Vile Stuff

Usually they're just stupid. But sometimes they're evil and hypocritical.

It takes a certain kind of unconscious sense of irony for a newspaper founded by someone named Gonzales to publish this sort of trash. Do the editors not recall their own newspaper's history? Why do they publish articles that are (1) inaccurate and (2) intended to divide Southerners?

Fools.

Self-Serving Tripe

Note: If you have to publish a newspaper column entitled "Why Newspapers are Still Vital," your case is already a lost cause.

Children of SC get One-Two Punch from Inez, State

You can always count on The State to stand up for the people and bureaucracies that fail our children.

A new report proves that South Carolina's vaunted educational progress isn't all it's cracked up to be.

So how does The State react? It goes into full-on damage control mode. "Pathetic" and "disgusting" are two words that come to mind.

It's bad enough that The State makes a habit of systematically underimining taxpayers' interests. At least they're adults. Leave the kids alone.

"I have failed. Let's double my power!"

South Carolina schools have taken a tumble. The state-led "reforms" which were to wave the magic wand of government to produce higher achievement have proven...disappointing.

So today's whopper comes not from the writers of The State but of a bureaucrat quoted therein. According to the hapless serial failure Inez Tenenbaum, the answer to government failure is...more government responsibility.

One idea Tenenbaum tossed out is creating uniform curriculums with sample lessons that teachers in failing districts and successful schools alike could follow.

Who would be in charge of designing, implementing, mandating, and enforcing these new one-size-fits-all-curriculum? Why Inez Tenenbaum, of course! As if she hasn't done enough damage already.

We don't need more centralized power. We don't need more red-tape-laden mandates. We don't need more bureaucracy. We don't need higher taxes.

We need to trust the people. Believe it or not, they actually know how to run their own lives. Given the chance, they would know how to run their kid's education.

What are the chances The State editorial board will pick up on the impossible arrogance of our State Superintendent? I'd put the odds at between '0' and none.

Remedial Civics

One of the interesting things about freedom of speech—perhaps part of its greatness—is that it protects people with all sorts of views. It even protects those who want to eliminate free speech!

Today in his editorial Brad Warthen once again rails against free speech.

Warthen says that free speech is bad because it leads to people disagreeing ("polarization"). So Warthen goes out and says that certain types of free speech—the kinds that he doesn't like—should not occur. What sort of free speech does Brad Warthen not like? Warthen doesn't like free speech when (1) it's about politics (2) it's done by a political party and (3) it's done by a certain party that rhymes with "Depublican."

I like the fact that Brad Warthen uses his freedom of speech—and political speech, no less—to talk about why too much speech is bad for America.

Idiots always descend into self-parody.

Anyhow, there's no point in leaving this stupidity undisturbed. Charity commands that when we see someone enslaved by his own ignorance, we must do what it takes to liberate him.

The place that you are living in, Brad, is called "America." It is governed by a Constitution. Please read its Bill of Rights, paying special attention to First Amendment. You will notice protection of both freedom of speech and the right to petition the government.

With a little bit of thought, you may be able to deduce that political speech and assembly also includes the right to organization, dissent, and differing of opinions. Yes, Brad, you're allowed to speak even if you don't run a newspaper.

Welcome to America, Brad. I think you'll find our ways hospitable. Please stay as long as you like.