As we continue to spend billions every week in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, states continue to cut basic programs for lack of funding. The latest is Illinois, which just cut all funding for drug and alcohol abuse treatment in the state and Michigan which has ordered Detroit to close half of its schools (driving class size to 60 students). What is striking is the lack of any connection drawn between these states which are short hundreds of millions of dollars in their budgets and the expenditures of billions each week in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Our leaders, including President Obama, continue to refuse to end these wars while watching our cities and states continue to close or sell off basic services and lands. There is a remarkable disconnect in the coverages of these stories. In oil-rich Iraq, we continue to spend billions of U.S. dollars to prop up the government. In Afghanistan, we have a president who repeatedly refers to us as the enemy and sympathizes with the Taliban. We have a government that is seeking to tax us for fighting their war and a populace that repeatedly states in polls that they oppose our presence. Yet, Obama has kept us in this war for over two years at the cost of lives and treasure.
It defies logic that we continue to deny our children basic education and our citizens basic services to support these wars. The reason is simply a lack of courage among our leaders. Many would rather have our soldiers killed and our states close programs then take personal responsibility in calling an end to our financing of these wars.
Source: Daily Mail
Jonathan Turley
Geez … now what was it Eisenhower said?
Buckeye
1, February 22, 2011 at 10:10 pm
On the link you gave, there is another youtube video of protesters at Columbus OH locked out of the state house. I think I saw Blouise!
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Magic!
Great links eniobob. Privatizing would be disaster for our children.
Jill
On the link you gave, there is another youtube video of protesters at Columbus OH locked out of the state house. I think I saw Blouise!
eniobob
eniobob
1, December 20, 2010 at 12:08 pm
“Removal on the basis of a particular ruling would be a monstrous abuse of impeachment power and an attack on the very foundations of an independent judiciary.”
Today whats up is down and whats down is up.Things seemed to spinning out of control,with no stopper(we the people)in sight.
http://jonathanturley.org/2010/12/20/iowa-legislators-to-seek-impeachment-of-iowa-justices-who-voted-for-same-sex-marriage/
To fund treatments for legal products since a bit hypocritical.
Mike Appleton: “The problem on the horizon, however, is that major cuts in school funding will be used as an impetus to further shift the focus from the public school system to charter schools, which have largely proven to be money-making scams.”
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You’re right about that, California is going to find itself in a world of hurt over a law called “Parent Trigger” that mandates a public school be converted to a private industry charter school based on a majority number of school parents names on a petition. I saw the interview in the linked article when it took place and it was pretty obvious that the parent on the show had no idea what the mechanics of the situation was or meant for the future.
I won’t second guess her that she is justifiably unhappy with the status quo and that something needs to be done. It is though reprehensible that the state legislators are essentially pimping out these parents and children to make money for private industry.
That the advocate for the Parent Trigger law stands to make a fortune from the movement (something not explored in the interview but I guessed as much) should have been revealed in no uncertain terms. That the business does not appear to be minority but the failing school in question probably is tells me a lot.
http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/parent-trigger
Mike A:
You have been on time twice today with this thread and the Arizona thread.
eniobob:
Thanks for the link. This is why Republicans would like to abolish the Department of Education. It’s all part of the move to privatize all education.
Mike A:
Newark school plan would clear space for charters, shift scores of students
Published: Tuesday, February 22, 2011, 6:40 AM Updated: Tuesday, February 22, 2011, 9:49 AM
Kelly Heyboer/ The Star-Ledger By Kelly Heyboer/ The Star-Ledger
Follow
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/02/newark_officials_presenting_ma.html
“The problem on the horizon, however, is that major cuts in school funding will be used as an impetus to further shift the focus from the public school system to charter schools, which have largely proven to be money-making scams.”
Good vid Jill, thanks.
If the revolution spreads to Saudi Arabia, it will go to 5 bucks temporarily.
Bdaman 1, February 22, 2011 at 12:36 pm
Gas up over $3
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it’s been over $3 in my area of Fl for quite awhile now….
S.M.,
I don’t think you looked at the video. Please give it a chance. It’s about how the past and the present are connected. It’s not what you think it is.
Jill, The democratic leaders are speaking out now. Have been receiving many emails including one from the DSCC today. The video was produced on the 17th.