You know, it just seems crazy. It's pure insanity, really. Here we are, with all of these issues on our plate, and it seems as if the two extremes want to put it right down to being right conservatives and wrong liberals, or correct lefties and heartless conservatives...
Here is MY take on the whole thing. Personal rights is accompanied by personal responsibility. People seem to want to forget the responsible part. Even with the free speech.
Lets take the situation between the judges here in Wisconsin. So they were arguing a couple years ago. Judge A flipped off Judge P. She was wrong, even if he was badgering her, and no matter who is right or wrong on the topic, she should NOT have flipped him off. She is a Wisconsin Supreme Judge for cripes sake! Then to top it off, Judge P decides to retaliate by calling her the B word. HELLO!!!!! Was that really necessary? He too, is a Wisconsin Supreme Judge, and knows that two wrongs don't make a right. I am a bit disgusted, because I would expect this during 5th grade recess, NOT during a Judge's meeting.
Even with our current economic system, I'm getting disgusted with some of the extreme pushes that are going on... Okay, on the far left, we're forgiving illegal aliens for being here. Why? Because, according to a very liberal pastor, "We NEED them". Why? because they take jobs that Americans won't take, but are necessary, such as at our various farms doing migratory work, cleaning out toilets, etc... Well, with as many Americans that are in dire need of work, I am positive that the single people w/o children would be willing to serve as migratory supervisors, and there would be some jobs that would be taken because of the fact that our children need to eat, and we don't have enough jobs to go around... So while maybe SOME are needed, it's not like our economy is going to crash because we don't have illegal grunts who will work for $2/hr...
What is sad, is, that until 2007, when the law was passed to stop illegal aliens from getting benefits, it appears that they MAY have been eligible to get it... Here is the LINK. Anyway, even if some do slip through the system to get it, I feel it's wrong, because they're already here illegally, and they are working. So they are lucky to be here, but, to the ultra conservatives, until there is probable cause to arrest them, they are presumed innocent of illegal status...
The solution to make sure the situation is under control? Maybe give farmers more incentive to hire Americans, rather than migrant workers. Make sure that if the welfare sign in verifies that this person is here legally, and/or a citizen. Because while sure, just because one speaks perfect English doesn't automatically mean you're a citizen, but, it sure looks funny that someone who speaks NO English is legal? Unless that person/family is a sponsored refugee, I'm guessing they may be illegal. But, if they are here legally, via sponsorship, there is always a contact person who can prove legal status. My church has gone through this already, so, while I'm no expert, at least I can rest assured that there IS paperwork available for those who are here as refugees or for political asylum.
So yes, I think it's wrong, just because the American or state government is working with a check book a lot bigger than the average household's, doesn't mean that we should spend those hard earned tax dollars on illegal immigrants to get food stamps, or any other rescue benefit. It's wrong. But, as long as they are behaving, I don't think we should just kick them out, especially if a family is here, and may get split up. Keep families together, because, then we become our brother's keepers... Of course anyone in need of emergency services ought to get it, because it's a life or death situation.
On education, boy, is there a HUGE mess here with RUSD. Okay, don't get me wrong, I am a supporter of public schools. I don't think all schools should be privatized. But the public schools as they stand now are NOT up to par as what they ought to be, and I have mixed feelings about the budget cuts to the schools. Really. Okay, on some levels, yes, the schools are not spending money properly. We have what are called "bilingual" classes, which are NOT the same as ESL = English as a Second Language. With ESL, the kids go to regular classes, and get pulled out for short, small sessions to learn English. One of my friends from 8th grade went through this, and became successful in the pharmaceutical field. But she was fully immersed into the regular classes, and it was a learn or fail situation. We forged a good friendship, to where we are still friends to this day, almost 30 years later... But I really think the ESL classes are good, because they not only teach necessary words to learn, but, has the students mixed in with the rest of their classmates, to learn the conversational part of the language. Bilingual classes consist of Spanish speaking students. Most of them are new to the country. Fine, but, did you know that the main teacher not only has a teaching degree but also bilingual IN Spanish? Then, there is a Spanish speaking teaching assistant who is bilingual in English. Much of the class is taught in Spanish, so then the kids don't really get motivated to learn as they should... One example is that way back when, a 15 year old was pregnant, and was afraid, so she somehow got into California, and had a daughter. That daughter never learned English, and when she was 15, got pregnant, had a son, got here to Racine, and the boy, who was in 3rd grade at the time, was in the Bilingual class, because he couldn't speak fluent English. HELLO! His grandma was in this country for 23 years, and her daughter is 23 and was born here, and at age 8, this child, also born here can't speak English either? OUR hard earned tax money is paying for this. These are NOT special needs children, so, I think if we are going to have a bilingual class, have a teacher, who ought to know at least SOME Spanish, and the kids should be making plans to learn to speak English... That would save money right there. Cut these back.
