Some years I wonder if a crop of dandilions wouldn't be cheaper in the long run than a crop you pay to put in, look after and either don't harvest at all or do but it is worth nothing. Then there are the Genetics Cops looking over your shoulder to make sure you didn't pirate their seed.

re: Home schooling. I wonder if that kind of state control will be far off here. Just last week Edmonton Public announced big cuts due to lower than expected enrollment. Citing shifting demographics. I know in our County, home schooling is gaining in popularity and acceptance by the local school board. But for how long? I was in a line-up last week, the same day the story about Ed. Public came out, where two ladies behind me were discussing how home schooling is competing with the population of some schools and is a drain on the system.

Re: 7 year old getting beat up by "tolerant" Left:

Check out the Saturday National Post's editorial, "Sexualizing the classroom". Gay agenda to be taught in B.C. schools, and "...The deal would also appear to include an agreement by the province to restrict the rights of parents to have their children sit outside during the controversial new lectures."

I linked to your post, Kate. Enjoy your trip.

1) The cunning linguist deconsructed:

"A noxious form of argument: Noam Chomsky has allowed bile and rhetoric to replace intellectual rigour in his latest diatribe against the present United States administration..."
http://books.guardian.co.uk/reviews/politicsphilosophyandsociety/0,,1800002,00.html

2) The mindless depths of US-haters:

"Anti-Americanism's Deep Roots: The Current Wave of Hostility Will Ebb. But This Is About More Than the Iraq War."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/18/AR2006061800900.html

Mark
Ottawa

Homeschooling...

It never ceases to amaze me how paranoid lazy parents present themselves as these educated noble pseudo-teachers. Their stupid claims go well beyond the usual " where drugs and violence are rampant" and now goes to the absurd "pupils are indoctrinated with political correctness and socialism".

I guess they belive their children have no sense of right or wrong and don't have the fortitude nor character to deal with life's challenges.

Always the same conclusion too...how great their children are because of home-schooling.

What a boatload of nonsense.

David Brown - whatever your opinion of homeschooling, it's amazing that you can call the people who choose to do so "lazy". Clearly you haven't a clue of the sort of work required to home school children - about as much of a sense of the developmental curve of children. Do you think children are born with a moral compass as forthright as a judge, with an ethical sense as finely tuned as an adult's? Clearly, the only boatload of nonsense here is your grasp of parenthood.

rick,

Lazy as in they don't want to deal with the challenges and resulting benefits of a public education.

Lazy as in they don't want to go to work rather stay at home in their jammies until lunch.

Lazy in that they want to bring their children up in their own image.

Children are not necassarily born with a moral compass or an ethical sense of judgement but they are a lot smarter than you give them credit for, fortunately they will learn despite what you try to teach them.

If you want to find out exactly what my parenting skills are then you should spend some time with my children...19 and 21 years old, they're religion free, politics free, highly educated, happy and successful well beyond their years. All this because I exposed them and guided them through today's many of lifes challenges.

A "public education" benifits only the socialist.
Your an asshole brown, raising your children religion and politics free. do you really mean you have raised them with the religion and politics of communism (oops socialism) What a dolt. The first time any teacher tries to pass along this fag recruiting shit to my child will be the last time that teacher pass's anything on to anyone.

David:

I find it incredible that someone who appears to me to be as wrong-headed and hateful as yourself could raise two perfectly well-adjusted children as those two.

They must have ignored you completely, huh? Well good for them!

"pupils are indoctrinated with political correctness and socialism"

They are at my daughter’s school.
One little ditty at the spring concert:

“we have to share
We have to care
If we don’t
It’s going to ruff
It’s going to be tough”

And this was illustrated by their music teacher who refused to hold the concert in the evening because she works to the BCTF contract, so daytime concert only, for her.

Older students read statements about the continuing problems of racism and environmental destruction.
This at a school with students from 37 nations who seem get along just fine with each other while they play on the grounds that are littered with broken glass and wrappers that they have dropped themselves.

David Brown,

Did you bother reading Joanne C's post on the article in the Post over the weekend?

"Lazy as in they want their children to grow up in their own image."

What's wrong with that?

Lazy is not caring what your children are being taught by complete strangers, many of whom are socialists. Staying home and teaching your children is a hardly lazy, compared to that.

And in fact, children are indoctrinated into pcism, and other intolerable socialist inventions - without parental consent.

Despite what you say about your "religious free" children. I doubt anybody on this site would believe that your children are well adjusted. On the contrary, it's more likely they are as brain-dead and absurd as you are.

David Brown -

Reading your comment, I find it hard to believe that your children are "politics free". Quite the opposite - what a scorched earth you seem to have raised them into, denuded of the philosophical richness of religion, of the mental challenges of grasping the political, even of your own heritage, since you think that there's something unspeakably wrong with raising children in "your own image". All I see is arrogance and desolation. I don't know who to feel more sorry for - your kids, who've been given almost nothing to build upon as adults, or your suicidal self, apparently motivated by a bottomless self-hatred.

Irwin,

Wanting children to grow up in our own image is just plain egotistical. They inherit our baggage and continue on making the same mistakes we've made. Please don't tell me your life has been mistake free.

Our children should be brought up as individuals that can think for themselves and thrive in today's crazy world. They can only make real positive change if their minds are emancipated from the mental slavery us adults place on each other.

Absurd is labelling all public school teachers 'socialists' as well as believing war and armed conflict is the only solution to create the perfect world according to the whims of Irwin Daisey.

Teach them to make informed decisions then let them decide if they want to be a pacifist or not.

No matter how noble the cause, indoctrination is not the answer. The ability to analyze and act accordingly is.

Love your work but beg to differ.

Read the article and saw nothing to indicate that the 7 year old or his father were homophobes.

