The Department of Education

The Department of Education is a waste of money. In its short history, the educational standards of the country have dropped in a faster rate than any other point of history. Why should we decommission the Federal Department of Education, some might ask, it couldn't be hurting anything. At worst it must just a waste of money. Here is a quick story of why it is the cause:

Economic pioneer Charles M. Schwab had a terrible inefficient manufacture plant. Many of his advisors thought that the plant should be closed down in order to raise the net profits. Charles M. Schwab decided against this. He testifies the following on what he did to correct this:

"It was near the end of the day; in a few minutes the night force would come on duty. I turned to a workman who was standing beside one of the red-mouthed furnaces and asked him for a piece of chalk.
'How man heats has your shift made today?' I queried.
'Six' he replied.
I chalked a big '6' on the floor, and then passed along without another word. When the night shift came in they saw the '6' and asked about it.
'The big boss was in here today,' said the day men. 'He asked us how many heats we had made, and we told him six. He chalked it down."
The next morning I passed through the same mill. I saw that the '6' had been rubbed out and a big '7' written instead. The night shift had announced itself. That night I went back. The '7' had been erased, and a '10' swaggered in its place. The day force had recognized no superiors. Thus a fine competition was started, and it went on until this mill, formerly the poorest producer, was turning out more than any other mill in the plant."
(Quoted from "The Politically Incorrect Guide to Capitalism)

What does this have to do with education, one might ask. Competition is a beautiful thing. If MLK High School in Riverside, California produces more ivy league grads and its higher SAT and ACT scores than any other school in its district, it will boast of its superior teachers and students. The other schools would attempt to compete. This is proven more and more through sports and extra-curricular activities. Jonesboro High School in Jonesboro, Georgia boasts of its two time back to back Mock Trial championship through a dominating sign outside the school. Fayetteville High School in Fayetteville, Arkansas was truly proud of there football team when they won the 7A state championship 28-7.

Why can't the quality of education of an institution also be in this competitive nature. Simply answered, because we view a school based upon whether or not a school passes federal regulations. If a school does not achieve these goals, the district receives more funding. How to correct this problem involves one, simple step. End regulations on public schools and allow parents to choose where there children go to school. Is it not there children? It should be there choice whether or not they go to Baptist Hill High School or West Ashley High School.

Thomas Jefferson Explains Government

Before the rise of the United States of America, a young Virginian wrote a document explaining to all men, everywhere what the rights of Englishmen in America where. He explained a government that was to be transplanted (in someways) into the American mind forever. He suggest as follows:

Virginia, Georgia, Great Britain, Canada, and all the other British Colonies were ruled by there elected officials. The only common tie between these independent States (a 18th Century term meaning "Nation") was King George. It was his responsibility to make sure that one legislative branch (Parliament lets say) doesn't attempt to take control of another States legislative branch (The Virginia House of Burgesses).

If he did not abided by this rule, he could be replaced.

Things to Read

A SUMMARY VIEW OF THE RIGHTS OF BRITISH AMERICA

Why Thomas Jefferson is rolling in his grave. (and Alexander Hamilton is happy about it)

Thomas Jefferson was a rebel amongst patriots. If he were alive today, he would probably be viewed as a terrorist. He is most notably known for saying that democracy was mob rule, were 51% of the population took captive the other 49. He also felt that George Washington abused the office of the President of the United States. John Adams created the Alien and Sedition Acts of the 1798 to contain him and his party of "radicals." He referred to the United States in the plural tense. (In a nut shell, take Abe Lincoln and multiple by negative one thats Thomas Jefferson) Yet, this man is revered, by many, as a true patriot.

His nemesis was Alexander Hamilton. Good ole' Alex is a little known man today. Go into any classroom in America's fine public school system and ask a child who he was. At best you might get that he created the Bank of the United States. This is true, but the scope of this man is far greater. He was one of the many writers of the Federalist papers, a good commentary on true Constitutional law. He is best known for being a monarchist. Yes, a monarchist. He wanted the English government to be transplanted directly into the United States (with a King and Parliament). He also wanted the elimination of states completely. While great statesmen in New York, North Carolina and Virginia were a bit weary about forming a federal government, he wanted a national government (yes these are different). He is the man who struck fear in the eyes Patrick Henry, a small government patron and anti-Constitution advocate. He is best known for forming the Bank of the United States. This is the original feds. He also created the Federal Courts, an organization that was reported to the states never to be chartered unless it was needed. The Constitution was up to loose interpretation according to Alex. He is the ACLU champion.

Thomas Jefferson understood the Constitution a tad bit better than Alex. He understood that the power was in the states hand. According the law, there is always a sovereign. According to the Constitution, the sovereign is the States. That means that Georgia's, Florida's, and California's independent State government is more powerful than the federal. In todays minds, its hard to understand, but if you look at early American documents, such as the Treaty of Paris, it address each state individually. Effectively, the United States was kinda like a European Union. If Alabama wanted to declare Christianity the State religion, it could. It never says in the Constitution that Alabama couldn't. This is the government the United State was suppose to become.

Sadly, Alex got in the way. He became the chief adviser to two presidents, Washington and Adams. Each of these presidents strengthen the Federal Government. Moving the United States from being an alliance of 13 independent countries, to one country.

This was not want any of these states signed on for. Kentucky and Virginia signed resolutions against this destruction of the very thing they were told would protect there civil liberty of states rights. However this kind of conflict is to easily swayed.

It took a Civil War to end the madness. We all know what happened. Now we live in a new world order, were the founding fathers, for the exception of good ole' Alex, would be plotting a revolution, to end the tyranny that is the Federal Government (which really isn't a Federal Government any more, but a national government).

Things to Read:
The US Constitution
The Federalist
The Anti-Federalist
The Kentucky Resolutions
The Virginia Resolutions