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OPINION
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2008
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Conservatives don't raise political ideology to the level of religion. Most just want to make sure that religion still has an influence on their ideology.
comment by vladislav
The liberals are the ones usually substituting ideology for religion since they rarely practice one.
Our ideology didn't fail during the Bush years. The members of the Republican party who were in Congress (and Bush) did not adhere to it. In the few areas they did we have seen success.
The Bush tax cuts, for example, stimulated the economy to rousing success without sacrificing federal revenue. We faced deficits because of bloated spending, not something a conservative would advocate.
The conservative ideology is still a winning ideology compared to the leftist ideology. As connerm said, it's the people in Washington (Congress, not the president) that were supposed to implement the ideology that failed, not the ideology. The Republicans in Congress allowed spending to get out of control,
What conservatives keep getting wrong
becoming more like Democrats in the process. This is where they failed.
Leftists want to pin the economic calamity we are in on George W. Bush. Bush hasn't failed insofar as his economic ideology. Look around: He faced a recession courtesy of the late-90s dot com bust as he took office. He faced Sept. 11. The economy rebounded with vigor. Then, with Democrats pushing for easy lending and the Fed keeping interests rates too low in 2003, the housing price bubble was created which has now burst.
—excerpted from a comment by KU88
editorials around the state
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Prohibit Westar from breaking promise
Westar customers who previously purchased electricity from Kansas Power & Light, like those in Lawrence, had better be ready for the other shoe to drop.
The Kansas Corporation Commission is moving toward approval of a compromise rate increase negotiated by Westar and the Citizens' Utility Rate-payers Board. The negotiated increase would raise electrical rates by about 11 percent, instead of the 15 percent originally proposed by Westar.
That's the relatively good news. However, the KCC also said last week that it plans to consider a related issue that could bump electrical rates up even higher for customers formerly served by KPL.
The "equalization" issue dates back to 1991 when KPL merged with Kansas Gas and Electric, which was charging significantly higher electrical rates to offset its costs for building the Wolf Creek nuclear power plant. As part of
the merger, KPL customers were protected from those higher rates and have continued to pay lower rates than former KG&E customers.
A KCC spokesman made the argument that equalization would spread among all Westar customers the cost of environmental remediation efforts that will be required at the Jeffrey, Lawrence, Tecumseh and LaCygne coal-fired plants. Although former KPL customers would be helping pay off the debt for Wolf Creek, they also would benefit from the lower production costs at that plant, she said.
Now, the KCC says it's time to consider equalizing those rates.
Fairness should be the KCC's top consideration in this matter. KG&E customers made the decision to take on the debt for Wolf Creek and it's only fair that they should be responsible for that debt. Westar should not be allowed to backtrack on that promise.
- The Lawrence Journal-World Nov. 3 editorial
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FROM THE DRAWING BOARD
Reading, writing are two of our last bonds
Do you remember me?
Do you remember me?
"Yeah, I remember you. You're the guy who was always reading those thick books in high school."
Yeah, that was me. But it wasn't until after high school that I conquered Tolstoy's "War and Peace," a journey spanning seven months.
So here I am again. Still reading. Not as much as I should be, but reading nonetheless. Unfortunately, I am in the minority.
According to a 2004 report by the National Endowment for the Arts, the percentage of people reading literature dropped 10 percentage points from 1982 to 2002. More significant was the 17 percentage point decline of reading literature of those between the ages of 18 and 24 during the same time period.
Standardized test scores support this trend. The Center for Pubic Education reported a 6 percentage point decline on National Assessment of Education Progress reading test scores among 12th graders between 1992 and 2005. As the name suggests, this test is used to measure progress in education, especially in math and reading.
measuring reading ability. When you get into the specifics, it's difficult to measure how well someone can read by talking about what percentage of people scored at the proficient level or the exemplary level for instance. Because reading ability and writing ability are closely related, it's fair to look at writing ability to gauge how literate Americans are.
However, test scores are often an abstract and impersonal way of
Martin Rochester of the Education newspaper Education Week wrote in 1996, "As a college professor for over a quarter of a century, I have been struck by the steady, almost annual decline in the literacy of students. This observation has been confirmed by colleagues in various disciplines at virtually all universities with which I have had contact. By literacy, I mean (1) the capacity to read a sophisticated written work and to understand the major ideas expressed by the author and (2) the capacity to write polished prose consisting of complete words, sentences, and paragraphs using standard English conventions." I have seen both of Rochester's critiques in action and notably the second.
