This is America. We are an English speaking nation. We have distinct and traditional American cultural values. We have some Americans in our population who have difficulty speaking a coherent sentence. We have many who cannot construct a complete and proper sentence.

Yet we find the time and the money to educate youth in Arabic and Arabic culture. Mind you this is a Federal Grant program and limited to only five select school districts. At least for now. At a cost of 1.3 millions dollars students on these select district will be required,  you heard {read} right, required as mandatory part of their curriculum to learn Arabic.

This is a blatant abuse of taxpayer money, and it is indicative of the future course our nation has embarked upon under the fuzzy, misguided, and incredibly deceitful anti leadership of the current occupant of the Peoples House and Impostor in Chief.

Excepts from CBSDFW on this breaking story.

Some Students at Mansfield ISD schools could soon be learning Arabic as a required language. The school district wants students at select schools to take Arabic language and culture classes as part of a federally funded grant.


The Foreign Language Assistance Program (FLAP) grant was awarded to Mansfield ISD last summer by the U.S. Department of Education.


As part of the five-year $1.3 million grant, Arabic classes would be mandatory at Cross Timbers Intermediate School and Kenneth Davis Elementary School. The program would also be optional for students at T. A. Howard Middle School and Summit High School.


Parents at Cross Timbers say they were caught off-guard by the program, and were surprised the district only told them about it in a meeting Monday night between parents and Mansfield ISD Superintendent Bob Morrison.


The DOE has identified Arabic as a ‘language of the future.’ But parent Joseph Balson was frustrated by the past. “Why are we just now finding out about it?” asked Balson. “It’s them (Mansfield ISD) applying for the grant, getting it approved and them now saying they’ll go back and change it only when they were caught trying to implement this plan without parents knowing about it.”

The parents not informed until after the fact. Definite Obama administration tactics. The President that has claimed he would have transparency has proven yet again secrecy in the pursuit of his ends is his administration’s modus operandi. This, and I will call it “pilot program” is very likely to grow legs and spread like the pox.

In addition to mandatory Arabic the program also teaches Arabic cultural issues.

Mansfield ISD says in addition to language, the grant provides culture, government, art, traditions and history as part of the curriculum.


Some parents had concerns over religion. “The school doesn’t teach Christianity, so I don’t want them teaching Islam,”…..

Watch the VIDEO:

http://video.dallas.cbslocal.com/global/video/popup/pop_playerLaunch.asp?vt1=v&clipFormat=flv&clipId1=5544508&at1=News&h1=Mandatory Arabic Classes Coming To Mansfield&flvUri=&partnerclipid=

Or try this {if it works} as Word Press is a poor excuse for an editor. Blogger is MUCH more user friendly!

When will the assault by the current administration end? The federal government, or any arm of it, has the right to force feed any language or cultural traditions down the throats of students other than English and American traditions.

Cross posted to the Left Coast Rebel

Via: Memeorandum

by: Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
Birthplace of Independent Conservatism

We have become a nation of cynics. To a ceertain degree we no longer concern ourselves with a focus on the ethics and values that formed this nation and resulted in it achieving a preeminent place among people and nations. We seldom discuss in a serious sense the principles of integrity, productive work, personal responsibility for our actions, ethical behavior in government or the business sector, personal liberty and what it means in within the context of meeting personal obligations, or the meaning of rational self interest within the framework of a value based ethical system that leads to a morally just society.

We are so busy pointing fingers at the “opposition” we rarely take the time to look in the mirror. Either the national or the personal one. Perhaps if we were to occasionally do so we would not like {very much} what we might see. It is easier to dismiss those things which make us “feel” uncomfortable, than it is to consider the data {facts}, and arguments we don’t like before we make a decision as to validity and then take a rational position.

Rational self interest requires one to hold to the unyielding pursuit of truth. It requires individuals (note that groups, organizations, businesses, and government are made up of individuals)to formulate self interest based on value. Value, with respect to rational self interest, means ones life and the interconnected actions which lead to the fullest and happiest life possible. Put another way…. Rational self interest is taking action(s) that advances ones life {the highest standard of value} towards the greatest happiness possible. Note that rational self interest does not mean self absorbed destructive personal behavior in the pursuit of instant self gratification or “pleasure.”

This post was inspired by the insight that in order to find truth one must apply reason and rational principles to life rather than the fog of emotion or emotionalism. By so doing a person {organization, business, or government} is able to achieve rational self interest in the value based system on which it is depended.

Today our personal as well as national life is driven by “sound” and “visual” bites if you will that are intentionally designed to give the distracted and busy person a quick snippet of reality. They are always presented as factual and are slanted towards a particular ideology or agenda. More often than not the “bite” contains some element of emotionalism and is geared to created the fog that actually prevents finding of the truth. Such is the modus operandi of all of todays politicians. The people of the nation, largely because they are so busy just trying to live, are hooked on platitudes, half truths, and occasionally just plain old lies willingly offered up by politicians as facts.

