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International Baccalaureate: A K-12 Success Story
Tweet Share on Facebook June 2, 2011 Comment (5)Emmett McGroarty could not be more wrong in his representation of the International Baccalaureate in the United States [Emmett McGroarty’s opinion post “International Baccalaureate Undermines U.S. Founding Principles”].
The IB is a success story in primary and secondary education in the United States and across the globe. What started as a passionate commitment by international private school educators in post-war Europe has now grown to 3,264 schools in 141 countries. These educators set out to create an international curriculum that would not only provide children with lifelong learning skills and the habits of mind needed to become productive adults, they also sought to attempt to prevent future devastation on the scale of that war by teaching children about others: other cultures, religions, and societies.
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NPR: We Are Not 'Tax-Payer Funded'
Tweet Share on Facebook April 29, 2011 Comment (23)The entire premise of [Doug Heye's blog post, "Tax Payer Funded NPR Brings Rock Stars to Swanky Washington Party"] is simply misinformed.
Our guests are paying their own way. And our tables were made possible by a generous donor to NPR who felt it was important for NPR to have a visible presence at this major event.
NPR is also not “tax-payer funded,” despite the rhetoric and misinformation perpetuated by some.
First, NPR receives no direct appropriation from the federal government. Less than 2 percent of our annual operating budget (approximately $2 million in a budget of $160 million) comes from competitive grants sought from federally-funded organizations, such as the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the National Endowment for the Arts. Those grant funds aren’t appropriated to NPR by Congress, nor are they used to support NPR’s general operations. NPR must apply and compete for the grants, and use the funds only for the specific project covered by each grant.
Federal funding from the CPB goes directly to local stations to serve local communities, NOT to NPR. Stations on average receive approximately 10 percent of their budgets from grants from the CPB.
When Heye writes that he’s “seen little from NPR” in the past few months, he must have missed the uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa, the tsunami in Japan, the one year anniversary of the deadly explosion at Upper Big Branch mine, the battle for soldiers with traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder to get adequate treatment—and the countless other events and stories NPR alone manages to extensively cover day in and day out. It’s this work that was recognized for several Peabody Awards earlier this month. And that a growing audience of 27 million tunes to each week.
Anna Christopher
Director, Media Relations, NPR -
The Debt Ceiling and Tax Fairness
Tweet Share on Facebook April 26, 2011 Comment (3)There is no choice but to raise the debt ceiling right now since the budget for the current fiscal year, ending September 30, is already locked in with more deficit spending ["Posturing on the Brink of Disaster," April 15]. However, there is no excuse for raising it next fiscal year if a balanced budget is enacted. Let's see how that turns out. (Note: Rome wasn't built in a day.)
RICK TANNEHILL Glendale, Ariz.
[Read the U.S. News debate: Should Congress raise the debt ceiling.]
A Taxing Debate on Fairness
To the question "does the amount of income tax I just paid seem about right?" ["Editor's Note," April 15] Yeah, I guess it does—kind of. But I don't like it that the president and the Republicans and the Democrats all pontificate and pander, but none are moving toward really fixing what's so obviously broken. We need lower rates on corporations, but every profitable company should pay. We need to stop using the tax code to promote "good" behavior and punish "bad." Loopholes (yours) and incentives (mine) need to be greatly diminished or eliminated. We have an enormous federal government with enormous bureaucracies because the government does things voters want done. So we need to cut it back or to pay for it—all of us. Some time ago, a now long-gone senator said (approximately), "Don't tax you, don't tax me, let's tax the man behind that tree." He meant it as a joke—I think.
RON KOLLMAN SMITH Mountain Lake, Va.
Fairness requires each citizen to pay the exact cost of the benefits he or she receives. Unfortunately, it is impossible to calculate this amount, and it is beyond the ability of many to pay, regardless. Furthermore, justice demands citizens pay not only for current and, in some cases, future benefits received, but those previously received without payment. By allowing half of the current population to have representation without taxation, we are taxing future generations who do not have representation.
