Posted on 10/07/2008 12:28:54 PM PDT by jazusamo
What about those "real issues" that Barack Obama's supporters in the media say we should get back to, whenever some new unsavory fact about his past comes out?
Surely education is a real issue, with American school children consistently scoring below those in other countries, and children in minority communities faring worst of all.
What about Senator Obama's position on this real issue? As with other issues, he has talked one way and acted the opposite way.
The education situation in Obama's home base of Chicago is one of the worst in the nation for the children— and one of the best for the unionized teachers.
Fewer than one-third of Chicago's high-school juniors meet the statewide standards on tests. Only 6 percent of the youngsters who enter Chicago high schools become college graduates by the time they are 25 years old.
The problem is not money: Chicago spends more than $10,000 per student.
Chicago teachers are doing well. A beginning teacher, fresh out of college, earns more than the city's median income and that can rise to more than $100,000 over the years.
That's for teaching 6 hours a day, 9 months of the year. Moreover, a teacher's income is dependent on seniority and other such factors— and in no way dependent on whether their students are actually learning anything.
Obama has said eloquent and lofty words about education, as he has about other things— for example, how it is "unacceptable in a country as wealthy as ours" that some children "are not getting a decent shot at life" because of the failing schools.
In a predominantly black suburb of Chicago, where the average teacher's salary is $83,000 and one-fourth of the teachers make more than $100,000, Barack Obama noted that the school day ends at 1:30 PM.
In his book "Dreams from My Father," Obama said candidly that black teachers and administrators "defend the status quo with the same skill and vigor as their white counterparts of two decades before."
It is not a question of Obama's not knowing. He has demonstrated conclusively that he knows what is going on.
But, for all his eloquent words, he has voted consistently for the teachers' unions and the status quo.
"I owe those unions," he has said frankly. "When their leaders call, I do my best to call them back right away. I don't consider this corrupting in any way."
Only other politicians' special interests are called "special interests" by Barack Obama, whose world-class ability to rationalize is his most frightening skill.
Even when he verbally endorses the reform idea of merit pay for teachers, he cleverly re-defines merit so that it will be measured by teachers themselves, rather than by "arbitrary tests." In other words, Obama placates critics of the educational status quo by being for merit pay in words, while making those words meaningless, so as not to offend the teachers' unions.
The failings of teachers are only part of the disaster of inner city public schools. Disruptive and violent students can make it impossible for even the best teachers to educate students.
Administrators are reluctant to impose any serious punishment on those students who make it impossible for other students to learn. Partly this is because liberal judges can make it literally a federal case if more minority students are punished than others.
In other words, if black males are punished more often than Asian American females, that can be enough to get the administrators drawn into a legal labyrinth, costing money and time, even if the punishment is eventually upheld.
When a bill was introduced into the Illinois state legislature that would put more teeth into suspensions of misbehaving students, Barack Obama voted against that bill.
A real reformer would want to crack down on both unruly students and unaccountable teachers. A clever politician would speak eloquently, demand "change"— and then vote for the status quo. Obama talks a great game.
The Real Obama: Part II
The Real Obama
Do Facts Matter?
Idols of Crowds
Changes in Politics
Whose “Special Interests”?
The Galbraith Effect
…As Well As Several Other Issues
Are Facts Obsolete?
Conservatives for Obama?
Cocky Ignorance
Obama and McCain
Irrelevant Apologies
Success Built on Work Ethic
An Old Newness
A Living Lie
Obama’s Speech
Race and Politics
Non-Judgmental Nonsense
Sowell/Palin 2008!!
In other words, he doesn't consider using political power to do favors for people who give him money to be "corruption." It's all in the definition, you know ...
Either that, or he figures that already being 100% corrupt, it's impossible for any influence to be "corrupting."
BHO does not care about students, just the union money and ‘free’ union ACORN volunteers...
That’s astonishing to me that a politician would admit corruption and that’s exactly what he did.
I like that ticket but how about
Sowell - Williams, ‘12
BLACKS TO THE FUTURE
Dr. Sowell is a genus!
Seems like there is omission of the fact that 0be worked on school improvement in the CPS. Since he accomplished NONE, 0be sends HIS kids to private school.
Exactly! Union money and ACORN volunteers.
Good point, there’s no way he’d let his kids go to those public schools.
Sure. “I do political favors for money.” Just don’t call it “corruption” or “bribery,” because that would be racist.
This is outrageous!!!
Unfortunately, Dr. Sowell is 78 years old now.
Wonder if there’s any way to persuade Mr. Sowell to run for elected office?
Yes, it’s outrageous and that’s why teacher unions fight merit pay.
He does. Specifically the Chicago Teacher's Union (CTU) donated at various points to his previous campaigns. When Obama has had the opportunity to reform the cronyism of the unions and the Chicago machine, he hasn't.
Thanks, this collection of Sowell columns is just what I need! My elderly Mother is a lifelong Democrat who has recently seen the light, but she’s up against it at the Senior Center where the AARP-brainwashed bridge players are voting for Obama, who will “protect their medicare”. She can’t understand why “the facts” about Obama “have not come out in the news until Sean Hannity last night”! So this will arm her with some substantial material.
Good! I hope she’ll use them. Dr. Sowell has many excellent talking points in those columns.
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