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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Terrifying Texas GOP Platform
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I named this blog Pragmatic Economics in part because of my desire to avoid politics. Thats why my tag line is, I want to explain how things work, not what you should believe. However, I am so distressed by the 2012 platform released by the Texas Republican Party that I find it impossible not to comment. While I am hardly in agreement with everything forwarded by the Democrats (and have taken aim at President Obama on a number of occasions, especially with respect to his desire to balance the federal budget), it is difficult to believe that what the Republicans put together during their convention in Fort Worth was even written in the 21st century. It is anything but pragmatic.
The document (available here) has already made headlines with the portion that opposes the teaching of Higher Order Thinking Skills and critical thinking skills. Although a partial retraction followed, this was in terms of the wording, not the general meaning. It appears that their fear is that these focus on behavior modification and have the purpose of challenging the students fixed beliefs and undermining parental authority. Think about that for a moment. First off, do they really and truly believe that teachers and school boards across the State of Texas are designing curricula specifically aimed at training children to challenge their parents? Second, do you know which values and concepts are rejected in the absence of higher order and critical thinking? None! Therefore, depending on the time and place when we decide to stop challenging ideas and meekly accept what we are told, we might thereafter and forever be racists, sexists, communists, fascists, democrats, capitalists, Christians, Buddhists, Lutherans, geocentrists, pacifists, Wiccans, or whatever the prevailing views of that day were. Nothing would ever again be questioned. Were we to implement such a policy, wed have to be certain that we had already identified the concepts and values that were correct (whatever that really means). Even a cursory reading of their platform makes it very clear that this is precisely what Texas Republicans believe and what those concepts and values are. This begs the question, who is really aiming to force their beliefs on our children, Texas schools or Texas Republicans? Personally, I prefer what I learned during my twelve years of Catholic school and eight years of public higher education: if a belief cannot stand up to scrutiny, then we shouldnt believe it; and if it does, we will hold it all the more strongly for the very reason that it withstood our challenge.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/johntharvey/2012/07/01/texas-gop-platform/?utm_campaign=20120701&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=topic-investing&partner=obinv
malthaussen
(17,219 posts)Liberals have been accusing the GOP of holding these ideas for years. But rarely, if ever before, has it been spelled out in black-and-white. Education is bad if it makes people think. That's why we need to focus on the STEM subjects instead, doncha know?
-- Mal
Wounded Bear
(58,758 posts)Isn't that what Adam and Eve did in their favorite book?
malthaussen
(17,219 posts)A&E challenging their parent is what drove us out of Paradise, doncha know? Ergo it follows that it is bad to challenge one's parents.
My late brother, who was a RW wingnut, once told me it was "All Eve's fault." For eating the apple, that is. That would explain the hatred of women displayed by today's wingnuts.
Me, I've always said that Eve was better than Adam: it took Satan himself to deceive her, whereas Adam only needed Eve's persuasion.
-- Mal
Ilsa
(61,709 posts)personal responsibility by a wingnut.
pampango
(24,692 posts)"Minimum Wage We believe the Minimum Wage Law should be repealed.
Federal Reserve System We believe Congress should repeal the Federal Reserve Act of 1913. In the interim, we call for a complete audit of the Federal Reserve System and an immediate report to the American people.
Sound Money Our founding fathers warned us of the dangers of allowing central bankers to control our currency because inflation equals taxation without representation. We support the return to the time tested precious metal standard for the U.S. dollar.
Sarbanes Oxley We support the repeal of Sarbanes Oxley legislation.
Dodd Frank We support the immediate repeal of Dodd Frank legislation.
Community Reinvestment Act We support the repeal of the Community Reinvestment Act.
Protection from Extreme Environmentalists We strongly oppose all efforts of the extreme environmental groups that stymie legitimate business interests. We strongly oppose those efforts that attempt to use the environmental causes to purposefully disrupt and stop those interests within the oil and gas industry. We strongly support the immediate repeal of the Endangered Species Act.
National Sovereignty We insist that the President and Congress defend our national sovereignty in accordance with their oaths of office. Therefore we believe the United States government must remain free of external control or influence, including, but not limited to, a North American Union and a security and prosperity partnership.
United Nations We support the withdrawal of the United States from the United Nations and the removal of U.N. headquarters from U.S. soil.
Law of the Sea Adopted by the UN in 1982, we still oppose the Law of the Sea Treaty.
UN Treaty on the Rights of the Child ― We unequivocally oppose the United States Senates ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
United Nations Agenda 21 -The Republican Party of Texas should expose all United Nations Agenda 21 treaty policies and its supporting organizations, agreements and contracts. We oppose implementation of the UN Agenda 21 Program which was adopted at the Earth Summit Conference in 1992 purporting to promote a comprehensive program of sustainable development projects, nationally, regionally and locally.
Cap and Trade We oppose Cap and Trade (Cap and Tax).
International Organizations We support U.S. withdrawal from the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization and the World Bank.
Bernardo de La Paz
(49,060 posts)Republicans want Protectionism for ideas that fail in the marketplace. Their ideas, and much of what they believe in on faith, won't hold up to scrutiny in the marketplace of ideas. Thus they want to stifle competition!
Ask a Republican if Islam should be subjected to critical thinking or if children raised as Muslims should be Muslims for life. Suddenly you'll get a different answer!
malthaussen
(17,219 posts)Be very careful when you go out on walkabout in Lima.
-- Mal
Bernardo de La Paz
(49,060 posts)N. Carolina lawmakers reject sea level rise predictions
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=158530
Bernardo de La Paz
(49,060 posts)Texas GOP platform writer probes nether regions of anatomy:
"Ooh ... it's kindah dark in hyere! ... But it's comfy! I think I'll keep my head up here."
RommelDAK
(21 posts)...many thanks for reading! We had a July 4th party and I had the platform laying out. Even conservative friends could not believe some of the stuff that was in there.
stlsaxman
(9,236 posts)and welcome to DU!
tanyev
(42,646 posts)Welcome to DU!
Swede
(33,302 posts)And welcome aboard the DU.