OK. Second installment. A little dessert in the way of a Dean story, and then some Kerry facts.
The aim is to become transmitters for Kerry, like we were for Dean (or Clark, or Edwards).
P2P transmission of what the guy wants to do.
First, I consulted the oracle GoogleTalk about the Plame affair.
I asked it who leaked Plame's name.
who leaked Plame s name to the press and to the public. at the beginning of the end of The world? As We Know it by REM I know it s over but I can' t GET no satisfaction I can t get no satisfaction I can t get no satisfaction I can t get no satisfaction I can t get no satisfaction
Oy vey.
So, I saw Dean stride onto the stage at Bryant Park, along with 15,000 other people. Where did those people go? Did they vote for Dean? Could they have given him delegates? We'll never know.
He was late, and we were listening to 100 assorted pols and minor Broadway stars do their schtick.
But the bat was heavy on our minds. This was still early in the Dean movement, and we weren't sure we could break this latest goal.
But sure enough, he loped onto the stage and they handed him a red bat and he grinned like a cat that ate the canary.
That was when I knew I would work for this team as a P2P transmitter. I was a Deaniac.
They listened to the dumb details, like handing him a bat on stage. ANd they did it in realtime.
And then his speech ... well, I had heard it before. I knew I would support him. I didn't know I'd hustle for him. And I certainly didn't think I'd become even more of a political junkie.
I have three things in my life. Science work, political work, and my wife. That tripartite dichotomy began on that day. With a red bat and a grinning doctor. And a sneaking suspicion has crept along ever since ... fueled by Lady Ptolemy ... that once I am done with degrees and some more medical/science work, I'll follow Dean onto the stage in the Park, and grin like the cat that ate the canary.
Kerry on education:
Roll back the tax cuts on those making 200K and above. Make sure that all the federal mandates are fully funded using that extra revenue. (The rest is put into healthcare like Medicare)
These extra funds should help repair schools, lower class sizes, and all the things that NCLB was SUPPOSED to do. NCLB, special education, and the other federal mandates will be FULLY funded as designed. This will help lower local taxes ... the Bush tax (Dean's words, not Kerry's)
Some of the money will be targeted for further principal and teacher training.
He will also adjust the testing requirements under NCLB, to make them less rigid. I don't know if I agree with this, but the more rigid testing schema hasn't worked. The new focus of the tests will be college prep, not selected skills. Schools will also be evaluated on graduation rates, teacher attendance, student attendance, and local community satisfaction with the school. Thus, it will be hard for a school with community support to get put on the chopping block.
On the other hand, to prevent standard lowering to the point of absurdity, he will reward schools that set the bar for grade advancement high even before the results are seen. Greater federal funding will be given to them, and directed funding for payroll will follow if they meet the raised standards.
Teachers and principals who work in schools with low performance and who turn it around will receive a tax deduction of $10,000 five years after that school is no longer low-performing.
He wants to set up additional high schools for emotionally disturbed students, to provide alternative learning environments. These will also be eligible for "turn-around" bonuses to school budget and payroll.
He will propose federal bonds for school repair and construction, and target some of the money to charter school construction.
He also wants to institute universal after-school programming, to help deal with latch-key kids.
He will reverse Bush's 40% cuts in after-school funding. He will target some of the education funds to after-school programs nationwide. He will propose a tax credit for parents who need help affording after-school programs for their children.
Tomorrow ... a Dean flyering story and Kerry on Children's safety, health, and progress toward higher education.