WARNING: 2010 Census - Cautions from the Better Business Bureau
Be Cautious About Giving Info to Census Workers
by Susan Johnson
With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country.
Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data.
The big question is - how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist? BBB offers the following advice:
If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have
a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don't know into your home.
Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to
verify address information. Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census.
REMEMBER, NO MATTER WHAT THEY ASK, YOU REALLY ONLY NEED TO
TELL THEM HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE AT YOUR ADDRESS.
While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO
ANSWER ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION.
The Census Bureau will not ask for Social Security,
bank account, or credit card numbers, nor will employees
solicit donations. Any one asking for that information is NOT with the Census Bureau.
AND REMEMBER, THE CENSUS BUREAU HAS DECIDED NOT TO WORK
WITH ACORN ON GATHERING THIS INFORMATION.. No Acorn
worker should approach you saying he/she is with the Census Bureau.
Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone,
mail, or in person at home. However, the Census Bureau will
not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email
scams impersonating the Census.
Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email
that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.
For more advice on avoiding identity theft and fraud, visit
PLEASE SHARE THIS INFO WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
07 November 2009
06 November 2009
Freedom Friday-Free Gowns For Military Brides
Free Gowns for Military Brides
Week of November 02, 2009
The Norfolk, Va. bridal salon Maya Couture is one of several stores across the country that will participate in a Veterans Day giveaway of a limited number of free designer wedding gowns to military brides-to-be. The giveaway is organized by Brides Across America, a nationwide charity dedicated to providing free wedding gowns for military brides. Brides Across America and its partners have given more than 1,500 wedding gowns nationwide since its inception. For more information, including a list of bridal salons across the country that plan to participate in the nationwide military wedding gown giveaway to commemorate Veterans Day, visit the Brides Across America website.
To find more family resources visit the Military Spouse Network.
Week of November 02, 2009
The Norfolk, Va. bridal salon Maya Couture is one of several stores across the country that will participate in a Veterans Day giveaway of a limited number of free designer wedding gowns to military brides-to-be. The giveaway is organized by Brides Across America, a nationwide charity dedicated to providing free wedding gowns for military brides. Brides Across America and its partners have given more than 1,500 wedding gowns nationwide since its inception. For more information, including a list of bridal salons across the country that plan to participate in the nationwide military wedding gown giveaway to commemorate Veterans Day, visit the Brides Across America website.
To find more family resources visit the Military Spouse Network.
Freedom Friday-Military Eat Free
Military Eat Free at Golden Corral
Week of November 02, 2009
Golden Corral's 9th annual Military Appreciation Monday dinner will be held on Monday, November 16, 2009, from 5 to 9 pm in all Golden Corral restaurants nationwide. The free dinner meal is a special "thank you tribute" to any person who has ever served in the United States Military. If you are a veteran, retired, currently serving, in the National Guard or Reserves, you are invited to join us for Golden Corral's Military Appreciation Monday dinner. To date, Golden Corral restaurants have provided over 2.2 million free meals and contributed over $3.3 million to the Disabled American Veterans organization.
Find great discounts on products for military servicemembers only in the Military.com Discount Center.
Eat Free at Applebee's
Week of November 02, 2009
Military veterans and active-duty servicemembers will be able to eat for free at any Applebee's across the U.S. on Veterans Day, Wed., Nov. 11, 2009. There will be six entres from the menu to choose from. Guests will be asked to show one or more of the following as proof of service: a U.S. Uniform Services Identification Card, U.S. Uniform Services Retired Identification Card, Current Leave and Earnings Statement, Veterans Organization Card, a photograph in uniform, or wearing a uniform in person. For more information about Veterans Day at Applebee's, visit the Applebee's website at www.applebees.com/vetsdayhttp://www.applebees.com/vetsday. A complete listing of all Applebee's locations is available at www.applebees.com.
Week of November 02, 2009
Golden Corral's 9th annual Military Appreciation Monday dinner will be held on Monday, November 16, 2009, from 5 to 9 pm in all Golden Corral restaurants nationwide. The free dinner meal is a special "thank you tribute" to any person who has ever served in the United States Military. If you are a veteran, retired, currently serving, in the National Guard or Reserves, you are invited to join us for Golden Corral's Military Appreciation Monday dinner. To date, Golden Corral restaurants have provided over 2.2 million free meals and contributed over $3.3 million to the Disabled American Veterans organization.
Find great discounts on products for military servicemembers only in the Military.com Discount Center.
Eat Free at Applebee's
Week of November 02, 2009
Military veterans and active-duty servicemembers will be able to eat for free at any Applebee's across the U.S. on Veterans Day, Wed., Nov. 11, 2009. There will be six entres from the menu to choose from. Guests will be asked to show one or more of the following as proof of service: a U.S. Uniform Services Identification Card, U.S. Uniform Services Retired Identification Card, Current Leave and Earnings Statement, Veterans Organization Card, a photograph in uniform, or wearing a uniform in person. For more information about Veterans Day at Applebee's, visit the Applebee's website at www.applebees.com/vetsdayhttp://www.applebees.com/vetsday. A complete listing of all Applebee's locations is available at www.applebees.com.
05 November 2009
Gubernatorial Candidate, Eric Johnson, Speaks to Bulloch County Rotary Club
November 5, 2009
"Friends,
As you know, I have long held a passion for transforming the way we educate our children. I am firmly convinced that our children are too valuable and their futures too important for us to fail in our efforts to make Georgia’s educational system world class.
Recently, I had the opportunity to speak at the Bulloch County Rotary lunch. Below, you can find a copy the remarks I shared with them. Political pundits and campaign experts would probably say I should shorten it up, but this issue is too important for 10 second sound bites or one paragraph summaries. That’s why I’m forwarding the entire speech. I hope you’ll take the time to read it or save it for when you have a few spare minutes.
Together, by tackling the tough issues like education, we can make Georgia even better. Thank you for being part of that effort.
