[HARDCORE]

ANDY et al -

Good thoughts, however, and through absolutely no fault of the kids, the expense of education (no frills) is on the rise! A nation that is not willing or unable to keep pace, later regrets the choice!

Besides Andy, and as was proven out by the California Lottery, no matter what is cut back, some enterprising oaf will always find a way to re-direct any money that has been previously re-directed, into their own pockets, and again the schools end up on the bottom of the feeding chain, count on it!

Granted, schools in Japan are progressive and their kids strive hard to succeed. But back in the late 30s, this same fervor swept the Rising Sun, did it not!? These people are truly competitive, and I wish that (in some respects) so were we! Far too many here sit upon laurels and past achievements, contentively and unfortunately!

"We are at war, of this have no doubts!" Not just a war against terrorism alone, but indeed, a war of economic survival. We can not play the part of a Goliath in this war, arrogance and all! No-one (or nothing), is so big as to guarantee their eternal survival, unless of course, they bust their backs daily and exert as much energy and dedication into staying on top, as they did in getting there! "Education is the key, but one must still open up the door!"

It is my opinion that the kids of Japan are driven from birth to achieve in a society that exalts Kennedy's old speech about "Ask not what your country can do for you, but rather what you can do for your country!" This is not elevating "Absolute Conservatism", over "Absolute Liberalism", not at all! Our nation became great by blending both and favoring neither!

If the people of Japan are able to accomplish more with less, then good for them! If the people of Germany are able to field more scientists than we, good for them! If the people of some African nations are able to produce people who can run faster or jump higher, good for them! "We are not going to be tops in all endeavors, this is unrealistic!

Our greatness rests in our diversity, and our diversity is fueled to "Success By Education (opinion)!" And again, and granted, Japan (and others) may be doing more with less, but comparing apples to apples, their system does not always find a way for a few to skim the cream from the top of their budgets, as some within our sytem do!? "And if it does take more money to keep our kids competitive, that is a small price to pay I think!?"

If those who lap up the gravy before a few drops manage to trickle down to our schools would be far less greedy, then maybe this budget crunch would not be less critical! And finally what they do in Japan (the old Jones' Scenario), might not work here? Granted, it probably could, but "when one talks sacrifice, he usually means "Let the other guy do it!" And I don't care how strapped the State (California) gets, robbing our kids to pay for pork, is a cardinal travesty!

As I recall, the federal government just showed their own dedication to "belt tightening" by (now get this) - "taking smaller pay raise this time around!"Now how many in that government do you think are truly worried (or even concerned) about public education!? "Not talk, but action-wise!!"

The open attitude once echoed by a (very wealthy) U.S. Senator, also from California, I feel is a nexus to what is happening now. When asked about rising gasoline prices in the State (years ago) he remarked: "I see nothing amiss with continuing to elevate fuel costs! If the poor can not afford gas, then let them stay at home, they have no place to go anyway!"

The previous statement reminds me of Ebenezer Scrooge, the Roman Senate, Marie Antoinette, and bureaucratic insanity, all rolled up into one odious little package! And for the record, is this not how the French and American Revolutions were begun - by systematically feeding off of the lean, while packing on the pork in already corpulant places!?

I hear where billions are being sent abroad to rebuild a nation that still is killing our people, and billions more to Africa to fight their poverty and diseases (noble indeed)! However, are not the needs of our own people, especially our kids, deserving of first consideration? This money is, after all, American tax dollars, and whom would you rather see benefit (first) from this cash - our kids, our veterans, our own poor and ill, our seniors, or some guy who will be taking pot-shots at you, a few years down the road!

While we are at it, why not send our tax billions over to France, Germany, or Russia perhaps? It seems to me that we just can not get our priorities in order!

You do not rob the stomachs and minds of the American needy, to feed the greed of foreign ingrates. Domestic Conservatism is grand, but not when you use a savings to glut a gaggle of Foreign Liberals with our own money and blood!!

"And by the way Friend Andy, pour a snifter of Courvoisier for us all! The weather here has taken a turn, and a chill is in the air!"

En vino - veritas