http://www.iflscience.com/editors-b (http://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/betsy-devos-picked-as-presidentelect-donald-trumps-education-secretary/)log/betsy-devos-picked-as-presidentelect-donald-trumps-education-secretary/
Is it still too early to say that Trump does not represent me? Is it still only in the realm of crybaby snowflakes to think appointing a creationist who believes, "...all scientific theories be subject to Scripture and the confessions...†or, "Humanity is created in the image of God; all theorizing that minimizes this fact and all theories of evolution that deny the creative activity of God are rejected.†is a terrible thing for our nation?
But remember, we cant judge Trump yet because he hasn't be president. Maybe she will be wonderful bringing us up the international science education rankings.
(https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15109622_1321057444653973_6309095886244369723_n.jpg?oh=16f8fb1bcfe4bbd648d4440e74704165&oe=58AF6C64)
If Hillary had won, we'd be taking about maternity leave and minimum wage, but now we're facing shit like the end of any and all public institutions. Fuck Trump, and fuck anyone who enabled him.
Enabler = anyone not part of the revolutionary cadre? Progress isn't real, only apparent. So are Progressives. Obama used the State like the E German Stasi. Obama appointed Penny Prtizker ... his money bags from Chicago ...
https://www.commerce.gov/directory/pennypritzker
D-plutocrat good, R-plutocrat bad
Mind you, I would appoint totally different people than Obama or Trump, but then they aren't Wile E Coyote, Genius.
Besides, per Feminism, if you are a woman, you are part of the Master Race.
So when Obama leaves the WH, you can have Trump playing the megalomaniac Lincoln, instead ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qjtugr2618
If not for Lincoln's humility (which Obama doesn't have) we would be on a perpetual war footing since 1865, a perpetual dictatorship as we are now from 9/11. Only two Presidents have rescinded Habeus Corpus ... Lincoln and Bush Jr. We don't know how Lincoln would have handled Reconstruction. But Obama hasn't put Habeus Corpus back in place, he has his kill list. He has his drones flying over every country, including the US. That is a tyranny. The Ds like their tyrant ... let us see how they like an R tyrant ... since they so unwisely left Bush Jr rules in place. The Ds like killing people, as long as they are the ones to put the names of the damned on the damn list.
Quote from: Baruch on November 26, 2016, 07:57:37 AM
Enabler = anyone not part of the revolutionary cadre? Progress isn't real, only apparent. So are Progressives. Obama used the State like the E German Stasi. Obama appointed Penny Prtizker ... his money bags from Chicago ...
https://www.commerce.gov/directory/pennypritzker
D-plutocrat good, R-plutocrat bad
Mind you, I would appoint totally different people than Obama or Trump, but then they aren't Wile E Coyote, Genius.
Besides, per Feminism, if you are a woman, you are part of the Master Race.
So when Obama leaves the WH, you can have Trump playing the megalomaniac Lincoln, instead ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qjtugr2618
If not for Lincoln's humility (which Obama doesn't have) we would be on a perpetual war footing since 1865, a perpetual dictatorship as we are now from 9/11. Only two Presidents have rescinded Habeus Corpus ... Lincoln and Bush Jr. We don't know how Lincoln would have handled Reconstruction. But Obama hasn't put Habeus Corpus back in place, he has his kill list. He has his drones flying over every country, including the US. That is a tyranny. The Ds like their tyrant ... let us see how they like an R tyrant ... since they so unwisely left Bush Jr rules in place. The Ds like killing people, as long as they are the ones to put the names of the damned on the damn list.
Bush didn't rescind Habeus Corpus, did he? He just wanted to operate outside it's writ. Roosevelt did during WWII. Grant did also. But that shouldn't be a partisan issue in the first place.