Stories have the power to change the world — like the kickoff chant. However, while wasting time bickering over the political correctness of the football kickoff chant, we should be discussing why a quote from "The Waterboy" is so popular.
process. These were pieces riddled with sentence fragments, misspellings and usage problems. Sure, these were rough drafts, but it's impossible to give feedback when you have no idea what the person is even trying to say.
Effective writing and reading not only allow us to effectively communicate, but in an increasingly fragmented world, it is one of the few universals left. It brings everyone together. Religion does not unite us. Sports do not unite us. Storytelling does. Everyone is a storyteller and everyone appreciates a good story. Stories transcend time and culture and age and gender.
Amidst a short story editing session my senior year of high school, I was shocked at the horridness of the pieces I read. It was not the subject matter or style that tripped me up but the inability of the author to string coherent thoughts together. I remember at least three times not knowing where to start the editing
That's another story though.
The importance of being able to read and write well can't be overstated. Of late the problem with not being able to read and write well has focused on not being able to compete with workers in China and India, which is important, but there are really more important reasons why the decline in literacy is such a problem.
Mangiaracina is a Lenexa senior in journalism.
Where I discovered the heart of America
The sun is quietly creeping over the silhouettes of the houses and trees dotting the horizon. Fall is in control. There is a cool breeze blowing from the east, and the sound of the fallen leaves moving along the street is reassuring. The music of humanity temporarily drowns out the leaves, and I hear a flag whipping in the distance. Fall is indeed in control.
There's a line but no one cares. They have coffee cups in their hands and smiles on their faces. There is absolute silence but there is definitely communication.
Partially intoxicated by an indulgence in Colombian coffee, I make my way to the nexus of America.
Some people are pacing. Some are checking the time. Others try to make small talk but the conversation dies as soon as it starts and their eyes awkwardly glance down.
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I hear curtains being opened and shut and the sound of electronics humming.
Everybody is equal here. They have one name, and they have one duty, and no one can deny them. They know that alone, they are weak. But together they are as powerful as any ary.
I have been very critical, and will
I sign my name and get my piece of paper. I walk intently, careful to dodge the kids playing and careful to dodge the people studying. I open and close the curtain slowly. I pull out my reference sheet, set it on the table and proceed to color. Within three minutes, my job is done. I hand my paper to a volunteer who thanks me. I leave
continue to be, of this country. We are struggling to keep our identity. Our leaders refuse to communicate and come together for the good of us all. We still discriminate and we still alienate. Although we do it a lot more quietly than most, it's just as damaging. But today, maybe because of naivety, I am hopeful.
This is the America I love, and this is the America I will fight for.
When I see people voting, I see Americans I see no race and no religion. I don't see upper class or lower class. I don't see Republicans or Democrats.
Graham is a Columbus, Ohio graduate student in exercise physiology.
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Can the KU grounds crew pick up all of these leaves? Jesus, what is this?
what is this?
To that nice young lady who gave me that smirk while sitting on the steps of Budig; I would love to see you again.
I feel like there's something that you are trying to tell me. Let's see, I read the opinion page, but I forgot what it was about. Oh well, I am sure I will remember sometime around
7:30 p.m.
So when I saw the starting lineup I wondered "Am I at Duke or KU?" What the hell.
Oh my God, a car with John son County tags and an Obama '08 sticker. I never thought I would see it.
--the country will be OK.
--the country will be OK.
Damn. Obama won. Now have to move to France.
Was there an election last night?
--the country will be OK.
If Alaska Gov, Sarah Palin is going to run for president in 2012, then I am too, just for shits and giggles.
Chapter Four: And the greeks said, "We are the evolution."
Note to the class of 2012: We don't stand on the bleachers in basketball games, and we don't sit down during the first half. This is Kansas basketball. Rock Chalk Jawhawk!
My roommate really needs to stop and let one rip.
--the country will be OK.
Wednesday's main headline made me think that we just elected Bob the Builder.
--the country will be OK.
Well, now my roommate is walking down the hill and farting.
--the country will be OK.
Where can I buy a pair of those rose-colored glasses? I want to view the election from your perspective.
To the girl sitting behind me:
It's really sad that you think
that because Barack Obama is
a Christian he will see the light
and become a Republican and
the country will be OK.
I cannot wait for Barack's afro
Dear Douchebag-From-The 10th-Floor, please leave the female race alone. We're not gonna have sex with you.
---
That poor, poor man. I cannot imagine the pain and anguish he must be feeling right now
Yes, the key to my heart. Find me tomorrow and if you say those exact words to me I'll be yours forever and ever more.