But geez wow talk about an ugly homo lobby. Thats as ugly as ....

Thanks for all your good work and entertainment

Wow, David. I don't think I could disagree with you more than I do on this one. I'm not sure where to start. What do you mean by "the challenges" of a public education? Have you read much about or spoken to many people who actually do homeschool? The homeschoolers I know would probably be better described as pathologically energetic than lazy. I hope you have a bit of time to engage in this discussion - I'm really surprised by your position on this, and by the angry tone of your remarks.

rick,

What you call a scorched earth I call the new Garden of Eden...only my kids know what to do when the serpent comes along, there'll be no buying in to the beguilement. No sin, no guilt...no mind control!

P.S. Don't feel sorry for my kids they possess a philosophical richness that transcends religion and politics.

grasshopper,

I feel very strongly about this topic but maybe it's one I should just stay silent on. I'm not angry at all but because of the nature and how passionate the players are any opposition could come across as anger.

Anyways, I've spoken my mind and will now drop it.

Having been a sustitute in the so called 'school system', I know that I would never send my child into that door! The teachers act like grade six metally challanged Dippers - they compain to students about the work load and allow students to set agendas. If you want your children to be educated; turn off the T.V. and the internet and put them in a chair for 3 or 4 hours at the kitchen table with books. Failing that, send them to a good private school and visit often to see what is happening in there. Your kids will learn more in a week at home than they will in 2 months at public school.

Oh oh, here is a left winger who gets it.

Luckily for us right wingers the Dems will ignore him or denigrate him for not being progressive.

From the Maggies Farm link (thanks Kate),

"When we Dems begin standing up for America, and abandon socialism, we can begin winning national elections again."

Prayers up for our soldiers in Afghanistan. The 10th Mountain Division is on the offense, taking this fight directly to the enemy.

U.S. soldiers descended on a mountain ridge Sunday, quickly setting up fortified posts and mortar positions overlooking a key Taliban transport route as the coalition pressed a major offensive that has killed dozens of suspected militants. Troops from the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division poured out of CH-47 Chinook helicopters in the early morning and scouted the mountain for militants.

1 final thought...

From Jema54s post...My kids went to excellent public schools. The teachers took their jobs very seriously and if they didn't parents organized and had them 'reassigned'.

My apologies, I forgot to take into account school boards where misguided teachers ran roughshod over the system. In that case concerned parents should have the right to seek other options.

David Brown - Its easy to comment as you do when you have not walked in the shoes of the children who are the victims of the Belgian government's position and those in Canada who are affected by similar theories around homeschooling as you seem to uphold.

Good news everyone:

Bill Whittle is back.

http://www.ejectejecteject.com/archives/000132.html

He's using metaphors of exploration and maps. One gem from among many that sums up current liberal thought on just about everything:

we will never be so full of arrogance and blinded by pride that we dare confront a place where our map does not match the coastline, and proclaim that the coastline must be wrong.

Liberal: reality is wrong, my version is right.

Margaret Somerville
Margaret Somerville, a McGill University professor, is receiving an honourary doctorate from Ryerson University. Margaret Somerville is against gay marriage, so protests are expected at today’s ceremony. Ryerson’s president said they might not have offered her the award had they known it would get such negative reaction. Should they have rescinded the honourary degree? cnews

Let us make a list:

Hate Police, Language Police, Smoke Police, Egg Police, Homophobia Police, Human Rights Police, Police Police, No Police To be Found Police, Dalton McGuinty's UN/Ontario Peacekeeping Police, Native Police, Non-native Resident Police, CSIS Police, Police No Swearing Police, Internet Police, ... More Police:

The Etiquette Police. ...-

The phone booth returns without the phone

In an effort to appease patrons and etiquette police, restaurants, bars, movie theaters and libraries are carving out spaces
(With Police Files from cnewsPolice)

“They inherit our baggage and continue on making the same mistakes we've made. Please don't tell me your life has been mistake free.”

No I’ve made plenty. That’s why it’s important for parents to use their life’s lessons to guide their children.

“Wanting children to grow up in our own image is just plain egotistical.

“Don't feel sorry for my kids they possess a philosophical richness that transcends religion and politics."

That sounds like a religious philosophy to me. What’s the name of those religions that require you to submit to the state or mullah?

“No matter how noble the cause, indoctrination is not the answer.”

Are there no noble causes in your world David?

“No sin, no guilt..”.

Right, just click your heels together three times.

“no mind control!”

Pink Floyd not only a pop band, but sages to the last cohort of boomers.

Anne,

An interesting pattern is starting to emerge. As I see it, it's a pattern that keeps the Dippers in constant power in Saskatchewan and why some things never change.

Home schooling is only the tip of the iceberg and not the answer. Communication and co-operation to develop a system all can feel safe in and be comfortable with is though.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Law/2006/06/18/1639845-cp.html

OPP in Caledonia speak out regarding they are stuck in the middle.

"No I’ve made plenty. That’s why it’s important for parents to use their life’s lessons to guide their children."

So guide them to the local public school and communicate and co-operate with the teachers there until you get the results that satisfy.

BTW...Never did like Pink Floyd and I believe the lyric was "thought control" ala George Orwell not "mind control" as in religion and politics.

Other than that a pretty good summation there Cal.

David Brown,

"...as well as believing war and armed conflict is the only solution to create the perfect world according to the whims of Irwin Daisey (sic)."

"Don't feel sorry for my kids they possess a philosophical richness that transcends religion and politics."

"No sin, no guilt..."

I'd venture to say based on the lie you created and attributed to me that your kids were indoctrinated by a father who would lie about and viciously malign those who don't agree with his views. It appears what they need is the religion you denied them, in order to cobble together any sort of moral character at all.

Feeling any guilt there David?