It is time We the People take action into our own intellectual “hands” if you will and force the changes neccessary to acheive “our persoanl and national {rational] self interest. Doing so will require “thinking outside the box” our politicians, pundits, and media have worked so diligently to place us in. Their “box” is almost always based upon emotion and plays to the base “emotionalism” they know work to their advantage if the people buy it. From my perspective we have bought it for far to long, hence the current state of our personal and national life.

The preceding are admittedly just my considered and researched opinions. As much of what I have said is based in the discipline known as philosophy, more specifically the branch of philosophy called Ethics, I cannot hope to offer an in depth and full discussion on the these pages. This is partially do to the fact I am not a person formally trained in the discipline of philosophy, I just read a lot and the subject interests me greatly. As I believe it should all thinking people, especially those who profess to lead and guide the nation.

There are two books that if read {with an open mind,}and understood offer the best insight into the ethics of rational self interest. Both for the individuals, and the nation. I highly recommend them to anyone, and everyone who has a thirst for knowledge and truth. Irrespective of ones political leanings or beliefs {free yourself of the box}they can be instructive and evening revealing if read with the open mind.

They are…. Ayn Rand’s Normative Ethics by Tara Smith, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Texas, Austin. And…. The Virtue of Selfishness by Ayn Rand, Playwright, Author, and The Philosopher responsible for Objectivism.

Cross posted to the Left Coast Rebel and Rational Nation USA

Via: Memeorandum

I have to chuckle when I listen to the business community and or the governemnt. specially when either talks about capitalism.

Capitalism is something our founders understood. For a brief, maybe one hundred years or so following them so did most Americans. They understood what it is as well as the value it gave to a free society.

However, after 1900 or thereabouts something changed. I think we all know what it was that began to slowing erode capitalism until today we have only a shell of real capitalism. And a  perverted shell at that.

Yes, certainly I blame the anti capitalist governemnt mentality that took hold and ultimately grew in America, much to its great detriment. I also blame equally the businessmen and the manufactures that once were responsible for this nation’s prosperity and the creation of  national wealth {those who produce}because they became willing partners in the efforts that served to eliminate true capitalism.

By asking for and accepting favors in the form government subsidies, business played into the hands of the progressive elements  of society and a progressive socialistic government  and in the process played their cards against the best interest of capitalism, the American people, and a free society.

Consider the following from Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal…. “I said that the “liberals” are coining and spreading the “anti concepts” in order to smuggle this country into statism by an imperceptible process – and that the primary target marked for obliteration is thew concept of “capitalism,” which if lost would carry away with it the knowledge that a free society can and did exist”

Consider as well this, again from Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal…. ” “No “anti concept” launched by the “liberals” goes so far so crudely as the tag “consumerism.” It implies loudly and clearly that the status of “consumer” is separate from and superior to the status of “producer”; it suggests a social system dedicated to the service of a new aristocracy which is distinguished by the ability to “consume” and vested with a special claim on the castes serfs marked by the ability to produce. If taken seriously, such a tag would lead to the ultimate absurdity of the communists proclaiming: “Who does not toil, shall not eat” – and the alleged representatives of capitalism replying: “Oh yes he shall!”

Anyone truly interested in understanding true capitalism and its force for good should read Ayn Rand’s book, Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal.

I vaguely recall a time when the banking industry was lauded as “Pillars of the Community.” Well, given the recent past and the financial meltdown I suppose we can all agree the neither banking industry nor the financial industry in general represent any such “pillars.”. Rather they, as well as the government represent corruption and control. Today neither represent anything even close to an understanding of what true capitalism is.

Consider the following from the third President of these United States, Thomas Jefferson…. “I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.” Thomas Jefferson, 1821

Indeed, if President Thomas Jefferson and Ayn Rand where with us today there is no doubt but they would be appalled at the Corporatism, Crony Capitalism, Anti Concepts, and lack of Intellectual Honesty that currently pervades our society.

Unfortunately neither modern liberals nor modern conservatives are talking honestly and rationally on the issues herein introduced. This is not all that surprising if one thinks about it. After all, as we have grown to observe {assuming we have observed reality at all}, regardless of party, ideology, or level of awareness it is likely that all roads eventually converge at the same point. The failure to reexamine the principles of capitalism. and allow a true capitalism to again take root and eventually flourish will, at a not to distant time, result in our society becoming {willingly}enslaved to the corporatist, crony capitalist, and the anti concept snake oil salesmen.

The choice we make must be that of people. The road we choose to take rests with us. Isn’t it time that all Americans that truly long for a better more prosperous future take action to insure we remain a free people. A   people at liberty to choose the course of or life and succeed own our own merit and hard work.

This is The United States of America. We can accomplish great things if we renounce emotionalism and lead our lives and our nation by rational concepts. Concepts borne of physical reality and determined to be true based on cognitive reasoning and logic.

