Tag: States Rights

The zombie analogy used here demonstrates an accurate portrayal of the typical interview a constitutionalist and historian can expect from most 'news' types nowadays. Though satire is used here, the topis is rock solid and very serious.

Following the Senate's concurrence on Michigan's omnibus budget yesterday, that included a "pause and review" provision for Michigan Department of Education's implementation of Common Core national curriculum standards and the high-stakes testing associated with it, Rep. Tom McMillin said,

"Today is a very good day for Michigan citizens, almost all of who did not have the opportunity to weigh in on turning over the standards taught in all of Michigan's public schools to a national trade association (National Governors Association).  They will now have that opportunity as the legislature debates the matter.

It's pretty surprising that supporters of Common Core and the high-stakes nation test, Smarter Balance, seem scared by the thought of having to defend them.  Though, I do understand it must be tough to sell the abdication of education curriculum standards to a national private entity.  I certainly look forward to the debate in the coming months.  We currently have better math standards in place than Common Core and we can certainly improve our ELA standards without giving the NGA the sole authority to determine and alter them."

Watch for the most "progressive" school districts to freak out for a while.

But why?

Its about control.  More control for an overgrown federal bureaucracy that cannot handle the most trivial tasks already, yet with this curriculum endeavors to take on the state's task (remember the 10th amendment?) of public education. Along with that perhaps satisfying at the same time a 'progressive' need to rope in home school children and leave no stone unturned with indoctrination.

Several questions were asked, but one that stood out as an interesting contrast point, was the question on the 17th amendment.  Most readers understand the 17th amendment was the point which state's rights were severely hobbled.  I have supported the repeal of the 17th amendment since learning the reasons for which the founders had purposefully avoided it.  Of course I was never exposed to such radical ideas in public school, so it was full blown adulthood, and fighting off the years of indoctrination which provided a sense of truth how this country was meant to be.

The Mi4CS (Michigan 4 Conservative Senate) vetting questionnaire asked:

"Do you believe the Framers were in error in providing for the election of Senators by the State Legislatures and if so do you believe the 17th Amendment, (ratified during the Wilson administration), is the proper solution. Would you introduce/support a repeal of the 17th Amendment?"

The 5 participating candidates had an interesting array of answers. While I would vote for ANY of these distinguished gentlemen over the meat puppet Debbie Stabenow, I was not enthusiastic about a couple of views.  I WAS intrigued by the thought process which went into each however.  Well done.