Kids Speaking Up: An Open Letter to Congress

» Tammy on 02.19.09 @ 06:25 AM

Kudos Sophie!

» BizEconMajor on 02.19.09 @ 03:04 PM

Sorry Sophie, but as a Freshman you haven’t had economics yet and don’t seem to understand how tax cuts and a free market economy work. When the government decreases taxes to individuals and businesses, it frees up that money for them to purchase goods and services, make investments in business equipment, and facilitates the hiring of more workers, etc. With more successes in the business world and indvidual families, these entities make more money which actually generates more tax dollars with which to build your schools and roads, pay for police and fire, etc.
Unions tend to raise the costs of all institutions in which they are involved. They have done a great job to protect the American worker, but they also inflate the prices to the point where companies can no longer compete (look at Detroit and the American car biz!)

The $8-$13 a week your mom may receive in her pocket seems like a measley return for the debt you and your peers will be paying off for the rest of your lives.

I’m sorry that the greed and dishonesty of many on Wall Street,the banking institutions, and politicians will harm our citizens for decades to come.

» DP Parent on 02.20.09 @ 07:15 PM

I hate to be critical of a young woman who is willing to speak her mind (especially a DP student); however Ms. D’Arcy’s argument is littered with logical fallacies: false dilemmas (voting against the stimulus = not caring about the economy, not voting for the stimulus means you want the roads to disappear, schools to crumble etc); straw man (saying government is the problem when you work for the government is somehow contradictory), ad hominem (you just don’t care about America if you don’t want to borrow up to a trillion dollars when we are already drowning in debt); begging the question (wanting smaller government means you want no government).

A course in rhetoric and a bit more understanding of economic theory is in order here so Ms. D’Arcy can focus on addressing the issues rather than rely on ad-hominem attacks and misleading accusations.

By the way, I believe the stimulus is a good idea but as the other readers have already suggested - it’s a bit ironic that Ms. D’Arcy attacks republicans for voting as a party (couldn’t they simply be voting their principles?) when the democrats do the same thing. Can’t reasonable people disagree?

» Ross M. on 02.21.09 @ 07:02 AM

Miss D’Arcy, you won’t find everyone agreeing with your opinion.  I certainly don’t.  But I applaud your courage to write a letter for publication.  However, I agree with the caution against over-simplifying the problems we have and equating disagreement with obstructionism.  Members of Congress are elected to represent the people, but do you actually believe that all 300 million people in the United States are like-minded in wanting this trillion dollar anchor?  If not, then why would every member of Congress?  It doesn’t mean they want people to suffer, they just disagree on how to keep it from happening.  And the notion that in any other job someone might get fired for this?  Well, if our government were an independent business, it would have gone belly up a long time ago.  Unless it had the likes of our government to bail it out.

» Not surprised on 02.22.09 @ 04:43 AM

Unfortunately, the Democrats’ understanding of how the world works remains at a 9th grade level.

» A Lesson Plan on 02.22.09 @ 12:52 PM

History Lesson: The Constitution is an Illegal Document.

PURPOSE: This lesson plan is to be used as an emergency lesson for substitutes or days when all standards have already been covered. Professional Learning Communities will actually abide by such standards – hoping can actually happen. In days to supplement learning, not frustrating students, use this lesson as an exercise.

INTRODUCTION (10 MINUTES): What the Republicans Learned?

Republicans already learned lessons in the importance of Government all too well for any claim to be Republican – “…a House divided cannot stand.” The first candidate of the Republican Party was none other than Abraham Lincoln, considered by most scholars the best example of a President our Nation has ever come to know.

Honest Abe was elected into office in March 4, 1861 and before his swearing an oath of office, South Carolina immediately proclaimed seceding from The Union – drove our nation deep into Civil War. None ever withstood the sacrifices Lincoln made in believing in our Federal Government to which why most Republicans now consider themselves the Grand Old Party (GOP) – that rhetoric echoes the sacrifice Lincoln himself believed keeping our Government intact.

To fire any President, Congress has to call out for an impeachment, which the GOP controlled Congress initiated during the Clinton Administration. Without much luck and legal bills amounting to what is now called waste, a majority of the Congress in session still needs two-thirds (66 or more) of the Senate after a trial to fire the President – presided over by Mister Chief Justice John Roberts, another Republican appointed by yet another Republican President.