RICHARD LAWRENCE Clinton, Utah
Taxes, you can't abide them, but you can't live without them! Why does [nearly half] of our population not have to pay [income] taxes? They have no skin in the game and clearly vote for more and more largess. A progressive system makes sense, but a system that exempts almost half the population is madness. Revise the system. Simplify it so that one does not have to use a CPA to prepare one's tax form. Eliminate lots of deductions; that will clearly force the rich to pay more. If you live in the United States, you benefit from tax revenue in one way or another. You should have to pay for that benefit, even if it is a token amount.
DENNIS GREENE Aurora, Colo.
Something is definitely wrong when almost half of Americans do not pay any [income] taxes. How can only half of Americans support the other half? And now President Obama wants to increase taxes on those who already pay most of the taxes. It is time to take a discerning look at the U.S. tax system, totally rework it to make it fair. Obama thinks it's fair if we keep raising taxes on those who already pay the most. This does not seem fair to me.
MIKE LEBLANC Colorado Springs, Colo.
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Debating Donald Trump in 2012
Tweet Share on Facebook April 20, 2011 Comment (3)Debating Paul Ryan's Budget
Rep. Paul Ryan has the courage to tackle the "third rail" of politics and come up with a sensible plan to get America back on track ["Deficit Hawk Takes Aim," April 8]. Democrats railing about "shared sacrifice" really mean to avoid any sacrifice and to let our nation slide into an economic disaster. We need real leaders who are worried about us and not their re-election, and who truly have our nation as their first priority.
JOHN GOODRICH Estero, Fla.
Neither the Republicans nor the Democrats are winning anything but contempt from the American people. The Fed prints money faster than anyone can keep track of, and no one is doing anything to stop it. Families and businesses have had to make drastic changes to their spending to try and balance income with spending. No one in Washington is doing anything. The Republicans always cut taxes and add to the national debt. They have always borrowed against the future. The Democrats have always tried to raise taxes and then spend more that the new taxes will cover.
PAUL KRIG Katy, Texas
[Check out a roundup of political cartoons on the budget and deficit.]
Ryan has it right. All of Medicare and Medicaid need to be updated to reflect modern life spans. It is also time for the Democratic Party to remember its history. About 50 years ago, a Democratic president said, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." Today’s Democratic mantra is, "Ask not what you can do for your country, rather ask, nay, demand, what your country can do for you."
ROBERT MILLER Woodbridge, Va.
[Vote now: Should Paul Ryan's budget plan become law?]
Trump 2012?
Donald Trump has completely ruined his credibility as an aspiring presidential candidate by restarting the old far-right claim about President Obama having been born in Kenya ["Editor’s Note," April 8]. Watching his interview, I found him arrogant and self-promoting. He reminds me of a neighborhood bully. Are we looking at one more candidate who is willing to say anything just to call attention to himself?
MICHAEL BANN Mount Bethel, Pa.
Trump is a fresh voice unrestrained by the practice of divisive party politics. Many people might turn toward Trump out of frustration with our current political process and the system’s leaders (or lack thereof). I just wish he would get off the Obama birth certificate kick!
ROBERT H. WILLIAMS Sanibel, Fla.
[Vote now: Will Trump seriously run for president?]
Trump is only a serious self-promoter—he is not interested in being president or the leader of anyone he cannot say "you’re fired" to on the spot.
TIM MILLINGTON San Antonio, Texas
The American electorate is stupid enough that Trump has a real chance.
JAMES BOUSMAN Honolulu, Hawaii
That Trump is spending all his time investigating President Obama’s birth certificate is a perfect example of why he is basically unqualified to be president. He should be talking about real issues that matter to most Americans and not some wacky ideas from the fringe right wing.
DAVID P. SMITS Kaukauna, Wis.
[Check out a roundup of political cartoons on the GOP 2012 candidates.]
Just because Trump makes statements that the media or other people claim are ludicrous does not mean that he is exempt from running. For the most part, running for the presidency requires money, ego, and self-promotion, and Trump seems to have all of the above.
SHARON ZIRNGIBL Alpharetta, Ga.