Dave Brown: So guide them to the local public school and communicate and co-operate with the teachers there until you get the results that satisfy

And what if you never get results that satisfy and instead all four of your children are hauled off screaming and kicking by police to another community, are made to attend another school and only see their parents in a supervised setting from that day forth. This is not fantasy. I have spoken to several children this has happened (I did not know them before I was approached to help) and they did not care if their parents got results that satisfied. All they cared about was they did not like what happened to them in school and they liked even less the result of their parents trying to fix the problem. How they wish they had been home schooled and not had to deal with this trauma that lasts forever.

Kate,
Your spam filter is a tiny bit too ruthless.

Why is it that all special interest groups and human rights commissions and the liberal govt said that we as cds have to be tolerent and accept other lifestyles and choices. But, when those special interest groups get their way, they are not tolerant of opposing views. Something is very wrong with this, and to think those of us with different views, paid with our tax dollars, their right to force us to agree with them. Just heard that the cdn tourism assoc has taken huge ads out in PASSPORT IN THE US, to encourage gay couples to come to TO to get married. Seems the center of the universe is a great place for gays to visit. So, all straight people, stay away from toronto. I still think there are more of us than them, and as much as they think they have won, the majority of cdns do not consider them married or normal.

Meanwhile, UK "Paras strike deep into the Taliban heartland".
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/06/19/wafg19.xml

Mark
Ottawa

Mary T, I take it you are commenting on the Margaret Somerville situation. Let me say up front I have not let someone's sexual orientation affect my friendship with them, or advocating for them and their family and believe in protecting their rights the same as anyone elses. However, I believe the majority of Canadians, myself included, agree with your point. What is sad in this case is that Somerville has only advocated in terms of the evidence that children belong with their biological parents. The gay culture has taken this position from a very respected professional to be detrimental to their interests and have swung back with "off with her head". The fact that there was any consideration at all of reneging on the honour she was being awarded for her work, because of a self interest group's perspective, is rightly as you suggest the issue we should be concerned about.

David Brown: "It never ceases to amaze me how paranoid lazy parents present themselves as these educated noble pseudo-teachers. Their stupid claims ...

I guess they belive their children have no sense of right or wrong and don't have the fortitude nor character to deal with life's challenges.

Always the same conclusion too...how great their children are because of home-schooling.

What a boatload of nonsense..."

"I'm not angry at all..."

Ha Ha!! Sure you're not angry - how does delusional or "in denial" fit? Sounds like your children may have turned out just fine in spite of you rather than because of you. And why, after the crap you've been spewing, should we believe you that they are well-adjusted young adults anyway?

Why not play it safe and realize that, if you don't know anything about the other side of the discussion (ie. home schooling) and you can't confine your comments to just public school (which you claim you understand), you should just keep your ignorant, angry cakehole zipped? Problem solved. Then you don't have to defend your moronic generalizations.

And, by the way, what made the public school system the omniscient being all-knowing in the ways of educating our children? Because of your wonderful children, bias aside? Maybe your just the gullible blowhard you've come across as from your previous statements.

Anne,

Firstly, there are children that should be taken away from their parents. Like if they are in a situation created by David Karesh and the Branch Davidians or if they are in some kind of real or mental (indoctrinated) danger.

Secondly, if a family lives in a community where children are removed from their parents and forcibly taken to another locale for schooling then that family should move.

Thirdly, my views and frame of reference come from growing up in Southern Ontario with liberally minded parents. I have no experience with other situations such as evangelical conservatism or what it's like to grow up in rural Saskatchewan.

Ham,

When you settle down I'll answer your questions.

Dave Brown: No-one has said there are not children who should be removed from their biological parents - we have advocated for such without any success in cases where a child has been exhibiting unquestionable signs of abuse - bruises that have been attested to being physical abuse by an ER physician for example. The child was returned by police to the parental situation after the child agreed on a taped interview he was very scared of the scenario and did not want to go back. (We are talking about a five year old.) It took a concernted effort to change the situation and stop the emotional damage to a child where he was resorting to such things as trying to burn the home down that police returned him to.

However, until you understand these situations do exist in this country I am proud to call home, rather than commenting from your personal scenario you should not pontificate with statements such as the parents should move. The parents would in all probability move if they could and if they could find out where there children are - problem is they can't to both scenarios. I have known parents to be arrested, charged and found guilty for going to the school and getting angry because no-one can tell them where their child is and school was the last place the parent knew where they were. Try understanding things from someone else's perspective rather than my kids went to public school, my kids are OK so everyone else's should be and people are lazy if they homeschool! I never homeschooled but that does not mean that if circumstances were different I might well have had to in order to ensure the best interests of my children which I am legally obligated to uphold.

David, all of my questions are rhetorical. I have already seen that you have no realistic, educated answers for any questions on this topic.

And "settle down"? Reread your very first post. My post was merely written in the same style. I guess you are the 'pot' to my 'kettle.'

Mary T. But, when those special interest groups get their way, they are not tolerant of opposing views. Something is very wrong with this, and to think those of us with different views, paid with our tax dollars, their right to force us to agree with them. Wow! I thought I was the only one left on the planet that thinks like that. I'm glad to see that there are two of us. I've been fighting this battle by myself on my blog.

I'm absolutely flabbergasted. I'm lazier because I home school? I thought I had heard everything possible from the ridiculous left wingers whose usual lame argument is, "Aren't you concerned about socialization?" To which I love to answer, "Yes, that's exactly why I'm not letting them hang around the schools!" Seriously, though, I didn't realize it was lazier to teach my kids than to drive them to school everyday and drop them for 6 or so hours and then day care for the rest. Wow! I'm going to try to convince my husband that this is the lazy option and go back to work for a break! I can tell you didn't stay home with your kids. Noon in my jammies?! Only in last week's best dream!! I don't know what you're smoking, there my friend, but you need to stop. You've gone brain dead. Okay, so you're not my friend, but you are brain dead.