We look forward to seeing you on the campaign trail soon.
Yours for a better Georgia,
“Better Schools = More Jobs”
Statesboro Rotary Club
Sen. Eric Johnson
I have been able to travel to China and India over the last three years. I have witnessed firsthand the future that will challenge America’s economic might. The U.S. produces 70,000 engineers each year. India is producing 350,000. China? 600,000! We are in a war for our future. The victor will not be determined on the battlefield – it will be determined in the classroom.
In the international race for knowledge, students in 24 of the 30 industrialized nations, including Finland, Hungary, Lithuania, and the Czech Republic, beat students in the United States in math. 20 of those countries topped America in science. (We did beat Mexico and Turkey.) And Georgia’s schools are near the bottom of every U.S. ranking. The race for knowledge – and the prosperity that comes with it – does not end at our borders with South Carolina or Alabama. Georgia must close the achievement gap with the rest of world to succeed in the increasingly competitive global marketplace.
Most of us in this room probably attended public schools. We benefited from parental involvement, tough curriculum and no social promotion. We got grades and not smiley faces.
We went to detention if we misbehaved a little. We were grounded if our report cards weren’t good. Parents monitored homework assignments. Principals ran the school and teachers ruled the classroom. Things are different today. Increasingly, bureaucrats in Washington tell bureaucrats in Atlanta what to tell bureaucrats in Bulloch County what to tell teachers to teach. Parents and teachers have little input.
It should be no surprise then that, today, parents complain about the declining quality of education that their children receive and the increasing dangers that they face. Teachers complain about the atmosphere they are forced to teach in and the bureaucratic and legal restrictions placed upon them. And taxpayers complain about growing costs and the lack of an educated workforce. Parents and teachers and taxpayers and employers all want “change”.
In many classrooms, “high tech” means a white board. Too many classrooms are a “computer free zone”. This is out of synch with our digitized world where text messaging and video games are common and “google” is a verb. There is more computing power in a student’s backpack than in most classrooms. Many of our schools are an 8-track tape player in an iPod world.
We have a few great public schools, some good schools, but most are just OK. We have many great, dedicated teachers and some that aren’t so great. But, by any measure, our public schools – and by the way – our private schools, too – could be so much better.
I am tired of mediocrity. Georgians are tired of our rankings. We cannot afford to tweak the system anymore. We cannot wait any longer. Georgia must improve our schools! Improving Georgia’s schools – including making the good schools even better – requires focus and truth-telling. Better schools will equal more jobs and a brighter future.
Improving our schools will require a multi-pronged attack. Yes, funding is an issue (but not the only one by any means). Recruiting, training and retaining good teachers is another. Improving curriculum and maintaining discipline is critical. Increasing technology in the classroom is imperative. We need to respect local control and reduce the bureaucracy in Atlanta and at the local level. And we must use good data to track student achievement and improve methods of grading schools so that parents and taxpayers have accurate information to make good decisions. Finally, we must increase the options that are available to our children – particularly in failing schools.
Every child – regardless of income – must have the ability to receive the very best education possible
whether in their neighborhood school, a charter school, a magnet school, a home school, a virtual school, or a private school. To do that, we must “personalize” their education.
If we want to provide the highest quality education for every child, then we must put the individual child’s needs above the interest of the government and the ego of those who run schools. We must put the children FIRST, not the bureaucracy. This is the KEY to all reform and the one I want to focus on today.
Unfortunately, most children now are forced to attend a school based on where they live – based on a GPS coordinate. Imagine if we delivered health care this way?! What if we said that, if you live in a certain neighborhood, you must go to a specific hospital or doctor and receive the pre-determined care established by bureaucrats in Atlanta and Washington? People would revolt.
Competition works. It built America. And it can make us even stronger. But, for the market to work, you have to have choice. I think Georgia can have the best schools in the United States. This will take boldness and courage and faith in the principles that built our nation.
Georgia spends an astonishing $135,000 for each child to go through our public schools. We are 2nd in the southeast (behind Virginia) and 19th nationally in spending on our K-12 schools on a per capita basis. And Georgia teachers are the highest paid in the southeast. So, it’s NOT all about money. It’s about improving outcomes. It’s about training our children to succeed. It’s about awakening the unique spirit within every child. It’s about CHOICE!
Competition is good for students, teachers, employers and taxpayers!
I believe that parents should have the freedom to decide where and how their children should be educated and not the government. This is the heart of the debate.
Did you know that there are 19 schools in Georgia that have been on the “Needs Improvement” list for more than 7 consecutive years? Or that there are 8 High Schools that have failed to graduate more than 50% of their students for 3 years in a row? And that 1 county in Georgia was the first in America in over 40 years to lose their accreditation? What do we do about those children? Why should we continue to fund failure?! If the local officials – or the state – have clearly failed in their duties, control must shift to the parents. These are their children. This is their money.
America has the best universities in the world. Why? The GI Bill allowed soldiers returning from World War II to pick the college of their choice. Georgia has some of the best universities in America. Why? Our HOPE Scholarships! What is the common denominator? Both programs allow the money to follow the student to the school of their choice and the schools compete for the students and their tuition. I admired Zell Miller’s focus on education. Many forget how controversial his HOPE proposal was. It barely passed the General Assembly and the statewide referendum, but it has been a HUGE success. We can do the same thing with K-12!
My plan is simple, but bold. Georgia spends an average of $10,500 per child in public school. About $5,000 of that comes from the state and about $5,000 comes from local property taxes. $500 comes from the federal government. I want to offer EarlyHOPE Scholarships to every single child in Georgia’s public schools. These scholarships would allow parents to use the state’s portion of the funding – their own money, by the way - toward any school they can get their child into – public or private, religious or secular. Every child would have access to the best school possible and private schools would remain independent. In addition, this will leave local funds in place to either return to property taxpayers or to increase spending on the remaining students in local public schools. It doesn’t cost the taxpayers a dime.
