Ladies and Gentlemen:

Guess this isn't about failed Winchester Model 70's anymore, but politics, and looks like fun, so I'll jump in.

First, let me say that this country is the best deal in the world in my opinion. Having said that, it still takes brains, guts and determination to make it happen here. Like some of you, I've gotten kicked in the head in the past, and had to adapt to get ahead again (excuse the pun).

In my experience after 44 years of it, starting with a thumb in my mouth, I think that passion and risk taking is what will make it happen for anyone in this country. The hard part is figuring out what you are passionate about and how to configure a plan to get there.

I bailed out of law three years ago, lost 75% of my income, and have not looked back.

When its ready, I'll post a picture of the front of my new business on this forum; should be later this year. It may just be the basement door, but it will be my basement door.

This country is a hell of a lot better than some socialist grease spot, where some government bureaucrat determines through a command economy what you will do. How would you like to be in Chavez's Venezuela?

Sincerely,

Chris Bemis

I hope they do bring back the M70, and if the quality is there it will sell. I hope it is made here in the USA, but my first concern is quality.

If you aren't here for the political part, skip the rest of my post.

Craig:

This is truly not intended as an attack. Rather, I assume that you are genuinely concerned about the lousy state of the education system in California. I am not a teacher, but I would suggest that you check your facts with regards to what has distroyed the education system in California. The problem is not the teachers, but what and how the legislature has mandated that they teach. Teachers in California have very little flexibility in what or how they teach. They are forced to teach to a standard that was dreamed up by Bozos who have never worked in a classroom, know nothing about how kids learn, and have no concept of what is really important for a student to be a success (i.e. able to get a job or go to college after high school). A specific example is that California's revised high school science curriculum was the brain-child of Glen Seaborg, who figured that because he won a Nobel Prize in chemistry, he knew about science education. He headed the state education committee and got rid of all of the "touchy-feely" science (read hands-on) and decided that sciences should be taught by reading about the theory, and that it should all be at the atomic (or biochemical level in the case of biology). It's no wonder kids are bored by science, they took all of the fun and wonder out of it. I know that the same applies to math, and I suspect the other subjects as well.

Add parents who don't parent, a huge imigrant population with English as a second language (if the teacher is lucky), and an education system that ranks in the bottom 10% in per student funding for education to the "experts" that set the requirements and it's no wonder the California schools are a mess.

As to teacher's pay, what do most other professionals with at least a Bachelor's degree and a Professional license make? Most of the teachers that I know are extrememly dedicated and hard working individuals who work 10 to 12 hours a day, 6 days a week for those 9 to 10 months. Teaching is darn hard work, with everybody second-guessing you and sure that they can do the job better. The truth is, very few teachers who have been at it for more than 3 or 4 years do it because of the free time and benefits, they do it because they are passionate about teaching.

rant off.

Loud-n-Boomer, I love a spirited debate; Like you, I think highly of teachers in general, but trust me when I tell you that many of them have a definite agenda, that may or may not dovetail with the state-mandated curriculum. I have 2 friends that are grade and middle school teachers here in the East Bay, you wouldn't believe the social engineering that takes place in some classrooms...I also agree that, like in most other sectors or industries, it is rarely the fault of the "boots on the ground" when a system is failing or has failed, it is almost always the fault of those a little higher up the food chain. But, until we can fire the shit teachers and promote the good ones, our system will be less than good, for which the the union is largely to blame (see Barry Bonds new contract and the MLB Players Association for another example of the prime motivation of the modern labor union)

As far as one group of eggheads in ivory towers bestowing a Nobel Prize on another egghead, didn't I just hear that Al Gore was nominated yesterday??? I should come clean and admit that I'm so far right that Rush Limbaugh is too liberal for me, I fit in well here in the SF Bay Area

Regards,
Craig Nolan

my favorite NEA publications are "Heather Has Two Mommies" and "Daddy's Male Roomate". IMHO the NEA and it's state associations are all about removing moral values from the schoolrooms of America.If unions are a bad thing, tenure is the worst thing.

Rich
DRSS