Public Education in America

Tonight on the news the station ran an upcoming story that talks about parents taking control in which schools their children attend. The overarching question that the narrator asked the television audience was "Are parents taking control of what schools their children attend a good idea?"
Well of course its a good idea, what have you been smoking?
When parents get to decide which school their children can attend, the children actually are the ones that benefit the most. When parental choice is involved schools often pull out all the stops to convince those parents to send their children to that particular school. Why? Because money given by the state to the school depends on how many students that particular school has. Take for example my old school Wauseon Schools. According to their website they spend about $7,500 per pupil every school year. Now if several parents take out their children out of their school district which numbers say 10 students. Wauseon schools just lost $75,000 for that school year!! Obviously putting the power in the hands of the parents instead of the government or teacher's unions could be beneficial as schools will start to compete for those dollars by investing in higher quality teachers or nice programs to attract potential students to their district so they can receive more funding. Doesn't school choice sound like a novel idea? I think so.

New job

So I got a new job today. I am now in charge of the Law Library in Fulton County. I'm also a research assistant to the Judge. Sounds exciting.

Government vs. The Free Market

The last three books that I have read have been written by self-proclaimed libertarians. Thomas Sowell who wrote the book Basic Economics: A Citizen's Guide to the Economy claims that many of the social problems are can be ultimately fixed by the free market with no government intervention. Sowell explains that social welfare programs are counterproductive because to give more money in the hands of the poor, with no training for any specialty, will cost them dearly at the check out lane when new inflation numbers are factored in. The economy is the best protector of the poor by isolating prices from unnatural inflation that is often the case from government programs like welfare and Medicare.

The next book that was written from the standpoint of economics is Steven Levitt's book Freakonomics. This book primarily deals with applying economic tools and theory into other parts of society. The most interesting part of the book, and also the most controversial, was the idea that abortion was the reason for the drop in crime during the 1990s. Economists love to talk about supply and demand, but Levitt steers clear of this idea when talking about crime reduction. Levitt claims that more police on the field is a good thing as they are able to arrest people suspected of crime and take them off the street. But who is to replace them? After all the old saying is that if we arrest one leader 6 new ones will spring up over night. This is where the idea of abortion comes into play. Since most women who have abortion tend to be young and poor the kids they are not having by getting an abortion will not grow up to be future criminals. Abortion, according to Levitt, cut off the supply of future criminals thus squashing crime. The idea that Clinton can claim that his economic programs slashed crime in the 90s is total bull. Now of course Levitt admits that the argument that he makes for abortion and crime isolates the moral perspectives of the issue of abortion. However, Levitt, like most economists, do not consider moral arguments when they make judgment of programs and society. All they look at is the numbers and causality and correlation of X factor to Y factor.

The last book of the libertarian trio of authors is John Stossel's Give me a Break. I must admit after reading two books by world famous economists Stossel really knows his stuff. His main arguments is that journalists in today's society often are too dumb to realize that the more government intervention they promote on their programs leads to more problems in society not less. Stossel goes through an endless tirade on the programs he used to do and other journalists do end up hurting society by costing more to the consumer through price fixation to accommodate the increased government intervention in the economy. The greatest example is OSHA and their regulations in the work place. Since the time Clinton claimed the era of big government was over to 2004 the Federal Book of Regulations and Rules increased by over 400,000 pages!! Clearly many programs such as OSHA have had a hand in this as they continue to push out new rules onto the market economy to follow. Those who do not follow these endless lists of rules get fined for thousands of dollars. Most of the companies do not pay for these finds out of their own pocketbooks but push the cost onto the consumer through price fixing to make up for loses.

The main point of talking about these books is that government often creates more problems than it solves. As a person who has studied it and has worked inside its endless walls of bureaucracy it is just as bad as one may think. The Founding Fathers never envisioned a government that we have today. Programs such as Medicare, welfare, and OSHA are making the Founding Fathers turn in their graves. In the last 50 years government has grown a remarkable 5,000%. We went from the government controlling about 3% of the GDP for 150 years to the government controlling about 40% today. Something needs to be done about this astounding area of control by the government. We are loosing to international markets for a reason. We placed too much of an emphasize on government and labor, not supply and demand or costs of labor. That is why economic giants like the US and Europe are constantly loosing business to Asia and South America. There they place an emphasize on the costs of labor. Much is needed to be done in the near future. Or else the American power that we know today will not exist in 50 years.

