Ace of Spades HQ

January 14, 2014

Creepy: Germany Seeks to Take Away Family's Well-Educated, Socially Well-Adjusted Children for Crime of Homeschooling Them;
Obama Administration Sues to Help Germany Do So
— Ace

The left observes its own rule: Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and render unto Caesar what is not Caesar's.

They're not your children, you know. They are Future State-Owned Taxable Economic Units. You just have limited temporary at-discretion custody of them.

The Romeike family was granted asylum in the United States because the German government was intent on wresting away the children and putting the parents in cages for the crime of homeschooling their children, which is verboten in Germany, a legacy of the countryÂ’s totalitarian past. The Obama administration, which in other notable areas of immigration law has enacted a policy of Â“discretionÂ” regarding deportations, took the Romeike family to court to have its asylum protections revoked, and succeeded in doing so. The family has appealed to the Supreme Court, which has ordered the Obama administration to respond to the RomeikesÂ’ petition, but the administration has so far refused to do so.
As the RomeikesÂ’ story unfolds, another German family is being held in the country against their will, also for the crime of homeschooling their children Â— or intending to do so, at least. The Wunderlich family had their children kidnapped by the German government Â— the agents of which came crashing through their door with battering rams Â— as retaliation for their homeschooling. They complied with the governmentÂ’s demands regarding their childrenÂ’s education and, understandably enough, began the process of relocating to France, where attitudes toward family life are more civilized. The Germans responded by refusing to reinstate their custody of their children, with a judge determining that the desire to homeschool presents an Â“endangermentÂ” to the children.
That is the environment into which the Obama administration intends to send the Romeike family.
Why?
The institutional Left hates homeschooling, hates it with a remarkable intensity....

Kevin D. Williamson is just getting started. Also just getting started is Roger Kimball, quoted by Instapundit:

What brought me up short today, however, was a news story from a friend about a worrisome development in Germany. The homeschooling movement is a vibrant and growing force in this countries. Leftists donÂ’t like it, because it presumes to challenge the indoctrinating powers of the state with the civilization imperatives of parents, informed by churches, local communities, and moral commitments foreign to the left-liberal narrative.
...
Things are different in the Fatherland of Germany, where a judge recently ordered that parents may not have custody of their children because Â“the family might move to another country and homeschool, posing a Â‘concrete endangermentÂ’ to the children.Â”
...
In August, 20 armed police, equipped with a battering ram just in case, arrived at the door of this Darmstadt family and forcibly took four children, ages 7 to 14.
Was there anything wrong with the children? Nope. The judge Â— whose name, by the way, is Marcus Malkmus, in case you have a voodoo doll handy or wish to burn him in effigy Â— the judge admitted that the children were 1) academically proficient and 2) well adjusted socially.
He just didnÂ’t like homeschooling.
Why? Pay attention now: this takes us deep into the heart of a leftist: because he feared that Â“the children would grow up in a parallel society without having learned to be integrated or to have a dialogue with those who think differently and facing them in the sense of practicing tolerance.Â”
The invocation of Â“toleranceÂ” is especially cute, donÂ’t you think?

Monopolies do not like competition, and will engage in underhanded practices to squash such would-be competitors.

When the monopoly is armed with guns, it doesn't feel obligated to resort to subtlety.

And monopolies don't have to deliver good products, so they deliver awful ones. If you don't believe me, read this.

Incredible. Incredible.

Posted by: Ace at 11:47 AM | Comments (323)
Post contains 671 words, total size 5 kb.

1 Didn't we cover this one already?

Posted by: Meremortal at January 14, 2014 11:49 AM (1Y+hH)

2 Anyone else picturing the Elian Gonzales raid here, with the family hiding in the closet with their kids while the jackbooted thugs point an M16, or Steyr AUG in this case, in their faces?

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at January 14, 2014 11:50 AM (/Crba)

3 That IS a crime. Homeschooled ours. Turned out shockingly normal.

Posted by: Caliban at January 14, 2014 11:50 AM (DrC22)

4 Obama, besame pica, pendjo! Tu es maricon grande!

Posted by: Reggie el Loveo at January 14, 2014 11:50 AM (vHRtU)

5 This story has been unfolding for months.

Posted by: Vic[/i] at January 14, 2014 11:50 AM (T2V/1)

6 look, this isn't the hill to die on, focusing on the harm the admin is doing to the children will only drive teh moderates from the GOP. People don't care about their kids, you wingnuts.

Posted by: oeJay44incday at January 14, 2014 11:50 AM (QxSug)

7 I hate to say it but, a bit of timely murder would take the starch out of the totalitarian assholes.

Posted by: toby928© at January 14, 2014 11:50 AM (QupBk)

8 And yet Chicago children are left to die in the streets, "safe" only from Obama's tyranny because the crazy bitch running the Teachers union is an old Acorn buddy of the President's.

Posted by: MTF at January 14, 2014 11:51 AM (F58x4)

9 the organic hostility bubbling up to religious groups and home schoolers (and raw milkers) shows why the stalinists and company always ended up going after them. How dare people resist.

Posted by: oeJay44incday at January 14, 2014 11:51 AM (QxSug)

10 How dare they want their children to not end up as morally and intellectually bankrupt as I am!

Posted by: Barack Hussein Obama at January 14, 2014 11:52 AM (tv7DV)

11 Stories like this have been coming out of Germany for at least a few years now. ItÂ’s frightening just how adamant the German government is about it, and how far theyÂ’re willing to go to enforce itÂ—and how it appears to be accepted by the German people.

Posted by: Paid for by Citizens for Clyde the Orangutan at January 14, 2014 11:52 AM (QF8uk)

12 This is evil. Evil and wicked.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 14, 2014 11:52 AM (P6QsQ)

13 Yep, just been seeing it other places. Statism and oppression rising everywhere. Moving further away from centers of govt seems to the only answer. I've already gone 75% Galt, the last 25% is the hard part. Easy if single, but I'm not.

Posted by: Meremortal at January 14, 2014 11:52 AM (1Y+hH)

14 Come on wingnuts Your boy in Jersey closed some traffic lanes! Impeachment!

Posted by: Chris Matthews at January 14, 2014 11:52 AM (YmPwQ)

15 I remember when the raid first happened. We commented about it here on the site. It should make ANYBODY'S blood run cold.

I forget -- is this the same family we deported?

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at January 14, 2014 11:52 AM (4df7R)

16 *facepalm* Now, see, I skipped right over the bit where it talks about the asylumed family. Ignore the second part of my previous comment.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at January 14, 2014 11:53 AM (4df7R)

17 Slaves captured from the Underground Railroad

Posted by: DoE at January 14, 2014 11:53 AM (R6JT1)

18 I see the Germans haven't forgotten everything about how to take small children away from their parents.

Posted by: EC at January 14, 2014 11:53 AM (GQ8sn)

19 The armband never falls far from the fascist.

Posted by: fluffy at January 14, 2014 11:53 AM (DzeIb)

20
Â—and how it appears to be accepted by the German people.

We bought off on the Third Reich, so what's the problem?

Posted by: Gustav Higgenmorgin at January 14, 2014 11:53 AM (pJF+c)

21 OT Fun Fact: Obama is shrinking the Army by 25% in the next 5 years. 570k to 420k. Obama is also canceling basically all of the Army's modernization programs. We are doing exactly what the European Socialists did, just 20-30 years later -- selling and burning everything to feed the ever-growing Welfare State. Hopefully China well be nice and not try too hard to catch up to us while we sit down and rest a bit.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at January 14, 2014 11:53 AM (ZPrif)

22 Still want to follow the European model? Why yes--yes you do America. Here have some boobs and pot!

Posted by: Harry Reid Esq. at January 14, 2014 11:53 AM (RJMhd)

23 15 I forget -- is this the same family we deported?

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit at January 14, 2014 03:52 PM (4df7R)

The deportation was blocked while they appealed.

Posted by: Vic[/i] at January 14, 2014 11:53 AM (T2V/1)

24
Alternate Post Title: Yes, Furlein Virginia, There Is Indoctrination

Posted by: soothsayer at January 14, 2014 11:53 AM (gYIst)

25 Frightening --- especially because it reflects exactly what the American Left wants to do.

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at January 14, 2014 11:54 AM (dfYL9)

26 I forget -- is this the same family we deported?

---

Not yet..... but this administration went to court to deny asylum and try to deport them.

Posted by: fixerupper at January 14, 2014 11:54 AM (nELVU)

27 --btw nice health care plan you've got there.. guess what is happening to it?

Posted by: Harry Reid Esq. at January 14, 2014 11:54 AM (RJMhd)

28 Yep; Another star in the crown of Christian Obama/sarc.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at January 14, 2014 11:54 AM (7kkQJ)

2 -

Little Elian is not so little anymore, and he now goes around telling people how much he loves Fidel.

Posted by: BurtTC at January 14, 2014 11:54 AM (TOk1P)

30 This is like some dystopian sci fi future. I just have to shake my head.

Posted by: I need a cool new sig at January 14, 2014 11:54 AM (q177U)

31 Janet Reno moved to Germany to continue her career of kidnapping and abusing children for the greater glory of the state?

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at January 14, 2014 11:55 AM (sA4/D)

32
Pink Floyd sang about it:

If the State doesn't Indoctrinate your children, how will they ever rebel against you and your core values!!

Posted by: soothsayer at January 14, 2014 11:55 AM (gYIst)

33 Sigh...

Posted by: akula51[/b][/i][/s] at January 14, 2014 11:55 AM (1Boes)

34 I hate the Wunderlichs and their stupid test.

Posted by: Vince Young at January 14, 2014 11:55 AM (9TK8E)

35 Your children are not your own. They belong to the State. Don't kid yourself that this is just Germany.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 14, 2014 11:55 AM (P6QsQ)

36 18 I see the Germans haven't forgotten everything about how to take small children away from their parents.

Posted by: EC at January 14, 2014 03:53 PM (GQ8sn)

That is hilarious and awful. It's like AoSHQ in one sentence.

Posted by: Austin in TX at January 14, 2014 11:56 AM (3cp3C)

37 >>Leftists donÂ’t like it, because it presumes to challenge the indoctrinating powers of the state with the civilization imperatives of parents, informed by churches, local communities, and moral commitments foreign to the left-liberal narrative. That's oversimplifying it. There are plenty of lefties homeschooling. They just aren't teaching their kids the meaning of "cognitive dissonance".

Posted by: Mama AJ at January 14, 2014 11:56 AM (SUKHu)

38 Barack Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a malignant traitor.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) Ah, F It. at January 14, 2014 11:56 AM (PYAXX)

39 Watch out Ace. When I proposed pure vouchers for people to be able to homeschool here in the States, half the commenters called it a commie plot. It seems that "school" is something ingrained to mean a public building with state-paid employees.

Posted by: jwest at January 14, 2014 11:56 AM (u2a4R)

40 Your children are not your own. They belong to the State. I know, right?

Posted by: Melissa Harris-Perry at January 14, 2014 11:56 AM (PYAXX)

41 "The Romeike family was granted asylum in the United States because the German government was intent on wresting away the children and putting the parents in cages for the crime of homeschooling their children..."

"The Obama administration, which in other notable areas of immigration law has enacted a policy of Â“discretionÂ” regarding deportations, took the Romeike family to court to have its asylum protections revoked, and succeeded in doing so"

Huh, so I guess the Romeike family aren't the Dreamers that SCOAMF is looking for? Wonder why that may be?

Posted by: Dr. Richard Kimball at January 14, 2014 11:56 AM (mSI+k)

42 Not creepy, to be expected.

Obama's closet baby coalition kills their babies by the bushel so they plan to steal our kids and the Mexican kids.

A democrat brags that children belong to the state.

Ask Mewissa Hawiss-Pewwy

Posted by: Sven 10077 at January 14, 2014 11:56 AM (TE35l)

43 Shocking

Posted by: The Motor Vehice Administration at January 14, 2014 11:56 AM (jucos)

44 Germany is the same company that cancelled a woman's unemployment benefits because she was found to have refused employment as a sex worker. Never mind that she was not, had never been and had no desire to ever be a prostitute, the court ruled that she could either get to fucking, or get to Fucking Off. http://tinyurl.com/69prvk Tolerance = Strap A Mattress To Your Back And Hit The Streets, Bitch.

Posted by: Empire of Jeff, SGT, Invisible Army of Rome at January 14, 2014 11:57 AM (CJjw5)

45 Leftists donÂ’t like it, because it presumes to challenge the indoctrinating powers of the state Well now you know the real underlying purpose of public schools, and why it doesn't really matter if they can read or answer math questions correctly. The primary objective is 'socialization'.

Posted by: entropy at January 14, 2014 11:57 AM (TULs6)

46 Huh, so I guess the Romeike family aren't the Dreamers that SCOAMF is looking for? Wonder why that may be? Posted by: Dr. Richard Kimball at January 14, 2014 03:56 PM (mSI+k) Not enough DUIs or melanin.

