous.  I'm sure private could do it for half that and do a better job.  If the parents got back let's say $12,000 of the $19,000, I'm sure they could find a school that would gladly accept that to teach their kid for a year. 

[PeterAit]

As an off-topic aside, we wanted to watch a youtube video bio of a painter the other night, forget which one now, but youtube stopped us because of adult content. We needed to log in. This was on Apple HD TV, not my desktop, and I can't remember my password so we skipped. All we can figure is that maybe that documentary showed some nude figure paintings. It would be funny if it weren't so stupid.

It's telling that "adult content" always seems to revolve around sex and the human body. In general, the right-wing seems to be uptight and repressed about anything sexual. This a major basis of the anti-abortion movement. And the anti-gay and anti-trans movements. And trying to ban books because they (gasp!) contain drawings of "nekkid wimmin."

[digitaldog]

I told you what the problem was with our grade schools. 

So that is YOUR excuse for yourself; got it.
Some here actually graduated from grade school and much higher education. You?

[Robert Roaldi]

It's telling that "adult content" always seems to revolve around sex and the human body. In general, the right-wing seems to be uptight and repressed about anything sexual. This a major basis of the anti-abortion movement. And the anti-gay and anti-trans movements. And trying to ban books because they (gasp!) contain drawings of "nekkid wimmin."

Guns and killing are ok, though, although it depends who gets killed I suspect.

Saw this story this morning about a school trying to "enforce Christianity" https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/christian-revival-school-prompts-student-walkout-wva-82765607.

And as a follow-up to that Oklahoma law permitting lawsuits against teachers in some religious circumstances, that turns out to be more widespread https://www.npr.org/2022/02/03/1077878538/legislation-restricts-what-teachers-can-discuss.

It raises interesting questions though. It's normal for parents to want to control their children's upbringing, but what does the state do if this contravenes sound pedagogy in a public school.

[Peter McLennan]

Here's the real danger, as reported by DHS.  They're in a position to know.
Confirms everything we've been saying here about disinformation.


Summary of Terrorism Threat to the U.S. Homeland:

https://www.dhs.gov/ntas/advisory/national-terrorism-advisory-system-bulletin-february-07-2022

[digitaldog]

It's telling that "adult content" always seems to revolve around sex and the human body. In general, the right-wing seems to be uptight and repressed about anything sexual.

Wait till the right-wing sees this (and boys, don't tell Alan, his head will explode if he sees this!):
Adidas tweets 25 pairs of bare breasts to sell a new sports bra

Adidas will soon debut a new sports bra line, but one of its ads doesn't show the bra at all. Instead, Adidas tweeted a photo grid of 25 pairs of bare breasts in all their natural, diverse glory.
The sports apparel company pinned the ad to its Twitter page Wednesday, under a link that connects to the bra collection for anyone who makes it that far. The ad's tagline: #SupportisEverything.
"We believe women's breasts in all shapes and sizes deserve support and comfort," Adidas says in the campaign. "Which is why our new sports bra range contains 43 styles, so everyone can find the right fit for them."

[Alan Klein]

Guns and killing are ok, though, although it depends who gets killed I suspect.

Saw this story this morning about a school trying to "enforce Christianity" https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/christian-revival-school-prompts-student-walkout-wva-82765607.

And as a follow-up to that Oklahoma law permitting lawsuits against teachers in some religious circumstances, that turns out to be more widespread https://www.npr.org/2022/02/03/1077878538/legislation-restricts-what-teachers-can-discuss.

It raises interesting questions though. It's normal for parents to want to control their children's upbringing, but what does the state do if this contravenes sound pedagogy in a public school.

First off, religion cannot be taught in a public school.  It's unconstitutional Second, depending on the location and state, local school boards elected by the local citizens decide on the school curriculum.  Isn't that democratic?  Do you have a better way? (As an aside, most states have standards the kids have to reach with standardized testing.  If schools are failing because the curriculum is substandard or off the charts, then kids won't graduate and parents will be pissed.  Principals will be fired and school boards unelected.)

The main issues with schools are kids aren't learning the ABCs.  They can't read, write, or add. They get pushed along to graduate HS. Then they borrow money to go to college they aren't prepared for and go into debt for the rest of their life.  That's the government's fault.

A better way is to have private schools which would make most people happy.  You enroll your kid in the private school of your choice. If you don't like their methods, then you can switch schools.  If you don't like the way a Canon operates, then buy a Nikon.  Simple.  The problem with public schools is you only have Canons. 

[BernardLanguillier]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zoi0Fhlc8pk

Reagan's son about the current Republican party.

Cheers,
Bernard

[digitaldog]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zoi0Fhlc8pk

Reagan's son about the current Republican party.

Cheers,
Bernard

Love Ron and his commercial for FFRF of which I am a member.
Meanwhile in today's edition of “some Republicans speak stupid*”:

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene warns of Nancy Pelosi's 'gazpacho police'
The Georgia Republican apparently meant to say "Gestapo" but instead referred to the chilled soup.

*Alan?

[Peter McLennan]

First off, religion cannot be taught in a public school.

Yet, inexplicably, it is.

A better way is to have private schools which would make most people happy.

Yah.  Like Trump University.  That worked well, didn't it?

[PeterAit]

I told you what the problem was with our grade schools.  They're run by the government.  We have a great university system because they're private.  The way to fix grade schools is to have private schools. 

Private grade schools for everyone? What a horrid idea. We'd quickly have great schools for the rich, good schools for the middle class, and poor schools for the poor. Well, we sort of have that now, but it would be much worse. Public schools should serve as a sort of leveler, everyone goes to public school and has more or less the same experiences. Then your skills, smarts, and ambition will guide your future and not daddy's money or social standing.

