@logicisforsquares said:

Beast and Cyclops will solve the problems.

Indeed

@westside-steve said:

True enough. I do get discouraged with the Country's dialog on poverty be it either on Capitol Hill or Main Street.

@baconhound said:

Poverty is a huge issue in this country and a very large contributor in the educational problems as well.

The chicken or the egg?

WSS

@mld-woody said:

Poverty is a huge issue in this country and a very large contributor in the educational problems as well.

@mld-woody said:

Nooooo

I meant the same effect as what happened in your example. Except you example basically says "minorities are dumber than whites" where what I said is saying poorer students aren't getting a good education.

Ah

My mistake.

WSS

I meant the same effect as what happened in your example. Except you example basically says "minorities are dumber than whites" where what I said is saying poorer students aren't getting a good education.

@mld-woody said:

I'd like the see our academic performance with the poorest group of students removed. I have a feeling the same result would be had and it would be much more indicative of the issue

Really? You think that you could remove the poorest and most underperforming groups and the bell curve wouldn't change??? I can't imagine that's what you meant.

WSS

Something we don't like to admit but should is a graph I saw over a year ago on the McLaughlin Group. it's not that the United States is truly that far behind the other countries in math science etc if you remove two demographics, African Americans and Hispanics.

Without those two monumentally under performing groups the United States ranks equal or above anyone.

(and I understand what kind of flack that statement will draw)

WSS

@westside-steve said:

I agree and don't want to come of as pious, I'm as flawed as the next guy. The problem that I have is my special interest and your special interest may have some altruism attached to it or may be for personal gain that results in the greater good. Unfortunately IMO the special interests that seem to help forge legislation seem to adhere to the 80s slogan, "he who dies with the most toys wins", under the guise of capitalism and benevolence.

I don't necessarily agree with all that common core stands for but what I am aware of is the fact that the United States is falling behind many other nations in the education of future generations. I also think that it is a complex issue that isn't solved by curriculum adjustment completely but a discussion needs to be had and the status quo has continued to lead us down a bad path. In a decade common core may be a punchline at a party or it may have been the spark that leads us to a better educational system, I really don't know how it will go. But teaching the same thing the same way is not working.

I think we can all agree that sauron and his evil mesmerizing eyes are responsible for all the world's ills.

@baconhound said:

Not at all. I don't think labeling a single group as the culprit is ever the solution. There are always people with agendas both individual and utilitarian, unfortunately throughout all aspects of our society it appears special interest is stronger than ever.

As far as the nearly meaningless conservative vs liberal thing it's just easier than breaking down everything issue by issue. and easy is the target for the 2 minutes a week most people spend on politics.

WSS

@westside-steve said:

Not at all. I don't think labeling a single group as the culprit is ever the solution. There are always people with agendas both individual and utilitarian, unfortunately throughout all aspects of our society it appears special interest is stronger than ever.

@westside-steve said:

White people rich people Sauron and republicans are to blame right?

WSS

@baconhound said:

Easiest way to control a large group of people, tell them who's to blame for their problems while vilifying education.

WSS

who will work with Congress to make all of America "right to work"....whereas, workers will

not be required to join a union and pay dues. That way, the unions will have to start being

truly representative of their members, instead of going off the deep end with liberal democrats.

I admire Dr. Carson, Gov. Walker and Gov. Jindal. Fiorina for VP maybe, but not president.

I will not vote for Trump, (stupid), Jeb Bushleague, etc etc etc.

I will work for the campaigns of the above current possible nominees, if they go for it....

@westside-steve said:

In todays world it seems union heads financially support Dems, but the actual people within unions are mixed.

@mld-woody said:

I don't think very many of the UAW members I work with are liberal lol.

You don't think that labor unions vote Democrat??? It's one of the key constituencies.

WSS