The opponents raise two important questions….
Question #1: Will this harm our good public schools?
Nobody should worry! Public schools are a treasured part of American society and, in many cases, offer a quality education for our children. My mother was a teacher and a librarian. I am a public school graduate. Both of my children attended public schools and they got a good education. It launched one into law and one into the ministry. I also served as an officer in the PTA. I am a strong public school supporter. This vision is about making ALL schools better!
It’s hard to argue that the “voucher kids” wouldn’t be better off. The issue is whether the children of parents who don’t use the scholarships are better off. Milwaukee has had vouchers for 20 years. Cleveland, Washington, DC, and Florida have vouchers. It has been well researched. 16 of 17 major studies have determined that the children in schools that are exposed to vouchers do better than students in schools that have no choice. The schools work harder to improve to keep the students from walking out the door. The 17th study showed NO difference. Why? As business leaders, you know the answer….the free market improves outcomes. Competition makes you stronger.
Thirty years ago, the Japanese challenged the U. S. car industry. Ford now makes a better vehicle to keep their customers from buying a Toyota. If the government required every American to own a Ford, can you imagine how bad that car would be?! Remember when there was just one phone company? Do you think we would have the iPhone today if Ma Bell was still a government regulated monopoly? Why would we expect a different outcome with education?
Question #2: Will this reduce funding for public education?
School choice programs do not drain money from public schools. They leave more money behind to educate fewer students. It’s simple math. If 10% of the students in a system take advantage of the EarlyHOPE Scholarships, then local school property taxes can be reduced by 10% or local spending per pupil can be increased by 10%. Of course, class sizes are reduced by 10%, also.
Better test scores. Higher parent satisfaction. More spending on public education. And no tax increase. Sounds too good to be true. So, Eric, why haven’t we done this? Good question….
Unfortunately, there is a very vocal minority who fight change and defend the status quo. The people that run our public schools tell us that choice is bad – that charter schools are unfair – that homeschooling is dangerous – and all they need is for taxpayers to spend more money and things will get better. They argue this in spite of the fact that, between 1960 and 2005, adjusted for inflation, spending on education per pupil has almost quadrupled. Not a single independent study says that spending more will result in better schools. Not one!
The bureaucracy clearly feels superior to parents and teachers and firmly believe that they – and they alone –can make the best choices for OUR children. They self-righteously assume that parents – particularly poor parents – are not capable of making good decisions on their own. Listen to them carefully on this subject. They never explain why, if the public school system is doing such a splendid job, it needs to fear competition.
In fact, the question shouldn’t be: “What happens to the system if a child is allowed to leave?” It should always be – “What happens to the child if they are forced to stay?” It should ALWAYS be about the child – and never about the school system!
This resistance to change in the face of overwhelming evidence that change is needed is –
in the words of President Bush’s Secretary of Education – “educational malpractice”.
Let me speak about teachers for a minute. Competition will benefit this profession, too. More choices for students means more choices for teachers. Every year, bright teachers stream into the classroom. Half of them leave before working 5 years. Most leave because they are dissatisfied and frustrated. Good teachers will be in demand – whether in public schools or by private schools. The free market will drive up salaries for good teachers.
Now, let me talk to the parents with children in good public schools: This not about your child. You have made a good decision about where to live and where to educate your child. This is all about the child in the back of the classroom who is struggling to keep up. Shouldn’t the parents of that child have the freedom to choose their own child’s school – not the government? A choice to leave should not be seen as an attack on public schools, but simply recognition that all children are individuals and a different school might more closely meet the needs of the student.
Ultimately, this is not about “good” schools and “bad” schools – it’s about placing each child in the best environment to learn. And it’s about improving customer service for those who stay.
This brings me to the final argument for school choice. Almost everybody agrees that a lack of parental involvement is the main problem we face today. If we offered every parent $5,000 to use at any school they can get their child into, don’t you think they would get a little more involved? Wouldn’t they at least take a look at what options are available? Wouldn’t they look more closely at the school their child was in? They might decide to stay … or they might decide to leave. But they will have become more involved in their child’s education.
If we have learned anything from the past 30 years, it is that increasing spending is insufficient and that federal intervention doesn’t help. We must take matters into our own hands. In the future, the best schools will be in states and communities that embrace educational entrepreneurship!
We shouldn’t be trying to raise our test scores above South Carolina’s. Georgia should be trying to raise them above South Korea’s! That kind of success will only be created by the marketplace, not a monopoly. If we offer every parent the freedom to choose the best school and allow the funding to follow each child to their chosen school, Georgia will skyrocket up the educational rankings.
This is THE issue facing Georgia. We can’t solve Georgia’s water problem without scientists. We can’t fix traffic if our children cannot do the math needed to be an engineer. We cannot create alternative fuels if they don’t understand chemistry or physics.
We are at a crossroad. Advances in technology, science, medicine and engineering offer Georgia citizens a future of prosperity and a better quality of life. But, to reap these rewards, we must tackle education reform."
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As you know, I have long held a passion for transforming the way we educate our children. I am firmly convinced that our children are too valuable and their futures too important for us to fail in our efforts to make Georgia’s educational system world class.
Recently, I had the opportunity to speak at the Bulloch County Rotary lunch. Below, you can find a copy the remarks I shared with them. Political pundits and campaign experts would probably say I should shorten it up, but this issue is too important for 10 second sound bites or one paragraph summaries. That’s why I’m forwarding the entire speech. I hope you’ll take the time to read it or save it for when you have a few spare minutes.
Together, by tackling the tough issues like education, we can make Georgia even better. Thank you for being part of that effort.
We look forward to seeing you on the campaign trail soon.
Yours for a better Georgia,
“Better Schools = More Jobs”
Statesboro Rotary Club
Sen. Eric Johnson
I have been able to travel to China and India over the last three years. I have witnessed firsthand the future that will challenge America’s economic might. The U.S. produces 70,000 engineers each year. India is producing 350,000. China? 600,000! We are in a war for our future. The victor will not be determined on the battlefield – it will be determined in the classroom.