Posted by: AMDG at January 14, 2014 11:57 AM (t7OO0)

47 Alternate Post Title: Yes, Furlein Virginia, There Is Indoctrination

Posted by: soothsayer

Are we talking about cats now?

Posted by: weft cut-loop [/i] [/b] at January 14, 2014 11:57 AM (qK0Al)

48 The left's fight against homeschooling is de facto proof that they regard public education as a form of mass brainwashing for the progressive cause. Otherwise, they would mind that kids learned at home. The left is engaged in massive society-wide "concern-trolling" when laughably claiming that want to protect homeschooled children. Protect them from what? A Marx-free worldview?

Posted by: zombie at January 14, 2014 11:57 AM (+cx5n)

49 I especially love the way they invoke "diversity" and "tolerance" as they do these things.

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at January 14, 2014 11:57 AM (dfYL9)

50 Ooh pudding!! Catch you later ! Speaking of youngsters I have to go read Ezra Klein's pseudo debate with Michael Moore about why Mikey supposedly can't have-- single payer.

Posted by: Harry Reid Esq. at January 14, 2014 11:57 AM (RJMhd)

51 Otherwise, they would mind that kids learned at home. = Otherwise, they wouldN'T mind that kids learned at home.

Posted by: zombie at January 14, 2014 11:58 AM (+cx5n)

52 Hopefully China well be nice and not try too hard to catch up to us while we sit down and rest a bit. China's fucked. They are resource poor and have a massive aging population. The future belongs to Google and Al Qaeda.

Posted by: Bevel Lemelisk at January 14, 2014 11:58 AM (v6YdM)

53 This just falls right in line with my viewing of a Twilight Zone ep from 1963 last night - "Number 12 Looks Just Like You".

Posted by: Jaws at January 14, 2014 11:58 AM (4I3Uo)

54 Something similar is happening right now in Texas. A family was serving as a temproray foster family through a program called "safe families." One of the foster kids had special needs and wondered from the house. The child was missing for less than 10 minutes, but while the father was out looking for the child, a police officer happened to find him first. This started a CPS investigation, that resulted in all the children being removed from the home, including the biological children. A judge then ruled that the biological children could not be returned to the family unless they were enrolled in public school. Absolutely terrifying. Here's the full story. Basically complete lawlessness between the judges and CPS. All par for the course when it comes to liberal tyranny. http://www.thsc.org/judge-removes-children-illegally.html

Posted by: Lauren at January 14, 2014 11:58 AM (hFL/3)

7 -

Things are going to get violent, there's no question about that. The only question is, how does one time one's violent response. Go too soon, and you are the bad guy. Go too late, and you're dead.

Posted by: BurtTC at January 14, 2014 11:58 AM (TOk1P)

56 China's fucked. They are resource poor and have a massive aging population.

There's always their neighbours.

Posted by: EC at January 14, 2014 11:58 AM (GQ8sn)

57 Ach jung Heidi remembers those KdF summer camps in high school. She came back pregnant for the greater glory of the Fatherland.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at January 14, 2014 11:59 AM (sA4/D)

58 The future belongs to Google and Al Qaeda. At least Google is competent. The worst thing they've done is G+, which actually does have a functioning Spanish side.

Posted by: AMDG at January 14, 2014 11:59 AM (t7OO0)

59 Tolerance only goes in one direction for the Left.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at January 14, 2014 11:59 AM (8ZskC)

60
What's funny is how Muslims are exempt from Indoctrination.

Why? Because at the moment, the Muslims' presence in Western cultures serve as a great boogeymen.

Posted by: soothsayer at January 14, 2014 11:59 AM (gYIst)

61 Watch out Ace. When I proposed pure vouchers for people to be able to homeschool here in the States, half the commenters called it a commie plot. It seems that "school" is something ingrained to mean a public building with state-paid employees. Posted by: jwest at January 14, 2014 03:56 PM (u2a4R) ---------------------------- No, idiot. You proposed taking our money to give $25,000 apiece to residents of Detroit and anyone who wanted to move there.

Posted by: Empire of Jeff, SGT, Invisible Army of Rome at January 14, 2014 11:59 AM (CJjw5)

62 >>>Statism and oppression rising everywhere. Right. This will end well.

Posted by: I need a cool new sig at January 14, 2014 11:59 AM (q177U)

63
Furlein, fraulein.

same thing

Posted by: soothsayer at January 14, 2014 12:00 PM (gYIst)

64 Can I say it now?

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) Ah, F It. at January 14, 2014 12:00 PM (PYAXX)

65 Someone deserves to get kicked in the nuts, really hard, about 20 times....

Posted by: Vortex Lovera at January 14, 2014 12:00 PM (wtvvX)

New York Post had a good story on the wonderful state of public schooling on Sunday.

no space no books no leader no clue at citys worst elementary is the title

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at January 14, 2014 12:00 PM (eGmvn)

67 This is frightening.WTH is Obama not involved, let alone allowing the family to be sent back to Germany?

Also note that Obama just released Bin Laden's driver from Gitmo.
In Obama's world:
Homeschoolers = Enemies of the state
Gitmo Detainee = No threat

Posted by: Lizzy at January 14, 2014 12:00 PM (POpqt)

68 I'm glad I'm through having kids. I do fear for the grandkids, tho'.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit [/i][/s][/b] at January 14, 2014 12:00 PM (0HooB)

69 2 Anyone else picturing the Elian Gonzales raid here, with the family hiding in the closet with their kids while the jackbooted thugs point an M16, or Steyr AUG in this case, in their faces? THAT, and Waco, made me the wingnut I am today.

Posted by: BlueStateRebel at January 14, 2014 12:01 PM (7ObY1)

70 No, idiot. You proposed taking our money to give $25,000 apiece to residents of Detroit and anyone who wanted to move there. I recommend the GreaseMonkey app as protection against the retard rays.

Posted by: toby928© at January 14, 2014 12:01 PM (QupBk)

71 Randy Weaver, a former Iowa factory worker and U.S. Army combat engineer moved with his family to northern Idaho during the 1980s in order to "home-school his children and escape what he and his wife Vicki saw as a corrupted world".

His wife and son were later murdered by the FBI.

*I don't care if you don't like my description of what happened*

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at January 14, 2014 12:01 PM (n0DEs)

72 Statism and oppression rising everywhere.

It's not like Germany's ever had trouble with that in the past. I'm sure they'll be fine.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at January 14, 2014 12:01 PM (4df7R)

73 the Supreme Court, which has ordered the Obama administration to respond to the RomeikesÂ’ petition, but the administration has so far refused to do so

The right really needs to adopt this left wing tactic of defying the courts.

Posted by: SpongeBobSaget at January 14, 2014 12:04 PM (kxSZr)

74 65 Someone deserves to get kicked in the nuts, really hard, about 20 times.... I haff no nuts.

Posted by: Markus Malkmus at January 14, 2014 12:04 PM (7ObY1)

75 Though Roger Kimball may prove helpful, maybe it would be better if the Romeikes followed my example.

Posted by: Dr. Richard Kimball at January 14, 2014 12:04 PM (mSI+k)

76 61 mpire of Jeff, SGT, Invisible Army of Rome at January 14, 2014 03:59 PM (CJjw5)

HGe's also well enough off to be HOA Tyrant who whistles at 10 grand bills, BUT is thrilled his kid gets a nice hefty Ogabecare subsidy...

ethics and moral integrity?

He's got a few stances and can bend.

Posted by: Sven 10077 at January 14, 2014 12:04 PM (TE35l)

77 If you looked at all the new warships and fighter jets China has unveiled in the past decade, you might think China is not so fucked. And they have tons of resources and plenty of fossil fuels. Plus they've been wisely keeping many of their resources in neighboring countries, though not all of those neighbors have recognized that yet.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at January 14, 2014 12:04 PM (ZPrif)

78 Posted by: Empire of Jeff, SGT, Invisible Army of Rome at January 14, 2014 03:59 PM (CJjw5) Nevermind the number of us that love us some private schools and support school vouchers I guess. (I also support reforming the education budget heavily.) (A followup to you EoJ, not a critique)

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) No Really! at January 14, 2014 12:05 PM (GaqMa)

79 61 empire of Jeff, SGT, Invisible Army of Rome at January 14, 2014 03:59 PM (CJjw5)

He's also well enough off to be HOA Tyrant who whistles at 10 grand bills, BUT is thrilled his kid gets a nice hefty Ogabecare subsidy...

ethics and moral integrity?

He's got a few stances and can bend.

Posted by: Sven 10077 at January 14, 2014 12:05 PM (TE35l)

80 Cops are shooting kids in the chest, beating hobos to death. Judges are declaring citizens have no standing or that mandates are taxes. The President uses the IRS to investigate his political enemies, and the opposition party is more interested in working with him to import slaves from Mexico. I wish I were just a tinfoil hatter.

Posted by: Bevel Lemelisk at January 14, 2014 12:05 PM (Hw3Gh)

81 Not seeing a problem here.....

Posted by: Otto Eckmann at January 14, 2014 12:05 PM (Aif/5)

82 @77: China is fucked, they just put a lot more effort into hiding the decline than Michael Mann does.

Posted by: Ian S. at January 14, 2014 12:05 PM (B/VB5)

83 73 SpongeBobSaget at January 14, 2014 04:04 PM (kxSZr)

trial doesn't go like you like?

Fuck you Roberts I got your goat pics baby NSA NSA...

Posted by: Sven 10077 at January 14, 2014 12:06 PM (TE35l)

84 Anyone else picturing the Elian Gonzales raid here, with the family hiding in the closet with their kids while the jackbooted thugs point an M16, or Steyr AUG in this case, in their faces?

It was an MP5, and the AUG is Austrian not German. I'm going to assume it's an MP5 in this case again.

Posted by: EC at January 14, 2014 12:06 PM (GQ8sn)

85 Huh, so I guess the Romeike family aren't the Dreamers that SCOAMF is looking for? Wonder why that may be?

Posted by: Dr. Richard Kimball at January 14, 2014 03:56 PM (mSI+k)

Because they can't read the Spanish Healthcare site either?

Posted by: Washington Nearsider at January 14, 2014 12:06 PM (fwARV)

The institutional Left hates homeschooling, hates it with a remarkable intensity

THIS is from a mainstream liberal group in PA, NOT fringe (Keystone Politics):

Home Schooling Should Be Illegal

Check out sig/link for why they take this position. (HINT: They hate homeschooling, but by calling for an outright ban, and making that position the extreme one, their moves to kill private schools wonÂ’t seem so radical. Overton Window stuff.)

Posted by: CJ at January 14, 2014 12:06 PM (9KqcB)

87 80 Bevel Lemelisk at January 14, 2014 04:05 PM (Hw3Gh)

Don't worry Pope Francis is gonna set Ogabe straight for realz...

Posted by: Sven 10077 at January 14, 2014 12:07 PM (TE35l)

88 "What's funny is how Muslims are exempt from Indoctrination.

Why? Because at the moment, the Muslims' presence in Western cultures serve as a great boogeymen."

You may be right, but I still like my answer: Plausible violence.

If you try to indoctrinate them, they're more than likely going to lop your cabeza off or just plain blow your shit up. My understanding is that they have a bit of a track record on this.

Posted by: Jaws at January 14, 2014 12:07 PM (4I3Uo)

89 No, China is screwed. I'm not bothering to go into the detail now.

Posted by: Meremortal at January 14, 2014 12:07 PM (1Y+hH)

90 77 If you looked at all the new warships and fighter jets China has unveiled in the past decade, you might think China is not so fucked. And they have tons of resources and plenty of fossil fuels. Plus they've been wisely keeping many of their resources in neighboring countries, though not all of those neighbors have recognized that yet. Russia expanded in the late 70s, largely in a panic. We know how that turned out.

Posted by: Bevel Lemelisk at January 14, 2014 12:07 PM (Hw3Gh)

91 A big part of having a family is transferring not only your genes but your culture (both in the sense of your family's history and mores but also the wider culture) to children for the sake of continuity and posterity. Interfering with the bonds of family to this extent is having and will have countless negative impacts, not the least of which is the reluctance of people to form families in the first place. This is a fairly clear instance of how the state is so often the enemy of the family.

Posted by: Alec Leamas at January 14, 2014 12:07 PM (nnkXw)

92 I don't know how any public school teachers have time do do shit in the classroom, most of the ones I know spend all day posting on social media about how underpaid/under appreciated they are.

Posted by: Lincolntf at January 14, 2014 12:07 PM (ZshNr)

93 We homeschool, for all these reasons and more. My children are prepared, in case they are ever compelled to go back to public school, to wage their own civil disobedience within the institution.

Posted by: nadavegan at January 14, 2014 12:07 PM (82xG6)

94 I was thinking earlier today about how they say that the American Civil War pitted brother against brother and how that is happening all over again thanks to this administration, but this time the dividing line is political ideology.