[LesPalenik]

Rick Newman, one of the columnists on Yahoo doesn't think that the truckers are so special.

Canada’s protesting truckers have morphed from enablers of capitalism to inhibitors of it. You could just call them jerks. Everybody’s sick of COVID and many are now growing fearful of runaway inflation. What nobody needs is a bunch of anarchists shutting down businesses and triggering new levels of disruption. Yet by the metrics of value destruction, the Canadian protests have been so successful at shuttering Ottawa businesses and halting U.S.-Canada trade that dead-enders may now attempt similar economic sabotage in the United States and elsewhere.

Many Canadians and Americans share the truckers’ COVID fatigue. On that, there’s no compelling case against them. The real problem with the protests is they’re shutting down economic activity at a perilous time in some of the very sectors they’re targeting. The auto industry is the most important. There’s already a dearth of new vehicles because of semiconductor shortages and other supply-chain problems. New-vehicle inflation in the United States is 12%, and the scarcity of new vehicles has sent the price of used ones skyrocketing by 41%. The angry truckers have shut down the main bridge carrying finished vehicles and components between the U.S. and Canada. This can only worsen production problems.

The angry truckers are also making it impossible for hundreds of businesses in Ottawa to operate. These include many smaller businesses that don’t have the cash draw to shut down indefinitely. The truckers are harming the livelihoods of ordinary workers, and it may not be too strong to call them economic terrorists. If you’re with the truckers, you’re pro-inflation, anti-prosperity, anti-work and in reality, anti-freedom.

Should similar protests erupt in the United States, there are obvious worries about escalation into overt violence and some sort of repeat of the Jan. 6, 2021 attacks on the U.S. Capitol.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/angry-truckers-go-home-155344832.html

[LesPalenik]

U.S. officials have offered to help the Trudeau government end an anti-vaccine mandate protest blockade that is sending ripple effects through the American economy and causing increasing concern in Washington.

The White House says U.S. officials had multiple conversations on Thursday with their Canadian counterparts about the blockade on the Ambassador Bridge, a major trade artery which connects Windsor, Ont. with Detroit.

The White House said Thursday the U.S. federal cabinet and senior administration staff are now seized with this issue. "[They] have been engaged around the clock to bring this to a swift end," the White House said in response to questions from CBC News.

The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas urged his Canadian counterparts Thursday to use their own federal powers to end the blockade at the Canada-U.S. border.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/white-house-border-convoy-protest-covid-response-1.6347421

[Alan Klein]

Private grade schools for everyone? What a horrid idea. We'd quickly have great schools for the rich, good schools for the middle class, and poor schools for the poor. Well, we sort of have that now, but it would be much worse. Public schools should serve as a sort of leveler, everyone goes to public school and has more or less the same experiences. Then your skills, smarts, and ambition will guide your future and not daddy's money or social standing.

I didn't say all the schools had to be private.  I said the government would reimburse parents a portion of the current public cost to educate their kid in public schools.  The parents would have to use the money to send their kids to private schools.  This is all voluntary.  If the parents didn't want this arrangement, their kid would continue to be educated in the public school and the government would keep all the funds. 

The competition would force public school to get better.  If they don't, then more and more parents would elect to get the tax money and send their kids to private schools and get a better education. 

[Alan Klein]

U.S. officials have offered to help the Trudeau government end an anti-vaccine mandate protest blockade that is sending ripple effects through the American economy and causing increasing concern in Washington.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/white-house-border-convoy-protest-covid-response-1.6347421

Maybe Biden could send our Capitol Police to help out.  They've had experience handling disruptions. 

[Alan Klein]

Just an update on the Afghanistan pullout.  The US Army says they told Biden of the issues.  Of course, he denies it. But that doesn't matter.  It doesn't matter who said what beforehand.  As president, the pullout and method were his orders as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.  So he's responsible for the mess regardless.  Biden's just another guy who loves to be in charge but will deny responsibility when the crap hits the fan.  Duly noted by Putin and Xi. 

Biden says he rejects findings of Army report on Afghanistan
President Biden on Thursday said he rejected the accounts and findings of an Army investigative report in which military officials reportedly criticized Biden administration officials for failing to grasp the situation in Afghanistan as U.S. forces withdrew. 
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/593822-biden-says-he-rejects-findings-of-army-report-on-afghanistan

[PeterAit]

So fix them.

Yes indeed. Charter schools were meant to be small in number and to serve as laboratories where different teaching methods could be tried. Now they are just publicly funded (as in, tax dollars) private schools that are not open to everyone. And while some are excellent (just like public schools), some are wretched (just like public schools). A statewide survey here in NC ranked every school in the state on educational achievement and on average the charters came in behind public. And the charters siphon off the students whose parents take a real interest in their education. And because charters do not have to provide transportation or meals (although a few do), they are excluding the kids, the poor ones, who depend on busses and free lunches. And perhaps most egregious, at least in my mind, is that a charter can boot a disruptive student back to the public schools at any time yet keep the entire allotment of public money they were given for that student.

So, the public schools are having some of the better students and more involved parents taken away, as well as losing a good deal of money. And the GOP now points to them and says "See, the public schools are bad." It's like the guy who puts sugar in a car's gas tank and then complains it is not running well.

[digitaldog]

How can such a butt-plug get elected?

Rand Paul said he hopes trucker protests 'clog up cities,' including during Super Bowl and in DC

Asked by The Daily Signal about his thoughts on the convoy and the potential for it to spill over into Los Angeles, home of Sunday's Super Bowl, or into the nation's capital, Paul said Thursday that "it'd be great" if the anti-mandate, truck-inspired protests popped in the United States to "clog things up."
"I'm all for it,"