Cross posted to the Left Coast Rebel and Democracy Central and Rational Nation USA

Via: Memeorandum

I have talked about this often on the radio, Fox News’ Strategy Room, and in this column.  On a visit to the Fox News network there was a discussion on the consequences of economic policy that reminded me of the situation today.  The debate focused on the approaches the Administration was taking and the results they were producing.  Some of the issues discussed continue on today.

• Tax cuts vs. tax credits. The President has been emphasizing short term and often politically convenient “tax credits,” when what is actually needed are deep and across the board tax cuts, if we are serious about creating more jobs. There are, of course, various types of tax cuts. “Demand side” or “consumer driven” tax cuts are geared towards the middle class. They are designed to increase consumer demand and votes for those who offer them, but in an economy such as this, they are used to pay bills and little else. This is why they have little or no impact. Supply-side tax cuts, made famous by Calvin Coolidge, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and even George W. Bush are across the board and proportional in their reach. These cuts lead to significant wealth (and job creation).  The reason for  this is simple, they make it cheaper for businesses to create more jobs and to participate in economic activity.  If the cost becomes too high, businesses do as little as possible to handle economic uncertainty.  This was the exact topic of a recent Price of Business program in which I interviewed Brian Sullivan of the Fox Business Network.
• If the President is serious about spurring broad economic growth, he should be very worried about his own banking regulation. The recent bill passed by Congress and signed into law by him has added hundreds of new regulations, with thousands of pages of bureaucracy, and promises to raise the price of banking and the cost of employment.
• The current administration seems to have open hostility towards small to medium businesses.  Virtually all of its policies seem designed to pity the poor and will likely create more of them and his policies seem to desire mega corporations, because they are easier to control. What the Obama Administration seems to despise are the small businesses and entrepreneurs that drive the vast majority of job creation in this country.  Approximately 80 percent of all jobs are created by small businesses, it should be no surprise that unemployment has practically doubled in the last few years as the war on entrepreneurship continues.

If Barack Obama is serious about correcting the weak economy and anemic job growth, he is going to have to be diligent about attacking the forces that are causing such — excessive taxation and regulations.  Unfortunately, productive economic reform seems far from his policy priorities.

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Kevin Price is a syndicated columnist whose articles frequently appear at ChicagoSunTimes.com, Reuters.com, USAToday.com, and other national media.  Kevin Price is also host of the Price of Business (M-F at 11 AM on CNN radio).  Hear the show live and online at PriceofBusiness.com.  Visit the archive of past shows here.

So what would be a logical alternative to minimum wage?  The answer is simple, policy makers need to increase the demand for employment, which will naturally make the amount people can charge for their services go up.  Increasing the demand on labor would lead to higher income for all, and would require several strategies:

• Eliminate the federal minimum wage and return this function to the states.  It needs to be done in the states because that is where unemployment problems can be found.  It is ridiculous that cities like Cleveland, Detroit, and East St. Louis — which have real unemployment of over 20 percent — to be additionally saddled with a large minimum wage.
• Eliminate taxes on businesses entirely.  This would lead to a more responsible government as voters would be forced to pay taxes, instead of the government using businesses as “middle men” for its dirty work. Businesses do not pay taxes, they are merely tax collectors.  If we eliminated taxes on businesses, America would become one of the cheapest countries in the world to do business and demands on jobs would explode.
• Reduce regulations on most sectors of the economy.  The cheapest way of achieving this is to restore the state government’s role in this area so that they would become competitive in providing the best number of regulations, while making sure they do not chase off industry to other states.

These few steps alone would eliminate many of the barriers between people and job.  In a very short period of time, the demand for jobs would go up as the number of available workers would shrink.  In no time it would be an employees’ market. 

It would be very similar to what happened in Japan. Following World War II, Americans complained about how cheap labor in Japan took American jobs (today the complaint is China and India).  Following the war, that nation eliminated the barriers between people and jobs, which resulted in huge demand on employment to where today, Japan has among the highest personal incomes per individual in the world.  Unfortunately, in recent years Japan has been modeling itself increasingly after the US and its economy has become quite weak.  It, too, should have a discussion about eliminating the walls between people and jobs.

The reason politicians don’t quickly approve such a logical approach is because of rhetoric, not reality.  The rhetoric argues that low wages make people poor.  The reality is, artificially high wages make everybody poor.  Market priced jobs, on the other hand, generates demand, increases productivity, and gives everyone more for less dollars.  Rhetoric argues that we should heavily tax those who can “afford” it, such as business.  Reality tells us is that corporations are clever, they will simply move to where they can do business at a lower cost.  They are in the business of getting customers and price is a driver for such.  All artificially high wages do is drive prices up, forcing businesses to move somewhere else.  The list goes on, but what we need is more reality and less rhetoric.  We need to understand the results of policies, no matter how good the intentions.

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Kevin Price is a syndicated columnist whose articles frequently appear at ChicagoSunTimes.com, Reuters.com, USAToday.com, and other national media.  Kevin Price is also host of the Price of Business (M-F at 11 AM on CNN radio).  Hear the show live and online at PriceofBusiness.com.  Visit the archive of past shows here.