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Debating Budget and Death Penalty
Tweet Share on Facebook April 12, 2011 CommentThe Frustrating Budget Debate
Reading about the budget battle in Congress is the most frustrating experience I have ever encountered [“Let’s Make a Deal,” April 1]. We have a bunch of talking heads who are beholden to special interest or ideology and have no idea how to govern. The Tea Party is winning the media battle but has no real plan. Most Americans have the attention span of a gnat and make judgments on sound bites, and the country is going down the tubes. The main goal of the Republicans is to win back the White House, and they are willing to run this country into the ground to do it. We need members of Congress to do what is best for the country, not their districts, party, or special interest. Until that happens, expect things to get worse.
[Check out a roundup of political cartoons on the budget and deficit.]
JOE MARRA Seaside Park, N.J.
Discussing the Death Penalty
I find Mary Kate Cary’s choice of words interesting when she talks about opposition to killing innocent children as anti-abortion instead of pro-life [“The Case Against the Death Penalty,” March 25]. Using her argument about innocent people getting the death penalty, how could she justify driving a car? She could make an honest mistake and kill an innocent person. Does that mean no one should drive a car? We don’t live in a perfect world; mistakes do happen. The fact that California spends $250 million to execute one person shows a broken-down judicial system with activist judges. Is it any wonder California is in dire financial straits? Comparing the killing of an innocent child to a convicted murderer hardly seems fair. Now that we have more scientific evidence at our disposal, let’s try to make the trial fair so the verdict will be fair.
ALAN WOOD Honolulu, Hawaii
The more than 30 states in the United States still using the death penalty are the only remaining jurisdictions in the first world that hold on to it. The majority of nations forbid it and have found other ways to bring justice to those who are harmed. Fortunately, the trend in the United States is to abandon it, and each time another set of lawmakers and a governor does so should be celebrated. The best conservative argument I can think of is that you can’t trust government to fix potholes, so why trust it to single out the right persons for execution?
PATRICK DELAHANTY Louisville, Ky.
Only relatives and loved ones of murder victims have the right to decide mercy for convicted killers. Unless one of your loved ones has been murdered by one of these animals, you have no right to dispense mercy. Period.
TOM WOMACK Port Orchard, Wash.
There is no contradiction with being pro-life on abortion and prodeath for murderers. On the one hand, you have completely innocent babies destroyed while waiting to be born. On the other, you have vicious and vile human beings guilty of murder and the worst of atrocities. The circumstances are totally different, so you treat them differently, not the same. To do otherwise shows that you are morally blind.
AARON VESELENAK Rogers City, Mich.
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Debating Nuclear Power
Tweet Share on Facebook March 29, 2011 Comment (2)The Disaster in Japan
Given the near impossibility of vehicular navigation in the ravaged areas of Japan, I do not understand why airdrops of food, clothing, prefabricated dwelling materials, and other necessities have not been suggested and implemented by our government and U.S. charities ["Crisis Reignites Nuclear Debate," March 18]. Helicopters should drop the necessities, including materials for lightweight, small, prefabricated dwelling cubes, on all areas containing shelters and people. Many will die, and doubtless have already died, of hunger and thirst who otherwise would have survived. The desperate people trying to inhabit their damaged homes should immediately be given the prefabricated alternatives.
CHRISTIE WAGNER Kensington, Md.
[See photos from the aftermath of the Japan earthquake.]
Nuclear Energy in America
If an earthquake cracked the Hoover Dam, resulting in a catastrophic flood, would we then dismantle all dams ["Editor's Note," March 18]? If a meteor hit the international space station, causing radioactive debris to rain down upon a major city, would we never again venture into space? If, on Inauguration Day, a sinkhole caused the Washington Monument to topple onto an audience of thousands, would we then dismantle every last tall structure? Progress and survival have always entailed a measure of risk. Yes, we can use the lessons from the tragedy in Japan to make nuclear power safer than ever, but shunning beneficial technology is not a reasonable move. It's my hope that people can work through this disaster with love, compassion, and positive actions, while guarding to keep their rational thinking intact.
BRYAN JAY KOEFF Granbury, Texas
[See a roundup of editorial cartoons about energy policy.]
