A View of Ineffective Education

Young Children Paying Homage to Obama

Please watch this video; the strange aspects occur mainly a little way through the video, so be patient. It is very irritating that elementary teachers are engaging in such conduct. The teacher is essentially brainwashing the children. Most of them probably don't even know what they're talking/singing about. I don't feel I can write too much on this video; it speaks for itself. At first glance, I was shocked. It seemed ALMOST cult-ish. Glenn Beck said all they need now is a statue of Obama to worship during class. The concept of children liking Obama doesn't bother me, but a teacher imposing her views on her students does bother me greatly. Just remember that tax dollars pay her salary. STOP TELLING STUDENTS WHAT TO BELIEVE. THEY MUST HAVE TRUST IN THEIR OWN VIEWS! This all speaks for itself.
Thank you for viewing and reading.
Joe

Respect our Country

This soap box installment is going to be on more of a local level. Last week, the West side Iowa City football team was up against the East side Iowa City football team, competing in the "Battle of the Boot." This rivalry has always been of interest, and Iowa City West High School tends to be on the losing end. The sports aspect is not what I will write about, however. The following week, the principal came over the intercom expressing his disgust with the etiquette of the West High student section during the playing of our national anthem. Students are not taking their hats off, they are not putting the cell phones away, and they are not being quiet and respecting this great country we live in. This is not something that should go unnoticed. Not only is it portraying this school as a bunch of rowdy thugs, but it is disrespecting the veterans standing on the field, holding the flag, who have put their lives on the line so these students can have a world class education. I have come to realize that many of today's youth do not fully appreciate what this country stands for and what war really is, or was. I will not go preaching what I believe our Constitution says, or our Declaration of Independence. What I will say is that many men and women in uniform have given their lives to preserve these sacred documents. Also, many children and adults don't realize the hardships of our former veterans; not just of the World Wars and Vietnam, Korea, and the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, but the Civil War, and the Revolutionary War. It is hard to fathom these days, fighting face to face with enemies, not using computerized missiles from countries away. I am not trying to diminish the duties of our soldiers today, but one must remember how determined people were during the early years of America, to fight and likely die for this country. These soldiers were killing enemies with bayonets; looking their enemy right in the eye as they killed them. The emotional pain must have been immense. Yet people still did it for the love of this country. So please, if you're at any sort of event: take your hat off, stand up, put phones away, and pay respect to this great country that has given you so much.
Thank you for reading.
Joe

Health Care in Despair

Today, I'm going to share my views on Obamacare/Universal Health Care. This debate has been going on for eternity, and in my view, this is a tough choice. On one side, I would like to see more people in this country getting access to our world class health care system. I know that there are people out there who don't have health insurance because they actually CAN'T afford it. If the government would only insure these people, we would save a lot of money. However, there are also people out there who don't have it but CAN afford it. On the other hand, I have a realization that regardless of what Obama or Congress says, we will go further into debt or we will see taxes increase; maybe not immediately, but down the road when my kids are the ones paying taxes. They say in order to fund this program, they will cut other government programs, but I don't see how they can make the $1 Trillion plus cuts without raising taxes on the people who pay the most in taxes, or borrowing more money from a foreign country. An interesting note on taxes; the top 25% earners pay 86% of taxes, and the top 50% earners pay 97% of the taxes. I know that our country needs medical reform. Malpractice lawsuits have become frivolous, and having a practitioner for a mother, I know how costly insurance is for our nation's doctors. Also, we need to make our current health care system more efficient, without rationing. Insurance companies are also in need of fixing. I love the private sector and I'm a capitalist, but insurance companies should lower prices so insurance is more affordable. This way, competition would spark, benefiting the American citizens as a whole. I can see the argument for a mandate on insurance. It would reduce ER visit abuse among other things. However, in my opinion, no government should force citizens to do anything. I like cars, so I'll relate this problem to car insurance. My dad's uncle was recently in an automobile accident. A woman ran a red light at 45mph that had been red for a good while now. She ran right into the passenger side of his car, spinning him around multiple times. She totaled his car. He is an eighty-four year old man, and thanks to God's grace, he is only a little scuffed up. However, she did not have car insurance. She has four kids, without insurance. It seems quite foolish. If you can afford a car, you can afford insurance. Now, my great-uncle may have to pursue this legally after he has spent over $6,000 on a replacement vehicle out of pocket. If you can afford health insurance, buy it! Lastly, I am worried about rationing. I tell myself that it won't happen, but it is in the back of my mind at all times. I have an eighty-eight year old grandmother with heart problems. If she wants a treatment done and her doctor believes it is safe, she should be allowed that treatment; no questions. I have many other older relatives who are on Medicare, and Medicare has been great to them. Medicare needs reform as well. There is a lot of waste in annual Medicare spending, and that must be corrected. That won't account for the trillions that this "overhaul" will cost. One final note for you to think about: If Obamacare is so great, why is Congress exempt? I think Obama is a great person, and has potential to be a great president and is very inteligent. He was victim of the times, along with the last president increasing government's size exponentially with bailouts and failed stimulus packages, but he needs to get us out of a recession before we go overhauling any health care system.
Thank you for reading.
Joe