In the international race for knowledge, students in 24 of the 30 industrialized nations, including Finland, Hungary, Lithuania, and the Czech Republic, beat students in the United States in math. 20 of those countries topped America in science. (We did beat Mexico and Turkey.) And Georgia’s schools are near the bottom of every U.S. ranking. The race for knowledge – and the prosperity that comes with it – does not end at our borders with South Carolina or Alabama. Georgia must close the achievement gap with the rest of world to succeed in the increasingly competitive global marketplace.
Most of us in this room probably attended public schools. We benefited from parental involvement, tough curriculum and no social promotion. We got grades and not smiley faces.
We went to detention if we misbehaved a little. We were grounded if our report cards weren’t good. Parents monitored homework assignments. Principals ran the school and teachers ruled the classroom. Things are different today. Increasingly, bureaucrats in Washington tell bureaucrats in Atlanta what to tell bureaucrats in Bulloch County what to tell teachers to teach. Parents and teachers have little input.
It should be no surprise then that, today, parents complain about the declining quality of education that their children receive and the increasing dangers that they face. Teachers complain about the atmosphere they are forced to teach in and the bureaucratic and legal restrictions placed upon them. And taxpayers complain about growing costs and the lack of an educated workforce. Parents and teachers and taxpayers and employers all want “change”.
In many classrooms, “high tech” means a white board. Too many classrooms are a “computer free zone”. This is out of synch with our digitized world where text messaging and video games are common and “google” is a verb. There is more computing power in a student’s backpack than in most classrooms. Many of our schools are an 8-track tape player in an iPod world.
We have a few great public schools, some good schools, but most are just OK. We have many great, dedicated teachers and some that aren’t so great. But, by any measure, our public schools – and by the way – our private schools, too – could be so much better.
I am tired of mediocrity. Georgians are tired of our rankings. We cannot afford to tweak the system anymore. We cannot wait any longer. Georgia must improve our schools! Improving Georgia’s schools – including making the good schools even better – requires focus and truth-telling. Better schools will equal more jobs and a brighter future.
Improving our schools will require a multi-pronged attack. Yes, funding is an issue (but not the only one by any means). Recruiting, training and retaining good teachers is another. Improving curriculum and maintaining discipline is critical. Increasing technology in the classroom is imperative. We need to respect local control and reduce the bureaucracy in Atlanta and at the local level. And we must use good data to track student achievement and improve methods of grading schools so that parents and taxpayers have accurate information to make good decisions. Finally, we must increase the options that are available to our children – particularly in failing schools.
Every child – regardless of income – must have the ability to receive the very best education possible
whether in their neighborhood school, a charter school, a magnet school, a home school, a virtual school, or a private school. To do that, we must “personalize” their education.
If we want to provide the highest quality education for every child, then we must put the individual child’s needs above the interest of the government and the ego of those who run schools. We must put the children FIRST, not the bureaucracy. This is the KEY to all reform and the one I want to focus on today.
Unfortunately, most children now are forced to attend a school based on where they live – based on a GPS coordinate. Imagine if we delivered health care this way?! What if we said that, if you live in a certain neighborhood, you must go to a specific hospital or doctor and receive the pre-determined care established by bureaucrats in Atlanta and Washington? People would revolt.
Competition works. It built America. And it can make us even stronger. But, for the market to work, you have to have choice. I think Georgia can have the best schools in the United States. This will take boldness and courage and faith in the principles that built our nation.
Georgia spends an astonishing $135,000 for each child to go through our public schools. We are 2nd in the southeast (behind Virginia) and 19th nationally in spending on our K-12 schools on a per capita basis. And Georgia teachers are the highest paid in the southeast. So, it’s NOT all about money. It’s about improving outcomes. It’s about training our children to succeed. It’s about awakening the unique spirit within every child. It’s about CHOICE!
Competition is good for students, teachers, employers and taxpayers!
I believe that parents should have the freedom to decide where and how their children should be educated and not the government. This is the heart of the debate.
Did you know that there are 19 schools in Georgia that have been on the “Needs Improvement” list for more than 7 consecutive years? Or that there are 8 High Schools that have failed to graduate more than 50% of their students for 3 years in a row? And that 1 county in Georgia was the first in America in over 40 years to lose their accreditation? What do we do about those children? Why should we continue to fund failure?! If the local officials – or the state – have clearly failed in their duties, control must shift to the parents. These are their children. This is their money.
America has the best universities in the world. Why? The GI Bill allowed soldiers returning from World War II to pick the college of their choice. Georgia has some of the best universities in America. Why? Our HOPE Scholarships! What is the common denominator? Both programs allow the money to follow the student to the school of their choice and the schools compete for the students and their tuition. I admired Zell Miller’s focus on education. Many forget how controversial his HOPE proposal was. It barely passed the General Assembly and the statewide referendum, but it has been a HUGE success. We can do the same thing with K-12!
My plan is simple, but bold. Georgia spends an average of $10,500 per child in public school. About $5,000 of that comes from the state and about $5,000 comes from local property taxes. $500 comes from the federal government. I want to offer EarlyHOPE Scholarships to every single child in Georgia’s public schools. These scholarships would allow parents to use the state’s portion of the funding – their own money, by the way - toward any school they can get their child into – public or private, religious or secular. Every child would have access to the best school possible and private schools would remain independent. In addition, this will leave local funds in place to either return to property taxpayers or to increase spending on the remaining students in local public schools. It doesn’t cost the taxpayers a dime.
The opponents raise two important questions….
Question #1: Will this harm our good public schools?
Nobody should worry! Public schools are a treasured part of American society and, in many cases, offer a quality education for our children. My mother was a teacher and a librarian. I am a public school graduate. Both of my children attended public schools and they got a good education. It launched one into law and one into the ministry. I also served as an officer in the PTA. I am a strong public school supporter. This vision is about making ALL schools better!
