Just when you think this county can’t get any worse. I read the opinion piece of the Reading Eagle on Friday, and they are upset that public schools are going to be required to teach, and educate students about the Constitution of the United States. The very document that people paid for with their own blood to ensure that freedom will always live on. The very document that ensures our citizens have control over our government, and not government controlling its citizens. The very same document that ensures the Reading Eagle’s right to freedom of the press. The Reading Eagle you think would be excited that this great document will be taught, and future generations will benefit from this education, and have a better understanding of the Constitution, and the history of our nation. They don’t, because it scares them to death. The biggest threat to Liberalism is not Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage, Sean Hannity, Tom Delay, or President Bush, but it’s the Constitution itself that Liberals fear the most. They fear this great document just as much as they fear the Bible. If these Liberal run schools are forced to teach the Constitution, and have their students read it from top to bottom the student bodies of these schools will find a massive conflict of what these teachers are teaching them, and what the Constitution tells them. Here are just a few points of what these children will find out from the Constitution that the Liberals especially in Berks County are scared to death of.
These students will find out that what the Democrats are doing in the U.S. Senate to block the Presidents judicial nominations is unconstitutional.
These students will learn that the judiciary of the United States was never intended to be an unelected, body of agenda driven individuals making law from the bench, but meant to interpret the Constitution.
These students will learn that the Constitution does not mention anywhere about Abortion on Demand being a guaranteed right.
Most of all these students will learn that the Constitution was not written to say what rights its citizens have, but to restrict government from oppressing its citizens. Our Founding Fathers knew that any kind of government is a dangerous animal. Our Constitution exists to tame that dangerous animal, and to prevent it from growing into a monster that can be no longer controlled. Our students in America will learn that this is exactly what has happened today. Liberals are attacking the Lion tamer referring to our Constitution, and the Lion referring to our government has grown into a monster that is out of control. Liberals like the people at the Reading Eagle believe that if we just feed this dangerous animal referring to our government everything will be fine. What you get is a dangerous animal that gets stronger, where Conservatives believe that if we starve this dangerous animal it will begin to shrink in size, and back to a point where it can be tamed, and prevented from doing harm to good people.
The Reading Eagle claims that teaching the Constitution of the United States is “unconstitutional”. These Liberals have shown their true colors, because in their minds the Constitution is unconstitutional. The bottom line is the Reading Eagle has just admitted it is anti-American.
June 6, 2005 at 8:04 am
Hi Matthew. You must not have read the editorial, where the Eagle clearly spelled out why they are opposed to a federal law requiring the teaching of the constitution. Basically, the current bill would require all schools in America to teach the constitution, but it would NOT provide-and this is the key-federal funds to accomplish this. When the federal government requires a state or local government to do something but doeasn’t provide funding for it, this is known as an unfunded mandate. Why don’t you start attending school board metings and become an advocate for this in your school? Of course, there might be a small tax increase to pay for these classroom materials, but I am sure you won’t mind paying this for such an important project that you obviously support.
June 6, 2005 at 9:26 am
First off, the federal government shouldn’t have to provide funding for ANYTHING except national defense. Second, this should have been already within the ciriculum to begin with. Once again, the left wing news around here is trying to spin it to make it look like we would have to pay for it.
June 6, 2005 at 10:53 am
Once again, if the federal government wants a local school district to do something, then they should provide funding for it. If you want your local school district to teach the Constitution-which I happen to think is an excellent idea-then you should lobby them to do so. Stop blaming the “liberals,” get off your butt, turn off Rush, and be a bit proactive about something. Also, do you really believe the federal government should provide national defense only?
June 6, 2005 at 11:52 am
Mr. Keller,
Since you are so worried about funding for this and funding for that how about we get rid of classes on how to put condoms on cucumbers, and fund the constitution instead?
Also where did all of this Rush Limbaugh stuff get started?
That’s the whole problem with the left. According to them we can’t think without Rush Limbaugh brainwashing us. Mr. Keller I would suggest reading about other topics, especially my latest about the Saddam trial, and you will see that I don’t fall in lockstep with all of President Bush’s agenda.
I can also give you a good list among may things local school boards can get rid of that have nothing to do with the educational process.
June 6, 2005 at 1:21 pm
Why not fund teach both the Constitution and sex education? As to my Limbaugh reference, you make right-wing talking points and so I therefore assumed you were a “dittohead.” I’m glad that that drug-addicted, draft-dodging, non-church going, thrice divorced, college dropout doesn’t influence your thinking. If you really want a good source of conservastive thought, try “National Review.” At lease Bill Buckley finished college.