Posted by: DangerGirl at January 14, 2014 12:08 PM (GrtrJ)

61 -

Idiot? That's the best you could come up with? Shame on you and your new clean language insults.

Posted by: BurtTC at January 14, 2014 12:08 PM (TOk1P)

96 Render unto the Kaiser.

Posted by: King Barack at January 14, 2014 12:09 PM (rLJaJ)

97 I linked the story about this by Kimball yesterday.

Posted by: steevy at January 14, 2014 12:09 PM (zqvg6)

98 I've been following this story and it is disgusting. Let every low life in the world in and kick out a family that will contribute to building America? Makes no sense what so ever

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 14, 2014 12:09 PM (t3UFN)

Statism and oppression rising everywhere.

It's not like Germany's ever had trouble with that in the past. I'm sure they'll be fine.

----

My cousin (who lives in Germany) defended the policy BECAUSE of Germany's past. Her argument is that they need to make sure that everyone is educated properly. A, yeah, that'll do it.

Posted by: Liberty Lover at January 14, 2014 12:09 PM (6ppJR)

100 89 No, China is screwed. I'm not bothering to go into the detail now. --- Agreed, and I'm not thinking in terms of economics. Their "one-child" policy and their culture's big push for males has greatly reduced their potential growth for quite a while unless every Chinese woman becomes a baby-factory.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at January 14, 2014 12:09 PM (/Crba)

101 I don't know how any public school teachers have time do do shit in the classroom, most of the ones I know spend all day posting on social media about how underpaid/under appreciated they are. Posted by: Lincolntf at January 14, 2014 04:07 PM (ZshNr) Or have teacher workshop days which have to take place during the school year because don't you dare think they should do a single day of work over the summer!

Posted by: Mainah at January 14, 2014 12:09 PM (659DL)

102 Let every low life in the world in and kick out a family that will contribute to building America? Makes no sense what so ever It does when you realize the SCOAMT wants serfs, not citizens. These people have faaaar too much potential to be citizens.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) Ah, F It. at January 14, 2014 12:10 PM (PYAXX)

103 The voucher concept seems to be a bit too complicated for some here to grasp. Let me walk you through it slowly. Right now, the public school system of Detroit spend in excess of $28K per year per student. I proposed a voucher for $25K. I'll pause for a second to let you do the math offline. Now, if you've calculated correctly, you'll see that $25K is less than $28K. This is what we call a "savings". If we can all agree on the math, we can move on to a discussion about the benefits of a voucher as opposed to a public school system like Detroit's.

Posted by: jwest at January 14, 2014 12:10 PM (u2a4R)

104 Cops are shooting kids in the chest, beating hobos to death. -------------------------------- Some see the glass as half empty. I see it as half full of dead hobos.

Posted by: Empire of Jeff, SGT, Invisible Army of Rome at January 14, 2014 12:10 PM (CJjw5)

105
You guys notice the big picture yet?

Every day the Left does something to advance and impose their ideology, whereas the Right does absolutely nothing to advance their agenda.

I call this Conservatism's Intrinsic Fatal Flaw. Conservatism simply cannot be advanced.

We are adherents to a dying ideology, not because it's wrong, but because of extinction.

Posted by: soothsayer at January 14, 2014 12:10 PM (gYIst)

106
In other words, the Left can always advance, whereas Conservatism can only defend.

Posted by: soothsayer at January 14, 2014 12:11 PM (gYIst)

107 Lauren, the judge, Gracie Olivera, is already facing a recall petition for taking a child from a mother and giving custody to the father who is a child molester. I have a feeling the judge will be looking for a job soon.

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at January 14, 2014 12:11 PM (eGmvn)

108 Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Kindergarten!

Posted by: DaveA[/i][/b][/s] at January 14, 2014 12:11 PM (DL2i+)

109 Willful blindness on China's rise. Ok. China has 4x the population, only needs to get to 25% of GDP per Capita of US to match GDP. Comparisons of China to Russia aren't serious.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at January 14, 2014 12:11 PM (ZPrif)

110 The right really needs to adopt this left wing tactic of defying the courts.

Posted by: SpongeBobSaget at January 14, 2014 04:04 PM (kxSZr)

-------------------------------------------

Soon, if we still value freedom, we'll have to start defying the courts. That's when the United States as we've known it will cease to exist in it's present physical form.

Posted by: Soona at January 14, 2014 12:12 PM (QyfjW)

111 I agree China has huge systemic and demographic flaws,I also think it is likely they will launch into a destructive world war before they completely fade.

Posted by: steevy at January 14, 2014 12:12 PM (zqvg6)

112 @103 School vouchers for Detroit should come from the taxpayers of Detroit.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 14, 2014 12:12 PM (P6QsQ)

113 We are adherents to a dying ideology, not because it's wrong, but because of extinction. So, you're saying that the tiny rat-like mammals are eating our eggs?

Posted by: toby928© at January 14, 2014 12:12 PM (QupBk)

114 True story. When we pulled my son out of public school 5 administrators showed up at my door to request we do an emergency IEP meeting in my home. I told them that I wasn't interested and we were firm in our decision. Who knew that 5 middle aged women could be so intimidating?

Posted by: Lauren at January 14, 2014 12:12 PM (hFL/3)

115

But diversity!

Multicultrualism!

Obey your natural masters, you filthy lessers!

Posted by: Mikey NTH - We Have the HRC Designer Vindictivenous Line Exclusively! at January 14, 2014 12:12 PM (hLRSq)

116 Posted by: jwest at January 14, 2014 04:10 PM (u2a4R) "These numbers are only kinda wasteful, let's make them slightly less wasteful." Guys, guys, He must be a GOP congresscritter!

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) No Really! at January 14, 2014 12:13 PM (GaqMa)

117 I have a feeling the judge will be looking for a job soon. Which won't really help the family. I'm really of two minds about CPS. I cannot decide if the good they do (and they do a lot of good, really) is enough to counterbalance the bad they do. It would be easier to decide if the bad was all incidental or accidental. But too many times it's just malicious or (in some ways worse) lazy.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) Ah, F It. at January 14, 2014 12:13 PM (PYAXX)

118 Education Monopoly Delenda est!

Posted by: D-Lamp at January 14, 2014 12:13 PM (bb5+k)

119 Who knew that 5 middle aged women could be so intimidating?

Anyone who's ever spent time in junior high.

Posted by: HR at January 14, 2014 12:13 PM (ZKzrr)

120 whatever, we have nothing to fear from Obama. McCain said so. And romney let America know that Obama just made a few oopsies in office, nothing that was based on incompetence or evil.

Posted by: oeJay44incday at January 14, 2014 12:14 PM (QxSug)

121 "School vouchers for Detroit should come from the taxpayers of Detroit." They actually come from the taxpayers of Michigan, but for this discussion, let me say that I am proposing vouchers for basically all urban areas, especially Detroit, D.C., Baltimore, Cleveland etc.

Posted by: jwest at January 14, 2014 12:14 PM (u2a4R)

122 109 Willful blindness on China's rise. Ok. China has 4x the population, only needs to get to 25% of GDP per Capita of US to match GDP. One child policy + gender imbalance = aging population, unrest.

Posted by: Bevel Lemelisk at January 14, 2014 12:14 PM (IyKYr)

123 Hoyer is spouting incomprehensible bullshit on FOX about obamacare.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 14, 2014 12:14 PM (t3UFN)

124 "In other words, the Left can always advance, whereas Conservatism can only defend."

Something something best defense something something good offense ...or something.

Posted by: Jaws at January 14, 2014 12:14 PM (4I3Uo)

125 98 I've been following this story and it is disgusting. Let every low life in the world in and kick out a family that will contribute to building America? Makes no sense what so ever Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 14, 2014 04:09 PM (t3UFN) ----------------------- The only way it makes "sense" is as a total inversion of values. Calling evil good and good evil.

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at January 14, 2014 12:14 PM (dfYL9)

126 103 jwest at January 14, 2014 04:10 PM (u2a4R)

Wow MAN Jwest you have opened MY eyes...

I had no idea how school choice worked...

now get your democrat buddies to cave quick tiger.

Posted by: Sven 10077 at January 14, 2014 12:14 PM (TE35l)

127
So, you're saying that the tiny rat-like mammals are eating our eggs?

In a sense, yes!

/nods emphatically

Posted by: soothsayer at January 14, 2014 12:14 PM (gYIst)

128 O/T (and at this point, we need something lighter): Who knew the Empress rented out the Ravage? http://tinyurl.com/q9leo5h

Posted by: Brother Cavil, still chilly at January 14, 2014 12:14 PM (naUcP)

129 China will grow old before it grows rich.

Posted by: toby928© heard this somewhere at January 14, 2014 12:14 PM (QupBk)

130 @121 Then, no.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 14, 2014 12:15 PM (P6QsQ)

131 The thing I don't get about the PS106 story is why the fuck none of the teachers actually bothered to, y'know, TEACH. You don't HAVE to have a curriculum. You don't HAVE to have a binder telling you what to teach in order to teach. Oh sure, you're supposed to. It might even be a law that you have to. But if you actually give two shits about your students, wouldn't you say, "Instead of watching Monsters, Inc today, we're going to sit down and read aloud from the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and talk about it."

but therein lies the rub, I guess. They don't care.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at January 14, 2014 12:15 PM (4df7R)

132 "And monopolies don't have to deliver good products, so they deliver awful ones. If you don't believe me, read this."

That story has absolutely enormous lessons going unremarked.

The left continually tell us about how schools are being "starved for funding" by evil Republicans who want to produce illiterate, unemployable graduates. Because Koch Brothers.

But here's a massively failed school. It's located in a liberal Democratic city that is in a liberal Democratic state. Republicans in this area are less than 15% of the electorate. Liberal Democratic mayor. Liberal Democratic state representation. Liberal Democratic state Governor. Liberal Democratic Congresswoman. Two liberal Democrats as federal Senators. The entire chain of command here all the way to the very top consists wholly and exclusively of liberal Democrats. And, this school is getting a shit-ton of federal Title I money.

Yet somehow this failed school is the fault of Republicans. You could not make this shit up.

But wait! There's more! Now how much would you pay?

This is a majority-black school. So, since it's failing, it must be Whitey keeping the brothuhs and sistuhs down. Worse than Simon Legree!

Except... for the black principal. The one who doesn't show up for work and instead goes gadding about in a fur coat in a BMW. And, said black principal reports to a black superintendent who seems not to care that the principal is repeatedly not on school grounds during school hours, yet somehow trousers thousands in _overtime pay_.

But it's the white-privilege power structure to blame. And whites dare not voice a word of criticism. Check your privilege, honky!

Posted by: torquewrench at January 14, 2014 12:15 PM (gqT4g)

133 The only way it makes "sense" is as a total inversion of values. Calling evil good and good evil. --- Ever seen Vampire In Brooklyn? Eddie Murphy, as a vampire, takes on the appearance of a priest who could be a dead-ringer for Rev. Wright and does a whole sermon trying to convince the parishoners that "evil is good".

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at January 14, 2014 12:15 PM (/Crba)

134 Lauren, what is an "emergency IEP meeting"?

Posted by: Muad'dib at January 14, 2014 12:15 PM (KjlbF)

135 Posted by: Lauren at January 14, 2014 04:12 PM (hFL/3) Da Fuq? Hell, I barely let in the water guy today, and I had that appointment scheduled. And I still watched him the entire time. Good god, I hope my school isn't this batshit crazy if/when it's time for my kids to go there (for now I'm not rehashing that fight with the wife.)

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) No Really! at January 14, 2014 12:15 PM (GaqMa)

136 116 tsrblke, PhD(c) No Really! at January 14, 2014 04:13 PM (GaqMa)

His support of subsidy and schtick yeah I could see that....

"we spend a billion to save 125,000 IF THE BUDGET HOLDS!"

//JWest 2016

Posted by: Sven 10077 at January 14, 2014 12:15 PM (TE35l)

137 Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 14, 2014 04:14 PM (t3UFN) If it's incomprehensible, how do you know it's about ObamaCare? I mean, it could be about how good that paste he and Biden shared at snack-time tasted.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) Ah, F It. at January 14, 2014 12:15 PM (PYAXX)

138 99 Statism and oppression rising everywhere. It's not like Germany's ever had trouble with that in the past. I'm sure they'll be fine. ---- My cousin (who lives in Germany) defended the policy BECAUSE of Germany's past. Her argument is that they need to make sure that everyone is educated properly. A, yeah, that'll do it. Posted by: Liberty Lover This. Germany now thinks that the only reason anyone could want to homeschool their children is to inculcate them with Nazi ideology and Hitler-worship. (Seriously.) Both of which are strictly illegal in Germany. It hasn't yet dawned on them that by forcing the populace to follow government orders, they themselves have become the totalitarians they're trying to eradicate.

