the President cut defense spending during the last 6 years and now wants to increase it, social security funds have been diverted to reduce the deficit, now he wants to save it, education has been getting worse each year and the passing test scores are lowered to maintain acceptable pass rates and the politicians want to improve education. etc.etc. enough is enough. I grew up in a small town in South Dakota with 25 -30 students graduating from high school each year. There was very little governmental involvement, a local school board, good teachers, no unions, phonics, basic math, science etc. and we received a superb education compared to today. A 5th grader then knew more than many high school graduates today. We could all read by the first or second grade or we FAILED and repeated the year. That was politically correct then. No, actually there was no such thing as politically correct then, the teachers were allowed to do the right thing. We had very little crime. At least three and maybe more of the twenty four in my class were millionaires before they were 50 and most of the others were successful with or without college. The best thing that politicians could do for education would be to leave it alone so the local school boards could function like they did many years ago.

People have been dumbed down so much that many can no longer think. They can not look at the facts, see the big picture and understand that Santa Claus is not going to bring them what they want if only they will vote for politician X. CEOs of major corporations and high level government officials can not appreciate the implications of the Y2k problems. The people listen to the politicians and believe the promises. Look at the State of the Union Speech. The lies started 11 seconds into the speech. The lies included the surplus, low unemployment, the good economy, low inflation, and the inflated accomplishments of the politicians. Congress clapped no matter how outrageous the lies. If Congress had any intergrity, they would sit silent when the big whoppers were told and limit applause to the legitimate issues such as solving the Y2k problem. Only one clapped for that. Who was it? The others didn't recognize the issue? The stock market rise was caused by the increase in the money supply period and inflation has been disguised by low oil prices and the fact that the extra money went into the stock market. Y2k guarantees a stock market crash this year. The public will be enraged when the crash happens. The government is laying the groundwork now to blame terrorists for any violence that results from Y2k. Instead of taking steps to inform the people and prepare for the disaster, the president orders the bombing of pharmaceutical plants, funds efforts to assisinate Sadam, and takes other actions to enrage foreigners and the polls go up. We can not depend on the press. NBC is sitting on a major story about the President and a documented r_pe with much more proof and evidence that ever was available when they went after Clarence Thomas. More obstruction and threats by the White House press Secretary to kill this story. Why can't the feminists get it? How can the Democrats support perjury, treason and obstruction of justice? They will not convict. The Republicians are criticized for doing what they are required to do when the accused liar gets away with further lies. The polls are so slanted. Dick Morris has a new book out about the lying, the polls, and the spin when he was working for Clinton. The book is on display at Barnes & Noble and major bookstores.

Can you name 10 honest politicians who you trust to do the right thing? How many are in your State? This is a horrible state of affairs and a danger to our country and its institutions that is far greater than is generally recognized by the greedy gimmee citizens of this country. It is a very sad situation. The true heros are castigated for telling the truth. Did you see the pictures of all of the white UN vehicles, trucks, humvees, etc. on the tractor trailers on the internet during the last week? Why are they here? Is the plan to use foreign troops to control the rioting or to impose martial law? The people of Germany would never have guessed in 1935 what was in store for them 10 years later when they "elected" Mr. Hitler.

-- Steve (Fed up@notstupid.com), February 04, 1999

Answers

As a fairly recent graduate (1994) of our wonderful public school system (LOL), I have to enthusiastically agree with your observations. I'm from a small town, about 10,000, in the midwest and I have to say that the state of our schools is pathetic. I've had teachers that showed films in class almost every day. Often, the films he showed weren't even on topic. I've had teachers that would watch students passing tests around to others without saying anything (during the test!). I've had teachers that let students sleep in class every day.

The only thing that today's schools teach people is how to work in a factory. Keep your head down. Don't ask questions. Do as little as possible to get by. These are the ideals that we are teaching the students of our country. It is not surprising at all that most people don't get it (Y2K).

If Y2K doesn't crash our country, our own apathy will cause us to destroy ourselves soon enough. If Y2K is more than a bump, things are going to be very bad.

-- d (d@dgi.com), February 04, 1999.

Ya know, if just HALF of the people I hear bitching and moaning about how screwed up politics is would join the Libertarian Party...

There are more of us than there are of them folks. But we are going to have to band together if we are going to slow down, stop, and then reverse the constant assault on individual rights. If you are concerned about your tax burden, your Second Amendment rights, religious freedom, forfeiture laws, police state type of intrusion into your personal life, violent criminals released early to make room in prison for non-violent consensual offenders, property rights, freedom of the internet, wasted tax monies sent to foreign countries, freedom to peaceably assemble, etc. etc. and on and on. In short, if you want the government off your back you are going to have to do more than sit around whining and moaning. The Democrats and Republicans have proven that they will not change things for you, you will have to take some action yourself.

Dont bitch and moan if you arent DOING something about it. What kind of world do you want to build after Y2K?

Join us! Third largest and growing, the Libertarian Party!

http://www.lp.org/

-- Uncle Deedah (oncebitten@twiceshy.com), February 05, 1999.

Dam Straight Unc. I have voted straight Libertarian for the last two elections. I used to vote republcan in the close ones, but no more. I vote my convictions now without compromise or apology. The only honest politician I know of in washington is Ron Paul, and he is not getting anything done working alone.

-- Nikoli Krushev (doomsday@y2000.com), February 05, 1999.

Three words, Governer Jesse Ventura... Third party cantidates can win.

-- d (d@dgi.com), February 05, 1999.

Uncle Deedah, What a relief! Just when I was going to ask you about the entry requirements to the Curmudgeon Club, you have vindicated yourself as a Libertarian. Good stuff. Many thanks for the relief.

-- Watchful (seethesea@msn.com), February 05, 1999.

I agree with the whole Education scenario you have brought up here and it isn't only the schools. I am 34 years old and went to a small school in a very small town in Western New York. I learned a lot in school and I still strive to learn new things all the time. A lot of these kids today don't want to learn and no one is even caring if they do. What is this country coming too? What are we as people going to do about it?

-- Mark Peebles (PeeblesCa1@aol.com), February 05, 1999.

This is why Politically Incorrect people are concerned about race. The problems started in the 60s, when immigration was changed. Prior to '65 (oops, on this forum better make that 1965!), 90 of immigration to the US was white (european anyway). By law. In 1965, it was changed to only 10%. Essentially, since 1965, 90% of the folks coming to this country are non-white - and once in the country, non-whites (hispanics mostly) out-breed whites by a huge factor.

I'm a racist (fashionable, along with hard work & integrity until about 30 years ago). Ask yourself this- if TSHTF (for any reason), do you want to be in a mostly black area? Mexican? Not that Asians are/have such a problem - statistically, they are smarter than whites.

-- Anonymous99 (Anonymous99@anonymous.com), February 05, 1999.

Three words: CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM Visit

Common Cause's website

to see the

"soft money laundoymat."

See where your reps get their biggest contributions.

-- Other Lisa (LisaWard2@aol.com), February 05, 1999.

Three words: CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM Visit

Common Cause's website

to see the

"soft money laundromat."

See where your reps get their biggest contributions.

-- Other Lisa (LisaWard2@aol.com), February 05, 1999.

Sorry for the double post, tried to correct my spelling by hittin the stop button.

-- Other Lisa (LisaWard2@aol.com), February 05, 1999.