Five months into his second term, the President has been under increasing assault from Republicans; they're accusing his administration of political bullying and a lack of transparency.
The Internal Revenue Service has allegedly singled out conservative political action groups for audits. However, none has been denied tax-exempt status. (From what I understand, the real issue isn't even being discussed: that is, should organizations doing political work be tax-exempt to begin with)? But there's no evidence that the Obama administration was in any way involved in this action, if true. (Frankly, I'm skeptical). Whether justified or not, the president has actually expressed his dismay toward the IRS in concert with the Republicans.
Yet many in the GOP have been trigger-quick to accuse the Democrats of political bullying. I'm detecting just a whiff of a double standard at work here. Exactly what have the Congressional Republicans been doing since Obama became the nation's chief executive? Showering him with rose petals? Or more to the point, what haven't they been doing except obstructing? I understand that the 37th attempt to repeal Obamacare is in the works.
So who are the real bullies?
Friday, May 24, 2013
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
A Felony for an Innocent Misjudgment
Get this! A well-regarded Florida high school student was expelled from her school last week. Why? Because she conducted a scientific experiment outside the school that bore an unexpected result.
Kiera Wilmot, a junior at Bartow High School in the Florida town of the same name, committed the unforgiveable error of mixing some household chemicals in a plastic bottle outside the school, well away from the building. The chemical cocktail created a minor explosion, but caused no injury or damage. A reprimand would probably have been appropriate; she most likely would have understood the gravity of the situation and learned from it.
Yet despite her exemplary record of conduct and high academic standing, school officials have deemed Ms. Wilmot a criminal! Not only has she been expelled from her school, but she's being charged with a felony.
The principal actually declared that she knew that the cited student intended no harm, but that she had violated the school's code of conduct. After all, "rules are rules."
I guess the All-Hallowed Principal's Manual doesn't contain a clause anywhere pertaining to common sense.
Update: As of May 24th, criminal charges against Ms. Wilmot have been dropped, most likely due at least in part to an on-line campaign in her behalf. At least 200,000 signatures were generated. The school still hasn't allowed her to return, but according to local reports, her parents are appealing to school officials.
So at least in this one instance, an inquisitive student's curiosity won't be criminalized. Nevertheless, this should be considered an appropriate time for school officials to be reconsidering zero-tolerance policies at their institutions. Not only do they cast a pall over the whole educational environment, but they discourage students from exercising initiative and curiosity. Besides, the slammers in many localities are already overloaded with petty, non-violent offenders.
Kiera Wilmot, a junior at Bartow High School in the Florida town of the same name, committed the unforgiveable error of mixing some household chemicals in a plastic bottle outside the school, well away from the building. The chemical cocktail created a minor explosion, but caused no injury or damage. A reprimand would probably have been appropriate; she most likely would have understood the gravity of the situation and learned from it.
Yet despite her exemplary record of conduct and high academic standing, school officials have deemed Ms. Wilmot a criminal! Not only has she been expelled from her school, but she's being charged with a felony.
The principal actually declared that she knew that the cited student intended no harm, but that she had violated the school's code of conduct. After all, "rules are rules."
I guess the All-Hallowed Principal's Manual doesn't contain a clause anywhere pertaining to common sense.
Update: As of May 24th, criminal charges against Ms. Wilmot have been dropped, most likely due at least in part to an on-line campaign in her behalf. At least 200,000 signatures were generated. The school still hasn't allowed her to return, but according to local reports, her parents are appealing to school officials.
So at least in this one instance, an inquisitive student's curiosity won't be criminalized. Nevertheless, this should be considered an appropriate time for school officials to be reconsidering zero-tolerance policies at their institutions. Not only do they cast a pall over the whole educational environment, but they discourage students from exercising initiative and curiosity. Besides, the slammers in many localities are already overloaded with petty, non-violent offenders.
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