NIMBY: Not in my back yard. For decades, this has been the mantra of those who have successfully sought to prevent drilling for oil off the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts. Well, that’s just changed. Democrat leadership in both the House and Senate dropped their support for keeping a moratorium on Atlantic and Pacific coastal drilling in effect. The next president, whoever he is, needs to make sure it stays that way.
It’s about time. For too long, we have relied on oil from unstable nations in the Middle East such as Saudi Arabia, Venezuela to our south, and Russia, not only to keep us supplied, but to keep all the potentially nasty problems of oil production far away from us, elsewhere in the world. We nervously watch oil prices shoot up every time that a potentially major hurricane threatens to temporarily halt drilling in the western Gulf of Mexico and to shut down refineries along the Texas coastline and bordering states.
The Canadian government has already announced that it will begin exploring for oil on the continental shelf of the Grand Banks. We could do the same on our section of the Grand Banks, in the Gulf of Maine, and off the New Jersey coast. But oh no: NIMBY.
Too many vain and unrealistic politicians want the oil spigots to remain wide open, but don’t want oil rigs nearby. I say baloney to that. We either stop using as much oil as we do (it won’t happen voluntarily) or we go where the oil is – and, that’s in our own back yard right here in America.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Bridgewater-Raritan’s Everyday Math Program
What is the answer to seven times seven? Quickly! You may know the correct result, but does your elementary school child enrolled in the Bridgewater-Raritan school district know? That, in a nutshell, is the educational controversy which is now swirling about in this school district.
Two weeks ago today, I attended a work session of the B-R Board of Education at which there was a special presentation and discussion of Everyday Math. The basis for the Board’s lengthy discussion was a quarter-inch thick report on double-sided paper. The report summarized the completed work of a 9-member Everyday Math (EDM) Committee, all educators except two parents from the B-R School District.
Outcome: A written response by Superindent Michael Schilder which, among other points, recommends that he “. . . direct a sub-committee of the Five-Year K4 Mathematics Program Evaluation Committee to review mathematics programs other than Everyday Math for consideration of adoption.”
The preceding quote is a mouthful, but it simply means that another committee (no parents this time) will be charged with reviewing EDM and other Math programs further. By February, 2009, the new committee is to come up with potential alternatives that may replace EDM – note the conditionality and ambiguity of this sentence.
The ensuing discussion among board members, the superintendent and his assistant superintendent, Cheryl Dyer was lively and controversial. There is no unanimity of agreement on the status of EDM between the B-R BOE and the administration.
My concern is that the September 9, 2008, meeting of the B-R BOE was a work session. No formal board action can legally take place at such a meeting unless it is specifically placed on the agenda and identified as an item on which “action may be taken.” That means a formal resolution, published on an agenda, in advance under the Open Public Meetings act, presented to the board, discussed by board members, and opened to the public for comment before the board votes on it.
No such item appeared on the agenda of the September 9th meeting with respect to action to be taken on EDM. The agenda item listed was to be for discussion only. The significance of this is that the sub-committee referred to in Dr. Schilder’s recommendation may already be a done deal, without formal board action having been taken.
At the end of the Tuesday, September 9th meeting, the B-R BOE did not fully concur with Dr. Schilder’s sub-committee proposal. There was very strong opposition to the formation of such a committee by at least several members of the board. Even more seemed to be opposed to the EDM program, but wished to let the sub-committee go forward. Very confusing! That’s why the B-R BOE needs to place this item on its agenda for a regular board meeting and schedule it for an up or down vote as to whether or not to proceed with the Superintendent’s recommendation for another committee.
This clearly is a policy matter, one of the few issues for which a board of education has direct oversight responsibilities. Additionally, preparation of a board agenda is one of the other few items over which a school board president – Cynthia Cullen in this case – has direct accountability.
If this is not done, the sub-committee will be formed, move ahead with its work and will issue a report in mid-February, 2009, just in time to start up another April school election controversy!
Two weeks ago today, I attended a work session of the B-R Board of Education at which there was a special presentation and discussion of Everyday Math. The basis for the Board’s lengthy discussion was a quarter-inch thick report on double-sided paper. The report summarized the completed work of a 9-member Everyday Math (EDM) Committee, all educators except two parents from the B-R School District.
Outcome: A written response by Superindent Michael Schilder which, among other points, recommends that he “. . . direct a sub-committee of the Five-Year K4 Mathematics Program Evaluation Committee to review mathematics programs other than Everyday Math for consideration of adoption.”
The preceding quote is a mouthful, but it simply means that another committee (no parents this time) will be charged with reviewing EDM and other Math programs further. By February, 2009, the new committee is to come up with potential alternatives that may replace EDM – note the conditionality and ambiguity of this sentence.
The ensuing discussion among board members, the superintendent and his assistant superintendent, Cheryl Dyer was lively and controversial. There is no unanimity of agreement on the status of EDM between the B-R BOE and the administration.