June 8, 2005 at 3:33 pm
What the federal government is allowed to do is enumerated within the constitution. It also states that any powers not granted to the feds, or forbidden to the states, is the states responsability. The federal government has absolutely NO ROLE in education, amoungst other departments. Let Harrisburg fund it or lets the individual districts fund it. Keep the feds out of it.
June 9, 2005 at 3:08 pm
OK, Jim, I have to admit that I’m a bit confused here. The original argument on this blog is that the “liberal” Reading Eagle doesn’t want our children learing the Constitution. The Eagle stated that they are opposed to this because the federal law would require all school districts in America to teach this, without providing funding. Now you say that the federal government shouldn’t mandate the teaching of the Constitution because the federal government has no authority in education. So, which is it-are those who oppose the federal mandate of the teaching of the Constitution in public schools leftist, liberal, and socialists, or are they conservative constitutionalists? While we are on the subject, could I ask you and Matt where you guys stand on some other things the federal government goes. Should we get rid of the FDIC? What about federal labor laws? The DEA? The NIS?
June 9, 2005 at 4:56 pm
Mr. Keller,
I believe what Jim is trying to say is that the Federal Government was never ment to be used for funding programs. The Federal Government was as mandated by the Constitution to limited with it’s powers. This is a matter that belongs to the states.
Also why is it that everytime we hear about a TAX CUT people like you cry about it on the grounds if the government can afford it, but when a tax increase is proposed you don’t aruge if the American People can afford it?
My question to you Mr. Keller is how do you react when your taxes go up? Do you get angry, because you can barley afford to make ends meat, or do you get happy where you want to dance in the street for joy?
Just as Reagan said “Government is not the solution to our problems. Government is the problem.”
Oh, and one more thing. I can give you one big money saver right now. Close the Borders, and deport these illegal aliens. Reading High School alone would have more money on their hands then the biggest power ball winner.
June 9, 2005 at 11:46 pm
Again, I ask, are any of these items allowable under the constitution? Absolutely NOT! Now, I grant you, there are some laws that make sense. For example, certain labor laws I would say are a good thing. Others, let’s say minimum wage laws, are anti small business. Every time the minimum wage is raised, people lose jobs.
Going back to the education bit. Since when did some DC bureaucrat educate a child? Schools need to be controlled locally, by the citizens of that school district. Not by the school board, and certainly not by the teacher’s unions. If I would ever wind up in the White House (which I’ve been debating about taking a run), I would look to shrink the federal government down to constitutional size. Yes, that means REAL cuts, not what the left calls cuts. I would look to eliminate the following departments: Education, HHS, Labor, HUD, Agriculture, Interior, Transportation, etc. The one I would definitely keep: State, Defense, Homeland Security, Treasury (though greatly reduced), Justice and perhaps commerce.
Returning to the point, I remember when I was in high school, the Conststution was a mandatory area of study during my junior year. It is not that hard to put it in to begin with, so why aren’t the schools teaching it? I feel it’s because a few unelected, pratically unaccountable union heads who, in my opinion, care nothing as to what gets taught, as long as it sheds a negative light on this country.
June 10, 2005 at 12:40 am
Might I add another one for the chopping block. The UN(american). This is the biggest waste of money in the history of this country. Why should I have my tax dollars wasted on these UN animals when I can take my two boys to the zoo, and see the same thing a lot cheaper. The UN is a joke, and if the day ever comes that we withdraw from the UN they could not function without picking our back pockets, and using that money to attack us. To sum it up in an easier term it’s like we pay them money through our tax dollars so they can hire these thugs to try and kill us, and undermine us. I therefore call the UN the biggest weapon of mass destruction period.
June 10, 2005 at 8:26 am
I would like to point out to you right-wingers that “big government” arose as a response to the excess of big business. Maybe if business owners didn’t make ten year old boys work in coal mines, five year old girls work in knitting mills, and force people to work 16 hour days six and seven days a week there would have been no need for the department of labor and labor unions. Maybe if business owners didn’t dump toxic waste into the rivers and air there would have been no need for the EPA.
June 10, 2005 at 9:54 am
Here we go again,
If you are a right-winger you want to starve children, and dirty air, etc. I got some questions for Mr. Keller.
Every time Liberals raise taxes does that not kick old people out into the street, because they can’t afford it?
Every time Liberals raise taxes does that not starve old people, because they can’t afford to eat?
Every time Liberals empower the trial lawyers does that not deprive old people of their medicine, because they can afford it, because somebody wanted to prosecute a company, or doctor because they put the pill in their ass instead of their mouth, and it made their ass raw?
Every time Liberals preach for open borders does that not cause a burden to us citizens? Mr. Keller think about this one. When you Liberals preach open boarders don’t you consider this 21st century slavery? Paying illegal aliens peanuts to work.
