CONSERVATIVES TAKING AMERICA BACK
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Conservatives Taking America Back | PO Box 1772 | Seneca, SC 29679 | FAX # 864-888-2116
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Polly Nicolay’s Book:
We The People
Taking America Back:
How to Reunite
Church and State
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Our Featured Author:
Polly Nicolay
Featured Columnist:
Debra Daum
"Conservatives Taking Back America" was formed by a group of concerned citizens who believed after the 2008 Presidential Election, that our government was leading this great nation to a socialist state, ignoring the conservative principles upon which it was founded. Not only were the ideas of free enterprise being discarded but the Judeo-Christian moral values of our founding fathers were being rejected. This group exists to rally the American public by making it aware of the threat and encouraging "we the people" to save the freedoms which we have, by bringing God back into our government, our schools, and our way of life.
EDUCATION: THE KEY TO GREATNESS
The Public Education System in the United States is broken and has been for a long time. Efforts to fix it over the years have been in vain. School choice in the form of vouchers, grants, scholarships, and programs such as "Put Parents in Charge" and "No Child Left Behind" have made no significant improvement. The United States has fallen from the top five nations of the world to land in the mid teens when it comes to Math and Science.
For years the system has begged for more money from the government (meaning the people) to insure that a quality education is available to every child. Yet, in most cases, less than 50 cents of every dollar ever reaches the classroom. To meet the goals set by government some states have lowered the standards and have reverted to "fixing and cheating" on the reports as is allegedly the case in Geogia. In some states, some cities, less than 50% of the students graduate from high school on time.
However, there is hope. This year (2011) 13 states have enacted some form of school choice and some 20 more have legislation which is pending. Indiana seems to have made a leap forward where the charter gap has been removed and creates a voucher program that ennables many of the states students to attend private or and public schools. Other states like: Ohio where the number of students eligible for school vouchers was tripled; Georgia and Florida have expanded tuition tax credit programs; and in Wisconsin where the cap of 22,000 students allowed to participate in the Parental School Choice program was removed.
Unfortunately, here in South Carolina, a state which year after year lands at or near the bottom of the totem pole in ratings such as SAT, ACT, and high school drop outs, the S.C. House failed to pass the Educational Opportunity Act (H 3407). If you care to you can go on line to House Roll Call Vote #409 to see who were the 61 members who voted to table the Act. And, I am sorry to say that Representative Bill Whitmire from Oconee County who wishes to leave as his legacy, the improvement of education in South Carolina, also voted to table the bill. The other member of the Oconee delegation, Bill Sandifer, had an "excused absence".
But school choice by itself will not cure the ails of a broken system. Teacher tenure need to be elimiated; higher standards need to be set and adhered to; and the ultimate goal would be for having the money follow the children to whatever school they and their parents what them to attend. Parents need to be involved. Discipline in the classroom needs vast improvement and administration needs to be less top heavy. Patriotism needs to be taught in the early classrooms.
The nibbles made throughout the nation this year are postive signs that there is an awakening as to the failure of our public education system. And one day, as S.C. Representative Cato has said, "The time has come for us to acknowledge what any parent knows. Parents must be empowered with their fundamental responsibility-the right to choose what is best for their children. We are required by society and government to be responsible for our children in almost every way, but are prevented from choosing what may be best for them concerning education. The responsiblity of a parent cannot end at the school house door."
It is time for all of us to "walk the walk" as Governor Sanford use to say as many of his school choice events and gatherings. How can we not provide an opportunity for all of our children to have a top notch, quality education?
God Bless America
Ed Rumsey
DID YOU KNOW OR DO YOU EVEN CARE?
On the federal level did you know that when Michelle Obama flew to Botswana and South Africa during the third week of June she flew by military accraft with the cost in the range of $425,000? And, that her two daughters were listed on the plane's manifest as "senior staffers"? Why not just manifest them as "daughters of the President". Why not?
Did you know that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has suggested/recommended six steps to job creation in the United States and not one has been acted on so far. The steps are: (1) Expand trade and global commerce...380,000 jobs; (2) Produce more American Energy...980,000 jobs; (3) Speed up infrastructure projects..1,900,000 jobs; (4) Welcome busines and tourist visitors by restoring travel market to 2000 level...1,300,000 jobs; (5) Speed up permits and reduce regulator proceedures...245,000 jobs; (6) Pass tax incentives by implementing a repatriation holiday for corporations....2,900,000 jobs.
On the state level did you know that the Governor vetoed three bill which would have allowed local school districts to use general obligation bonds to cover operating expenses. One veto was sustained. The other two will be revisited in 2012. Running schools on borrowed money?
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