Congratulations Mr. Brown on your children's upbringing. At least we will have 2 more citizens who will be free from the blinders of religious dogma and political bias, which, unfortunately, both rear their ugly head on this blog far too often.

BTW, David, ditto. I am also from SW Ontario and raised by Liberal parents, in a school system whose mediocrity shocks me daily. It didn't stop me from learning that the state does not need to raise my children and that I have a choice to work hard -- YES, WORK HARD at home schooling my children and allowing them to reach their potential instead of being taught that being top of the class is what makes you a pariah and that doing little will still rate an A average which is what happened with me. I was never challenged in school, but my kids are able to go above and beyond what the schools would have taught them and are challenged by the curriculum, never being bored with learning. They are learning to love to learn which will serve them far better than any public school program they may miss. Okay, I'm stepping away from the keyboard.

My sister is a professional teacher. She took a year off to home school her own kids. She worked incredibly hard at it. Had a little classroom and everything. Then she needed to go back to her job so she put them in a private school, and she went back to teaching public school. She wouldn't trust the public system.

Oh hell, now we've got another lunatic who doesn't understand that this is a logic based blog, otherwise known as Conservative.

Lunatic Lew,

Before you congratulate your new found lefty friend, know that he places lies in peoples mouths (or keyboards) whose views he doesn't agree with. That leaves plenty of questions about the indoctrination of his own kids - let alone if anybody can believe his words - that they are 'well-adjusted.'

Joanne C,

Same with my sister in-law who is a principal in the Ontario public system.

Ham,

I don't have "realistic educated answers" because all the questions posted are either rhetorical, sarcastic or of an emotional nature.

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

If you stop and think about it, all kids are home schooled...they're only in school 5-6 hours a day about 150 days of the year...the rest of the time they're at home learning from their parents.

A formal education makes up only a small part of knowledge.

I know I'm on the right track because everytime I air my views on this topic proponents go ballistic.

Thanks Lew, good to know there's others with open minds.

Irwin Daisy - Same with my sister in-law who is a principal in the Ontario public system. Yes, this is Ontario too.That doesn't say much for McGuinty. Now they are taking away more power from the trustees, so that the provincial government will be able to decide which schools stay open, etc. The trustees will only be figure-heads.

And still on the subject of schooling, this is from Friday's Post, about the gay BC couple who won a binding contract to influence school cirriculum -

"But the Correns said the anticipated changes to the K-12 curriculum along with tougher limits on parental rights to remove their children from classes teaching "sensitive content" are far more important and represent a major victory after a 10-year human rights battle to have gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people reflected in everyday curriculum."

So is this about tolerance or indoctrination?

David Brown said, "...you should spend some time with my children...19 and 21 years old, they're religion free, politics free, highly educated, happy and successful well beyond their years."

How can they be "politics free"? If they neither hold nor can defend opinions about religion and about politics, how on earth can they possibly be called "highly educated"? Are they complete tabula rasa? That's hard to imagine at the age of 19 and 21. Teflon, maybe?

What you're describing about your children is a fool's paradise, Mr. Brown. I suppose they're "happy" because, as the saying goes, "Ignorance is bliss."

And what, I wonder, would their successes be? Merrily going along with the status quo? Do they make a lot of money? Does "everyone" like them? Are they "nice"? Well, beware if all wo/men speak well of you.

They sound like just the kind of "useful fools" we really don't need at this point in our history.

The CP, of the MSM, has placed the "Big Lie" front and centre in this story.

The "Big Lie"? Guite was "sponsorship program boss".

Guite was the boss? No. Guite was a clerk/ a willing collaborator/a clerk who did what his Bosses, Chretien/Martin, told him to do. Guite was paid well for his obedience to his masters.

The boss/bosses of the AdScam fraud were:

AdScam Chretien/Martin. ...-

Sponsorship boss Guite gets 3 1/2 years for defrauding federal government
MONTREAL (CP) - Former sponsorship program boss Chuck Guite was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison on Monday for defrauding the federal government.
cnews

Well, David, I suggested you shut it when it comes to things you don't have a clue about, but you insist on making things up on the fly. If you had the first clue about home schooling (and I probably only have half of the first clue), it is not about kids watching you mow the lawn, helping you do dishes, or watching television. It is about an environment that facilitates and encourages learning an approved curriculum. When kids are in school whether it be a private home or a public school, they are there to learn the curriculum. That's what we're talking about here, David. Quit diverting the subject to something completely different.

And how can you guage whether you are right or wrong based on others going "ballistic." If I call you an imbecile and you go ballistic, does that mean I'm on the right track or does it mean I don't know what I'm talking about? You choose.

Blaming liberalism or homophobia on the 7 year old's beating -if he even exists- is pretty lame. Bullies are going to pick any excuse adults will swallow. If it wasn't homophobia, it'd be fear of the 7 year old's glasses.

Darn it, David Brown. You're annoying me: "mind control" as in religion and politics.

My mind was more controlled by the Zeitgeist and the reigning "orthodoxies" (read: feminism, socialism, Utopinaism, L/liberalism) when I was in my early twenties than when I finally acknowledged and "owned" my religious faith. It was at that point that I began to become truly critical of and questioning of the seventies/left-lib/feminist status quo that was fast enveloping Canada.

The Church, BTW, didn't tell me I HAD to do this; I just knew in my heart of hearts that what I'd been living and what I'd been encouraged to believe in--that we're all nice, that religion is for the unthinking, that all women have been oppressed by "the partriarchy," etc., etc.--was a crock. It led to dysfunctionalism and, frankly, most of the people I knew at that point, who were religionless, without politics, dope smoking floaters were self-centred and non-contributors to anything that didn't directly benefit them.

www.theinfozone.net/diet.html

See you in court, Col. Sanders.