It’s hard to argue that the “voucher kids” wouldn’t be better off. The issue is whether the children of parents who don’t use the scholarships are better off. Milwaukee has had vouchers for 20 years. Cleveland, Washington, DC, and Florida have vouchers. It has been well researched. 16 of 17 major studies have determined that the children in schools that are exposed to vouchers do better than students in schools that have no choice. The schools work harder to improve to keep the students from walking out the door. The 17th study showed NO difference. Why? As business leaders, you know the answer….the free market improves outcomes. Competition makes you stronger.
Thirty years ago, the Japanese challenged the U. S. car industry. Ford now makes a better vehicle to keep their customers from buying a Toyota. If the government required every American to own a Ford, can you imagine how bad that car would be?! Remember when there was just one phone company? Do you think we would have the iPhone today if Ma Bell was still a government regulated monopoly? Why would we expect a different outcome with education?
Question #2: Will this reduce funding for public education?
School choice programs do not drain money from public schools. They leave more money behind to educate fewer students. It’s simple math. If 10% of the students in a system take advantage of the EarlyHOPE Scholarships, then local school property taxes can be reduced by 10% or local spending per pupil can be increased by 10%. Of course, class sizes are reduced by 10%, also.
Better test scores. Higher parent satisfaction. More spending on public education. And no tax increase. Sounds too good to be true. So, Eric, why haven’t we done this? Good question….
Unfortunately, there is a very vocal minority who fight change and defend the status quo. The people that run our public schools tell us that choice is bad – that charter schools are unfair – that homeschooling is dangerous – and all they need is for taxpayers to spend more money and things will get better. They argue this in spite of the fact that, between 1960 and 2005, adjusted for inflation, spending on education per pupil has almost quadrupled. Not a single independent study says that spending more will result in better schools. Not one!
The bureaucracy clearly feels superior to parents and teachers and firmly believe that they – and they alone –can make the best choices for OUR children. They self-righteously assume that parents – particularly poor parents – are not capable of making good decisions on their own. Listen to them carefully on this subject. They never explain why, if the public school system is doing such a splendid job, it needs to fear competition.
In fact, the question shouldn’t be: “What happens to the system if a child is allowed to leave?” It should always be – “What happens to the child if they are forced to stay?” It should ALWAYS be about the child – and never about the school system!
This resistance to change in the face of overwhelming evidence that change is needed is –
in the words of President Bush’s Secretary of Education – “educational malpractice”.
Let me speak about teachers for a minute. Competition will benefit this profession, too. More choices for students means more choices for teachers. Every year, bright teachers stream into the classroom. Half of them leave before working 5 years. Most leave because they are dissatisfied and frustrated. Good teachers will be in demand – whether in public schools or by private schools. The free market will drive up salaries for good teachers.
Now, let me talk to the parents with children in good public schools: This not about your child. You have made a good decision about where to live and where to educate your child. This is all about the child in the back of the classroom who is struggling to keep up. Shouldn’t the parents of that child have the freedom to choose their own child’s school – not the government? A choice to leave should not be seen as an attack on public schools, but simply recognition that all children are individuals and a different school might more closely meet the needs of the student.
Ultimately, this is not about “good” schools and “bad” schools – it’s about placing each child in the best environment to learn. And it’s about improving customer service for those who stay.
This brings me to the final argument for school choice. Almost everybody agrees that a lack of parental involvement is the main problem we face today. If we offered every parent $5,000 to use at any school they can get their child into, don’t you think they would get a little more involved? Wouldn’t they at least take a look at what options are available? Wouldn’t they look more closely at the school their child was in? They might decide to stay … or they might decide to leave. But they will have become more involved in their child’s education.
If we have learned anything from the past 30 years, it is that increasing spending is insufficient and that federal intervention doesn’t help. We must take matters into our own hands. In the future, the best schools will be in states and communities that embrace educational entrepreneurship!
We shouldn’t be trying to raise our test scores above South Carolina’s. Georgia should be trying to raise them above South Korea’s! That kind of success will only be created by the marketplace, not a monopoly. If we offer every parent the freedom to choose the best school and allow the funding to follow each child to their chosen school, Georgia will skyrocket up the educational rankings.
This is THE issue facing Georgia. We can’t solve Georgia’s water problem without scientists. We can’t fix traffic if our children cannot do the math needed to be an engineer. We cannot create alternative fuels if they don’t understand chemistry or physics.
We are at a crossroad. Advances in technology, science, medicine and engineering offer Georgia citizens a future of prosperity and a better quality of life. But, to reap these rewards, we must tackle education reform."
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A Republic, If WE Can Keep It
Benjamin Franklin responded to the lady asking him if we had a monarchy or a Republic with, “A Republic, if you can keep it madam”. What is exactly did he mean by that? I believe Franklin was a very intelligent man and had Godly wisdom as to what would happen when the people began to remain silent and apathetic. He knew that eventually the people would lose their power and control of “their” Republic and that the government would gain it. He also, I believe, understood what a grave disaster this would be when it happened. Notice I said when. I do believe that Franklin had a preconceived notion that the people would not be able to keep the Republic because they would grow dependent on the government and too lazy to remain involved. Friends, that is exactly what is happening right now. We are losing our Republic because too many have gotten apathetic and lackadaisical in participating. We have become sideline spectators depending on others to make wise decisions for us. Now, not all of us have partaken in the sideline catastrophe. However, we have been affected by it because so many others have chosen to do so. Those spectators are awakening and realizing their roll and importance in rerouting the bus back to Our Republic.