Bored in Wauseon

Well I know how Jack Nicholson's character feels in the movie The Shining. Well anyways I decided to do that survey they offer you on Myspace.com. However, I don't have a Myspace, but I will do it on the blog.

TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF - The Survey
Name: Jordan
Birthday: December 18, 1983
Birthplace: Wauseon, Ohio
Current Location: Wauseon, ohio :(
Eye Color: Hazel
Hair Color: Brown
Height: 6'1
Right Handed or Left Handed: both actually
Your Heritage: Scots Irish
The Shoes You Wore Today: sandles
Your Weakness: Patience, frustration
Your Fears: Failure and rejection BIG TIME
Your Perfect Pizza: Deep dish pepperoni pizza
Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year: Honors at UT Law, find someone special I guess, get a job
Your Most Overused Phrase On an instant messenger: Hey, ASL???
Thoughts First Waking Up: So what am I going to do today?
Your Best Physical Feature: I dont know
Your Bedtime: Try to get in bed before 2 am
Your Most Missed Memory: Freshmen year of college
Pepsi or Coke:coke
MacDonalds or Burger King: Burger King- ITS A WONDERFUL RESTURANT
Single or Group Dates: Really doesn't matter as long as I am with my date
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: Not a fan of ice tea
Chocolate or Vanilla: chocolate
Cappuccino or Coffee: Pepsi
Do you Smoke: no, never
Do you Swear: All the damn time
Do you Sing: I try not to, but when the Bee Gees are playing, watch out
Do you Shower Daily: I think I do
Have you Been in Love: Once, and when that relationship ended it really sucked
Do you want to go to College: I graduated last Saturday
Do you want to get Married: Someday after I meet that special someone
Do you belive in yourself: I try to
Do you get Motion Sickness: Nope
Do you think you are Attractive: Its all up to the ladies to decide that one
Are you a Health Freak: I try to be
Do you get along with your Parents: sometimes
Do you like Thunderstorms: I love thunderstorms at night!!
Do you play an Instrument: I use to play the trombone and tried to play guitar
In the past month have you Drank Alcohol: I just graduated, do you think i was sober for that?
In the past month have you Smoked: Nope
In the past month have you been on Drugs: Nope, never
In the past month have you gone on a Date: Depends on how she defines on what we did
In the past month have you gone to a Mall: haven't had time for that
In the past month have you eaten a box of Oreos: nope
In the past month have you eaten Sushi:: Yep, I like Sushi
In the past month have you been on Stage: Yeah, for some awards ceremony
In the past month have you been Dumped: Well I don't think I was dating anyone
In the past month have you gone Skinny Dipping: Been too busy, and no one wants to see me naked
In the past month have you Stolen Anything: Most likely I stole something from BGSU
Ever been Drunk: Oh yes
Ever been called a Tease: No :(
Ever been Beaten up: No, I don't like to fight
Ever Shoplifted: Yes
How do you want to Die: I don't know but i want my epitaph to read: Died Tragically Rescuing His Family From The Remains Of A Destroyed Sinking Battleship
What do you want to be when you Grow Up: A federal judge
Which country do you want to visit the most: Ireland
In a Boy/Girl..
Favourite Eye Color:brown/Blue
Favourite Hair Color:brown/blonde, highlights or what not
Short or Long Hair: I don't care
Height: Shorter than 5'9
Weight: average
Best Clothing Style: Thrift store!
Number of Drugs I have taken: I have taken legal drugs before does that count?
Number of CDs I own: about 100
Number of Piercings:0
Number of Tattoos:0
Number of things in my Past I Regret: That is the toughest question out there.

