OMG Politics, I'm over it already.
- Thread starter sunvalleylaw
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GDSmithTX
Corporate cog
"There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs."
Guitar Heel
Demented Trick
GDSmithTX
Corporate cog
"Almost" intentional?
I live in Texas: http://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2012-06-27/gop-opposes-critical-thinking/
It's official: The Republican Party of Texas opposes critical thinking. That's right, drones, and it's part of their official platform.
One of our eagle-eyed readers emailed us to point out this unbelievable passage in the RPT 2012 platform, as adopted at their recent statewide conference.
"Knowledge-Based Education – We oppose the teaching of Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) (values clarification), critical thinking skills and similar programs that are simply a relabeling of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) (mastery learning) which focus on behavior modification and have the purpose of challenging the student’s fixed beliefs and undermining parental authority."
What this really means is that the GOP is doubling down on learn-by-rote fact recitation – of the kind spearheaded by the worst of the pro-testing advocates, and locally by IDEA Public Schools, which has committed to the anti-analytical direct learning model (aka "press button A, B or C.")
But what the hell is all that bunk about "undermining parental authority"? Could it be that the Texas GOP has shown its paternalistic streak a little too overtly? And, let's face facts, that's just policy-wonk speak for "honor thy father and mother." Yup, the Texas GOP is officially enshrining blind obedience into its doctrine of political domination. And be careful that you don't disturb a student's fixed beliefs, like, say,that the Loch Ness Monster is real.
Sadly, this is just one of 30 pages of head-in-the-sand, pretend-the-Enlightenment-never-happened thinking from the state's dominating party. Other gems include:
– Abstinence-only sex ed (yeah, because that's worked so well so far.)
– Trying juveniles as adults
– Faith-based drug rehab should be emphasized (Scientology front operation NarcAnon should be rubbing its hands at that one)
– Oppose the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Yeah! Who's the UN to tell us we should ban child slavery?)
– Flat rate income tax (go Team 1%!)
– Repealing the minimum wage (suck it, wage slaves!)
– Opposing homosexuality in the military (don't ask, don't tell, and don't do that!)
– Opposition to red light cameras (because if you run a red, kill someone, and there's no witnesses, was the light ever really red?)
– Oppose the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, because firms should be able to fire people for what they consider "sinful and sexually immoral behavior." Like, say, growing a beard?
– Continued opposition to ACORN (even though it has not existed since 2010)
– Opposing statehood or even Congressional voting rights for the citizens of the District of Columbia (who writes this crap, Rand Paul?)
– And no-questions-asked support for Israel because, and this is another direct quote, "Our policy is based on God’s biblical promise to bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel and we further invite other nations and organizations to enjoy the benefits of that promise."
Yes, for every measure that everyone can agree on, like labeling GMOs, there's another entry or three from the crazy ideas discount bin.
So, next time some Tea Partier tells you the GOP is all about freedom and liberty, remind them that the GOP doesn't want people to learn how to think critically. Because people who can think critically might start looking at their platform.
One of our eagle-eyed readers emailed us to point out this unbelievable passage in the RPT 2012 platform, as adopted at their recent statewide conference.
"Knowledge-Based Education – We oppose the teaching of Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) (values clarification), critical thinking skills and similar programs that are simply a relabeling of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) (mastery learning) which focus on behavior modification and have the purpose of challenging the student’s fixed beliefs and undermining parental authority."
What this really means is that the GOP is doubling down on learn-by-rote fact recitation – of the kind spearheaded by the worst of the pro-testing advocates, and locally by IDEA Public Schools, which has committed to the anti-analytical direct learning model (aka "press button A, B or C.")
But what the hell is all that bunk about "undermining parental authority"? Could it be that the Texas GOP has shown its paternalistic streak a little too overtly? And, let's face facts, that's just policy-wonk speak for "honor thy father and mother." Yup, the Texas GOP is officially enshrining blind obedience into its doctrine of political domination. And be careful that you don't disturb a student's fixed beliefs, like, say,that the Loch Ness Monster is real.
Sadly, this is just one of 30 pages of head-in-the-sand, pretend-the-Enlightenment-never-happened thinking from the state's dominating party. Other gems include:
– Abstinence-only sex ed (yeah, because that's worked so well so far.)
– Trying juveniles as adults
– Faith-based drug rehab should be emphasized (Scientology front operation NarcAnon should be rubbing its hands at that one)
– Oppose the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Yeah! Who's the UN to tell us we should ban child slavery?)
– Flat rate income tax (go Team 1%!)
– Repealing the minimum wage (suck it, wage slaves!)
– Opposing homosexuality in the military (don't ask, don't tell, and don't do that!)
– Opposition to red light cameras (because if you run a red, kill someone, and there's no witnesses, was the light ever really red?)
– Oppose the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, because firms should be able to fire people for what they consider "sinful and sexually immoral behavior." Like, say, growing a beard?
– Continued opposition to ACORN (even though it has not existed since 2010)
– Opposing statehood or even Congressional voting rights for the citizens of the District of Columbia (who writes this crap, Rand Paul?)
– And no-questions-asked support for Israel because, and this is another direct quote, "Our policy is based on God’s biblical promise to bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel and we further invite other nations and organizations to enjoy the benefits of that promise."
Yes, for every measure that everyone can agree on, like labeling GMOs, there's another entry or three from the crazy ideas discount bin.
So, next time some Tea Partier tells you the GOP is all about freedom and liberty, remind them that the GOP doesn't want people to learn how to think critically. Because people who can think critically might start looking at their platform.
335clone
Living the dream
Help!I'maRock!
Mediocringly Derivative
And it's over for Gary Johnson. Goodbye 5%.
http://www.npr.org/2016/09/29/49589...leader-gary-johnson-has-another-aleppo-moment
http://www.npr.org/2016/09/29/49589...leader-gary-johnson-has-another-aleppo-moment
sunvalleylaw
Yep.
I, as I said, never read the other one. I, however, have been an LOTR and Hobbit geek since the mid 70's. Oh, and I was a bookish 11 year old.
GDSmithTX
Corporate cog
Dude gives stoners a bad name.
sunvalleylaw
Yep.
He did look stoned, or having been recently stoned, in the pic I saw with the headline this morning.
GDSmithTX
Corporate cog
That wasn't directed at you; it's been my stock throwdown quote for years whenever someone mentions Ayn Rand.
sunvalleylaw
Yep.
Hah! I didn't take it as such. Just responding to it. And, I was 11 when I started in with the Hobbits and Orcs.
smurfco
Meatus McPrepuce
jp_nyc
Kick Henry Jackassowski
This is why we need a lower threshold for third party candidates in the debates. Let Johnson and Stein nuke their parties back to the stone age of irrelevance.
Help!I'maRock!
Mediocringly Derivative
They seem to be doing just fine in that regard as-is.
Chicken Man
Kick Henry Jackassowski
"Not ready for prime time" is the phrase that comes to mind, and it's hardly his fault. He was planning to do another vanity run, travel off of other people's donations, and get high in his tour bus. Then trump comes along, and people looking for an alternative take him seriously for a minute.
mongooz
.
Beyer160
Vagabond Of The Western World
There's a very active libertarian party in my area (three major universities, go figure)- pretty much every state and local office has a libertarian candidate on the ballot. They're still a small party though, so a lot of the candidates are basically whoever they can convince to file the paperwork and run.
Thus Gary Johnson.
GDSmithTX
Corporate cog
GDSmithTX
Corporate cog
Q: How can you determine if someone you meet is a libertarian?
A: Don't worry, you won't have to. They'll absolutely tell you.
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