Suspending Habeus Corpus isn't partisan, it is treason. GB is doing the same thing with their data gathering. I love Lincoln, but he was a traitor a few times (but this was small compared to the South, he was dealing with Copperheads (Northerners who supported the South)). FDR did a few restrictions, as did Grant ... in wartime. Of course now that we have perpetual war ... yes the Patriot Act suspended Habeus Corpus. It shouldn't ever be suspended, and if suspended only during war time, only as needed not as a general rule for tyrannical purpose, and not in the context of perpetual war (as per the bi-partisan neocons and neo-libs). So yes, it isn't a partisan issue, but that is a bad thing, not a good thing. Both R and D are ... beyond the rule of law. The first thing to be suspended in war, is the rule of law (hence Interpol wasn't sent to pick up Osama). But that is why perpetual war is so good for elite scoff-laws and war profiteers like Cheney ... they never have to obey the law ... as if writing the laws to legalize their criminality wasn't sufficient already.
Betsy DeVos, the would-be destroyer of the public school system that made this country the wonder of the world...
When a good system has a problem, you fix it, you don't destroy it.
The solution to bad teachers is to hire better ones and good wages.
The solution to bad principals is to hire good managers into the job, with teaching experience, and pay them.
The solution to the desire for charter schools is to improve the public ones.
Unfortunately we live in the age of Destructive Capitalism. In Destructive Capitalism, you don't improve a business, you destroy it and pick the bones (Bain Capital). People have decided that marginal change is a failure, only total replacement will work. Thus democracy is discarded (it involves compromise) and revolution is embraced (self-righteousness and self-dealing).
Quote from: Baruch on November 28, 2016, 07:02:04 AM
Unfortunately we live in the age of Destructive Capitalism. In Destructive Capitalism, you don't improve a business, you destroy it and pick the bones (Bain Capital). People have decided that marginal change is a failure, only total replacement will work. Thus democracy is discarded (it involves compromise) and revolution is embraced (self-righteousness and self-dealing).
And it all comes down to greed. How much is enough?
A creationist as Education Secretary? Well, here we go...Adam and Eve in school. Turning back the clock of progress by 50 years.
This is going to backfire big time. Teaching ignorance in schools must be the most counterproductive experience for generations to come. Billions of tax payer's money will be allocated for religious schools and the curriculum will be changed. The US is far behind in education compared to Europe or China and other Asian countries already. 14th in the world in general education. According to the Program for International Student Assessment, the average reading literacy score for U.S. fifteen-year old students is 498 (out of 1000 possible points). That is enough to make the United States rank twenty-fourth out of sixty-five educational systems ranked in that category. Shangai, China, ranked first, with a score of 570. The comparison is even worse when it comes to math, history and geography. How can a country be competitive when it's children are stupefied in school?
Trump voters believe that Europeans (including Canadians) are commie, pinko etc. No need to do anything they do, it is self-subversive, education is ;-)
The only think Hillary could have taught the kids, is how to become a millionaire thru graft ;-( It is all she actually knows.
As far as Creationism goes, if it is good enough for Kansas (see What Is Wrong With Kansas), it is good enough for the whole country ;-))
Kansas? Lol
It's not creationism anymore. Intelligent design is coming to public schools near you. Sounds a lot more 'scientific'.
Watch the money siphoned towards religious institutions in the next four years, the Supreme Court being changed one by one (Scalia gone, Ruth next, maybe more) and the country going backwards for decades to come.
http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/betsy-devos-trumps-big-donor-education-secretary
We are a backward people. Ever hear of Iron John or Promise Keepers. But better to be a hardy Morlock than a tasty Eloi.
Quote from: Baruch on November 28, 2016, 06:10:39 PM
We are a backward people. Ever hear of Iron John or Promise Keepers. But better to be a hardy Morlock than a tasty Eloi.
I got the book many years ago, being recommended by a men's group I joined after my divorce. For me it's not a battle of the sexes (after all we need each other for reproduction if nothing else) but a battle of survival of our species. Bly doesn't address this issue at all. He just walks a thin line between masculinity and chauvinism.
To stay with the subject of the thread, It is repulsive that money can buy govt. positions without regard of qualification.