Posted by: zombie at January 14, 2014 12:16 PM (+cx5n)

139 I have heard of a case like this. Is this a second one?

Posted by: Carol at January 14, 2014 12:16 PM (d2QQ4)

140 The right really needs to adopt this left wing tactic of defying the courts. Posted by: SpongeBobSaget at January 14, 2014 04:04 PM (kxSZr) Been saying this for decades.

Posted by: D-Lamp at January 14, 2014 12:16 PM (bb5+k)

141

Posted by: jwest at January 14, 2014 04:14 PM (u2a4R)

Have you ever heard of me?

Posted by: supply and demand at January 14, 2014 12:16 PM (m2CN7)

142 Willful blindness on China's rise. Ok.
China has 4x the population, only needs to get to 25% of GDP per Capita of US to match GDP.

You do realize that China is very much a paper tiger, right? With a massive gender imbalance, not to mention a growing chasm between the wealthy and the dirt poor. It's a gubmint so rife with corruption and graft that it can barely hold itself together.

They are not the future. They'll be lucky to make it there.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at January 14, 2014 12:16 PM (4df7R)

143 IEP Investigate Erratic Parents?

Posted by: BlueStateRebel at January 14, 2014 12:16 PM (7ObY1)

144 It hasn't yet dawned on them that by forcing the populace to follow government orders, they themselves have become the totalitarians they're trying to eradicate. That's because, by and large, leftists are immune to the concept of irony. Reality also.

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/s][/u][/b] at January 14, 2014 12:17 PM (yz6yg)

145 "In other words, the Left can always advance, whereas Conservatism can only defend." Cons only do well after the burning. Once the burning leaves the collective memory, the collectivists rise again until the next burning. So explaining the affection for Let It Burn.

Posted by: Meremortal at January 14, 2014 12:17 PM (1Y+hH)

146
I am for all government out of all schooling. Period. The End. La Fin. Al Final.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at January 14, 2014 12:17 PM (n0DEs)

147 "I had no idea how school choice worked..." Sven, who said anything about "school choice"? My proposal is for vouchers. Period. I would be happy if all public schools were bulldozed.

Posted by: jwest at January 14, 2014 12:17 PM (u2a4R)

148 Frightening --- especially because it reflects exactly what the American Left wants to do. Hell, drop the mask & start the shooting. Let's get this dance started already.

Posted by: rickb223 at January 14, 2014 12:18 PM (uVkIH)

149

Voucher, smoucher ...

... Sooner or later, we'll ALL be home schooling, or cell schooling ...

Posted by: ScoggDog at January 14, 2014 12:18 PM (pcn8B)

150

112 -

The guy wasn't talking about school vouchers. He said he would give people (not students) $25,000 to re-populate Detroit.

The fact that he is coming here today, trying to claim he was talking about school vouchers is proof that jwest is either psychotic or a straight up lying liar of a troll.

Posted by: BurtTC at January 14, 2014 12:18 PM (TOk1P)

151 IEP Individualized educational plan. Required by law for any child enrolled in special education services.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 14, 2014 12:18 PM (P6QsQ)

152 My cousin (who lives in Germany) defended the policy BECAUSE of Germany's past. Her argument is that they need to make sure that everyone is educated properly. A, yeah, that'll do it.

Posted by: Liberty Lover at January 14, 2014 04:09 PM (6ppJR)

Right? The thinking is, "If we let these racist white supremacist Nazis homeschool their children, they'll raise a new generation of white supremacist Nazis! We must FORCE THEM to attend state-run schools to prevent this!"

The stupid burns.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at January 14, 2014 12:19 PM (4df7R)

153 The Left believes they own you and your family. Elections are defacto rigged given the media and education system, so what hope is there? Eventually, people will resort to violence as all other avenues are rigged against them. World history tells us this.

Posted by: Dan at January 14, 2014 12:19 PM (gR5OX)

154 They are not the future. They'll be lucky to make it there. No, we'll be lucky to make it there as they collapse. Because failed societies have a long and storied history of first lashing out at others in order to paper over their own inadequacies.

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/s][/u][/b] at January 14, 2014 12:19 PM (yz6yg)

155 In the camp schools, I call dibs on teaching English.

Posted by: BlueStateRebel at January 14, 2014 12:19 PM (7ObY1)

156 Allen, last I heard, most of the children had been given back. I think a 17 year old was allowed to live with his biological father, and perhaps one awaiting final approval of adoption is still in limbo.

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at January 14, 2014 12:19 PM (eGmvn)

157 It hasn't yet dawned on them that by forcing the populace to follow government orders, they themselves have become the totalitarians they're trying to eradicate.

Posted by: zombie at January 14, 2014 04:16 PM (+cx5n)

Oh yes it has.

They just believe they're the ones to do it right this time. Syrias you guys.

Posted by: Washington Nearsider at January 14, 2014 12:19 PM (fwARV)

158 Thanks grammie.

Posted by: Muad'dib at January 14, 2014 12:19 PM (KjlbF)

159 " Lauren, what is an "emergency IEP meeting"? My son's autistic. We were removing him from the school because their idea of educating him was having him walk the halls half the day with a VP. IEP meetings are where you beg and plead for the school district to educate your child and they either berate you for your poor parenting or placate you with buzzwords that do nothing to actually solve the problem. Apparently when I withdrew my son it triggered the little busy bees in the admin of the school to make an "emergency IEP plan" that they wanted to discuss with me because they were Very Concerned tm about my son's social development if we decided to homeschool.

Posted by: Lauren at January 14, 2014 12:19 PM (hFL/3)

160 IEP = Individualized Education Plan. It's for students in special education.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at January 14, 2014 12:19 PM (4df7R)

161

Just watched Downfall on Netflix last weekend. Goebbel's wife gave their children cyanide so that they would not have to grow up in a world without National Socialism.

Creepy huh ????

Posted by: McCool at January 14, 2014 12:19 PM (nCSwS)

162 "When we pulled my son out of public school 5 administrators showed up at my door to request we do an emergency IEP meeting in my home. I told them that I wasn't interested and we were firm in our decision."

They're either fully indoctrinated and "all-in " in believing they serve some vital and irreplaceable role in the lives of children...

Or they're filthy, turf-protecting goons that think you're indirectly stiffing them out of a commission.

Most times it's a sad thing, but sometimes I thank God my wife and I couldn't have kids. I'd probably be in jail by now if faced with crap like that.

Posted by: Jaws at January 14, 2014 12:20 PM (4I3Uo)

163 Don't worry, President Obama promised that "if you like your children, you can keep your children". When has he ever been wrong about something like that?

Posted by: BSKB at January 14, 2014 12:20 PM (4KWOY)

164 China already the 2nd richest country on the planet, in nominal GDP. 50% of US GDP. At PPP it's at 80% of US GDP. Or are we just saying all GDP #s are just bullshit? What measures do you suggest to look at instead?

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at January 14, 2014 12:20 PM (ZPrif)

165 It takes a village...

Posted by: brak at January 14, 2014 12:20 PM (NaTky)

166
Because failed societies have a long and storied history of first lashing out at others in order to paper over their own inadequacies.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 14, 2014 04:19 PM (yz6yg)

Which is why they keep saber rattling against Japan and Korea. They desperately want a shooting war to get some of those restive young men off their hands, and screw teh consequences.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at January 14, 2014 12:21 PM (4df7R)

167 The only way it makes "sense" is as a total inversion of values. Calling evil good and good evil. It's almost as if everything is backwards. Almost.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit [/i][/s][/b] at January 14, 2014 12:21 PM (0HooB)

168 Now, if you've calculated correctly, you'll see that $25K is less than $28K. This is what we call a "savings". --------------------------------- For half that amount, WHICH IS THE AMOUNT DETROIT ACTUALLY SPENDS PER PUPIL, you can send your kid to the most expensive private schools in New Orleans. http://tinyurl.com/k4lk4on But spending 90% of what you CLAIM Detroit does is a "savings." Let's have another lecture about math from you. Fucking jagoff. Here's an idea: forced busing. That way you don't have to deal with vouchers at all. Just send the black kids to the suburban public schools and vice versa. That sounds like it would work, huh? And it's even got "forced" in the title, just for you.

Posted by: Empire of Jeff, SGT, Invisible Army of Rome at January 14, 2014 12:21 PM (CJjw5)

169 In other words, the Left can always advance, whereas Conservatism can only defend. Posted by: soothsayer at January 14, 2014 04:11 PM (gYIst) They have an AIR force. We don't. Till we get an iAIR force, we won't be doing much attacking.

Posted by: D-Lamp at January 14, 2014 12:21 PM (bb5+k)

170 Thanks for putting me some knowledge Lauren. How is your son doing since you began homeschooling?

Posted by: Muad'dib at January 14, 2014 12:21 PM (KjlbF)

171 IEP = Individualized Education Plan I'm just surprised that Commies would use the word "individualized." "For the Good of the State Education Plan" would be more their style.

Posted by: BlueStateRebel at January 14, 2014 12:21 PM (7ObY1)

172 147 jwest at January 14, 2014 04:17 PM (u2a4R)

Oh better yet...

Yup I am the one who is crazy you live in reality Tiger...

"good luck"

Posted by: Sven 10077 at January 14, 2014 12:21 PM (TE35l)

173 Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) Ah, F It. at January 14, 2014 04:13 PM (PYAXX) The problem is the system is wildly broken. Say you're a meth head. CPS comes in, finds your kids near death from lack of food and you strung out on the couch. So off to foster care they go. You clean up for a bit, get them back, but then we repeat this cycle, 3-4 times. Meanwhile your kids are in a foster care system where the foster parents have very limited rights to do...well anything, including discipline. In reality, your kids probably should have been taken from you permanently the second time we found you on a couch strung out, and your kids in their own feces. I'm willing to give you a second chance, but frankly, not a 3rd, and certainly not a 4th, but that's the way the system is structured. I think that this combined with a heavy dose of feelings of moral superiority make for CPS agents and social workers who often go overboard by a long shot. It's neither A nor B alone by a healthy dose of both. That and some of the people are completely oblivious to fact that often the state doesn't do much better. I remember one speaker we had who pretty much wanted to take your kids from you if you let them play football. She saw no irony in the fact that just moments before she was railing against LA CPS keeping kids overnight in offices sleeping on desks. When I pointed this out to her (that government had arguably made some of the marginal cases worse off than they were before) she just changed the subject. (Alas, she's at the top of the academic cartel, so I had no control to bring it back.)

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) No Really! at January 14, 2014 12:22 PM (GaqMa)

174 In the camp schools, I call dibs on teaching English. I can spreken ze spanglish.

Posted by: rickb223 at January 14, 2014 12:22 PM (uVkIH)

175 All your childrenth are belongth to uth!

Posted by: Melitha Harrith Perry at January 14, 2014 12:22 PM (7ObY1)

176 I believe "molon labe" applies. . Mew

Posted by: acat at January 14, 2014 12:22 PM (4UkCP)

177 112 School vouchers for Detroit should come from the taxpayers of Detroit.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 14, 2014 04:12 PM (P6QsQ)

There are no taxpayers in Detroit. They are being financed by the feds, eg us.

Posted by: Vic[/i] at January 14, 2014 12:22 PM (T2V/1)

178 "The guy wasn't talking about school vouchers. He said he would give people (not students) $25,000 to re-populate Detroit." Burt, How do you function on a day-to-day basis being so fucking stupid. Go back, re-read everything I ever written, get some help with the comprehension problem you have, then get back to me.

Posted by: jwest at January 14, 2014 12:22 PM (u2a4R)

179 Or are we just saying all GDP #s are just bullshit? What measures do you suggest to look at instead?

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at January 14, 2014 04:20 PM (ZPrif)

First off, never trust any economic numbers you get out of China. They cook their books like chilis in a Szechuan skillet.

Secondly, just because a country has an inflated GDP doesn't mean they have a solid economic foundation.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at January 14, 2014 12:22 PM (4df7R)

180
There are way too many of today's absurd social issues being regarded as the New Normal. Conservatism has been and will always be stopped dead in its tracks.

The Left did it right, this time. They learned they could never achieve their goals through brute force, but instead under the guise of peace and tolerance. They used America's freedom and unique democracy to change America from within.

Posted by: soothsayer at January 14, 2014 12:22 PM (gYIst)

181 You know... thinking about public school still makes me really, really angry. I remember the call from my wife on the day we decided to pull my son from public school, and how murderously angry I was. It was a very good thing that I was an hour or more away from the school when that happened.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) Ah, F It. at January 14, 2014 12:23 PM (PYAXX)

182 IEPs were originally designed to make sure that teachers and therapy providers for special needs students had a clear grasp of the problem, and clear measurable goals to address them. And that parents were consulted along the way.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 14, 2014 12:23 PM (P6QsQ)

183 Lauren, have you ever attended any of the seminars run by Jim Wright? ("Wright's Law") He was invaluable in helping us navigate the IEP process here is deep blue Northern VA.

