King Politics

I love the media. Not really. The institution is a necessary evil in modern, expansive society. Take the latest job numbers. The actual job reports are the same, yet I have headlines from four separate, "well-respected" news organizations and the headlines give completely different reactions to the same news. To wit:

Wall Street Journal: Job Losses Moderate, but Unemployment Rate Hits 9.7%

Forbes: Bad News On Jobs: Despite the improving U.S. economy, the employment crisis grinds on

Washington Post: Unemployment Rises to 9.7 Percent; 216,000 Jobs Lost in August

New York Times: Unemployment Hits 9.7%, but Job Loss Slows in August

It's all the same news, but the Washington Post and Forbes are quite alarmist. The New York Times and Wall Street Journal at least provide context for the unemployment figures.

Just another example in how it pays to do what I do. Frequently visit multiple news sites to defend yourself against media bias.

Labels: Media, Unemployment

Opponents of public schools like to argue that throwing more money at public schools won't solve our education crisis. That we need to change the our schools operate in order to create real, lasting change. I couldn't agree more, kind of, about the second point.

However, new evidence from a survey of Washington DC area schools point out that nonreligious private schools spend about twice per pupil than public schools. Go here for a short version of the story and go here for a longer version of the story.

Yet, one of the fundamental debates in education reform is how much money should we spend on education. I think this information helps provide direction. To get the best education, really, requires a deeper investment in our children.

Labels: Education

In a ridiculously bald attempt at inflating ratings, The Today Show announced that George W. Bush's daughter, Jenna Bush Hager will become a part-time educational correspondent. She has journalistic experience, certainly not enough to qualify her for a job with a national gig like the Today Show. This is an affront to the thousands of unemployed radio-television-film majors out there.

Labels: George Bush

CNN writes that Maine Senator Olympia Snowe (R) is not afraid to buck her party. Really? How'd they figure that out? Is it the fact that she's been one of the most moderate Republicans in the Senate for years?

Analysis
Bucking the GOP on health care is nothing new for Senator Snowe. The real trick to understanding this (and CNN's limp political coverage won't help you) is understanding that Maine's voters are a very moderate bunch, not taken to ideological or partisan extremes. Because she's a northerner, she's not beholden to the social conservatism that strait-jackets Southern senators. In effect, Maine's secular ways give her much more political freedom than her southern counterparts. But, you wouldn't know this reading CNN.

Labels: Senate Republicans

Kind of. The federal government has actually turned a profit on much of the bailout money issued last fall to major Wall Street banks that were on the verge of collapsing. The profits total about $4 billion. However...

there remains the strong potential for substantial losses because bailout monies to AIG, Freddie and Fannie Mac and others remain on the balance sheet.

Still, it gives a boost to arguments made last fall that the government should intervene. A risky investment, but one that might pay off.

Labels: Bailout

As SAT scores drop, the gap between black students and other ethnic groups, notably whites and Asians, continues to widen. There are several theories for why this might be: cultural explanations, inadequate high school curricula, fewer teachers with backgrounds in the subject matter they teach, one-parent homes, incarcereated fathers, etch.

In truth, all of the above contribute to the gap. But, my experience as a college professor points to one overriding variable - the lack of reading. Too many African American students matriculate from high school with average to below average reading skills. Without an early interest in the written word, many black students fail to obtain adequate comphrehension skills. This, then, has a negative effect in every class whether it's biology, math, history or government. An inability to keep pace is the single biggest predictor of dropout rates and the SAT gap.

Educators have known this for quite some time, so why the lag in results? Two things. Inadequate resources in the middle school years and parental involvement. Local governments, in areas where the gap is most acute, should invest in after-school mentoring problems for kids in grades 5-9. This is when kids are most likely to fall behind. Additionally, parents, I believe, are often the real culprit in poor performance. Parents that don't push their children, parents that have low expectations and can't see their kids to a productive future, must share in the responsibility.

Labels: Education

King Politics supports the arts.

Looking for a film on African American political issues, civil rights, history, etc.?
You must check out California Newsreel's African American Perspectives featuring more than forty films on race in America.

Labels: Art

My favorite health care expert, Ezra Klein has three posts you should read.

On the legislative side, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) increasingly looks supportive of a public option plan. Partly, it's because of the realization that the private insurance market fails us. Opponents of a public option plan complain that the government will ration care, not realizing that is exactly what private insurers already do. This might explain why the GOP offers no credible alternatives to health care reform. The GOP is in the pockets of private insurers (that's why all they really want is tort reform).

Labels: GOP, Harry Reid, Health Care

Thinking of buying a hybrid or electric car? I know I am. Not right now though. Maybe in a year or so. I'd like to let the beta testing run its course; that way many of the kinks can be worked out. Either way, be sure to carefully study the MPG estimates; the truth is that it's actually pretty hard to get an accurate picture of fuel efficiency.

From the horses mouth, Rick Perry on why Texas is better for business and better for growth than California.

Perhaps Perry hasn't heard. The recession finally caught energy-rich states like...Texas.

Labels: Environment, Rick Perry, Texas

I'm an IPhone guy, but I know plenty of people who swear by their BlackBerrys. If you're thinking of switching from one to the other, you must read this review.

Besides a continuation in American monetary policy, there were political reasons Obama reappointed Ben Bernanke to continue as Fed boss.

The famous Little Mermaid statue, originally found in Denmark has a copy in Greenville, Michigan. It's not the only copy, but this one has pissed off the Danes. The debate is on licensing rights which is the argument du jour in art circles.

Labels: Art, Federal Reserve, Technology