"Forgive them Father for they know not what they do."

"Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do."

I believe the word "revenge" explains the election. If Mr. Romney had used it he would have been disqualified. Not held to such standards, Mr. Obama was given a pass.  

What does the word mean? "To inflict punishment for an injury or insult. To seek or take vengeance. To inflict injury, harm, humiliation on a person by another who has been harmed by that person."

 But revenge on who? And for what? I suggest that it is revenge on everything that makes up or maintains the Civil Society. From the concepts of Individual Sovereignty and Responsibility to the family, marriage, private property rights and the notion that life is precious, all are attacked. From The Founding Fathers and the evil color of their skin to The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, religions, civic clubs and even the Boy Scouts, all are mocked and denigrated. Why? Because the attackers, the mobs at the gates, want to destroy the fabric that is America.

Most people are unaware of the destruction they are participating in. But the Marxists among us know exactly what they are doing. They are committed to the belief  that the existing society must be destroyed so that they can, then, build their Workers' Paradise upon its ashes.

What has our form of government done to warrant the peoples' revenge? Surely, providing them with the greatest freedom on earth, allowing them to pursue their own version of happiness, should not warrant revenge. The truth is, too many know too little about America, her history, and what she stands for. But when it comes to teaching American History, ignorance is what our public schools are very good at producing. Not only do they not teach the truths of our Founding, they have done, and continue to do, great damage to our understanding of and appreciation for that unique event in human history.

So, regarding those responsible for teaching America's history to each new generation, do not forgive them Father, for they know exactly what they are doing.    

 

THIS IS INSANE

Two kids on the school bus, today. I picked them up within walking distance of two elementary schools and drove them to their assigned elementary school on the other side of town. The total distance was approximately 16 miles. They will need another bus ride to get home so let's say 32 for the day.

The bus gets about 9 miles to the gallon and diesel is about $4 per gallon. So: Cost of driver, about $40, plus cost of fuel, about $15, adds up to about $55 which comes out to about $27.50 per student - each day. And that doesn't include anything for the bus, the company, the insurance, etc.

The reason for this insanity? I think it's the same reason that we have such insane health care costs, today - NOBODY CARES WHAT IT COSTS BECAUSE NOBODY KNOWS WHO'S PAYING THE BILL. If those who used the service had to pay the bill these bus rides would stop. IMMEDIATELY! And I read, the other day, that the top man at Omaha Public Schools, the man in charge of busing, was paid $425,000.00 for his services last year.

QUESTION: Do you think the good PhD would still have his job if OPS was a business? I think not!  

Are You Running?

Would someone please run for public office on this platform?

"If elected, I promise to pass a law that requires two laws be stricken from the books for every new law enacted!"

You will be hailed as a statesman, loved by the masses and history will remember you, fondly. 

Private, Public, Parochial

An Observation:

Driving a school bus and dealing with students every day, it's impossible not to notice the differences between public school students and those from private or parochial schools. Yes, that's a broad-brush statement and, sure, we could find many exceptions. However, if the goal of all schools is to educate children so that they will have the best possible chance of living full and productive lives, observing what schools are actually producing should be of interest. 

Recently, I spent a day transporting about two hundred high school girls from an Omaha parochial school. They were polite and cheerful and seemed very focused. More impressive, still, was the camaraderie between them and the fact that they seemed to really enjoy going to school. It was encouraging to see, and I have felt the same way when driving other private or parochial school students.  

Why do these kids seem so much happier, focused, and ready to deal with life than public school students? Is it because their parents are more involved in their education? I'd guess that's a big part of it. After all, they are paying for it and, when buying anything, nothing makes you more aware of getting your money's worth, or not, than paying for it yourself. 

Or could it be that public schools are involved in too many things other than education? Is the potential of the early years never realized, for many kids, because public schools have to deal with too many kids who have little structure or discipline in their lives?

CONCLUSION

If I had a child in school, today, I'd want a voucher program through which all schools were paid for the education they dispensed. The state would figure out what a year of education costs and give that sum to all parents. The parents would then be in charge of, and financially responsible for, their own child's education, buying it from the school of their choice. Worth a try, don't you think?      

  

"NEVER.....NEVER.....NEVER GIVE UP!"