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/s][/u][/b] at January 14, 2014 12:23 PM (yz6yg)

184 168 Empire of Jeff, SGT, Invisible Army of Rome at January 14, 2014 04:21 PM (CJjw5)

If it comes with a black leather trenchcoat and riding crop I'm game!

//JWest

Posted by: Sven 10077 at January 14, 2014 12:23 PM (TE35l)

185

"IEP meetings are where you beg and plead for the school district to educate your child and they either berate you for your poor parenting or placate you with buzzwords that do nothing to actually solve the problem. " - Lauren

So true Lauren.... pulled my son out of NJ public school b/c we just got tired of IEPs that were never followed through on. Small private school in Princeton for Asperger-type kids worked great and now he's in a Catholic HS. I'm alot poorer in my bank account, but richer as far as peace of mind

Posted by: McCool at January 14, 2014 12:23 PM (nCSwS)

186 >Go back, re-read everything I ever written, get some help with the comprehension problem you have, then get back to me.

Posted by: jwest at January 14, 2014 04:22 PM (u2a4R)<

Hey Burt, you wanna borrow my copy of Stuff jwest Said, Vol. 1?

Posted by: Muad'dib at January 14, 2014 12:23 PM (KjlbF)

187 All your kids are belong to us!

Posted by: Melissa Harris-Perry at January 14, 2014 12:24 PM (f9c2L)

188 11 Stories like this have been coming out of Germany for at least a few years now. ItÂ’s frightening just how adamant the German government is about it, and how far theyÂ’re willing to go to enforce itÂ—and how it appears to be accepted by the German people. The last isn't surprising. If you go to Germany, you might be perplexed as to how they could let Naziism rise, but it's abundantly clear how, once they took control, the Nazis took over completely. The culture is all about hierarchy, obedience and conformity.

Posted by: AmishDude at January 14, 2014 12:24 PM (T0NGe)

189 I'm really of two minds about CPS. I cannot decide if the good they do (and they do a lot of good, really) is enough to counterbalance the bad they do. It would be easier to decide if the bad was all incidental or accidental. But too many times it's just malicious or (in some ways worse) lazy. Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) Ah, F It. at January 14, 2014 04:13 PM (PYAXX) I know of many examples of idiocy and incompetency on the part of CPS, and no examples of them doing something right. It has long been my opinion that CPS and for that matter APS is the biggest bunch of tyrannical incompetents within State Government.

Posted by: D-Lamp at January 14, 2014 12:24 PM (bb5+k)

190 177 Vic at January 14, 2014 04:22 PM (T2V/1)

I don't understand why Detroit doesn't just legalize pot, meth, and coke Vic...they'd have a booming economy from the taxes right?

//Libertine Local 957

Sooner or later FSA will figure out you have to produce a good or service worth fucking having to have an economy.

Posted by: Sven 10077 at January 14, 2014 12:25 PM (TE35l)

191

168 -

That's better.

Posted by: BurtTC at January 14, 2014 12:25 PM (TOk1P)

192 IEPs were originally designed to make sure that teachers and therapy providers for special needs students had a clear grasp of the problem, and clear measurable goals to address them. And that parents were consulted along the way.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 14, 2014 04:23 PM (P6QsQ)

Like so many things they were begun with good intentions, and have since spiraled downhill. You may get a few places that really, genuinely try to do what's best for the child, but you get many more places that just want their data to look good for the feds.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at January 14, 2014 12:25 PM (4df7R)

193 In reality, your kids probably should have been taken from you permanently the second time we found you on a couch strung out, and your kids in their own feces.

The right of the parent to suck up state funds/give the social workers a sense of self trumps the right of the child to be raised by someone who gives a shit.

If the Romeike family starts living like Dasani's family (http://www.city-journal.org/2014/24_1_snd-dasani.html), they'll never have to worry about the government coming to take the kids ever again.

Posted by: HR at January 14, 2014 12:25 PM (ZKzrr)

194 Germany now thinks that the only reason anyone could want to homeschool their children is to inculcate them with Nazi ideology

It's a 5 minute lesson.
The Zi in Nazi stands for socialism.
Take off that silly uniform.
Eat a bagel.

Posted by: DaveA[/i][/b][/s] at January 14, 2014 12:25 PM (DL2i+)

195 Burt, How do you function on a day-to-day basis being so fucking stupid. Go back, re-read everything I ever written, get some help with the comprehension problem you have, then get back to me. This from the guy who posts non sequiturs and logical fallacies on a daily basis. Oh, and your last logical fallacy right there was an Argumentum ad Hominem. Dolt.

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/s][/u][/b] at January 14, 2014 12:25 PM (yz6yg)

196 OT: Who says that Obama can't be tough on foreign policy.

Obama demands that Netanyahu publicly condemn his defense minister for noticing that Kerry is windbag empty suit.

http://tinyurl.com/mbtlapu

Posted by: WalrusRex at January 14, 2014 12:26 PM (XUKZU)

197 When IEPs were first mandated, they were to act as a safeguard against merely warehousing special ed students who were now being more mainstreamed into the public schools.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 14, 2014 12:26 PM (P6QsQ)

198 " How is your son doing since you began homeschooling?" Very well. He's a year advanced in all of his subjects. Truth be told we could push him to go faster and he could easily do it, but I don't know if having an 8 year old who does algebra is really the best for him. Basically, my son is Sheldon Cooper. Now put Sheldon Cooper at a school where 98% of the students are ESL and get free lunches and you'll understand what we were up against. Socially, he's doing so much better as well. He still deals with fixations and you'd know he's on the spectrum if you talk to him, but he's doing well making friends and with his siblings. Definitely an improvement all around. We also decided to homeschool our daughter after finding out that the public school that we feed into now had a teacher arrested for a "ongoing relationship with an 8 year old student." Uh. No.

Posted by: Lauren at January 14, 2014 12:26 PM (hFL/3)

199 I know of many examples of idiocy and incompetency on the part of CPS, and no examples of them doing something right. Of course, because CPS interventions are confidential, so you only hear about the bad ones (because the family comes forward). The good ones go unnoticed. That doesn't mean they don't happen. I've been witness to a few myself.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) Ah, F It. at January 14, 2014 12:26 PM (PYAXX)

200 Sooner or later FSA will figure out you have to produce a good or service worth fucking having to have an economy. --- They have a barter economy based on meth and blowjobs, I think...

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at January 14, 2014 12:27 PM (/Crba)

201 Didn't we cover this one already?

I know Beck did.

Posted by: Paladin at January 14, 2014 12:27 PM (+Wvn3)

202 Nice work Lauren!

Posted by: Muad'dib at January 14, 2014 12:27 PM (KjlbF)

203 China will grow old before it grows rich. Posted by: toby928Â© heard this somewhere That's a comforting fallacy that appeals to many Americans, but I really don't think it's true. China will surpass us because they will, and we "collectively" don't care. I deal with the Chinese all the time and travel there. Some things I like, something pretty much not. It's really different, but not as weird as you might think. And it's a vast country, and one part is vastly different than another. Shanghai is like New York City; huge, vibrant, busy. All kinds of new construction. The Northwest is poor, but I also suspect that out in the more remote areas, people evade the "one child policy". Don't be misled about all the odd ball stuff you read about "ghost cities" and other stuff. It's true, and they have serious banking problems. But if you look at the history of the US, we overcame a lot to prosper and grow, because people BELIEVED in the future. That is true in China. There is a huge amount of enthusiasm among many (especially the young) for the future. Regardless of their problems, they believe in themselves and their country. Our kids, not so much. And that is how they are taught in our schools.

Posted by: Ribald Conservative riding Orca at January 14, 2014 12:27 PM (RFeQD)

204 Posted by: Lauren at January 14, 2014 04:19 PM (hFL/3) Whacky. I find that schools are wildly different with regards to their special schools program. Even great districts sometimes have miserable special schools programs. Meanwhile one of the districts not far from here is a powerhouse of special schools. I know people who have moved into the district (into small houses since property values are so high) just to take advantage of their great special school which, is nationally recognized. It also does more with less money per child than most of the other district around here. This isn't a case of everyone trying to get out of the failing district either. Yes there are failing districts in the area, but people moving into this district could easily afford to move into the other well off districts which are recognized as good (but not the powerhouse SSD.)

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) No Really! at January 14, 2014 12:27 PM (GaqMa)

205 The culture is all about hierarchy, obedience and conformity. Posted by: AmishDude at January 14, 2014 04:24 PM (T0NGe) Yes, right down to what you can put in your window box.

Posted by: Caliban at January 14, 2014 12:27 PM (DrC22)

206 Yeah, we went through the IEP process for several years with my son, who was developmentally delayed because of congenital heart defects. It is not fun, and it was pretty clear that they would just rather we found something else for him (and stopped taking up their time)..
Moved him to a school that specializes in alternative teaching methods for competent kids who just don't take to the traditional teaching methods. Funnily enough, the elementary section of his school is over 90% boys. Because, you know, boys being boys=defective, unteachable.

Posted by: Lizzy at January 14, 2014 12:28 PM (POpqt)

207

186 -

Heh, thanks. No. I consider it a badge of honor to have, on the same day, jwest and Hollowpoint complaining that I mischaracterized their rantings and ravings.

Posted by: BurtTC at January 14, 2014 12:28 PM (TOk1P)

208 We also decided to homeschool our daughter after finding out that the public school that we feed into now had a teacher arrested for a "ongoing relationship with an 8 year old student." --- So, THAT is where Woody Allen is spending his time these days... Seriously, though, that is the kind of thing where you want to string up the teacher and the union by the end of it, as the teacher's a perv and the union will stick up for them and blame the victim in order to try and curry favor.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at January 14, 2014 12:28 PM (/Crba)

209 164 China already the 2nd richest country on the planet, in nominal GDP. 50% of US GDP. At PPP it's at 80% of US GDP. Or are we just saying all GDP #s are just bullshit? What measures do you suggest to look at instead? And MCI was once the second biggest telecom company, and Enron was a sure-fire stock. I'd look to the empty cities and bear in mind the press isn't able (or willing) to find flaws in Socialist Paradise. China is getting away with a lot because Western investors are pouring money in. But the money isn't coming out. Places like Mexico or India are becoming more attractive. It's a bubble. It will go pop.

Posted by: Bevel Lemelisk at January 14, 2014 12:28 PM (iANqq)

210 The culture is all about hierarchy, obedience and conformity.

As is ours.

Posted by: HR at January 14, 2014 12:28 PM (ZKzrr)

211 Oh, and one more shot at the stupid politics of public school... The reason why we were at a school that was so heavily ESL/Poor? Because the city of Austin gerrymandered our middle class neighborhood into that district. We crossed two highways to take our son to school. Don't you love liberals?

Posted by: Lauren at January 14, 2014 12:30 PM (hFL/3)

212 UNREAL: Karzai To Free Seven Afghan Prisoners Who Killed Americans In Cold Blood During Green-On-Blue AttacksÂ… What's the point?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 14, 2014 12:30 PM (t3UFN)

213 Japan couldn't pass the US because even at it's peak it only had half the population of the US. Would have to get 2x as rich per capita to match GDP. Comparisons of China to USSR also fail because China is much more ethnically unified. 90% Han. Even if minorities broke off to form own nations, like Tibet or Inner Mongolia, it's a small fraction of China's population.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at January 14, 2014 12:30 PM (ZPrif)

214 Which is why they keep saber rattling against Japan and Korea. They desperately want a shooting war to get some of those restive young men off their hands, and screw teh consequences.

And then they also have the same problem the rest of the world has: Islam wanting to move in.

Posted by: Ian S. at January 14, 2014 12:30 PM (B/VB5)

215 Moving further away from centers of govt seems to the only answer.

Saw a t-shirt
"If Government is the answer. It was a Stupid question!"

Posted by: Paladin at January 14, 2014 12:30 PM (+Wvn3)

216 Homeschooling is terrifying to the teacher community. It's so much easier to teach one-on-one than one on 25-40. Especially when the stupid rules aren't in effect at home. If homeschooling grew enough, the difference in quality outcomes would become to obvious to ignore. I was "both schooled" but I learned how to become financially independent from my father, not from school. I learned how to sound smart from school, and that was about it.

Posted by: Meremortal at January 14, 2014 12:31 PM (1Y+hH)

217 I just got an idea (inspired by Lauren's comments above). What is stopping parents from engaging in de facto but unofficial homeschooling, while going through the motions of regular schooling? That'd be impossible for the progs to stop. In other words: Get your kid into some kind of touchy-feelie special program in the public school. Then allow the child to attend these "classes" at a minimal level - - frequent sick days, frequency tardies, never do homework. Orchastrate it such that your child wastes as little time as possible actually in public school, and waste no time at all outside of school hours. To the school administrators, your kids would simply be a "troubled" or "learning challenged" student. Meanwhile, at home, you are teaching the child correctly, relentlessly, educating him or her in extremis far beyond what they'd get in public school. So that by their mid-late teens, they'd ace the SAT and AP tests, despite poor actual GPAs in "official" school. I realize this is a little byzantine, and only recommended it in places like Germany, where homeschooling is illegal (or strongly discouraged). But short of ending the family unit altogether, it'd be impossible to stamp out as a practice.