Quote from: reasonist on November 29, 2016, 04:10:26 PM
To stay with the subject of the thread, It is repulsive that money can buy govt. positions without regard of qualification.
Sadly many people voted for Trump with the mistaken belief that as an outsider he would stop cronyism and corruption.
Donald Trump offering huge perks for inauguration donors- President-elect offering access, luxury in exchange for big moneyhttps://www.publicintegrity.org/2016/11/29/20486/donald-trump-offering-huge-perks-inauguration-donors
Donald Trump’s inaugural committee is offering huge perks â€" prime tickets, luxurious lodging, access to the president-elect himself â€" in exchange for six- and seven-figure contributions from individual and corporate contributors.
Donors in the “$1,000,000+†category will receive four tickets to a “leadership luncheon†billed as an “exclusive inaugural event†for donors in that category and featuring “select Cabinet appointees and House and Senate leadership to honor our most generous inaugural supporters,†according to a brochure obtained by the Center for Public Integrity.
They’ll also get four tickets to a dinner with Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen, and eight tickets to a “ladies luncheon†billed as “an opportunity to meet the ladies of the first families.†In addition, they’ll receive tickets to a series of other dinners and receptions featuring Trump, Pence and other officials, and eight “premier access†tickets to a black-tie inaugural ball attended by the president, vice president and their wives.
The donor packages offer tickets to Trump’s swearing-in ceremony, although the packages include an odd caveat noting that “this congressional ceremony is not part of our official package; however, Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) will have access to tickets.â€
The Center for Public Integrity confirmed the brochure’s authenticity with three sources familiar with the donor packages. Spokespeople for Trump, as well as Tom Barrack, the chairman of Trump’s inaugural committee, as well as other members of the committee, could not immediately be reached for comment.
Instead of draining the swamp, he is filling it even more with nepotism. I am still in disbelief that so many people got fooled by this con artist.
Quote from: reasonist on November 29, 2016, 04:10:26 PM
I got the book many years ago, being recommended by a men's group I joined after my divorce. For me it's not a battle of the sexes (after all we need each other for reproduction if nothing else) but a battle of survival of our species. Bly doesn't address this issue at all. He just walks a thin line between masculinity and chauvinism.
To stay with the subject of the thread, It is repulsive that money can buy govt. positions without regard of qualification.
With aristocracy, you don't even need money, just the right momma or poppa ;-)
Quote from: reasonist on November 29, 2016, 07:49:38 PM
Instead of draining the swamp, he is filling it even more with nepotism. I am still in disbelief that so many people got fooled by this con artist.
Pericles was a con artist ... want to make something of it, you Spartan punk! ;-)
Quote from: GSOgymrat on November 29, 2016, 06:23:52 PM
Sadly many people voted for Trump with the mistaken belief that as an outsider he would stop cronyism and corruption.
...
Yeah, Hillary is such an outsider! And I really was fooled by Obama, I though he was an outsider too ... for real. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice ... call me a voter.
Quote from: Baruch on November 29, 2016, 08:04:12 PM
Pericles was a con artist ... want to make something of it, you Spartan punk! ;-)
So many political con artists throughout history... they all operate with the same playbook by appealing to basic human emotions like fear, hatred, anger and paranoia. The frustrating part is that we haven't learned how to spot and avoid these shysters.
Quote from: reasonist on November 29, 2016, 09:52:45 PM
So many political con artists throughout history... they all operate with the same playbook by appealing to basic human emotions like fear, hatred, anger and paranoia. The frustrating part is that we haven't learned how to spot and avoid these shysters.
A new generation of "babes in the woods" are born every year. Just ask the Catholic priests? Just about the time you figure things out, you are in the nursing home having Bob give you a sponge bath. Children never listen to their parents, they just reinvent the wheel over and over.
Wow, Chump's draining the Swamp - eww, quick, fill it up again!!!
(http://m.memegen.com/7omqmn.jpg)
Quote from: reasonist on November 29, 2016, 07:49:38 PM
Instead of draining the swamp, he is filling it even more with nepotism. I am still in disbelief that so many people got fooled by this con artist.