Group suing KFC is now after Starbucks.

Heck who knew fast food could be fattening.

TIZ

One more thing, David Brown. You're a blowhard.

Don't talk to me about how wonderful the public school system is. I've just come back from a day in the trenches, and you would be, or SHOULD be, truly horrified by the chaos we now have in too many classrooms today, by the undisciplined squalor that the "religionless" classroom has become.

Canadians kids have come to believe, if they believe anything, in the no-consequences (euphemistically referred to as "zero tolerance") environments most public school cesspools have become: zero tolerance for responsible teachers who attempt to address chronic violence and disrespect, and "safe schools" for the bullies (who, after all, the (non-)thinking goes, have had very rough lives so we'd better cut them some slack). Academic standards are zilch, because in order to preserve students’ “self-esteem” we have to put them on special programs which it is impossible for them to fail, EVEN IF THEY’VE DONE NO WORK.

BTW: Kids who are home schooled do extremely well if and when they go back into the public system and when they try entrance exams to go to university. So I don’t know what you’re talking about: lazy parents? boatload of nonsense? buying in to the beguilement? mind control?

Whoa! If your thinking can be attributed to a public school education, you’ve just made the point a lot of us are trying to make. The public system is fried. ‘Talk about scorched earth: That’s the public system, and that’s the minds of too many students in the public system. Try teaching in the public system for a week, Mr. Brown. You might be very surprised.

Public education = Government "education".
Government "education" is an oxymoron. Something like "disinterested advocate".

Government employees cannot provide an "education", only government "schooling", which while certainly not useless is not "education". Let's not equate "schooling" and "education".

Government employees, like all human beings, pursue rational self-interest. In their case, this is : government is the sole provider of solutions to social problems and that BIG government means higher job security.

Government employees cannot teach economics, a key truth (post Keynes) of which is that a government intervention creates a "cure" which is worse than the diagnosed disease.

Government employees cannot teach children the truth about the free market economy delivering the greatest amount of human satisfaction for the greatest number (utilitarianism).

Goverment employees cannot teach children that holes in the social fabric can (and will!) be satisfactorily filled by myriad forms of private philanthropy.

Government employees cannot (and do not!) teach children critical thinking -- how to think; only what to think which is: government is a kindly, disinterested and beneficent provider of the common good and that business is greed and exploitation.

Government employees cannot teach children that there is no known quantity in the universe called "government compassion".

When people like David Brown talk about their children being "politics free" what he means is that they have been inculcated with the default world view which corresponds neatly with his own. Therefore they are "politics free" vis a vis himself, i.e., not in conflict with his world view.

Spanking Spector...

Blogger Norm said:[re Accountability Act]
"Political columnist and blogger Norman Spector says the collaboration helps both the Conservatives and the NDP achieve their political objectives: the Conservatives gain a legislative ally, and the NDP appear more modest and centrist.

"Part of the game plan . . . is to eat into political support (for the Liberals) from both sides of... via cnews

small dead animals: Spanking Spector
I wonder if Spector contracts out his trolling services. ... When caught in such a deception, resignations swiftly follow--as just happened in the case of ...
www.smalldeadanimals.com/archives/001425.html - 23k

Speaking of gay marriage. When the new wife and I gor hitched a few weeks ago we had to go to washington state. I refuse to marry in a place that does what the liberanos have done to us. The border guard shook my hand when He asked me why. To all the staight people all over the world stay away from canada until this gay crap is fixed, if they dont get financed things will change faster.

TDH says the Liberal Party stinks.

And they're liars.

Says the Liberal Party of Canada is the same old, same old.

Phew... The Libs stink, for sure, for sure,eh, Jean-Paul? BTW, Iggy's his choice for mayor.

"An attempt at clearing the air with certain individuals by phone was greeted with a query as to why I hadn't supported Paul Martin back in 1998. I was told that there was a place for me (as if he was running things, even though Toronto had a completely different line), but only in the background. I was also told that some of my long time friends from the Allan Rock leadership days were of the same opinion. I later found out that the claim was a lie.

Same old routine, 8 years later - and really no surprise to me."
http://www.tdhstrategies.com/home.html

Great balls of fire. Good God Almighty. I'm glad TDH is a Liberal. 'Never read such drivel in my life. Strategies? If you write the way he does, it means you're not thinking straight.

Just keep it up, TDH. You'll be driving readers into the CPC fold; and keep telling it like it is: that the Librano$ are liars.

Just a thought: How is it that Liberals remain in a party full of people who keep lying to them? "Same old routine," I guess. 'Definition of stupid?

TDH must be a product of the public education system: FBS: Fried Brain Syndrome.

David Brown wrote:

"...you should spend some time with my children...19 and 21 years old, (sic: You need a colon here) [T]hey're religion free, politics free, highly educated, happy and successful well beyond their years."

Don't you think you should have proofread this absurdity?

Or are your children utopian angels? Whoops! You don't believe in such creatures.

http://www.cjob.com/news/index.aspx?src=loc&mc=local&rem=40859

Home owner charged in home invasion
JUN 19 2006 01:30 PM

Two suspects in a weekend home invasion went straight to the police after the incident... because the homeowner shot at them.

According to police, it happened about 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon, 45 kilometres north of Roblin.

Two men kicked in the front door of the home, and the property owner grabbed a firearm.

At that point the invaders left... but as they were going, a shot was fired at their vehicle and hit the driver.

The culprits drove to Russell to complain to the RCMP.

The driver was treated for his injuries and released to the police.