Here, I will follow up to the first article, A Republic, If You Can Keep It. I will go a little deeper into the information and ideas of how we the people can redirect that bus. The rallies and tea parties served a necessary and significant purpose in the beginning. They were the sounding alarm to the government making them aware of our loyalty to and love for our great Republic. The rallies and tea parties also served as a motivator to get common, everyday people excited and interested about getting involved in the political process. For so many people the rallies were a first time political activity in their life. For others, they were all too familiar with them, as they were marching and protesting in their earlier years during the 1960's and 1970's. Rallying is much like a pep rally, preparing everyone for the game, building up excitement, creating energy, passing on positive engagement and including as many people as you can to join the cause. What happens when the pep rally is over though? Usually a football game or some big event follows where there are many involved at several levels. There are the bus drivers, coaches and specialized coaches, the players, which have specialized teams, the trainers and medical staff, the referees, ball boys, water boys, the cheer leaders and their coach, the booster club, the dance team, the concession stand workers, parking lot attendants, commentators, reporters, cameramen, and on and on. The body rallied together and energized one another, building up steam and focus. They boarded the buses, arrived at the games, and played the game. We have had our rallies, we have energized each other, and we are building our focus. I believe that is where we are right now. Building our focus and strategies. We are drawing up our game plans, finding our coaches, creating our special teams, and preparing to board the bus so we can play the game. We are preparing the game plan that will in essence serve as the directions for the bus driver. Our victory will be won when we have rerouted the bus in the direction that “we the people” want it to go. We must learn how to make our plans clear, concise, and easily understood.
One must know where they stand and what their belief system is in order to motivate people to move in any particular direction. You must know what your moral standards are and what is most important to you. We must also recognize that our nation was founded on Judea Christian beliefs. We must seek the wisdom of our Creator and pray for guidance, boldness, and discernment. We must stay focused and not get distracted or grow weary. We cannot allow a few to carry to the torch, we must all play the game and support each other. For a few to carry the torch is too burdensome. How do you figure out what exactly you want from the government? In the first article I provided you with some fantastic links. You will need to be a team player and so you will need to know how to communicate with others and understand how others receive you. Other skills that will be of great use are composition, or writing skills, verbal communication, leadership, coordinating events, organization skills, and presentation. I realize that this may all sound overwhelming, but, there is help. It is really not that scary. Revert back to your educational experiences both in your lower educational years as well as your higher years. Other great resources for assisting you in communicating effectively with your local, state, and national congressmen are listed at the end of this article under resources.
What is the plan of action? Where do you start? After you have decided what you want from the government and what your beliefs are, then you will need to research what bills are up for voting. You can go to Open Congress and easily find the hot topic issues that are currently being discussed and voted on. You can also easily track items that you are personally interested in by clicking on the issues tab and register to receive updates on those issues. Open Congress also provides a tool that allows you to follow each senators and representatives and how they are voting on issues in addition to providing ways to communicating with them. It is best to focus on just a few issues and stick with them. What I mean is, focus on those two to three issues, research them, know them inside and out, and get involved in regards to those issues in addition to communicating with your representatives. For example: Gun Rights or the 2nd Amendment. You will want to know which congressmen feel the way you do and the ones who do not. You will want to send e-mails of appreciation to the ones that agree with you. The ones that oppose your views you will want to e-mail them, send them faxes, call them, and quite possibly schedule appointments. It is better to go in that order and utilize the appointments as necessary. If a bill is getting close to passing or not passing, or going the way you don't want it to go, it is time to schedule an appointment. The most effective way to do this is to not show up alone. You would make much more of an impact if you show up with a larger group of people. That being said, it is imperative that you have only one spokesperson. Everyone else is just there for support and numbers. If the congressmen directs questions to anyone else then obviously they should answer, so they too need to be prepared.
So, let us now discuss effective writing and speaking when trying to sway someone's opinion. (If you are writing a letter/email write legibly).
1.Keep it concise (Get to the point Quickly)
2.Stick to ONE issue
3.Do NOT RAMBLE
4.Follow your bullet points and do not stray.
5.Remain calm, clear, and audible
6.Reiterate your point and close
7.Thank them for their time
8.NEVER be rude.
You may need to follow up with more letters or phone calls. When making the phone calls I find it helpful to have either index cards or notes handy with my bullet points. Often times the congressmen are not available to speak right away or you are on hold for some time. You may forget what you wanted to say or get distracted. This is a good idea when calling into radio talk shows and media networks as well. Writing letters to the editor is another great way to get your message out and inform others of your ideas. Utilize your media resources to your advantage. Again, be polite and kind as we need to build friendships and connections, not build the walls higher. It is a good idea to pool together who your media resources are and find a way to get to know them. Have the list of names, phone numbers, addresses and e-mail address available and share that list with your fellow patriots.
The next step of action is involving others. Find local groups that are in line with what you believe and what you want from the government. Get connected with these groups and participate. Offer your talents and resources. Utilizing the internet and social networks is a terrific way to get messages and ideas out in such a short period of time. Rallies are great, but remember, we need to see positive action. The rallies are a great way to draw in new comers or people who have not yet begun to actually get involved. It is imperative that you obtain contact information at your rallies from all the guests. You should have some petitions available for gaining more signatures. Provide the guests with resources and ways to get active. In addition to the rallies some other very effective strategies are group appointments with elected officials or the media, sit-ins, peaceful protests outside of the pertinent offices, gathering of signatures on petitions and then delivering those petitions in person, marches, group action teams, etc. The sit-ins are useful at crucial and urgent times when there are bills being voted and you have exhausted all other options and the officials don't seem to be listening. If you have enough people to make an impact, you can peacefully gather outside of their office and bring your signs of protest. I suggest you bring your laptops and cell phones as well, make use of your time and call the elected officials, jamming their phone lines in addition to flooding their e-mail in box. Have a banner that clearly states what your group is doing and what you want. That way if passers by want to join in, the more effective you will be. Have handouts and flyers on hand to pass out. You should also call as many media resources at least two weeks, if possible, before your sit in, or activity.