I'm not in disbelief that they got fooled. I am in disbelief that they continue to insist he is the greatest president ever.
Quote from: Nonsensei on December 01, 2016, 12:27:42 AM
I'm not in disbelief that they got fooled. I am in disbelief that they continue to insist he is the greatest president ever.
Well the Nobel committee can help ... give Donald a peace prize and a physics prize before he does anything ... take that Obama!
Trump's appointments are increasingly odd and opposite of what he promised in his campaign. He is going to have a hard time as President. And so will we all.
Hell, Chump's just having fun - it's the rest of us who'll suffer.
Quote from: Unbeliever on December 02, 2016, 05:30:49 PM
Hell, Chump's just having fun - it's the rest of us who'll suffer.
Trump is creating a chaotic government and he feels comfortable in chaos. It is his skill set. I suspect what he wants to see is people who hate particular agencies running them so that HE came come in and rescue some parts and let his appointees take all the heat. That way he looks wonderful and he can fire the bad guys and gals (gaining him reality cred).
Quote from: Cavebear on December 09, 2016, 06:10:56 AM
Trump is creating a chaotic government and he feels comfortable in chaos. It is his skill set. I suspect what he wants to see is people who hate particular agencies running them so that HE came come in and rescue some parts and let his appointees take all the heat. That way he looks wonderful and he can fire the bad guys and gals (gaining him reality cred).
Defenestrating the upper 10% of the non-elected bureaucracy ... might not be a bad idea.
The non-elected top 10% of government is not the people who keep things working in spite of all the criticism they get. I was one of the 90% who worked hard every day to save money and make things work.
Quote from: Cavebear on December 22, 2016, 12:29:32 AM
The non-elected top 10% of government is not the people who keep things working in spite of all the criticism they get. I was one of the 90% who worked hard every day to save money and make things work.
I still work with the DoD ... and 90% are the workers (and our department potentially gets shot at when deployed). People who don't like government, or who don't like people, aren't going to be sympathetic to the average government worker. The executive leadership on the other hand ... are mostly failures at everything they touch, in the private and public sectors. The 90% are always used to bail out the failures of the 10%. You and I need to get bailing, the ship is taking on water!
Drain the Swamp ... what is that? It is clear it doesn't mean a Republican is going to fire all the Republicans. Why would that ever happen? It means a Republican is going to fire all the Democrats. This is a stupid meme, and I am sure that before the election, Republicans knew what it really meant, even if Democrats didn't, and still don't.
Quote from: Baruch on December 22, 2016, 06:57:51 AM
I still work with the DoD ... and 90% are the workers (and our department potentially gets shot at when deployed). People who don't like government, or who don't like people, aren't going to be sympathetic to the average government worker. The executive leadership on the other hand ... are mostly failures at everything they touch, in the private and public sectors. The 90% are always used to bail out the failures of the 10%. You and I need to get bailing, the ship is taking on water!
Drain the Swamp ... what is that? It is clear it doesn't mean a Republican is going to fire all the Republicans. Why would that ever happen? It means a Republican is going to fire all the Democrats. This is a stupid meme, and I am sure that before the election, Republicans knew what it really meant, even if Democrats didn't, and still don't.
When the idea of "fixing" the government means actively destroying the agencies dedicated to working on those problems, that is not "a good thing". Trump is deliberately placing people in charge of agencies whose primary desire is to eliminate those agencies. This is NOT "governance". This IS anarchy.
Exactly ... anarchy Capitalism or destruction Capitalism is all the rage for several decades now. Now they are bringing it to governance. OK, people who oppose department X ... they can legislate it out of existence, simply refuse to enforce the law/regulations pertaining to it, defund the hell out of it, or provide destructive leadership. R-party will use all of the above. If the R-party got what they wanted ... almost all Federal agencies would be eliminated outright. That is what they do. Do you criticize the ecological purpose of bugs and mold ... they help the corpses of Democrats decay into useful humus. On the other hand, the living animals and plants ... live, while they still can, eventually providing employment for the bugs and mold.
that means devos will eventually be billion dollar bug meat.