I am under the impression that the U.S. nuclear plants must keep their own waste in cooled underground pools at each individual reactor site around the country because the radical environmentalists won't let the spent fuel rods be shipped across country to a relatively safe storage facility deep underground in the desert. We apparently have the means to safely transport this dangerous waste. After what happened in Japan with the spent fuel rods in one of their reactors, we should immediately begin consolidating all our nuclear waste in one underground location, rather than endangering many folks all across the United States.
RANDAL TOTH Pittsfield, Mass.
It's a shame that the U.S. nuclear energy program has stagnated for the past 40 years as a result of public fear. To put things in perspective, the event at Three Mile Island resulted in no deaths, whereas over one million people have died in automobile accidents.
DAN WAYLONIS Mountain View, Calif.
[See a reality check of energy sources in the United States.]
Time to pull back on nuclear energy? I say no, because we need it to help reduce dependence on oil imports and to cope with eventual reduced supply. We should, however, learn from Japan's lessons: First, stay away from coastal areas and known quake-prone areas. Second, why not use more desolate federal or state land and get lease income from the power company? Third, use only the latest and best technology. Fourth, noting the containment features used in Japan—require double that.
JACK STONE Plymouth Meeting, Pa.
No matter where companies put these power plants, and governments approve them, eventually something bad will result from them. They say these plants are safe, but I can tell you for a fact: Sometime in the future, something will happen. Whether it be caused by mother nature or man, something will go awry. It has happened time and time again. The best way to prevent these nuclear disasters from happening is, do not build nuclear power plants.
EMIL SUGAK Kodiak, Alaska
[See a slide show of 10 cities adopting smart grid technology.]
U.S. Support for Israel
Our government's credibility is not enhanced by supporting Israel's inhuman treatment of Palestinians ["No Words Can Explain the Itamar Massacre," March 18]. Now in Libya, the United States says it has to intervene for humanity. What about when Israel was bombing defenseless people in Gaza in 2008-2009? Instead of a no-fly zone, the United States supplied more arms to Israel. At least quit arming Israel with my tax dollars!
LINDA JANSEN Seattle, Wash.
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Federal Funding for NPR?
Tweet Share on Facebook March 23, 2011 Comment (1)Federal Funding for NPR
It is my opinion that federal funding for NPR should not be decreased [“Editor’s Note,” March 11]. I’m sure the amount of money at issue is miniscule as a portion of the federal budget, yet the effect of eliminating NPR funding could be large. In an era when media conglomerates have gobbled up many of our alternative sources of information, NPR has a more vital role than ever before. We should guarantee our freedom of the press by federal funding rather than pulling the financial rug out from under the stations.
JEFF MURDOCH Edmonds, Wash.
I have been an NPR listener and supporter for more than 20 years. When traveling, I often seek out the local NPR affiliate and would hate to see the smaller markets lose their station due to lack of local funding. It truly has excellent programming, but we must be honest: It is just another entertainment channel on the radio spectrum. It serves no greater public service than other competing stations. If public radio management cannot work out a funding arrangement that allows its smaller stations to continue to broadcast, that is a loss to all of us. Our government is deeply in debt and needs to rein in its spending. It’s time for public radio listeners to step up and fully fund this programming.
JOE SNYDER Powder Springs, Ga.
In this time of media overload, where every conceivable interest is represented on TV or on the Web, there is absolutely no need for the U.S. government to use tax dollars to create radio or TV programming. If there is a market for even the most far-fetched subject, some channel, station, or network will provide it. (Only a matter of time before we have the Left-Handed Insomniac Reality Show.)
JIM BURDICK Rocky Face, Ga.
It’s simple—stop all the federal money. If enough private money (make that enough private interest) can be raised, the entity stays in business. If the money (make that private interest) is not there, the entity goes out of business—just like all the other businesses in this country. There can be no justification for spending hundreds of millions of tax dollars (make that my dollars) on what essentially is a private enterprise.
WALLY SMITH Alexandria, La.
With the huge expansion of outlets in recent years, there is absolutely no justification of subsidies to anyone.
DONALD WAITE Petaluma, Calif.