Speaking as a Teacher (most are typically Democrats including this author), Republicans did not believe the stimulus to fix the economy because capital has to be barrowed. To come up with that amount of “bailout” as to stimulate any economy, Trillions of dollars are actually barrowed from ourselves, which we will have to pay in the future. Thus, our Treasury created more money in terms of a check backed by our own currency given to Wall Street and other American symbols of commerce as to give a sense of power for the people to stop worrying – Detroit Auto Manufacturers Club; Ford, GM, and Chrysler.

All we can hope for is a better process where everyone including the members of an elite group of Americans can better govern no matter where they happen to be positioned. We can no longer lose any more Capital from where we are now left to barrow. Instead of worrying, know our mistakes and start doing something now.

THROUGH THE LESSON (25 – 30 MINUTES): Our Cents of Law and Government.

OBJECTIVE: Our Government is to be discussed so tell the class to copy some important notes. Example of topics copied to facilitate discussion:

Strong v. Weak Government
Federal v. Republic Governments
Confederated States v. State Rights

Copy the main ideas of the discussion on the board as the class discusses the topic. The student writing as well as voicing opinions is a pneumonic device enhancing better cognitive understanding.

Key points to know for effective class discussion:

1. Begin class discussions by saying I do not know, but say otherwise.
2. Encourage the class to ask questions allowing if solutions offered.
3. Write main ideas on the board, but offer a contradiction for perspectives.
4. Facilitate the debate (Have a blast…!) by keeping a stance to open mind. 
5. Control the flow of the debate by maintaining focus – laughing is okayed.
6. Do not get too excited and maintain composure but you may be at a lost.
7. Say something loud (even if shouting) so the class knows the reasons.

Do not allow absurdity to dictate the basis of the class discussion, but in all fairness be humble and in understanding. All reasons come to a conclusion – say what others have concluded in a simpler way for everyone to know. Assign some homework where the answers are in the questions themselves. The practice is better to organize a chaotic incoherence, which may also pertain to current events.

BEYOND (15 MINUTES): The Assignment is Better Understanding.

WHAT IS TO BE SHOWN: Students will start to focus on organization skills by writing an essay about our Government – the exercise is to organize incoherence helping as a solution to fix our economy in the future.

The law is utilized to organize citizens so as to better society. Chaos leads to confusion and offers claim where little solutions are sought if possible. As to chaos, clamping theorems for phi and theta are covered in mathematics that other subjects are needed to be pointed out to create an inter disciplinary understanding.

Since our Capital is important as to compete economically abroad, it is important not to waste what other Generations of Americans have left for us in securing their ideas in Blessings of Liberties. We should all learn not to take for granted the abundance and wealth of our own Nation but emphasize learning to focus what is important since that insures we will have such liberties as to be all our pride – by our sense of will forever continues.

During times of economic instability, we all have to learn how to sacrifice because by doing such deeds will return glories tomorrow. History allows us to know morals and obligations as what is to be indeed expected. Our Public Education is not to be taken for granted in dismissed being treated as a privilege. Because in knowing rather that the Privileged were the only ones allowed to have Schools in the past, our dedication now is to emphasize our own learning so that we are better minded as to dictate any policy the world may come to envision.

More of our economy takes a toll from people having no faith and believing America will only allow what others in the world can or will ever disrespect us by. Pessimism may be good to question when times are correct, but in our most tumultuous time, we are to stress in concentrating focus where we can all leave an American legacy better to dictate not only policy but also our own economy.

For the assignment, copy the following on the board or better yet, “xerox” copies for this assignment. The goal is pointing towards accountability.

THE CONSTITUTION IS AN ILLEGAL DOCUMENT: BUT WHY?

For the assignment in a typical five-paragraph essay [1 intro, 3 body, 1 concluding paragraph = 5 paragraphs] give THREE points that supports ONE main argument why our law, The Constitution is illegal.

Starting at the introductory paragraph, describe the main argument and briefly outline the three reasons why.

For each reason given, the topic sentence of each paragraph in the 3 bodied paragraphs will detail reasons explaining “THE” reasons “WHY” The Constitution is an illegal document.

Explanations maybe sounded absurd – even nonsensical – but coherence is important. Having no less than 200 words knowing each paragraph is at least three sentences, start to explain why.

- - Here are some clues to help conduct everyone’s beleaguered arguments.

WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE?

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay – The Federalist.

WHAT DID HAPPEN?

After fighting the Revolutionary War, the newly formed American Government found itself deep in inflation. The original Law of the United States was called The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union but is based on a loose type of government. The Federal Government had little power to dictate laws in keeping everyone united.

WHEN DID IT HAPPEN?