The quote is from Winston Churchill and I can attest to the value of its wisdom. You see, it was in the mid 1960's when I first created my line of unique pet beds, which were then called Pup Tents. (photo at right)

  

Now, over fifty years later, I'm happy to say that this product is finally developed and that my patents for this new/old line of pet beds, now called Pet Tents, have been licensed to Mr. Bill Viscome. He and his American International Trading Co. are in the process of expanding the Pet Tent line, adding new models and a new, smaller tent as well. His new line of Pet Tents will be available this Spring, 2011.   

Between the era of Pup Tents and the era of Pet Tents, there were many other things that happened in my life but, the point is, I never forgot about, or gave up on, this delightful and whimsical pet product. So I say to you, as Sir. Winston once said to us all, "NEVER. NEVER. NEVER GIVE UP!"

  

Pictured below is the Camelot Pet Tent. The styles we are currently offering can be seen on our website: www.pettents.com. 

                                                                                                                

   

                                            

Driver's Diary - THINGS HAPPEN FAST

Yesterday, it was a typical January morning in Omaha and the driving was anything but easy. A guy in a red pickup, far too eager to get there, wherever 'there' was, ended up off the road and in the ditch, his trusty stead's grill wrapped around a tree. In the process of getting to that tree, he came very close to using the school bus, instead, to inhibit his forward progress. 

As with all accidents, it happened very fast. So fast, in fact, the kids on the bus didn't even have time to scream. And, believe me, with far less provocation than this, kids can scream very quickly.

School buses may not be pretty but they are safe. They're built like a tank and I'm sure we'd all have been fine, even if the truck had hit us. So, please, the next time there's an accident involving a school bus, don't jump to that knee-jerk reaction: "Why don't school buses have seat belts?" They are not needed, It would be impossible to enforce their use and they would be far too handy a weapon for settling disputes.

       

"WHY DID THE KIDS PUT BEANS IN THEIR EARS?"

According to the newspaper article, truancy is a problem in Nebraska and Gov. Heineman  wants to "redirect state funds" to deal with it. This brings to mind the wisdom of Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones and their musical, "The Fantasticks". One of the songs begins with this lyric:

WHY DID THE KIDS PUT BEANS IN THEIR EARS?
NO ONE CAN HEAR WITH BEANS IN THEIR EARS.
AFTER AWHILE THE REASON APPEARS,
THEY DID IT 'CAUSE WE SAID NO!

That lyric implies that kids tend to want to do the opposite of what they are told to do. If true, maybe we shouldn't be telling kids, YOU HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL! It might also explain why it is so hard to find a kid who will admit that he likes school. For too many kids, it is just not cool to like school. 

Instead of telling them they have to go to school, maybe we should look at the situation a different way, maybe even use some of that wisdom from "The Fantasticks". Before spending money for more truant officers, good money after bad, how about considering something like this, something that would cost nothing?  

IT'S YOUR CHOICE PROGRAM

After their freshman year of high school, it would be up to the student whether or not they continue going to school. They would be free to drop out of school, at that point, by signing a contract with these provisos:

1. They would relinguish their right to any future financial support from government, city, county, state or Federal.
2. If their parents receive financial support from government, that support would be reduced by 25%.
3. They would agree to have a job within three months, and be self-supporting. 
4. If they continue living with their parents, they would agree to pay them for room and board.

The contract would have a CHANGE OF MIND clause. This clause would allow the person to return to school, within one year, if they changed their mind. This clause could be used twice, allowing the person two opportunities to learn the consequences of the choices they make. After using the clause twice, they would be on their own should they drop out of school again.

This program would have two goals:

1. To change children's attitude about school. Changing it from something they feel they HAVE TO DO, are being FORCED TO DO, to something they will come to realize, on their own, that they NEED TO DO, MUST DO in order to survive and get ahead in the world.

2. To give parents a powerful reason, a financial reason, to be involved in their children's education, and the choices they make.

This sketch-of-an-idea is offered as a new way, a different way, to look at the situation. 


PS, * I disagree with Governor Heineman, when he was quoted in the article as saying - "If you're not in school, you can't learn." I believe you can learn anywhere if you have curiosity, and if you can read.