In our modern day, we do not need NPR anymore. It should be subscription-based for those that want it. On the other side, telling lies on a network is harmful to our society. Individuals should be able to sue those that broadcast an untruth. Freedom of speech was meant to be exercised in the town square for non-commercial purposes, not to excite the uninformed in order to sell more soap or incite a riot.
GEORGE DILL Escondido, Calif.
As I understand it, NPR gets a very small part of their budget from the federal government. Cut them off; the good programs will survive.
NORM DARLING Kissimmee, Fla.
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Obama's Low Profile and the Wisconsin Labor Fight
Tweet Share on Facebook March 15, 2011 CommentObama Underexposed?
Is the president underexposed? ["Editor's Note"] While an interesting question, given Mr. Obama's "overexposure" in the first half of his term, it's the wrong one. "Is the president leading?" is a better question to ask of the American electorate. Determined to be the anti-Bush in foreign affairs, the president seems uncertain in the bully pulpit. People recognize that Tunisians, Egyptians, and Libyans, while similarly stunted by coercive government, face different obstacles to free expression. What's missing from the White House is clear, consistent, predictable affirmation of principle, in word and deed. Absent conviction, I suppose, the lower one's profile, the better.
LOU CARTIER Greeley, Colo.
[See photos of the Obamas behind the scenes.]
Your question alone is inane. Just try for 24 hours to go without seeing Obama on TV, hearing him on radio, or on the Internet. The man is simply a talking head with no substance. His leadership "skills" thus far are to wade in where he should not (state issues) and pontificate, or to have a beer and try to make nice. He is a joke.
MICHAEL SHADE Broomfield, Colo.
[See editorial cartoons about President Obama.]
My friends and I could not have been more turned off by Obama's nonstop appearances his first days. What the president has done recently is far better (though I disagree with his policies). Where Obama has really gone wrong is in not doing enough evening Oval Office chats on important issues, especially today with the deficit. He needs to explain what is at stake. Of course I understand, politically, why he is being advised not to do so . . . which is also why Obama will never be thought of as a great president.
BRIAN TRUMBORE Summit, N.J.
Closing Time for Unions?
Unions had their place in history ["Editor's Note"]. Now they have gotten out of control. And public employee unions need to go away or be downsized to nearly nothing. They definitely should not have the right to strike or spend public money to do their bidding for more money or to support candidates. Other states are starting the move in this direction. The Wisconsin governor should stand his ground.
MIKE FASSLER Eagle River, Alaska
[See photos of the protests in Wisconsin.]
Government unions do not deal with the "owners," which are the taxpayers. They deal with politicians. If the politicians are Democrats depending on unions for votes and campaign funds, they will get what they demand, and taxpayers are left out in the cold. To correct this outlandish condition, any agreement with government unions should be approved by the taxpayers or by their honest representatives, who should have veto power. Until this is done, Democrats will continue our march to socialist fiscal insanity.
FRANK SOLIS West Deptford, N.J.
Government Shutdown?
What is really unconscionable is the waste incurred in both money and productivity in the preparation for the "possible" government shutdown over the budget, and worse if it actually happens ["Preparing for the Worst"]. I wish there was a way to personally bill the politicians!
VICTOR A. SMITH Punta Gorda, Fla.
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Should Public Workers Keep Collective Bargaining Rights?
Tweet Share on Facebook March 9, 2011 Comment (14)David Madland argued that collective bargaining should be a right available to all workers. But Andrew Biggs said that public sector workers must be reined in. A sampling of your views:
How is this to balance the budget? I can see raising the sales tax or reducing tax breaks doing so, but how does eliminating collective bargaining reduce the deficit? If you want to bust the union, fine, let us do that; if you want to reduce the deficit, fine, let us do that. But why mix the two? It just confuses the situation.
JOEY BROCKERT Madison, Wis.
[Wisconsin Gov. Scott] Walker is right. Why should public unions get to lobby with taxpayers' money? It's a shame that so many public workers would rather be unemployed than be earning a living. Average teacher salary (pre-benefits) in Wisconsin is around $48,000 annually for 190 workdays. Where in the private sector can a working-class citizen make that while working so few days? Stay strong, Walker!