On the other hand, when I used to sub, I saw some of these history and social studies books, much of the information was about 20 years old. The copyright dates were sometimes newer, but, the research was somewhere between 20-40 years old, and they're teaching that as being current. Now, shouldn't the kids have updated books to learn from, if they're going to teach it as current info? The liberal in me thinks they should spend money to make sure the kids are learning. In the mean time, if competition is the issue, I still want to tout virtual schools. They DO take special needs, provided they can do SOME of their own work, such as log into the computer and follow simple directions. Having a good learning coach would at home is a must. Right now there are Wisconsin Virtual Learning (WVL) out of Northern Ozaukee County, Wisconsin Virtual Academy (WIVA) out of McFarland, and Wisconsin Connections Academy (WCA) out of Appleton. They are all considered public schools, and have the supports needed from a learning advocate, to online teacher, to technicians, to special education teachers, and more... My son started with WIVA, when they were in Ozaukee, but when they moved, and WVL stepped in, we just stayed with Ozaukee. We are pleased with it, because not only does it teach technology from being online, but, all of the text books are current, and there is NO hiding from me. I find out everything, and that's good, because we keep connected that way.
Parents need to be involved with their kids. That means that parents should know what their kids are doing in school. It takes 5 minutes to go through their back packs, and, if you can't stay connected, maybe you need to call in help. Usually grandparents, God-parents, aunts & uncles, etc... Someone is usually available to help you, if you need to check in with your kids.
As for the welfare issue again, well, no, I don't think people should make a career out of being a welfare dependent. What happened to people taking pride in doing for themselves, the good feeling of a job well done? Should this even be a partisan issue? NO!! There are wealthy people all the way down to poor people. Healthy people and sick people. Young, old, in the middle, business class, working class... We have all kinds. Accept it. We are all here. Some of us climbed the corporate ladder, and are sitting comfortable as a Veep of an important company working for someone else. Others are lower on the totem pole, cleaning the bathrooms of the place. We need them both. Some of us own our own businesses, and especially if it's a restaurant, we need cooks and waitstaff, as well as some others... Not all of us were meant to own a business, and the owner isn't meant to be the low person on that totem pole. But we are lucky to have all of these people, because good restaurants need all of them, from the owner to the chef to the good wait staff, and the host. So, if you're busting butt as a waitress, and are having a hard time making ends meet, and you want to go to college to make a better life, go ahead, get the help, get out of poverty, and make a go of life. The help is there so you can get a hand up. Or, say if your calling is to be a mechanic, and your pay at the "mom & pop garage" isn't paying quite enough to support your family, go ahead, sign up for the extra help. You're busting butt to ensure you're doing everything you can do to support the family. You pay in, get a little back. The kids will learn the good work ethic. Really.
On the other hand? Like the guy who wants his landlord to pay his water bill? Take in a roomy to help pay your own bills, or, go to a place more affordable. Some landlords put in the contract, especially if multiple tenants live in the same building, that they will pay the bill. In that case, it's in the contract, don't worry about it, and be thankful that the landlord is generous. But jeez. If the water bill, which is usually relatively inexpensive in comparison to your rent or WE Energies bill is too much to pay, ever think you need to try to save on water?
About abuse issues... I don't think anybody should abuse anybody. Ever. It's wrong. This is NOT about liberal vs. conservative politics. It's the difference between right and wrong. I've pushed for April's Law Wisconsin, to help stiffen up laws against child sex predators on and offline. It is now AB-136, and is in committee. I thank Cory Mason for getting it this far. I wish I could say the same for others, but, I seem to be getting ignored.
There IS the federal petition that is still open for April's Law, and I hope you'll sign that one also. That goes even further with the websites, because some are actually considered legal pedophile websites, covered under the First Amendment for Free Speech. This will be an amendment to the Adam Walsh Child Protection & Safety Act.
And, of course there is my petition for our unacknowledged survivors of abuse, our men, and in memory of baby Sean, who died at the hands of his mother, I'm sponsoring the Sean's Voice Petition to ensure that abused men will have access to emergency shelter, support and necessary services needed to become thrivers in our society, not abused further by being ignored. This will be an attached amendment to the Violence Against Women Act of 1993 to ensure that the disparity will shrink when it expands to help protect abused men also.
What gets me is, yes, I lean left, sometimes more left than others. But, I do truly believe that people who NEED help OUGHT to get it. We wouldn't think of cutting off our senior citizens and disabled people off of what ever aid they need, would we? I think liberals and conservatives alike agree, that those who are born with a disability should be able to live with dignity, and if in need of help, because their parents could only do so much, that they shouldn't be denied the extra help where family can't do it any more, because our parents eventually die, and leave their adult disabled kids behind... Anyone who would disagree with that is inhuman, in my mind.
Those who want to blame the entire economical problem on the other party, is a bit nuts, imho. If you blame it all on illegals, you're naive as all get out, because, it's both extremes that are trying to "cure" what won't be cured. Really, if we choke up our borders with militia, there's more money spent there, and free reign costs too much too.
Like I always say, the answer is usually somewhere in the middle, but, don't take my word for it, because to some people, I'm just labeled with the rest of "them", like the lame blanket statements.
Those irritate me, really, because to say that "All liberals have no morals and are Godless" is just as crazy as saying that "All conservatives are religious wingnuts who hate poor people and want them to die". Neither are true. Both are equally wrong. And it's freaking irritating.
Comment at will. I can't guaranty that I'm done ranting, so I may not necessarily reply, or, beware of another rant in response...
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