Relevancy in my Life

Oh what a difference two weeks makes. Two weeks ago I was in charge of 2 student organizations, 20 freshmen, and had a work load to keep me busy. It seemed every hour I was getting phone calls or e-mails from people from these groups asking for help, giving me help, giving me an assignment, or just annoying the hell out of me. Now, none of that. I get no more phone calls, e-mails, complaints from the front desk, none of that. It is amazing what a degree will do to your social life. There was someone who I started to like near the end of the Spring Semester. We even went out to dinner one time. However, after that she seemed to have just forgotten me. Once again, my bad luck with women lives on

Now for more pressing matters. Me getting a job. I re-wrote me resume yesterday, updating some parts of it and throwing out parts all together. I was able to get the resume down to a page finally. I also wrote a cover letter for Sean Bartley, campaign manager for Steve Buehrer's campaign. Hopefully I will get hired onto some position where I get paid to campaign around Northwest Ohio.

I just read a very good book called Freakonomics. The book uses economic tools and theory to help explain certain parts of society where politicians, teachers, and other professionals take fame for creating good things in society. I recommend everyone pick it up sometime and read it. You'll enjoy it. The book I am currently reading right now is John Stossel's book Give me a Break.

Until next time

Jordan

Sorry for not updating lately

Hey folks,

I know it has been a while and I am truly sorry for all 2 of you that read this. Anyways today was graduation at BGSU. I graduated with honors with a degree in political science. I have decided that Toledo Law School is in my future as I start in August. Recently the Ohio Primary Elections was held, being the nerd I am, I voted in the Republican ballot hoping to see a good guy become State Senator. Of course I am talking about Steve Beuhrer, and of course he won the election quite handily, 60% to 40%, against Jim Hoops. Hopefully I will be able to get hired onto Buehrer's campaign as some position as I was originally offered the campaign manager position back in December, but I turned it down due to a lot of other commitments I had at the time. I was an Resident Advisor, President of the BGSU Law Society, Vice Chair of the BGSU College Republicans, and I just wanted to have a social life. I don't want to sound pompous, maybe its too late, but that is what I really had on my plate when I was offered the position.

The reason why I would have voted for Buehrer, regardless if I worked on his campaign before, is that Buehrer is one of the best budget cutting officials in the state of Ohio. Last year AFSME of Ohio ran a cover story article on how Buehrer is dangerous for Ohio workers because he likes to privatize services and cut budgets. Hey, I hoped Buehrer took that attack as a badge of pride. Hopefully he will pull it out in November, which I believe he can.

One of the biggest controversies in Ohio politics today is what to do with Mike Dewine, the senator running for re-election in November. Many conservatives are upset at Mr. Dewine and for good reasons. However, the response that they have given Senator Dewine in the past few months I believe are worrisome for politics in Ohio. Hard line Republicans publicly denouncing Senator Dewine for some of the bills he has supported in the Senate Chamber. However, the reason why I voted for Senator Dewine in the primary is this, his opponent scares the hell out of me. Republicans must ask themselves who they want to represent them in the Senate. A well meaning moderate Republican or a staunch liberal? According to the National Journal political magazine Rep. Brown is one of the most liberal members of the House, more liberal than Dennis (the menace) Kucinich! Clearly conservatives must realize the dangers of electing this man.

Now many will state that electing Brown to the Senate would allow the GOP to get a great candidate in 6 years. That does seem reasonable until you factor in several factors. First off, this is most likely Dewine's last campaign. Dewine is 60 years old which will bring him to 66 in the next election. He is a grand father who likes to spend time with his family. Finally the GOP is sending him a strong message that they don't like him. Taking this into account, and the fact that many unpopular senators end up doing this, Dewine will never run again after this election. Therefore, we can still elect a Republican this year and still get a better candidate in 6 years!

Finally, we come to a blog I recently discovered on the internet. The Black Swamp Conservative blog is one of the most entertaining blogs to read. I especially loved the commentary on the primary between Hoops and Buehrer. I do disagree with a lot of the endorsements they made, however I do see their point and respect it. My biggest concern reading this blog and other conservative blogs is the split in the party right now concerning our President George W. Bush. I will admit I love his direction of foreign policy, stance on taxes, and judicial picks to the Supreme Court. My biggest pet peeve about Bush is his love to spend a lot of money. When President Bush passed the Medicare reform act of 2003, NCLBH, and numerous other social welfare programs did I see that maybe President Bush is not the conservative I had in mind. For me in 2008 Presidential Election, I believe only one man can unite the party and slap the Democrats a new one. This man right here.

Until next time

Jordan