Posted by: zombie at January 14, 2014 12:31 PM (+cx5n)

218 Posted by: Empire of Jeff, SGT, Invisible Army of Rome at January 14, 2014 04:21 PM (CJjw5) Of course, being the fucking borderline idiot you are, you wouldn't know that the published figures from the Detroit schools are a fraction of the actual yearly expenditures. If you really want to gain some actual knowledge, go read the Washington Post articles concerning the cost per pupil in the Baltimore schools. Along with the D.C. and Detroit schools, they use only the teacher cost along with a portion of the administration costs in their official figures. The actual cost is the total year expenditures divided by the number of students. They will argue that if the variable costs went away (teachers, direct admin) the fixed costs would still remain. In my plan, the fixed assets are sold or abandoned. I'm certain that if you spent the time to educate yourself as to what the real numbers are, you might be open to exploring new ways of educating students.

Posted by: jwest at January 14, 2014 12:31 PM (u2a4R)

219 In my former life when I was not ancient, I was a speech and language therapist for the school system. I have written hundreds of IEPs and had meetings with hundreds of parents. I also had a disabled brother. I sympathize, believe me. My own kids went to private school.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 14, 2014 12:31 PM (P6QsQ)

220 Hey, EoJ, you want me to hold your coat? Or are you good?

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/s][/u][/b] at January 14, 2014 12:32 PM (yz6yg)

221 Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) Ah, F It. at January 14, 2014 04:23 PM (PYAXX) I've said it before, if/when I have kids since the wife is insistent on the public schooling ("I went to a public school, and I want my kid to as well.) As soon as any kids I have turn 2 I'll be showing up to school board meetings with an eye on being on the board by the time my kid is in kindergarten. Keep a close eye on them at the very least. (I at least got my wife to agree to "consider" options, since a school can obviously change between now and then, even if it's good-ish now. But frankly I don't want to have to bet on the school collapsing because that's just macabre.)

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) No Really! at January 14, 2014 12:32 PM (GaqMa)

222 Seriously, though, that is the kind of thing where you want to string up the teacher and the union by the end of it, as the teacher's a perv and the union will stick up for them and blame the victim in order to try and curry favor.

---

Speaking of which.... did anybody else catch OReilley's on that very subject last night??? Union hack is pushing the school district for SEVERENCE pay for a teacher that raped a twelve year old boy.

Posted by: fixerupper at January 14, 2014 12:32 PM (nELVU)

223 China's problems are self correcting. Pollution will disproportionally kill off the very young, the very old, the very ill, and some of the underproles. Death panels are already ensuring resources are not wasted on the above as well, with particular emphasis on the elderly. Women are being rehabilitated as acceptable children who are able to provide for their parents future just as well as men are. This is not being done to provide for the elderly - who should do society a favor and die - but because China has a SEVERE shortage of pussy. Not just young, hot pussy, but any sort of ambulatory vagina - 1:7 pussy:swinging little dick ratio in the useful factory worker age group in some cities. Makes for unhappy workers. All of China's neighbors are wise to this and won't allow 'guest worker/enslaved rape victims' to go to China. So, more girl babies. Shipped off to factory cities at increasingly younger ages. To do factory work and also send babies to the new baby farms. Meanwhile, turn Africa into a client state as those assholes are too corrupt not to be subjugated into pseudo-slavery and rape the ever living shit out of their resources, saving those in and near China for later use. Kill off the takers, make more makers, keep the pesky men under control with pussy, rape Africa with impunity... worker's paradise! Fuck Spanish, Learn Mandarin!

Posted by: Soy Saucey at January 14, 2014 12:33 PM (vHRtU)

224 As is ours. I must disagree. Ours is still an egalitarian society where one is the same as the other. Only in Leftard concentrations are there the mistaken ideas of different classes. Walk around just about anywhere down here and you'll see what I mean. I can go into a law office or a junkyard and be treated pretty much the same by the folks who work there.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit [/i][/s][/b] at January 14, 2014 12:34 PM (0HooB)

225 Union hack is pushing the school district for SEVERENCE pay for a teacher that raped a twelve year old boy. Send the teacher my way. I'll sever somethin'...

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) Ah, F It. at January 14, 2014 12:34 PM (PYAXX)

226 Germany hates Scientology so they've got that going for them.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at January 14, 2014 12:34 PM (oFCZn)

227 I've said it before, if/when I have kids since the wife is insistent on the public schooling ("I went to a public school, and I want my kid to as well.) It's so cute she thinks that. I was like that too. Until I asked myself a simple questionÂ… "Is the world today the same as it was when I went to public school?" After that the answer as to which way to go with the kid was obvious.

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/s][/u][/b] at January 14, 2014 12:34 PM (yz6yg)

228 Germany hates Scientology so they've got that going for them. Naaaa... Scientology is hardly even worth hating.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) Ah, F It. at January 14, 2014 12:34 PM (PYAXX)

229 Home schooling gets a bad rap because it is associated with religious zealots who insist the earth is 5000 years old. Take that aspect away from the equation, and I think a lot more people would go that route. But since it is so heavily associated with religion, most people don't want that stigma attached to them.

Posted by: Mr. Moo Moo at January 14, 2014 12:35 PM (0LHZx)

230 Speaking of which.... did anybody else catch OReilley's on that very subject last night??? Union hack is pushing the school district for SEVERENCE pay for a teacher that raped a twelve year old boy. --- If this is the case I'm thinking of, shithead was fired over the relationship and the union is fighting to get him the "voluntary severance" package offered to teachers to reduce headcount that year. It's an uphill battle to claim he was voluntarily severed when he was fighting his firing tooth and nail, though.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at January 14, 2014 12:35 PM (/Crba)

231 Fuck Spanish, Learn Mandarin!

Tom Friedman, is that you?

Posted by: Ian S. at January 14, 2014 12:35 PM (B/VB5)

232 It was an emergency IEP because sweet Federal and State dollars were at stake. A friend has a son who had some minor problems early on. He, the father, basically had to hammer them constantly to keep on track and prevent unnecessary sessions. He lives in MI so they were able to play the school off of private services in some cases to get what they wanted.

Posted by: Chris at January 14, 2014 12:35 PM (crkWb)

233 Cue the bigot

Posted by: grammie winger at January 14, 2014 12:36 PM (P6QsQ)

234 >>Homeschooling is terrifying to the teacher community.

If you look at how teachers and public school administrators behave, it's screamingly obvious that they think parents are morons and it is their job to make up for it. They want to take over all meals - free breakfast, lunch, and in some places like DC, even free dinner. They want to teach them all sorts of subjects outside of their mission, such as sex ed. and morality. They send home reminders to get your kids vaccinated or to have them wear mittens on cold days, etc.
Of course homeschooling scares them - it's intruding on *their* faux parental role of shaping their little minds.

Posted by: Lizzy at January 14, 2014 12:36 PM (POpqt)

235 Odds are strong that China will pass the US in GDP sometime in the 2020s. Last time the #1 spot changed hands was when the US passed the UK. It's not clear exactly when that happened. Estimate range from late 19th century to WW1. Took a while for the world to recognize that, though. Not till after WW2 was America's dominance understood globally. China already produces and consumes much more energy than US does. And they keep adding capacity while we ... don't.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at January 14, 2014 12:36 PM (ZPrif)

236 Zombie, truancy laws would get you fast if you tried that. Schools do NOT like absent children. Costs them money. Before we started homeschooling my son got an unexcused tardy. The reason? My younger son was hospitalized the night before for croup and my husband was out of town. I had to wait til the baby was discharged before I could take my son to school. No excuse! Unexcused. That's going on your permanent record, son!

Posted by: Lauren at January 14, 2014 12:36 PM (hFL/3)

237 Comparisons of China to USSR also fail because China is much more ethnically unified. 90% Han. Even if minorities broke off to form own nations, like Tibet or Inner Mongolia, it's a small fraction of China's population. China, historically, is a big civil war. Mao's Cultural Revolution was an attempt to stop China's long cycle of falling into chaos after a decadent empire finally dies until one Warlord declares himself Emperor (or chairman, or whatever).

Posted by: Bevel Lemelisk at January 14, 2014 12:36 PM (Eflez)

238 If we elect more Republicans our problems will... *pick one or all* stay the same get worse improve over time leading to morning in America again Answer: Let It Burn. Sweep up the ashes and start over.

Posted by: Meremortal at January 14, 2014 12:36 PM (1Y+hH)

239 China is getting away with a lot because Western investors are pouring money in. But the money isn't coming out. Places like Mexico or India are becoming more attractive.

It's a bubble. It will go pop.

Posted by: Bevel Lemelisk at January 14, 2014 04:28 PM (iANqq)

______________

Plus, there is now way to tell what their GDP actually is. They can say it's growing at 8% every year all they want. It could be 8 or -8 just as easily. Anyone that trusts numbers from a country run by The Communist Party is a fool.

Posted by: Mr. Moo Moo at January 14, 2014 12:37 PM (0LHZx)

240 Oh, now it's "look at Teh REAL Numberz!!1!!!" Followed by a demand that I do the fucking homework he didn't bother to do before dribbling some more unfounded brainshittings out of his road-worn cocksocket. Take it up with your therapist, pussy.

Posted by: Empire of Jeff, SGT, Invisible Army of Rome at January 14, 2014 12:37 PM (CJjw5)

241 Hey, EoJ, you want me to hold your coat? Or are you good? Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 14, 2014 04:32 PM (yz6yg) I love that he totally missed the point of EoJ's comment about "The most expensive private school" in New Orleans. Given that I've seen pics of EoJ on a private plane, I'm assuming he's had some personal experience with said school and knows it's costs quite well

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) No Really! at January 14, 2014 12:37 PM (GaqMa)

242 Karzai To Free Seven Afghan Prisoners Who Killed Americans In Cold Blood During Green-On-Blue AttacksÂ…

He outwore his teal dress the day after his 1st SOTU appearance.

Didn't Elwood have to stand 4 feet behind a line to pick up his stuff at the start of Blues Brothers 2? How far away would the line have to be for a drone-zap?

Posted by: DaveA[/i][/b][/s] at January 14, 2014 12:37 PM (DL2i+)

243 106 In other words, the Left can always advance, whereas Conservatism can only defend. Posted by: soothsayer at January 14, 2014 04:11 PM (gYIst) ****** Oh I find Conservatives highly offensive.

Posted by: Harry Reid Esq. at January 14, 2014 12:38 PM (RJMhd)

244

220 -

What's the point. The guy is delusional. He's trying to sell his "plan" on a blog.

There are mental hospitals all over the world, full of Napoleons who are less megalomaniacal than our jwest.

Posted by: BurtTC at January 14, 2014 12:38 PM (TOk1P)

245 If you look at how teachers and public school administrators behave, it's screamingly obvious that they think parents are morons and it is their job to make up for it. They want to take over all meals - free breakfast, lunch, and in some places like DC, even free dinner. Well, in some places, like DC, the parents are morons. And not in a good way.

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/s][/u][/b] at January 14, 2014 12:38 PM (yz6yg)

246 Karzai To Free Seven Afghan Prisoners Who Killed Americans In Cold Blood During Green-On-Blue AttacksÂ… Why shouldn't he? I mean, I know why we don't want him to, but- rationally- from his perspective, it makes a lot of sense. The United States cannot be trusted as an ally. Therefore, better to discard them (us) and ally with people who *can* be trusted as an ally... or at least people who are really threatening you.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) Ah, F It. at January 14, 2014 12:39 PM (PYAXX)

247 The armband never falls far from the fascist.
-
It'll be neat when we're marching at night with torches making a giant Obama symbol.

Posted by: WalrusRex at January 14, 2014 12:39 PM (XUKZU)

248
Finally, a question to all the Dumb Shits who say we need to nix the social issues:

What on earth do you suppose is so damn important to the State that your children must learn at public school? Well, it's sure-as-shit not the rigorous curriculum.

Answer, dummies: The. Social. Issues.

It's been about all about the social issues, all along. Where else are children gonna learn about global warming and be made to watch Gore's lies on film?

Where else but in school are children gonna be taught not to judge those "different" from them?

Where else but in public school are children gonna learn that the church is silly and backwards? And marriage is for Everybody! And obama is historic and infallible?

Posted by: soothsayer at January 14, 2014 12:40 PM (gYIst)

249 I homeschool my two children. One in first grade, one in preK. The reasoning from that German judge is one thing that boils my backside when people who don't home school start talking about how they don't like it. It's basically the "socialization" concern/argument, which I hear all the time. And I get it, surprisingly, from people who know me and my children and are completely aware of how smart, friendly, polite, and generally well adjusted they are. My kids get plenty of socialization outside the home. They interact regularly with cousins, kids at church, and kids at karate. And most importantly, the majority of their socialization comes in the form of two adults (their parents) who do everyone we can to model good behavior for them. Which is why they will turn out fine.