CODY ARENDT Plover, Wis.
The attack on unions is a continuation of the conservative drive to enrich the rich at the expense of working people. In Wisconsin, I understand the governor passed some tax cuts for business and wants public workers to pay. In less developed countries, the policies of enriching the powerful is called "corruption." In America, it is called "capitalism." [See photos of the Wisconsin protests.]
KENNETH VISTE Boise, Idaho
As a retired federal civil servant, I note that these workers are now referred to as "public employees" or "public sector employees." I can't help but think that this is a further attempt of the left to hide the fact that they are supposed to be civil servants working for the good of the public and not just other employees who happen to work for the government. It must be remembered that regardless of what they are called, it is the taxpayers, including me, that pay their salaries and benefits, and for whom they are supposed to be working. We should go back to referring to them as civil servants, and there simply is no justification for public sector unions.
RONALD SMITH Williamsburg, Va.
If we are going to take bargaining rights away from average people, then we need to make lobbyist activities illegal. That would be an equal trade-off. I bet we could raise taxes/plug loopholes for billionaires then.
DEBBIE ESCHMANN Arlington, Va.
Whenever there are more than four tiers of management in a company or institution, it is necessary for the frontline workers to have independent representatives to bargain for their needs. Therefore, in the government bureaucracy, such union bargaining is needed if we want to keep people from being alienated and disaffected in their work.
H.D. URIEL SMITH Lexington, Ky.
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Iran, Egypt, and Crazy Republicans
Tweet Share on Facebook March 1, 2011 CommentHandling Iran
You ask if the United States should assist in the Iranian government's downfall ["Editor's Note"]. As much as this is something we'd like to see happen, my answer is a definite no. We should not interfere at all in other governments, ever, no matter the circumstances. I am so tired of our leaders thinking of us as "World Leaders" and therefore assuming we can tell people in other parts of the world what they should do. Our minding others' business is one reason so much of the world hates us.
JACQUELINE JOHNSON Deerfield Beach, Fla.
Fearing the Brotherhood
The mission in the Muslim Brotherhood's constitution is still the same (elimination of Israel, enmity to the United States, jihad) and the recent polls showed a high degree of positive feelings about fundamentalist aspects of Islam on the part of the Egyptian people ["Democracy in Egypt No Easy Matter"]. And the situations in both Gaza and Lebanon demonstrate the fallacy of hoping for a full-fledged democracy when there are organized parties to take advantage of the voting process. Indeed, if what we are seeing now is Egypt for the Egyptians, it's not paranoia to be concerned about the future in the Middle East.
LENORE FORSTED Wynnewood, Pa.
Schlesinger Is Crazy
Robert Schlesinger is as loony as he accuses others of being ["When Did the GOP Become the Crazy Party?"]. I don't mind views from both sides, and that is what I have always enjoyed about U.S. News, but those views should be thoughtful and respectful. All Schlesinger cares about is his own extreme left wing vitriol. Enough already!
LEE ADAIR Coto de Caza, Calif.
Appreciating George H.W. Bush
To know George H.W. Bush and to have had the opportunity and honor to serve in his administration [in the Office of Advance] is the ability to see that this man deserves the Medal of Freedom and the appreciation of all Americans for his contributions to this country during his presidency and up to the present day ["Bush's 'Points of Light' Keep Shining"]. Congratulations and best wishes for a job well done and the recognition he deserves.
LUCY MUCKERMAN LAMB Alexandria, Va.
One of the most gloriously optimistic statements George H.W. Bush ever made was about the nature of Americans who took on the toughest challenges our society presents. To paraphrase, he said, "Every problem in America is being solved, somewhere." It's such a simple but profound statement. The challenge was how to replicate the solution, how to share it, how to learn from one community and apply those lessons to the next. His Daily Points of Light program was a noble attempt to do just that. For that, and so many other reasons, I was thrilled to see him honored today by President Obama, and proud to have served in his White House [as assistant to the president and senior staffer].
DAVID DEMAREST Sausalito, Calif.