Another item of importance is recording what takes place at your activities. It is a good idea to have several different people video taping, taking pictures, and possibly recording audio. The reason for this is to protect yourselves from possible legal actions that are not warranted, and for future planning purposes. Just like with football games, a good coach will watch the game tape afterward and learn from mistakes and see areas in need of improvement, in addition to siting what worked well and was most effective. Remember that “we the people” have the power and we are the ones who elected the officials to represent “us”.
Resources:
Americans For Prosperity
ONE
Nolan Chart
About.com: US Government
Writing Congress Congress
Here, I will follow up to the first article, A Republic, If You Can Keep It. I will go a little deeper into the information and ideas of how we the people can redirect that bus. The rallies and tea parties served a necessary and significant purpose in the beginning. They were the sounding alarm to the government making them aware of our loyalty to and love for our great Republic. The rallies and tea parties also served as a motivator to get common, everyday people excited and interested about getting involved in the political process. For so many people the rallies were a first time political activity in their life. For others, they were all too familiar with them, as they were marching and protesting in their earlier years during the 1960's and 1970's. Rallying is much like a pep rally, preparing everyone for the game, building up excitement, creating energy, passing on positive engagement and including as many people as you can to join the cause. What happens when the pep rally is over though? Usually a football game or some big event follows where there are many involved at several levels. There are the bus drivers, coaches and specialized coaches, the players, which have specialized teams, the trainers and medical staff, the referees, ball boys, water boys, the cheer leaders and their coach, the booster club, the dance team, the concession stand workers, parking lot attendants, commentators, reporters, cameramen, and on and on. The body rallied together and energized one another, building up steam and focus. They boarded the buses, arrived at the games, and played the game. We have had our rallies, we have energized each other, and we are building our focus. I believe that is where we are right now. Building our focus and strategies. We are drawing up our game plans, finding our coaches, creating our special teams, and preparing to board the bus so we can play the game. We are preparing the game plan that will in essence serve as the directions for the bus driver. Our victory will be won when we have rerouted the bus in the direction that “we the people” want it to go. We must learn how to make our plans clear, concise, and easily understood.
One must know where they stand and what their belief system is in order to motivate people to move in any particular direction. You must know what your moral standards are and what is most important to you. We must also recognize that our nation was founded on Judea Christian beliefs. We must seek the wisdom of our Creator and pray for guidance, boldness, and discernment. We must stay focused and not get distracted or grow weary. We cannot allow a few to carry to the torch, we must all play the game and support each other. For a few to carry the torch is too burdensome. How do you figure out what exactly you want from the government? In the first article I provided you with some fantastic links. You will need to be a team player and so you will need to know how to communicate with others and understand how others receive you. Other skills that will be of great use are composition, or writing skills, verbal communication, leadership, coordinating events, organization skills, and presentation. I realize that this may all sound overwhelming, but, there is help. It is really not that scary. Revert back to your educational experiences both in your lower educational years as well as your higher years. Other great resources for assisting you in communicating effectively with your local, state, and national congressmen are listed at the end of this article under resources.
What is the plan of action? Where do you start? After you have decided what you want from the government and what your beliefs are, then you will need to research what bills are up for voting. You can go to Open Congress and easily find the hot topic issues that are currently being discussed and voted on. You can also easily track items that you are personally interested in by clicking on the issues tab and register to receive updates on those issues. Open Congress also provides a tool that allows you to follow each senators and representatives and how they are voting on issues in addition to providing ways to communicating with them. It is best to focus on just a few issues and stick with them. What I mean is, focus on those two to three issues, research them, know them inside and out, and get involved in regards to those issues in addition to communicating with your representatives. For example: Gun Rights or the 2nd Amendment. You will want to know which congressmen feel the way you do and the ones who do not. You will want to send e-mails of appreciation to the ones that agree with you. The ones that oppose your views you will want to e-mail them, send them faxes, call them, and quite possibly schedule appointments. It is better to go in that order and utilize the appointments as necessary. If a bill is getting close to passing or not passing, or going the way you don't want it to go, it is time to schedule an appointment. The most effective way to do this is to not show up alone. You would make much more of an impact if you show up with a larger group of people. That being said, it is imperative that you have only one spokesperson. Everyone else is just there for support and numbers. If the congressmen directs questions to anyone else then obviously they should answer, so they too need to be prepared.
So, let us now discuss effective writing and speaking when trying to sway someone's opinion. (If you are writing a letter/email write legibly).
1.Keep it concise (Get to the point Quickly)
2.Stick to ONE issue
3.Do NOT RAMBLE
4.Follow your bullet points and do not stray.
5.Remain calm, clear, and audible
6.Reiterate your point and close
7.Thank them for their time
8.NEVER be rude.
You may need to follow up with more letters or phone calls. When making the phone calls I find it helpful to have either index cards or notes handy with my bullet points. Often times the congressmen are not available to speak right away or you are on hold for some time. You may forget what you wanted to say or get distracted. This is a good idea when calling into radio talk shows and media networks as well. Writing letters to the editor is another great way to get your message out and inform others of your ideas. Utilize your media resources to your advantage. Again, be polite and kind as we need to build friendships and connections, not build the walls higher. It is a good idea to pool together who your media resources are and find a way to get to know them. Have the list of names, phone numbers, addresses and e-mail address available and share that list with your fellow patriots.
The next step of action is involving others. Find local groups that are in line with what you believe and what you want from the government. Get connected with these groups and participate. Offer your talents and resources. Utilizing the internet and social networks is a terrific way to get messages and ideas out in such a short period of time. Rallies are great, but remember, we need to see positive action. The rallies are a great way to draw in new comers or people who have not yet begun to actually get involved. It is imperative that you obtain contact information at your rallies from all the guests. You should have some petitions available for gaining more signatures. Provide the guests with resources and ways to get active. In addition to the rallies some other very effective strategies are group appointments with elected officials or the media, sit-ins, peaceful protests outside of the pertinent offices, gathering of signatures on petitions and then delivering those petitions in person, marches, group action teams, etc. The sit-ins are useful at crucial and urgent times when there are bills being voted and you have exhausted all other options and the officials don't seem to be listening. If you have enough people to make an impact, you can peacefully gather outside of their office and bring your signs of protest. I suggest you bring your laptops and cell phones as well, make use of your time and call the elected officials, jamming their phone lines in addition to flooding their e-mail in box. Have a banner that clearly states what your group is doing and what you want. That way if passers by want to join in, the more effective you will be. Have handouts and flyers on hand to pass out. You should also call as many media resources at least two weeks, if possible, before your sit in, or activity.