Posted by: Mandy P., lurking lurker who lurks at January 14, 2014 12:40 PM (qFpRI)

250 Fuck Spanish, Learn Mandarin! ******* You country critters with your tiny guitars.

Posted by: Harry Reid Esq. at January 14, 2014 12:40 PM (RJMhd)

251 Posted by: Empire of Jeff, SGT, Invisible Army of Rome at January 14, 2014 04:37 PM (CJjw5) Dude, shouldn't you at least be a PSG in the Invisible Army of Rome by now? You're coming up against your RCP soon.

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/s][/u][/b] at January 14, 2014 12:40 PM (yz6yg)

252 Karzai To Free Seven Afghan Prisoners Who Killed Americans In Cold Blood During Green-On-Blue AttacksÂ…

Why shouldn't he?

I mean, I know why we don't want him to, but- rationally- from his perspective, it makes a lot of sense. The United States cannot be trusted as an ally. Therefore, better to discard them (us) and ally with people who *can* be trusted as an ally... or at least people who are really threatening you.
-
We make a better enemy than friend, ask Israel and Iran.

Posted by: WalrusRex at January 14, 2014 12:41 PM (XUKZU)

253 I'm going back to watch Battlestar Galactica - to lighten my mood.

Posted by: whoever at January 14, 2014 12:41 PM (zu9Ee)

254 Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) Ah, F It. at January 14, 2014 04:34 PM (PYAXX) Come now, He deserves his severance pay in a combination of metals. Copper, brass and maybe lead (I wouldn't waste the expensive stuff on him.) Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 14, 2014 04:34 PM (yz6yg) She survived a district that will likely soon join the ranks of the "unaccredited." It was shitty when she went there too. But she's smart, incredibly so. So she'd have survived being left at home with an etch-a-sketch and some encyclopedias. she hasn't figured that part out yet. I'll figure it out when the time comes. (I will say we passed on cheaper, newer, larger houses to get in a school district that ranks in the top 10 in the state. And all our neighbors love it, so maybe we'll luck out.)

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) No Really! at January 14, 2014 12:41 PM (GaqMa)

255
So your indifference and stupid truces about social issues is exactly what propelled the Left into power. Well done, fools.

Posted by: soothsayer at January 14, 2014 12:41 PM (gYIst)

256 But...But...Mandy, where will your kids learn about 69 and blow jobs in 2nd grade? These are important issues to consider!

Posted by: Lauren at January 14, 2014 12:42 PM (hFL/3)

257 I had to wait til the baby was discharged before I could take my son to school. No excuse! Unexcused. That's going on your permanent record, son! If I knew about "permanent record" then, what I know now, I'd have owned my school.

Posted by: rickb223 at January 14, 2014 12:42 PM (uVkIH)

258 249 I homeschool my two children. One in first grade, one in preK. The reasoning from that German judge is one thing that boils my backside when people who don't home school start talking about how they don't like it. It's basically the "socialization" concern/argument, which I hear all the time. And I get it, surprisingly, from people who know me and my children and are completely aware of how smart, friendly, polite, and generally well adjusted they are.

My kids get plenty of socialization outside the home. They interact regularly with cousins, kids at church, and kids at karate. And most importantly, the majority of their socialization comes in the form of two adults (their parents) who do everyone we can to model good behavior for them. Which is why they will turn out fine.

Posted by: Mandy P., lurking lurker who lurks at January 14, 2014 04:40 PM (qFpRI)

________________

A family friend home schooled his daughter. She's on a full ride at Duke. And she turned down a full ride at Princeton to go there (why she did that is still a mystery to me, but whatchagonadoo?).

Posted by: Mr. Moo Moo at January 14, 2014 12:42 PM (0LHZx)

259

So India will pass us too since their population is 5x larger than ours. All of those other intangibles don't factor in I guess.

Posted by: polynikes at January 14, 2014 12:42 PM (m2CN7)

260 236 Zombie, truancy laws would get you fast if you tried that. Schools do NOT like absent children. Costs them money. Before we started homeschooling my son got an unexcused tardy. The reason? My younger son was hospitalized the night before for croup and my husband was out of town. I had to wait til the baby was discharged before I could take my son to school. No excuse! Unexcused. That's going on your permanent record, son! Posted by: Lauren Damn, the world is a different place from when I went to school. Back then (not that long ago, really), a substantial portion of kids just blew off school, partially or wholly, most days. Show up when they wanted to, left when they wanted to. Played hookie frequently. Such a large percentage of the school ha such a bad attendance record that I guess the school district just stop keeping tabs. I myself just skipped first and second period for a whole year, and no one in authority ever said a word to me. Nor did it appear on my "permanent record" (at least as afar as I know). All that mattered was how well you did the work or scored on the tests. Attendance optional.

Posted by: zombie at January 14, 2014 12:43 PM (+cx5n)

261 I'm assuming he's had some personal experience with said school and knows it's costs quite well . -------------------------- No, that one's run by Jews. It was good enough for the Manning boys, I guess.* Mine went to independent Catholic schools, but they were not much cheaper. *That was a joke.

Posted by: Empire of Jeff, SGT, Invisible Army of Rome at January 14, 2014 12:43 PM (CJjw5)

262 US population is projected to keep growing for a long, long time, though. So we actually are, very slowly, shrinking the gap in population with China. They peaked about 4x the population and are heading to only 3x our pop in a few decades and then only 2x our pop late in the 21st century. Of course, US fertility has crashed since the Great Recession. Almost all of the future growth in population in the US is via immigration. The native 200M white population is stagnant and slightly shrinking, like with Europe. That's why as America goes from 300M to 400M to 500M, the white share goes from 66% to 50% to 40%.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at January 14, 2014 12:43 PM (ZPrif)

263 Germany hates Scientology so they've got that going for them.

Naaaa... Scientology is hardly even worth hating.
-
Scientology: religion for people don't like all that morality stuff.

Posted by: WalrusRex at January 14, 2014 12:43 PM (XUKZU)

264
oh, and where else is your kid gonna free rubbers?

and where is your kid gonna get impregnated?

and where else is your kid gonna learn about the wonders of homosexuality?

Not at homeschool.

Posted by: soothsayer at January 14, 2014 12:43 PM (gYIst)

265 Posted by: Lizzy at January 14, 2014 04:36 PM (POpqt) Hey now, I took lots of morality classes in high school. Granted, I was in a private high school being taught morality classes by priests and deacons. They were Jesuit though....

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) No Really! at January 14, 2014 12:43 PM (GaqMa)

266 Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) No Really! at January 14, 2014 04:41 PM (GaqMa) If you want, we can try to have my wife talk to her. When we had kids, I wanted to homeschool or private school them. She insisted on public schools, and we're in a highly-sought-after district, so I acquiesced. To this day she talks about how guilty and mortified she feels over making that decision.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) Ah, F It. at January 14, 2014 12:44 PM (PYAXX)

267 Mandy Many homeschool parents also come together with their kids for sports activities, community theater, museum outings and other group projects. The whole socialization argument is a smokescreen for "leave this to the professional unions".

Posted by: grammie winger at January 14, 2014 12:44 PM (P6QsQ)

268 Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 14, 2014 04:30 PM (t3UFN)

Never ever let a Democrat (or a RINO) anywhere near a war in a position of authority!

Posted by: Hrothgar at January 14, 2014 12:44 PM (o3MSL)

269
Where's your kid gonna learn about "fairness?"

And to hate cigarettes?

Posted by: soothsayer at January 14, 2014 12:44 PM (gYIst)

270 Come now,

He deserves his severance pay in a combination of metals.

Copper, brass and maybe lead (I wouldn't waste the expensive stuff on him.)

Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 14, 2014 04:34 PM (yz6yg)

You forgot barium and antimony...

Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes, shhh, be a little quieter, some of us are trying to sleep. at January 14, 2014 12:44 PM (kXoT0)

271 more on Obama's FÃ¼hrer fettish ... Obama: Â“WeÂ’re not just waiting for legislation, IÂ’ve got a pen and I can use it to sign executive orders!Â” --the right scoop, Jan.14 '14 http://tinyurl.com/orojvda (not surprisingly der Doofus didn't reference, "I can use my pen to WRITE executive orders." That's above his pay grade. Reference Bozo's handler TOTUS as his Ur-source.

Posted by: panzernashorn at January 14, 2014 12:44 PM (MhA4j)

272 she hasn't figured that part out yet. I'll figure it out when the time comes. You do realize that you married a woman who is impervious to reality. Right? Only took me 6 months to completely flip my whacked out Bay Area lefty hippie chick wife to voting for Bush. What's taking you so long, slacker?

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/s][/u][/b] at January 14, 2014 12:44 PM (yz6yg)

273 Coming to America soonÂ… http://twitpic.com/dnih9h

Posted by: The Political Hat at January 14, 2014 12:45 PM (XvHmy)

274 China's going to be fucked in about 25 years. Why? Because their 1 child policy has led to a population that has way too many men, way too few women and no babies. You do the math what happens when you have a ton of old dudes with very few youngens to support them.

Posted by: Mr. Moo Moo at January 14, 2014 12:45 PM (0LHZx)

275 "They were Jesuit though...." Jeesh, might as well have the kiddos taught by Planned Parenthood. *ducks*

Posted by: Lauren at January 14, 2014 12:45 PM (hFL/3)

276 Scientology: religion for people don't like all that morality stuff. I thought that was Unitarianism.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) Ah, F It. at January 14, 2014 12:45 PM (PYAXX)

277 Ours is still an egalitarian society where one is the same as the other.

Not in my lifetime.

Posted by: HR at January 14, 2014 12:46 PM (ZKzrr)

278 They were Jesuit though.... Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) No Really! at January 14, 2014 04:43 PM (GaqMa) I'll stand up for Jesuit high schools. The whole smug "we'll teach you how to think, and you'll come around to agree with the Church without prodding" works a bit better in high schools. By the time you get to college, your morality has basically already been formed, so that permissiveness becomes an invitation to no morality at all rather than self-reflection and conscience forming.

Posted by: AMDG at January 14, 2014 12:46 PM (t7OO0)

279 What's taking you so long, slacker? He's afraid she'll withhold nookie.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) Ah, F It. at January 14, 2014 12:46 PM (PYAXX)

280 Dude, shouldn't you at least be a PSG in the Invisible Army of Rome by now? You're coming up against your RCP soon. Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 14, 2014 04:40 PM (yz6yg) ------------------------------- I'm making the re-enlistment NCO sweat it out. See if I can shake loose some cash bonus at the buzzer. They wave those re-up contracts from mid careerists in the air like a rug merchant waving the bloody sheet from his wedding night.

Posted by: Empire of Jeff, SGT, Invisible Army of Rome at January 14, 2014 12:46 PM (CJjw5)

281 No, that one's run by Jews. It was good enough for the Manning boys, I guess.* Mine went to independent Catholic schools, but they were not much cheaper. *That was a joke. --- We used to play that school in football most years when Peyton and Cooper Manning were there... As far as the Catholic schools go, were they at Brother Martin? Shaw? Rummel? De La Salle? Holy Cross? A different one? I ask because just about all the guys I knew in college were from the greater NOLA area and attended about every different Catholic school in the area but St. Aug and Jesuit.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at January 14, 2014 12:47 PM (/Crba)

282 The Left believes they own you and your family. Elections are defacto rigged given the media and education system, so what hope is there? Eventually, people will resort to violence as all other avenues are rigged against them. World history tells us this.

Posted by: Dan at January 14, 2014 04:19 PM (gR5OX)

-------------------------------------------------

As long as the government will let people keep their air-conditioners during the summer and their central air heating in the winter, and as long as the government keeps the facade of people working for their own money going, and as long as people feel relatively safe and secure, there'll be no armed insurrection.

I doubt there'll even be widespread civil disobedience. No large group of Americans will want to sacrifice everything they think they've worked for, including their life.

Although, I would. Would you?

Posted by: Soona at January 14, 2014 12:47 PM (QyfjW)

283 Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) Ah, F It. at January 14, 2014 04:44 PM (PYAXX) AND Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 14, 2014 04:44 PM (yz6yg) Actually I got her to vote for Bush. And therein lies the problem. Lost a lot of good will with that one. I've learned the hard way that trying to convince her of anything backfires. She'll do exactly the opposite just to spite me. (Although I've used that to my advantage before too.) Better to play it slow and make her think she's reached the conclusions on her own merits. Slowly it goes.

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) No Really! at January 14, 2014 12:47 PM (GaqMa)

284 Many homeschool parents also come together with their kids for sports activities, community theater, museum outings and other group projects.

If you're worried your kid will miss out on the crucial "bullied by jocks" part of socialization, there's always Little League.