Now, 28 year old Harvey Joseph Young is charged with Attempted Murder, along with eight other weapons and firearm-related charges.

Fifty- year- old Terry Eldred Curle of Russell and 37 year old Darren Norman Lindsay of Roblin face several charges each in connection with the home invastion attempt.

David Brown; may I ask what your occupation is? It may help me and others to know what it is that makes you so special that your teachers, principals and the school board seem to respect you and hold you in such high esteem as to give you and your children the royal treatment.

I ask because I sense that you truly do command respect from and for your children, from their teachers and from your school system. I am not being sarcastic. I have had many experiences with teachers who, for example, treat parents who are police, doctors etc. differently than parents they deem as un-equal or inferior.

I find it hard to believe neither you nor your children have ever had difficulty with elements of the school system/experience.

I also know very intelligent parents, very well organized, successful, not pajama wearing couch potatoes, who have successfully home-schooled their kids. The reasons are varied such as handicaps, bullying and drugs. How about rural kids who need extra help but the bus ride to get there is too long? I think the example Joanne gave regarding her sister speaks volumes. There are many more such examples.

I will say that there are some families who are a bit whacky with their ideas, but the same can be said of some teachers,principals, trustees, etc. in the public and private systems. The teachers union is too powerful in too many situations. There are many principals and boards who are unwilling to rock the boat.

You really should try being a little less judgemental of other poeple's beliefs. Many families, all over Canada and elsewhere, have not had the same incredible luck and 'results' driven existence that you seem to have had. Go- getter children? Go-getter dad? Actually your whole attitude of your experience, your family and your beliefs and intolerance of others beliefs, make you sound like a bit of a zealot.

Ok, I can understand that both sides in American politics are guilty on occasion of crossing the line. But Townhall? You're citing an article on leftist intolerance from TOWNHALL?

The language in this article is SO far outside the boundaries of respectable journalism, that any attempt to do credit to its subject is rendered null. How can a portrayal of any media event come off as fair when it's so obviously brimming with deliberate instances of loaded terminology? And furthermore, why is it that conservatives can't seem to go five seconds while discussing gays without thinking about the sex? It's like a kid who goes paging through his mother's bodice-rippers, looking for the "icky" sex parts. Don't take my word for it. Go read it again.

Sites like Townhall intentionally publish stories of dubious journalistic merit, all to further a specific agenda and scratch an itch for readers. Those who go to the site already know what they're looking for, even if they dare not speak its name. Townhall is a gloryhole of modern print journalism.

After reading the rest of the posts I missed yesterday it looks like most believe Dave Brown has a problem with reality. None of us can truly know whether the values we have tried to instill into our children through whatever means we deem workable (love of learning,work ethics, compassion for others, ability to see someone else's opinion could have value, don't quit because the going gets rough etc.) have gained the foothold we would like to believe is there until the crunch comes. Many of us will be disappointed when that crunch comes but hopefully we remember that we learnt a lot from our mistakes and perhaps the most when the mistakes caused real pain.

Irwin,

Thank you for the insult - typical of this blog to insult someone for simply expressing an opinion. Nice to know I am a lunatic for having an open mind.

Lew,

You and your open mind are both welcome.

Cheri,

My background is business management and electronics engineering. I have been a company president but presently prefer the pace of managing a contracting company.

I feel I get a considerable amount of respect because I'm fair, approachable, friendly and forthright. I get the 'royal' treatment because I give it and expect it in return.

Here's how to get what you want: Define exactly what you want to achieve, spend whatever time it takes to devise a realistic plan to achieve the desired results then execute the plan perfectly as well as brilliantly. Sounds easy and it is but most people I see stumble don't execute well. Ego and emotions usually get in the way.

Yes, we've had difficulties with the school system and when we did I first thought things through from all angles and then made an appointment with the principal. I always took organized notes with me and made every effort to communicate and understand all 3 (yours, mine, the truth) sides of the story. It's amazing the results you can get if your friendly, communicative, organized and thoughtful.

I know I get far too judgemental on this blog but do it because of a knee-jerk reaction to all the other hasty judgements posted. The best defense is a good offense.

What you call zeal I call passion. Being passionate I feel is the most important element to achieving self-actualization.

David Brown: What unmitigated horseshit. You said this:

It never ceases to amaze me how paranoid lazy parents present themselves as these educated noble pseudo-teachers

I don't have the time at the moment to see if you've retracted it. If so, fine, if not, your last comment stands as unmitigated horseshit.

Me No Dhimmi,

Ask a home schooling parent what their teaching qualifications are and the answer is always the same. An under-graduate degree in liberal arts from some 2nd rate university...unmitigated horseshit.

And yet, they let us teach our own children without even a university education from birth to 4! Wow!! They should take all the children away from parents before we wreck them.
I have news for you. My SIL went to Oxford University to get her teacher's certificate (we share the same education otherwise), and said she mostly learned crowd control, which, when you are teaching your own children, you rarely have a problem , unless you have raised them religion-free, obedience-free and anarchy loving. Present company excepted, I'm sure.
Also, I do have an undergraduate degree from the #2 university in Canada, thank you very much, where I majored in child development. Not that it even matters. According to the province of Ontario, I don't even need this, I just have to prove that they are receiving adequate instruction. I have to prove it, the school board doesn't. They just keep passing the kids along. I have the benefit of seeing where my children are having problems and concentrating on that area until they have mastered it. However, your beef is with the law, not home schoolers.
Go mind your own business with your obviously superior children, whose fault it is not that they have been raised by an ignorant man who pretends to know it all. It's amazing to me that they could turn out politics free in a home where a father feels he has to tell others how to raise their children.
Lastly, if you don't like the intelligence of the response you receive, why don't you leave? We'll miss you terribly and cry all the time.