My concern is that the September 9, 2008, meeting of the B-R BOE was a work session. No formal board action can legally take place at such a meeting unless it is specifically placed on the agenda and identified as an item on which “action may be taken.” That means a formal resolution, published on an agenda, in advance under the Open Public Meetings act, presented to the board, discussed by board members, and opened to the public for comment before the board votes on it.
No such item appeared on the agenda of the September 9th meeting with respect to action to be taken on EDM. The agenda item listed was to be for discussion only. The significance of this is that the sub-committee referred to in Dr. Schilder’s recommendation may already be a done deal, without formal board action having been taken.
At the end of the Tuesday, September 9th meeting, the B-R BOE did not fully concur with Dr. Schilder’s sub-committee proposal. There was very strong opposition to the formation of such a committee by at least several members of the board. Even more seemed to be opposed to the EDM program, but wished to let the sub-committee go forward. Very confusing! That’s why the B-R BOE needs to place this item on its agenda for a regular board meeting and schedule it for an up or down vote as to whether or not to proceed with the Superintendent’s recommendation for another committee.
This clearly is a policy matter, one of the few issues for which a board of education has direct oversight responsibilities. Additionally, preparation of a board agenda is one of the other few items over which a school board president – Cynthia Cullen in this case – has direct accountability.
If this is not done, the sub-committee will be formed, move ahead with its work and will issue a report in mid-February, 2009, just in time to start up another April school election controversy!
Friday, September 19, 2008
Finally, Action!
It’s hard to believe what Congress was about to do in the midst of the financial crisis engulfing the nation. A week from today, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives were scheduled to go home for three months without lifting a finger to stem the financial markets meltdown. They will not return until after January 1st, 2009.
That may not sound plausible, but just read this excerpt of what Congressman Barney Frank of Massachusetts, Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee had to say in a TV interview just two days ago when asked what Congress would do: “It is inconceivable to do anything before the election” . . . we need “to do this in a rational and measured way.” The Bay State representative went on to say, “It is conceivable that after the election, you could get some kind of consensus . . . it is by no means certain.”
That was on Wednesday. A day later the entire picture, as well as the attitude of this do-nothing Congress made a 180° turn.
We don’t know what words were used by Hank Paulson, Secretary of the Treasury, and Ben Bernanke in a closed door meeting of key legislators yesterday. Whatever both men said, it was enough to light a fire under economically timid and reluctant Republican and Democrat lawmakers. The word is that they have accepted an Administration proposal to unravel the chaos.
If no one throws a monkey wrench in the works, the nation should have a comprehensive law to fix things before these bozos go on vacation. (According to an August 27, Rasmussen report, “just 9% of likely voters give congress positive ratings.”)
That may not sound plausible, but just read this excerpt of what Congressman Barney Frank of Massachusetts, Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee had to say in a TV interview just two days ago when asked what Congress would do: “It is inconceivable to do anything before the election” . . . we need “to do this in a rational and measured way.” The Bay State representative went on to say, “It is conceivable that after the election, you could get some kind of consensus . . . it is by no means certain.”
That was on Wednesday. A day later the entire picture, as well as the attitude of this do-nothing Congress made a 180° turn.
We don’t know what words were used by Hank Paulson, Secretary of the Treasury, and Ben Bernanke in a closed door meeting of key legislators yesterday. Whatever both men said, it was enough to light a fire under economically timid and reluctant Republican and Democrat lawmakers. The word is that they have accepted an Administration proposal to unravel the chaos.
If no one throws a monkey wrench in the works, the nation should have a comprehensive law to fix things before these bozos go on vacation. (According to an August 27, Rasmussen report, “just 9% of likely voters give congress positive ratings.”)
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Blaah . . . Blaah . . . Blaah!
This is one of those times when I am happy to be an independent voter. Today, McCain and Obama responded to questions about what they would do to solve the financial tsunami once more threatening to spread from Wall Street into the cities and towns of mainstream USA. Their answers show how, in the midst of a major fiscal crisis, we are not being well-served by the rhetoric of either candidacy
First, McCain: He proposes to set up an independent, bi-partisan committee to address problems of the type caused by Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch and AIG. Nice try, but just ask the senior Tom Kean who headed up the 9/11 committee and who, to this day, maintains that the committee’s recommendations were never fully enacted. We don’t have the time for that.
Next, Obama: When asked what he would do about the imminent bankruptcy of the world’s largest insurer, AIG, the response from his staff is that his campaign will take no position, because he doesn’t know the status of AIG’s books. How nice: A Harvard education, mind you; and, while the rest of the world knows that investments made by AIG in mortgage-backed securities, as well as credit default swaps (insurance issued on those securities) would take down profitable units of this financial giant and spread to other firms, Obama doesn’t know seem to know this. How credible is that?
