Wednesday, June 29, 2005

Math and Science teachers should be paid more than other teachers

The news is grim. Will this be the wake up call?

BOSTON --Massachusetts teachers are ill-trained to teach rigorous science and math to students, whose lack of preparation for the high-tech world jeopardizes the state's economy, according to a report released Wednesday.

The report from Mass Insight Education, a Boston nonprofit organization, said that if the United States was 15th in the Olympics, as the nation is currently ranked in mathematical scores, it would be a "national embarrassment bordering on scandal."


"American students lag scandalously far behind their international peers. Massachusetts (and other states dependent on skills-based jobs) is headed for economic disaster if we do not enable our children to compete in an increasingly technological world."

Saturday, June 25, 2005

Book Recommendation

I hope to post a fuller review of Christopher Hitchens Thomas Jefferson, Author of America at a later date. Meanwhile, I strongly recommend this brief critical biography.

Thursday, June 23, 2005

Kelo: The most disastrous decision

One thing is certain in today's Kelo ruling: the so-called liberal wing of the Supreme Court loves government power, the recent decision on medicinal marijuana gave it away. Today's Kelo decision is a disaster. It is an opportunity for conspiring businessmen to use the willing levers of the state to trample on the property rights of anyone for any cause they deem necessary. I hope a future court disregards stare decis.

More on Kelo at Instapundit and GlennReynolds.com. Professor Charles Fried weighs in at Slate reminding us of the redistributionist impulse that's probably guiding Kelo.

Saturday, June 11, 2005

To Bob and Bono: Unfortunately I can't see beyond the corruption thing when it comes to aid for Africa.

The sanctimonious poets like Bono and Geldof would like to roll Bush when it comes to Africa. Somehow we're not doing enough despite the billions in aid including a sizeable fraction for fighting AIDS. Like the economist/savior Jeffrey Sachs (Bono's mentor) and a very dangerous man, the poets and the musicians want the West to look beyond the corrupt regimes that have exploited aid and pushed their nations into further ruin. It's really a petty hangup they suppose; we skeptics know better. Perry de Havilland at the libertarian Samizidata blog sizes up Geldof abetter than me.

Sunday, June 05, 2005

What was it that Lenin said about rope?

The Independent of London reports:

Anarchists from around the world are planning to cause chaos at next month's G8 summit in Gleneagles as a row broke out last night between Bob Geldof and DJ Andy Kershaw over the absence of black musicians at events staged to benefit Africans.

But that's only part of the story. The Anarchists want to make big waves at the G-8 summit under the guise of "Making Capitalism History." A lot of people would starve if that ignoble sentiment ever came to pass. Socialism after all kills very effectively. Richard Branson seems to have lost his senses:
Travel to Scotland, however, may be tricky. Ironically, many anti-capitalists may be able to get there thanks only to the generosity of Sir Richard Branson. The Virgin tycoon has agreed to provide free trains and a special Virgin flight to Edinburgh in the week leading up to the march.

This is either ironically delicious or disturbing.



Wednesday, June 01, 2005

The isolationist right and Revenge of the Sith

Paul Craig Roberts, former free trader and supply-sider, takes a leap into the isolationist right. More misgivings about Bush made unconvincingly. convincingly.