How Much More Can----and Will---Kansans Take?

Everything Republican Governor Sam Brownback and his political party cohorts have touched, fiscally, financially and dealing with taxes, it seems, have turned to debt and red ink.

We've all been following them for these few years now and watched the debt rating be downgraded and debts rise and budgets be slashed, sure. But the latest budget cuts, now to the schools, are being the unkindest and even worst, the most painful and even hopeless, of all.

I saw this last evening:

Wichita schools would lose $22 million on possible state spending cut

And that, I thought, was horrible, for one not-that-large a school district.

But then I saw this:

Schools could lose $197 million under spending 

cut scenario

Truly horrible.

Just short of 200 million dollars, nearly one quarter of a billion dollars, to be cut from the school budgets across the state.

How do you have hope for your children, for the future, for your state, if you don't--hell, can't--invest in the next generations?

We are the "War Pigs"

Ozzy was prescient:

Generals gathered in their masses
Just like witches at black masses
Evil minds that plot destruction
Sorcerers of death's construction
In the fields the bodies burning
As the war machine keeps turning
Death and hatred to mankind
Poisoning their brainwashed minds
Oh lord yeah!

Politicians hide themselves away
They only started the war
Why should they go out to fight?
They leave that role to the poor
Time will tell on their power minds
Making war just for fun
Treating people just like pawns in chess
Wait 'til their judgement day comes
Yeah!

Now in darkness world stops turning
Ashes where the bodies burning
No more war pigs have the power
Hand of God has struck the hour
Day of judgement, God is calling
On their knees the war pig's crawling
Begging mercy for their sins
Satan laughing spreads his wings
Oh lord yeah!

Face it, America--yes, you--WE are the war pigs of the world.

No one remotely comes close to us on spending on war, missiles, weapons, etc.  We outspend all other nations by huge margins.

It's us who are in Afghanistan, against most of the people's will.

It's the US who has 50,000 troops still occupying Iraq.

It's the US who has over 700 different military installations across the world.

Sure, we used to be the peacekeepers.

No more.

Now we're the ones threatening too much and too many across this same planet.

While we can't spend for our children's schools and health care and streets, sewers, highways, bridges and other infrastructure, we're spending huge, absurd, ridiculous amounts on war and weapons of war.

First you need to know this.  We all need to be aware.

And then we need to demand change.  Change from our government.  Change from our legislators.

Surely this is not the people or country we want to be.

What say we really honor our military and veterans and stop the endless war?


Happy Memorial Day.

Indeed.

Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/b/black_sabbath/war_pigs.html 
More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/b/black_sabbath/#share

Challenge/suggestion for the Star

Okay, so it's decided--we're going to close 1/2 of the schools in the KCMO School District.

Now we'll get to it.

But with all the knowledge of where we've been and what we've been doing, as a city, you know what would make some terrific further reading?

The Kansas City Star's reporters should go around, behind the scenes, and talk to current and past employees of this same school district and get stories on where the millions of dollars of money the district used to have, went.

I've heard some beauties.

It won't ever happen but again, it would make for some terrific reading.

And you know what else?

It might make for some terrific lessons we could all learn, as a city and as parts of this school district.

But look at me. Suggesting we learn any lessons from all this.

What a dope.

Link to story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_closing_schools

On KCMO School District budget and the KC Star

So The Star covered Superintendent Covington's meeting yesterday and plans for the KCMO School District.

And it was pretty informative, to a point. Fortunately, they didn't really put a "spin" on it--they just covered it very matter-of-factly. Good for them.

But there's a couple of things here that needs to be further pointed out that they didn't report--some shortcomings.

First, I was just told that, if the District doesn't do this and cut these schools, the 285 teachers and the 40 to 50 million dollars in expenses these cutbacks involve, this same District would be
financially bankrupt by next year.

That's pretty big, obviously, and that just can't happen.

But it wasn't mentioned in the paper.

Further, secondly, should that happen, Jeff City would have to take over.

And no one wants that.

No one.

Third, the good news is that, supposedly there are lots of teachers who are in line for retirement so they'll be asked to do just that. From what I understand a lot of them abe bailing already.

Fourth, note the date the Superintendent gave for everyone to respond and vote. He wants this ready for a vote at the Board's next meeting--Feb. 24--ten days from now.

Wow. That's a bit of a whirlwind schedule.

But these people have done the research and tried their best to come up with a plan to address the big budget problems.

It looks as though it's going to sail through.

Finally, if anyone does come out against this, really, they'll have a huge challenge to come up with any other options. How else, exactly, do you cut 40 to 50 million dollars in expenses from the budget
without closing these approximately 20 schools and slashing employment roles?

If you're out there and have any better ideas, you'd better speak up quickly.

It seems as though Superintendent Covington is the right man, doing the right things--the things that need to happen--at just the right time.

Stay tuned.

The meetings this week should be interesting.