Somebody had to act, and now! Somebody just did: As of this writing, the U.S. government, according to a 9:15 p.m., web news release, “has agreed to provide an $85 billion emergency loan to rescue the huge insurer AIG, the Federal Reserve said Tuesday.”
We don’t have to agree with this particular course of action, but at least some people in Washington and on Wall Street have come together to assess the problem and have taken swift action.
Note: For a colorful reaction to the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy, see Jay Jefferson Cooke’s essay at, http://www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008809160323
Disclosure: I have a son who works for a fiscally sound subsidiary of AIG.
First, McCain: He proposes to set up an independent, bi-partisan committee to address problems of the type caused by Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch and AIG. Nice try, but just ask the senior Tom Kean who headed up the 9/11 committee and who, to this day, maintains that the committee’s recommendations were never fully enacted. We don’t have the time for that.
Next, Obama: When asked what he would do about the imminent bankruptcy of the world’s largest insurer, AIG, the response from his staff is that his campaign will take no position, because he doesn’t know the status of AIG’s books. How nice: A Harvard education, mind you; and, while the rest of the world knows that investments made by AIG in mortgage-backed securities, as well as credit default swaps (insurance issued on those securities) would take down profitable units of this financial giant and spread to other firms, Obama doesn’t know seem to know this. How credible is that?
Somebody had to act, and now! Somebody just did: As of this writing, the U.S. government, according to a 9:15 p.m., web news release, “has agreed to provide an $85 billion emergency loan to rescue the huge insurer AIG, the Federal Reserve said Tuesday.”
We don’t have to agree with this particular course of action, but at least some people in Washington and on Wall Street have come together to assess the problem and have taken swift action.
Note: For a colorful reaction to the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy, see Jay Jefferson Cooke’s essay at, http://www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008809160323
Disclosure: I have a son who works for a fiscally sound subsidiary of AIG.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Political Chicanery
If there’s one thing that gets my dander up, it’s some dolt tapping the keys of a PC, writing some missive about which he knows nothing, not having done any fact-checking. When the result is the savaging of the integrity of a genuine U.S. war hero, it gets my dander up even more.
A recent TV ad by the Obama campaign claims that McCain is out of touch with reality because he can’t send an e-mail and doesn’t know how to use a PC. I’d like to know: Since when did the ability to use these tools automatically impart intelligence, discernment and wisdom to a person? That’s the first argument.
The second is that the impulsive staffers who work for David Plouffe, Obama’s chief strategist, got the basis for their claim disgustingly wrong. Here’s an excerpt from a Boston Globe profile of McCain which appeared on March 4, 2000:
"McCain gets emotional at the mention of military families needing food stamps or veterans lacking health care. The outrage comes from inside: McCain's severe war injuries prevent him from combing his hair, typing on a keyboard, or tying his shoes. Friends marvel at McCain's encyclopedic knowledge of sports. He's an avid fan -- Ted Williams is his hero -- but he can't raise his arm above his shoulder to throw a baseball."
Enough said. Thanks for reading, and take care of yourselves out there; it can be a vicious world at times.
Note: Regardless of your political persuasion, it never hurts to be informed. If you’d like to read the source for this post and see the Obama campaign video, you can view them at, http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/09/obama-ad-email.html. Also, it you have the inclination to read the Boston Globe’s profile on McCain published in March, 2000, it can be found at, http://graphics.boston.com/news/politics/campaign2000/news/McCain_character_loyal_to_a_fault+.shtml . The story begins with McCain’s response to a political thrust against the gay major of Tempe Arizona.
A recent TV ad by the Obama campaign claims that McCain is out of touch with reality because he can’t send an e-mail and doesn’t know how to use a PC. I’d like to know: Since when did the ability to use these tools automatically impart intelligence, discernment and wisdom to a person? That’s the first argument.
The second is that the impulsive staffers who work for David Plouffe, Obama’s chief strategist, got the basis for their claim disgustingly wrong. Here’s an excerpt from a Boston Globe profile of McCain which appeared on March 4, 2000:
"McCain gets emotional at the mention of military families needing food stamps or veterans lacking health care. The outrage comes from inside: McCain's severe war injuries prevent him from combing his hair, typing on a keyboard, or tying his shoes. Friends marvel at McCain's encyclopedic knowledge of sports. He's an avid fan -- Ted Williams is his hero -- but he can't raise his arm above his shoulder to throw a baseball."
Enough said. Thanks for reading, and take care of yourselves out there; it can be a vicious world at times.
Note: Regardless of your political persuasion, it never hurts to be informed. If you’d like to read the source for this post and see the Obama campaign video, you can view them at, http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/09/obama-ad-email.html. Also, it you have the inclination to read the Boston Globe’s profile on McCain published in March, 2000, it can be found at, http://graphics.boston.com/news/politics/campaign2000/news/McCain_character_loyal_to_a_fault+.shtml . The story begins with McCain’s response to a political thrust against the gay major of Tempe Arizona.
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