"I feel I get a considerable amount of respect because I'm fair, approachable, friendly and forthright. I get the 'royal' treatment because I give it and expect it in return."

I'd hate to see what you consider unfair and unfriendly. Why do you make this stuff up? And worse, you go off on your egotistical tirade granting your pathetic tidbits of wisdom straight out of your latest self-help book almost like you figured this out on your own. Possible yet improbable.

My cousin provides home schooling to her kids and she has a B.Ed from the U of S. Please let us know how this fits into your jackass generalizations. And since you're incapable of educating yourself, here's one Google result, on me: http://epaa.asu.edu/epaa/v7n8/ - Draw your own conclusions.

Here's an offal dandilion: The Fiddler is No Ditherer. Not BS either.

Ash is up front; no more of that mulling.

Oh, well there's always Hedy.

But, Ash says he could be persuaded to take part in a seat in TO (Toronto), not Truro, in the next, er, election. Right now, there are a few things in his way.

In the meantime, Ash is concentrating on his next magnum opus: "Fiddler In The Ruff". ...-

N.S. fiddler Ashley MacIsaac won't run for leadership of federal Liberals
PORT HAWKESBURY (CP) - Cape Breton fiddler Ashley MacIsaac says he won't be jumping into the race for the federal Liberal leadership.

The controversial entertainer, who's been mulling over the idea since March, told a radio station there are a few things standing in his way. MacIsaac says after watching the leadership forums, he realized he doesn't speak French well enough. He also says he couldn't find a campaign manager, though he has managed to raise some money.

MacIsaac, who lives in Toronto, will spend the coming months working on his music career.

But he's not ruling out running for the Liberals in the next federal election.

"I'll consider it at the time if there's a seat available in Toronto to take part in," said MacIsaac. ...-
voy forums

Long in the tooth thread but will post this good idea anyhow.

Corn likker in Newfoundland and PEI is referred to as screech. Seems odd because it*s a smooth clear slightly syrupy beverage one can only nip at and too much will put you in a coma.

So we all like ethanol for several reasons, but, sadly, I recently read where it is only one third as efficient as petrol and thus will always be an additive rather than a fuel.

Young fellar above is correct about hydrogen. We need a tech break-through because the ratio of electricity to hydrogen needs help.

That*s why I say we need to get those featherweight batteries, super efficient soalr cells and power thrust motors working together and selling off the car lots. Once started, the electric car will go from the grocery getter to the silent muscle car in no time.

Governments are afraid of this getting out of the bag though. As mentioned above, the employment dislocation will be rough for some time.

We have to let buggy-whips go sooner or later. Let*s do it now! TG

Woops! This is the one ... a crime stopper!

Crime alerts at your fingertips
By KEN MAGUIRE

BOSTON (AP) - Phil Carver may never see the car stolen near his neighbourhood, but the description e-mailed to him by the Boston Police Department will be in the back of his mind when he goes for a walk with his kids.

Boston has become the latest - and largest - U.S. city to launch a crime alert system designed to get the word out about murders, bank robberies and other crimes to residents and businesses via e-mail, text messaging and fax. "This is stuff I can tell my neighbours," Carver said. "At the very least it keeps people on their toes and aware of what's going on. The more people are aware and involved, the less crime you'll have."

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/TechNews/TechInvestor/2006/06/20/1642520-ap.html

Now this is a great way for one to be aware of the B&Es or whatever that may be going on in the area. This could put a real dent in crime around where you and I live.

They sure need this in Surrey BC and it could help here in Courtenay as well. TG

PS, I have a scanner, but often miss the real interesting local crime action as one can not listen full-time. Email alert on the most important stuff would be great.

They cancelled Mr. Dressup, too. (no, not Grapes).

The best news is: CbC will become a "truly public, commercial-free broadcaster." "Truly public" Bhwahahahahargh...

There goes the budget surplus. So, who's gonna pay for the CbC? ...-

Senate report to recommend making CBC-TV commercial free, sources tell CP
OTTAWA (CP) - A Senate report on the state of Canada's media will recommend that CBC-TV become a truly public, commercial-free broadcaster, The Canadian Press has learned ... cnews

David Brown said:
Ask a home schooling parent what their teaching qualifications are and the answer is always the same. An under-graduate degree in liberal arts from some 2nd rate university...unmitigated horseshit.

I can't put it any more politely than this: That statement could only come from an ignorant, arrogant shit and an insufferable snob. You, David Brown, are a closet totalitarian (which is what all liberals are just below the surface).

So we will now have a parent registry will we? Parenting certificates, maybe, delivered by government bureaucrats after consultation with David Brown who, like a good liberal, knows what's best for the children of other parents.

Has it never occured to you that a homeschooling parent may be fully aware of his/her deficiencies and therefore seek help from other individuals and home school networks?

That an ALLEGED parent who is ALLEGEDLY in the private sector can have this kind of contempt for other parents who are making sincere and heartfelt choices and often serious economic sacrifices for the betterment of their children I find very deeply offensive and disturbing.

Listen man, there are lots of people of a leftist pursuasion who visit here, but I don't think I've encountered anything quite as ugly as your thoroughly contemptible remarks.

I don't generally like to throw around easy ideological labels but these remarks are truly fascistic.

You wouldn't be the former CEO of the Ontario Securities Commission would you? Same name! Same totalitarian arrogance.

BRAVO! Me No Dhimmi! Well spoken, and the crowd is cheering!

Thanks David for your candidness. I apologize for calling you a zealot but I do still think you're being too judgemental and intollerant of others' choices whether they are belief based or made out of necessity.

I think you are saying if the school system is broken, fix it. Don't whine about it. You are perfectly right however it is easier said than done. There is just too much politics amongst teachers, other parents, their children, unions, school boards, trustees etc.