Another item of importance is recording what takes place at your activities. It is a good idea to have several different people video taping, taking pictures, and possibly recording audio. The reason for this is to protect yourselves from possible legal actions that are not warranted, and for future planning purposes. Just like with football games, a good coach will watch the game tape afterward and learn from mistakes and see areas in need of improvement, in addition to siting what worked well and was most effective. Remember that “we the people” have the power and we are the ones who elected the officials to represent “us”.
Resources:
Americans For Prosperity
ONE
Nolan Chart
About.com: US Government
Writing Congress Congress
04 November 2009
KINGSTON, HOUSE REPUBLICANS HOST WEB-A-THON-November 5 Thursday
KINGSTON, HOUSE REPUBLICANS HOST WEB-A-THON
12 Hour webcast exposes truths about government-run medicine and Republican alternatives
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA) is joining forces with House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-IN) and Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Steele to host the first ever web-a-thon. The 12 hour all online broadcast will feature House Republicans outlining the dangers of Speaker Pelosi’s plan and Republican alternatives.
“America can’t afford this plan and I cannot sit idly by waiting for Pelosi to force a vote,” said Congressman Kingston, who helped hatch the idea with Chairman Pence. “During this time, we’ll provide the American people with unfiltered information on Speaker Pelosi’s plan and on the alternatives offered by House Republicans.”
Congressman Kingston will host three of the hours which will focus on rural America, seniors, and young Americans. Other segments will focus on small business, the doctor-patient relationship, taxes, women and families, moral issues and the economy.
During the show, viewers will be able to submit questions via Twitter, Facebook and email. It will all be broadcast live and archived on the Republican National Committee’s website at http://gop.com/index.php/12truths.
12 Hour webcast exposes truths about government-run medicine and Republican alternatives
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA) is joining forces with House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-IN) and Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Steele to host the first ever web-a-thon. The 12 hour all online broadcast will feature House Republicans outlining the dangers of Speaker Pelosi’s plan and Republican alternatives.
“America can’t afford this plan and I cannot sit idly by waiting for Pelosi to force a vote,” said Congressman Kingston, who helped hatch the idea with Chairman Pence. “During this time, we’ll provide the American people with unfiltered information on Speaker Pelosi’s plan and on the alternatives offered by House Republicans.”
Congressman Kingston will host three of the hours which will focus on rural America, seniors, and young Americans. Other segments will focus on small business, the doctor-patient relationship, taxes, women and families, moral issues and the economy.
During the show, viewers will be able to submit questions via Twitter, Facebook and email. It will all be broadcast live and archived on the Republican National Committee’s website at http://gop.com/index.php/12truths.
Word for Wednesday-Segacious
Segacious: sa·ga·cious
Pronunciation: \sə-ˈgā-shəs, si-\
Etymology: Latin sagac-, sagax, from sagire to perceive keenly; akin to Latin sagus prophetic
1 obsolete : keen in sense perception
2 a : of keen and farsighted penetration and judgment : discerning
synonyms see shrewd
— sa·ga·cious·ly adverb
— sa·ga·cious·ness noun
03 November 2009
Laptops for Flat Tops Military Contest
'Laptops for Flat Tops' Military Contest
Week of November 02, 2009
AllAmericanDirect.com, a leading e-commerce provider of consumer goods and services, today announces the company's fourth and final Laptops for Flat Tops contest, which will award one laptop with an embedded Webcam (for the family) and an additional Webcam (for the soldier) to two families who have an immediate family member serving in any branch of the U.S. military overseas.
To learn more, read the full article on Military.com.
Week of November 02, 2009
AllAmericanDirect.com, a leading e-commerce provider of consumer goods and services, today announces the company's fourth and final Laptops for Flat Tops contest, which will award one laptop with an embedded Webcam (for the family) and an additional Webcam (for the soldier) to two families who have an immediate family member serving in any branch of the U.S. military overseas.
To learn more, read the full article on Military.com.
02 November 2009
Mission Monday-Operation Worship
The following was taken from the Operation Worship web site:
We received this letter at HQ recently from a soldier...
Oct
28Written by:Erich
10/28/2009 8:27 AM
In the mail at Operation Worship Headquarters came this letter from a soldier who received an OW Bible...
“I am currently in my 3rd week of basic combat training. I received a Bible following my church services from your organization and when I read the note from someone I began to cry. Not tears of sadness, but tears of joy that my decision to travel into the desert and face the devil has left an impact of importance on even a stranger’s life.
Matthew 4:1-11 – “The temptation of Jesus” My calling to the Army and basic combat training is my desert, and my devil is my lack of faith. Before coming to basic, I had a severe lack of faith, but I have now found Jesus and God. Upon my arrival at basic training I was scared. I was lost, confused, and wondering if my decision to join the Army was the right thing to do. I made the choice to attend church to learn and that was my initial reason, but now, it has become a spiritual connection. I read my Bible every night before bed and I joined our church choir. After receiving a copy of “Operation Worship Holy Bible” I made the decision to be baptized during my cycle in basic training.
I read into the Bible and found the page where the email address was to have one of these Bibles sent to family/friend. Since I am in basic I am unable to email your organization to have one sent to someone in need. My request is that I have one sent to my parents. Please send them one.
Thank you for your time. Graduation is October 23rd, 2009. Thank you!”
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