Posted by: HR at January 14, 2014 12:47 PM (ZKzrr)

285 Zombie, yes what Lauren said, there are truancy laws. And a lot of states have enacted laws in the name of kidnapped or murdered kids so they can cry "it's for the children" that mandate the number of days your kid has to be at school. Or else. Of course the or else tends to only apply to white suburban parents and very rarely to the ones they really need it. Plus once kids start doing badly consistently in public school a whole bunch of other "administrative correctives" start kicking in, and trust me they do not hesitate to get social services involved, especially if you are the aforementioned white suburban parent. I think my plan for the public school education of my kid works fairly well, he does A work at school, easy because the work is pretty no brainier, and I pay attention to the curriculum and "course correct" wherever is necessary.

Posted by: Paranoidgirlinseattle at January 14, 2014 12:47 PM (RZ8pf)

286 266. The big deal about public schooling was "making friends" and socializing in order to belong to the norm. Yep. Normal school.

Posted by: panzernashorn at January 14, 2014 12:48 PM (MhA4j)

287

Posted by: Mr. Moo Moo at January 14, 2014 04:45 PM (0LHZx)

They just fined one of China's top film directors close to a couple of million for having additional children without obtaining permission.

Posted by: polynikes at January 14, 2014 12:48 PM (m2CN7)

288 It's also worth pointing out that the homeschooling movement is not at all just a "right-wing" phenomenon; a lot of homeschoolers are hippies who do so for reasons similar to those of devout Christians: they don't want their children processed in an impersonal, education-factory.

Posted by: logprof at January 14, 2014 12:48 PM (X3GkB)

289 I'm making the re-enlistment NCO sweat it out. See if I can shake loose some cash bonus at the buzzer. You can realist through the BEAR program. But the only MOSs they're offering are 99A - Priest , and 97B - Deacon. Big bonus though!

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/s][/u][/b] at January 14, 2014 12:48 PM (yz6yg)

290 Anyone that trusts numbers from a country run by The Communist Party is a fool.

Posted by: Mr. Moo Moo at January 14, 2014 04:37 PM (0LHZx)

Sort of like the BLS stats from the Obama administration, right?

Posted by: Hrothgar at January 14, 2014 12:49 PM (o3MSL)

291 "
They just fined one of China's top film directors close to a couple of million for having additional children without obtaining permission.

Posted by: polynikes at January 14, 2014 04:48 PM (m2CN7)"

Yeah that there is a prescription for healthy long term population growth.

Posted by: Mr. Moo Moo at January 14, 2014 12:49 PM (0LHZx)

292 He's afraid she'll withhold nookie. Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) Ah, F It. at January 14, 2014 04:46 PM (PYAXX) Some day I'll get the chance to tell y'all why that's even more hilarious than you think it is. SOMEDAY.

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) No Really! at January 14, 2014 12:49 PM (GaqMa)

293 It's GDP per capita X population. It's not a complex calculation. China has a low GDP per capita due to ruinous communist policies, which they've relaxed, which allowed such incredible growth. India has more serious problems, mostly a population with very low average IQs and endemic disease, which is causing some of the low IQs. China actually has above average IQ. China can, and has, emulated best practices from the West. India is having much greater problems doing that and many of their high IQ flee India to prosper in the US and Europe. The endemic disease is a serious problem of every country in the tropics. It takes a very high IQ nation, like Singapore, to succeed in a disease rich environment like that.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at January 14, 2014 12:49 PM (ZPrif)

294
nood

Posted by: soothsayer at January 14, 2014 12:49 PM (gYIst)

295 and where else is your kid gonna learn about the wonders of homosexuality? Not at homeschool. Posted by: soothsayer at January 14, 2014 04:43 PM (gYIst) ------------------------------------ It's like Your son Going dowwwnnn Oooonnnn Meeeeeee...

Posted by: Elton John, feat. David Furnish at January 14, 2014 12:49 PM (CJjw5)

296
I like the Insty quote "subjecting your kids to public schools is child abuse".

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at January 14, 2014 12:50 PM (n0DEs)

297 Sort of like the BLS stats from the Obama administration, right?

Posted by: Hrothgar at January 14, 2014 04:49 PM (o3MSL)

_____________

Sure if you want to go down the tin foil hate route....why not?

Posted by: Mr. Moo Moo at January 14, 2014 12:50 PM (0LHZx)

298 Some day I'll get the chance to tell y'all why that's even more hilarious than you think it is. I suggest you start arranging your transportation for the next NoVAMoMee

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/s][/u][/b] at January 14, 2014 12:50 PM (yz6yg)

299

The most sure-fire way to catch a hollowpoint with your face is to forcibly take my kids.

I'm ashamed of my German heritage.

Posted by: Warden at January 14, 2014 12:51 PM (HzhBE)

300 I know some public school teachers. I would feel like a child abuser if I allowed my child to attend most public schools today, especially in urban areas. I could go with some of the private schools though.

Posted by: Meremortal at January 14, 2014 12:51 PM (1Y+hH)

301 As far as the Catholic schools go, were they at Brother Martin? Shaw? Rummel? De La Salle? Holy Cross? A different one? ---------------------------- Different ones. The girls went to one that was not Ursuline, and The Heir went to one that ends at 8th grade.

Posted by: Empire of Jeff at January 14, 2014 12:51 PM (CJjw5)

302

Actually I got her to vote for Bush.

And therein lies the problem. Lost a lot of good will with that one.

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) No Really! at January 14, 2014 04:47 PM (GaqMa)

How in the hell did you do that? According to conservatives here , Bush was actually a moderate Democrat. That should have helped you.

Posted by: polynikes at January 14, 2014 12:51 PM (m2CN7)

303 What China, India, Brazil, Mexico and 90% of the world have that we don't have is insane amounts of corruption. Yeah, sure there is corruption here. There always has been. But it's a drop in the ocean compared to the corruption in the developing world. This is why no country will overtake the US in my lifetime in terms of economic power. And probably not in my chioldren's children's lifetime either.

Posted by: Mr. Moo Moo at January 14, 2014 12:51 PM (0LHZx)

304 The #s are from international finance firms. But, hey, make up your own #s if that makes you happy. I prefer to work with reality as much as possible. Sometimes your best measures aren't ideal. Impossible to have rational thought if you just go to, all those fancy economists with their fancy #s are all bullshit. That's a thought-killer.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at January 14, 2014 12:52 PM (ZPrif)

305 What's taking you so long, slacker? He's afraid she'll withhold nookie. If she knows where he's getting it, he's doing it wrong.

Posted by: rickb223 at January 14, 2014 12:52 PM (uVkIH)

306 Different ones. The girls went to one that was not Ursuline, and The Heir went to one that ends at 8th grade.

Posted by: Empire of Jeff at January 14, 2014 04:51 PM (CJjw5)

The real question is what private Theater school did you attend?

Posted by: polynikes at January 14, 2014 12:52 PM (m2CN7)

307 Actually I got her to vote for Bush. And therein lies the problem. Lost a lot of good will with that one. Oh, yeah, 'cause Obama is doing such an awesome job!

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/s][/u][/b] at January 14, 2014 12:53 PM (yz6yg)

308 Notice to fascist educators and their tame killers in law enforcement . When you stack up outside my door to seize my kid , put the guys you don't like first .

Posted by: awkward davies at January 14, 2014 12:53 PM (WK8VM)

309 I did not see the comment about Insty before writing mine.

Posted by: Meremortal at January 14, 2014 12:53 PM (1Y+hH)

310 I suggest you start arranging your transportation for the next NoVAMoMee Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 14, 2014 04:50 PM (yz6yg) Pfft. Y'all need to come to me. Hell I could probably even cover lodging

. (With a security deposit of course!)

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) No Really! at January 14, 2014 12:54 PM (GaqMa)

311 Nood

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/s][/u][/b] at January 14, 2014 12:54 PM (yz6yg)

312 Not counting the actual murders and assassinations and exterminations "Because I Could" (Bill's "reason" why he perjured himself), the Clintons via Reno terrorized the extended Cuban family of the surviving refugee boy in the middle of the night, tearing him away from their embrace. Who really is surprised that the Marxist Liberation Theology opportunist authoritarian in chief would respond as Obama, ILLEGALLY interfering in order to kidnap children from parents to deliver into Statist hands to "raise". /...of course, no connection to his German tax payed "free" beer and sausage '08 pre-campaign Berlin popularity contest rally promoting "See! We white Germans Ã¼ber alles aren't racists!!" Tit meet Tat./

Posted by: panzernashorn at January 14, 2014 12:56 PM (MhA4j)

313 Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 14, 2014 04:53 PM (yz6yg) She won't tell me who she voted for in 2012. I get the feeling it was "no one." She was really embarrassed about getting caught up in Obama fever. But she also was upset that me and all my friends warned her. We warned her a lot. As for Polynikes question: she's a social liberal, probably akin to an old school blue dog if anything. So Bush rubbed her the wrong way on the social stuff. And to the extent that she's now becoming a fan of smaller government, Bush was not exactly that either.

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) No Really! at January 14, 2014 12:56 PM (GaqMa)

314 They just fined one of China's top film directors close to a couple of million for having additional children without obtaining permission.

Posted by: polynikes at January 14, 2014 04:48 PM (m2CN7)

The final thing that convinced me that abortion is almost always an absolute evil was a documentary about China's one child policy and the draconian enforcement. Warning: harsh content, do not read further if you think it will bother you. It makes me cry just thinking about it.

-----------------

One woman had hidden her pregnancy from the village woman in charge of monitoring fertile women and the states of their uteri until late in her sixth month, but, the official finally got proof the woman was pregnant with her second child. The Chinese officials drug the pregnant woman to clinic where they strapped the mother on a table and an abortionist injected the baby with a fatal dose of saline through the screaming mother's abdomen--all the while this was happening, the Chinese officials were grinning at the camera and praising the policy. The woman's abdomen jumped and twisted as the baby died in agony from the burn of the saline while the mother continued to scream and flail.

------------------

Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes, shhh, be a little quieter, some of us are trying to sleep. at January 14, 2014 12:59 PM (kXoT0)

315 It'll be neat when we're marching at night with torches making a giant Obama symbol. Posted by: WalrusRex at January 14, 2014 04:39 PM (XUKZU) Hitler never needed a teleprompter.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at January 14, 2014 01:01 PM (oFCZn)

316 As for Polynikes question: she's a social liberal, probably akin to an old school blue dog if anything. So Bush rubbed her the wrong way on the social stuff.

And to the extent that she's now becoming a fan of smaller government, Bush was not exactly that either.

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) No Really! at January 14, 2014 04:56 PM (GaqMa)

I guess you failed to expound to her Bush's work in Africa which should embarrass all social liberals who have criticized Bush. The only socially conservative action that Bush took was refusing to fund new embryotic stem cell procurment and fund overseas abortions. Other than that , his programs to help the poor and needy and women have been unmatched.

Posted by: polynikes at January 14, 2014 01:01 PM (m2CN7)

317 If these were Muslim homeschoolers they would be protected by thousands of lawyers, the EU Hhuman Rights weenies, and all of the media. Historically, how many NAZIs were homeschooled?

Posted by: Jean at January 14, 2014 01:02 PM (4JkHl)

318 I'd recommend a symbolic balloon flight into France, if the winds are right.

Posted by: Jean at January 14, 2014 01:03 PM (4JkHl)

319 I forgot to add that Bush was proven correct on embryotic stem cells .

Posted by: polynikes at January 14, 2014 01:03 PM (m2CN7)

320 Insane Xtians must be prevented from passing their infectious right-wing hate on to another generation. No one wants more Jesusland- flyover red states that no one who matters cares about are bad enough.

And it is VERY important to make sure Germans get raised to be inoffensive and correctly-thinking. Everyone's seen what happens when the Germans get whacky ideas in their heads, right? No one wants that again. We don't need the Germans getting Jesus and declaring war on the world over another imaginary friend like the Nazis did for Odin.

Posted by: Mary Cloggenstein from Brattleboro, Vermont at January 14, 2014 01:44 PM (9OdDd)

321 Shit, did I miss a "Hold My Beer" moment from EoJ? Shit, shit, shit.

Posted by: akula51[/b][/i][/s] at January 14, 2014 01:51 PM (1Boes)

322 But aren't you worried your kids won't be properly Socialized? All this argybargy and foofaraw about "homeschooling" shows a lack of historical perspective. Time was when plenty of families taught from home, often with tutors if they could afford it. I wonder if this movement is just part of a wider phenomenon of a return to decentralization, as factories and airports and maybe power generation turn to smaller, more dispersed locations.

Posted by: All Hail Eris at January 14, 2014 03:00 PM (QBm1P)

323 Pardon me please ... I'm totally pissed and defiant - yet completely lacking in snark. So I'll just throw in a completely pedestrian "Fuck You" to those that deserve it. You know who you are.

Posted by: ScoggDog at January 17, 2014 04:56 PM (6/+vz)

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