Why do you Liberals praise communism, when it’s Communists like China that are still shipping their goods here that are made in sweatshops, and slave labor?
My final question is why do you Liberals hate America so much?
I’m a right-winger, and proud of it, and Jim I’m sure would say the same thing. You Liberals can’t even admit who you are. You can’t even run on your views, because they don’t win at the ballot box. Instead you mask who you really are, and have the courts do your dirty work. That’s why you Liberals are so upset over Janice Rogers Brown as a Federal Judge, because she called Social Security for what it really is, and that’s the senior citizen population cannibalizing the younger generations. People deserve to keep their money, and I have to right to decide where my money goes. I have the right to save my money for retirement, and pass it onto my children when I die, and not have the government taking it from me. Most people these days have a hard time saving for retirement, because of the social security burden. If I added up all of what I paid into social security over the years, and put it into a personal savings account I would be all but set now, and I’m only 27 years old.
Mr. Keller you are in the greatest country in the world. Please enjoy it, and not hate it. I suggest reading a great book that will help you. Its Liberalism is a mental Disorder by Dr. Michael Savage. He makes a lot of good points that will help clarify your confusion.
June 10, 2005 at 10:53 am
Mr Heckman, I am a 39 year old veteran of the United States Armed Forces. My Democrat father served two tours in Viet Nam (unlike Rush, Savage, Ted Nugent, Bush Cheney, Mike Reagan, etc.) and my Democrat grandfather was at Guadalcanal (unlike Ronald Reagan and John Wayne.) I can assure you that I do not hate America and I am not a Communist. What is it about you idiot right-wingers that you right away have to start hurling insults at anybody who isn’t a conservative. I tried to have an intelligent conversation on your blog and you insult me. You are a brainwasghed punk and you can take your stupid blog and ram it up you ass. By the way, in what branch of the military did you serve, or are you a typical right-wing chickenhawk who only supports war so long as somebody else is fighting it? At age 27 you are a perfect candidate for the army. I suggest you march right down to the recruiter’s office ASAP.
June 10, 2005 at 1:52 pm
Mr. Keller,
First off allow me to thank you, and your father for serving our country. That’s why I’m confused as to why you would support the Liberal Establishment. It was liberal by the name of John Kerry that undermined everything that your father fought for in Vietnam. You claim that you are not a communist, but it’s Liberals that practice communist values today such as wanting to control what you put on your property, taking god out of the pledge of allegiance, calling people in the service baby killers, and so on.
What I would like to know Mr. Keller is your positions on issues such as these, and issues facing us today. I would also like you to explain on how it would be best for the country. You already know what the positions on the right are, so I’m being serious about this. You can be as detailed as you like, but I want to know from you how we can do better based on your views. Debate is healthy for everyone.
June 10, 2005 at 3:59 pm
I will make one more post just to clear things up. My father wasn’t spat upon by any hippy. In fact he had several friends who were hippies. He was, however, told by a certain commander of a certain Berks County American Legion hall that “Viet Nam baby killers aren’t welcome here.” This was in 1968. He also had trouble finding a job because corporate American wouldn’t hire Viet Nam veterans. The spitting hippie is a myth created by the media to undermine the peace movement. As to John Kerry, he at least was there and has the right to voice his opinion on Viet Nam. Once again, I ask are you a veteran?
June 10, 2005 at 5:03 pm
You will remove my mother’s phone # NOW or my lawyer will do it for you!!!!
June 13, 2005 at 1:20 pm
Thanks for removing my mother’s phone number, Matt. That wasn’t a very nice thing to do but I believe in letting bygones be bygones. I will be makinga nice long post explaining my views on several topics, as you requested, but I would like to make a few things clear.
1) I am not affiliated with moveon.org in any way, and I have never been.
2) I was on the 2005 Earth Day Committee. This year it was a huge success and I am pleased with my efforts. This does not make me a Communist, though. Do you honestly believe that caring about the environment makes one a Communist? I am sure that would come as a surprise to John McCain, as well as the family of Teddy Roosevelt, one of the original Sierra Club members (another group to which I belong.)
June 28, 2005 at 8:20 am
Matt,
A few posts ago you suggested that I read “Liberalism is a Mental Disorder” by Michael Savage. I have done so. It took me about 50 mins. I have a few authors and books I would like you to read:
1) Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes
2) Utopia by Thomas More
3) John Locke
4) Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith
5) Thomas Paine
6) On Liberty and Utilitarianism by John Stuart Mill
7) Jean-Jacques Rousseau
That ought to keep you busy for a while.