That doesnt help any of us. Looks more like the rules are for regular folk. Rules dont apply to rich people like DonRump. They get to make the rules.
I guess Devros can redeem herself if she manages to teach people how dumb they were to pick Donald. All these illegal immigrants planning to go home cause they are afraid of Trump. save a seat on the bus for the rest of us
Charter schools suck. They're prone to closing in the middle of a school year, with no notice to students or teachers. They don't deliver. They're given federal funds but not required to follow federal law or regulation. Public schools have their hands tied by regulations and overreach. Practically begging for pennies. And their sole function is to create an educated population. The sole function of a charter school? Make money for its investors.
I really hope they refuse to approve her. But they will.
Quote from: reasonist on November 29, 2016, 07:49:38 PM
Instead of draining the swamp, he is filling it even more with nepotism. I am still in disbelief that so many people got fooled by this con artist.
I am not in disbelief---yet. I'm in shock. I'll feel better when I get to disbelief. I knew our country was filled with SFA's (stupid fucking americans), but I did not realize just how full.
Favoritism and cronyism for Republicans ... nepotism is big for Democrats.
If that was true, I'd have a big job now...
Quote from: Cavebear on January 01, 2017, 01:41:40 AM
If that was true, I'd have a big job now...
You are a college buddy of the First Lady? You coded the Obamacare web site?
Quote from: Baruch on January 01, 2017, 03:33:40 AM
You are a college buddy of the First Lady? You coded the Obamacare web site?
No, since I have no big Government job, that is proof your claim is wrong. ;)
Is this really American Democracy? Can you just buy yourself a position of power?
Quote from: Jason78 on January 01, 2017, 02:40:07 PM
Is this really American Democracy? Can you just buy yourself a position of power?
It is a little more complicated, than going down to Walmart, picking a political position off the shelf, and swiping your credit card at the checkout ;-)
Politicians have always been for sale. Pericles was charged with corruption (malfeasance). Like most job searching ... it is networking networking networking. The resume/CV is important but secondary.
unfortunately yes you can buy a politician. If the politician is above taking your bribe all you gotta do is threaten to put a lot of money into a superpac of a competing candidate. wall st dangles some chump change in front of a representative (which is probably more money than a representative knows what yo do with) and they suddenly turn into yes-men
Quote from: fencerider on January 03, 2017, 02:24:00 AM
unfortunately yes you can buy a politician. If the politician is above taking your bribe all you gotta do is threaten to put a lot of money into a superpac of a competing candidate. wall st dangles some chump change in front of a representative (which is probably more money than a representative knows what yo do with) and they suddenly turn into yes-men
Ah, but politicians don't stay bought ;-)
Quote from: Jason78 on January 01, 2017, 02:40:07 PM
Is this really American Democracy? Can you just buy yourself a position of power?
If you are a Republican, or can pretend to be one, and have enough money, YOU TOO can be SOMEONE IMPORTANT! Its the Trumpian universe and all are welcome to participate in the glories and gains hereby!
Stay at his hotels, play on his golf courses, give money to his children and you will do well cronies...
The age of Robber Barons has RETURNED!
Devos was just confirmed by the senate by a 51-50 vote with Pence casting the deciding vote.
You think public schools are bad now just wait until this completely unqualified (except for her political donations) bitch gets done with them.
we are so fucked. I'm glad my kids are almost adults and already had their education. If they were younger They would miss out on the truth.
Confirmed?! WTF. I've never seen someone more unqualified for the position yet they get the position anyway. This seems to be the recurring theme of the Trump administration
https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/politics/5-head-scratching-moments-from-betsey-devoss-confirmation-hearing/2017/01/18/0df60b18-dd5e-11e6-8902-610fe486791c_video.html
What a horrible candidate and horrible judgement by whatever idiot recommended her. That person might not have the wherewithal to regret the decision, but I guarantee you America will. I can't wait to watch my tax money rerouted from public schools to creationist "schools".