Eleven years after the Declaration of Independence, on September 17, 1787, representatives of The Union of Thirteen States decided the Nation needed a stronger government.

WHERE DID IT HAPPEN?

In Philadelphia, the Constitution was adopted in secrecy and each State of The Union ratified the Constitution by their own Constitutional Convention – properly called for in the name of “The People” – the last to ratify being Rhode Island on May 29, 1790.

HOW DID IT HAPPEN?

England, hoping the thirteen colonies would come to their senses and pledge allegiances, created a pseudo embargo out of American goods. Other trading nations were hesitant to buy American goods while imported goods from abroad became very expensive to purchase.

Different currencies in each State and Banks issuing their own notes, the loosely federated Government held on the Spanish Peseta to back its own Capital for trade. Ever wonder where the $ sign came from? As a stated form of Peso, the American Government at the time thought the British and the French were too volatile to secure relations because of global competition for expansion.

Hamilton still believed a stronger relation with Britain would be favorable while Jefferson was leaning towards the French in Napoleon championing Liberty against Absolutism. To secure the sovereignty of the people, The United States needed to form a more centralized government that allowed levying for taxes – surprisingly enough, the very reasons why we separated from England for Independence to begin with. The purpose was to provide for a “common defence” – many have declared a supposed misspelling – in all actuality purposefully refers to a picket fence protecting our Household for the future.

Taxes were needed hoping any ensuing Generations would come to understand and appreciate. Fighting in foreign lands can only proclaim our Capital lost where as to the defense of any freedoms enjoyed, liberties has to start at home.

WHY DID IT HAPPEN?

I am hoping all students will illustrate the reasons, but if not already stated, may also show the example – SACRIFICE paid today allows Freedom and Liberties for any cents in our taxation. So today, start writing out our own explanations…!

POST SCRIPT: This teacher can only conclude that The Constitution is the grandest experiment in any social contract known by man; by written Amendments changes our own perceptions of law and society. Any thinking allowed in the writings are entrenched in our form of The Constitution – even if the act was in secrecy to ratify illegality.

The idea of Entrenchments is called a written process; all but a few know as to why we are all allowed to redress our complaints without penalty – formally the Bill of Rights with the system of Checks and Balance. Knowing when and how can only be shown to where each one of us are all by type a living Constitution – no matter how another describes that to be legally.

NOTE: Before beginning the lesson, please consider the concept of The Constitution is mostly the ideas of Alexander Hamilton, a New York Banker, although written entirely by James Madison, an Agrarian Capitalist; almost like Archer Daniels Midlands and similar to Starbucks if growing their own Arabica Beans – Super Coffee Shop to the World.

Hamilton could have never been our President because he was not naturally born in this country. He was a scholar who at the age of ten made a detailed journal about hurricanes in his native island of Nives – in the British West Indies. So in admiration, the people collected money to send him to America in order to have a proper education. 

Education is The Law – qed.

VERY ACCOUNTABLE REMARK SHOWING ANOTHER TYPE OF PROCESS OUR SCHOOLS MAY SHOW SOME FOCUS; A LESSON PLAN UTILIZING “BELL TO BELL” INSTRUCTION – NOW THERE’S A SOUND THAT RINGS 55 MINUTE PERIODS FOR ANY SENSE IN LIBERTY.

ANY NONSENSICAL YOUNGER – AGAIN, WAY TO GO D’ARCY…!

» Angry Republican on 03.24.09 @ 01:33 PM

Sophie, Sophie, Sophie…You clearly are too liberal for your own good.

Hopefully you realize that this Stimulus was around a thousand pages long, so obviously most Democrats in Congress didn’t even read the whole package, especially since the Stimulus was passed too quickly. Democrats and Republians should have proofread the package to check for errors, especially since the Stimulus comes with a heavy price-tag of $700+ billion dollars.

Instead, Nanci Pelosi and many Congress Democrats flew off to Italy the weekend before the Stimulus was passed instead of spending their time proof-reading it.

And I’m not sure if you’re aware of this, but the country is in trillions of dollars of debt, something that Obama clearly isn’t interested in fixing.

The Republicans voted against this bill mostly because the Stimulus was too expensive. And considering the fact that the last bailout didn’t work; well, hopefully you see the reason for our side.

So next time you write a hate letter about Republicans, be more open minded and consider their side. Anyway, the Stimulus passed, so I would not be complaining if I were you.

Wow, Kids Speaking Up—this seems like a very liberal organization. I’m glad my kids are fair, tolerant, kind, and not haters like YOU!