I think choice in education will be good for all concerned. Whether it's home schooling or charter schools, there are many educators, and parents as well, who need a big wake-up. If anything David, I think there is far too little emphasis on success in school. Too much emphasis on individuality, not enough on the basics. There is also apathy on the part of school officials when dealing with diificult children and/or difficult parents. Disruptive kids are not only accepted, they are given too much attention, which could be better spent on their peers.

I'm happy for you that your kids are so happy and well adjusted. I envy you that you are a good communicator and seeminly are getting what you want out of life. It takes all kinds to make the world go round and your way is not necessarily my way. As I accept that my way is definately not how someone else would choose to live or raise their children. I am not a particularily religous person either, but I believe in "do unto others..." That includes not judging someone for their beliefs, appearance, way of life, what they drive or where they live.

May you and your family be happy, walk softly, and enjoy the fruits of your labour.

Farmers are sacred cows here in Sask. Why don't they tell what it would really cost per farmer at a $115.00 an acre gift from the taxpayers??? If you have a 1000 acres,not seeded but flooded you would get $115,000.00. What the hell goes on?? It is not the governments fault you got flooded. Ottawa should pay you after all you put the Tories in Ottawa from Sask. Ask your buddies for help. The NDP have helped you a lot already and you still vote Tory. You don't even thank the taxpayers which is the gov't for their help. Every year it's a new area of Sask that the farmers want hundreds of millins of dollars. I figure you can absorb hard years like the rest of us have. Spend less and save for bad years. How long have you been farming?? Not long enough. And you talk about people on wefare. You're no damn better. Buisnesses take out insurance, some for times of lost income. Why the hell didn't you?? It's been the same old song from you guys for c50 years. "We are entitled to more" You farm brats started ever since Grant Devine told you how important you were,not the fact that most of the tories and now Sask party Mla's are farmers. So he paid you more that some you ever made farming!! Do like the rest of us become a two income family. Like it or not that's life today.
It's tough to farm but it's tougher to work for a wage. Get over it!!!!

Investigation into AdScam Sponsorship still alive.

Note: From CBC news. It's from CBC news? Incredible!

Quote from story below: "things happen in very private places without any witnesses."

Exhibit: Here is a site detailing the sordid lives/private places of the Librano$.

Beryl P. Wajsmann on David T. Nicholson's Wednesday-Night.com History
Beryl P. Wajsmann on Wednesday-Night's Web site. for Montreal, ... Morselli an envelope containing $5000 at a meeting at Franks restaurant on St. Zotique
www.wednesday-night.com/Beryl_P_Wajsmann.asp

.............

Sponsorship probe still alive: lawyer
Last Updated Tue, 20 Jun 2006 13:25:52 EDT
CBC News
The criminal investigation into the beleaguered federal sponsorship program is ongoing despite the sentencing of a key player in the scandal, a Crown prosecutor said.

After the sentencing of a key player in the sponsorship scandal, Crown prosecutor Jacques Dagenais said: 'This story isn't over. It's the end of one file, but not the sponsorship file.' (CBC) Jacques Dagenais spoke to reporters Monday after former federal bureaucrat Chuck Guité was sentenced to 3½ years in prison for defrauding taxpayers of roughly $1.6 million.

"This story isn't over," said Dagenais. "It's the end of one file, but not the sponsorship file."

Dagenais said the RCMP probe into the sponsorship scandal is ongoing, but said it is a slow process and too early to speak of more arrests.

"The more people talk, the easier it is to investigate," he said. "This isn't like a bank robbery … things happen in very private places without any witnesses."

"It takes a long time. But in the end, you sometimes find skeletons or bones." ...-
via voy forums

Do you believe/feel that P. Trudeau and P. Hellyer were aliens spirited by UFO to Planet Earth from the Gaia Universe?

Do you believe contrails in the SKY are causing global warming/cooling/justright?

Do you have a theory about conspiracy theories?

Are youall a slave to the Internutts?

More here:
"It energizes my soul at its very core to be here with so many like-minded people," he began, "defending the very soul of humanity against the parasitic controllers of this world government, who are orchestrating terror attacks as a pretext to sell us into even greater slavery."

"If they think they're gonna get away with declaring war on humanity," he thundered, "they've got another think coming!"
http://chronicle.com/temp/reprint.php?id=j1dxcwnt8x627gjyg5jn728rfkn21t9l

Cheri,

Thank-you for your feedback.

You seem to be a very well adjusted and tolerant person that thinks things through.

I get the sense you and your family will have a happy wonderful and prosperous life together.

maz2,

Kate has warned you about staying on topic and dumping on her bandwidth.

I'm not speaking for her... but if you're so hellbent with your own adgenda why don't you start your own blog and do what ever turns you on there.

Other than that...pay attention and contribute.

"I'm not speaking for her... but...": Brown.

Is this being misread? "Reader Tips" "As usual, you're invited to share your own tips in the comments." Stifling of dissent/choice is a left liberal gambit.

Let's misread the following "Reader Tips". ...-

Bullet misses 4-yr old boy leaving Toronto's McDonalds restaurant

Had it not been for a Happy Meal toy, the victim in the east-end McDonald's shooting could have easily been a 4-year-old tot. via nealenews

maz2,

That's good. You're starting to make progress.

G'night, Peter. Mansbridge takes the nearest exit. Fade ...

CBC's 'The National' to be bumped by U.S reality show

Instead of Peter Mansbridge delivering the news in his trusty baritone, the public broadcaster will be airing ... an American singing competition?
via neale news

The NEA Nazi Educater Association dont want home schools they want them kids all sent to these schools where their brainwashed with revionist history,evoltion,sex education,gay rights,animal rights enviromental propeganda self esteem and the rest of the new age poppycock BS