Seems like the rich are not only insulated to the experience of the poor, but basic facts as well.
Confirmation vote details (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/02/07/us/politics/betsy-devos-confirmation-vote.html). Almost entirely along party lines. Two Republicans voted no, but it wasn't enough to swing it.
Both NC senators voted for DeVos. If either of these imbeciles had lost their seat in earlier elections, the outcome of this vote would have been different. Woulda. Coulda. Shoulda.
I love that Pence was forced to cast the tiebreaker. Because now, when the world begins collapsing around them, Pence can not claim to be the adult in the room and ready to take over, and not a part of the freak show. He is now complicit far beyond merely giving the imprimatur of his presence as a Real Experienced Politician.
Don't like DeVos. Another unqualified nominee like this one ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Pritzker
She funded Obama's whole career ... Chicago deep pockets.
The Democrats did get one kill ... the Army Secretary withdrew his nomination. Whee! Do Donkey Kong!
While she wouldn't have been my first pick, Pritzker's qualifications for Secretary of Commerce are head and shoulders above those of Devos for Secretary of Education.
You are right about DeVos ... but I think easily impressed by Pritzker ... she is an older Chelsea Clinton.
what kind of craziness is she going to teach? .... maybe if you don't hate muslims or if you're an atheist, then you are an unpatriotic American? will she teach that the wall is holding back the forces of evil like a dyke holds back the ocean?
Quote from: fencerider on February 08, 2017, 01:49:43 AM
what kind of craziness is she going to teach? .... maybe if you don't hate muslims or if you're an atheist, then you are an unpatriotic American? will she teach that the wall is holding back the forces of evil like a dyke holds back the ocean?
Works for the Dutch, but I don't think it kept out the bull dykes ;-)
Quote from: Baruch on February 07, 2017, 10:12:24 PM
You are right about DeVos ... but I think easily impressed by Pritzker ... she is an older Chelsea Clinton.
I'm not impressed by Pritzker, but she does at least have some experience in commerce related management. Devos' experience in public education management?
...
...
...
Crickets
Quote from: PopeyesPappy on February 08, 2017, 06:55:03 AM
I'm not impressed by Pritzker, but she does at least have some experience in commerce related management. Devos' experience in public education management?
...
...
...
Crickets
That is how every President hands out ambassadorships ... do you look good in a good suit or a formal dress.
Quote from: Hydra009 on February 07, 2017, 02:09:02 PM
What a horrible candidate and horrible judgement by whatever idiot recommended her. That person might not have the wherewithal to regret the decision, but I guarantee you America will. I can't wait to watch my tax money rerouted from public schools to creationist "schools".
They have an agenda, and by that metric they aren't idiots - just very power-hungry.
Quote from: Baruch on February 07, 2017, 06:49:43 PM
The Democrats did get one kill ... the Army Secretary withdrew his nomination. Whee! Do Donkey Kong!
The Dems didn't do that, though, he backed out because his money interests were just too complicated. They tend to get that way when you have an obscene amount of the stuff.
Quote from: Unbeliever on February 08, 2017, 07:28:43 PM
The Dems didn't do that, though, he backed out because his money interests were just too complicated. They tend to get that way when you have an obscene amount of the stuff.
Yes, if you look at the details Democrat strength is actually at -10 not even +1.
(http://i.imgur.com/XSNj6od.png)
Quote from: doorknob on February 07, 2017, 01:48:01 PM
we are so fucked. I'm glad my kids are almost adults and already had their education. If they were younger They would miss out on the truth.
We are leaving what will, someday, be known as the Age of Facts. It will take a serious change before that Age returns.
I heard some older person mention in an interview saying that in his day, facts were rare and precious and therefore respected. I'm old enough to relate to that. I grew up with encyclopedias, not Twitter.