Good News, Bad News
First the good news…This news story in the Bellingham Herald today:
Secretary of State Sam Reed is predicting 83 percent voter turnout in November.
“If he's right, it would be the best showing for the general election in more than six decades. The statewide general election turnout average since 1936 is 78.85 percent. The previous record in modern times was 84.5 percent in 1944.”
The bad news is what most Americans don't want to hear, but Bob Herbert of the New York Times so clearly shines the spotlight on in his Op-Ed piece “Amusing, but not funny.” This quote from the article gives a good summation.
"A country that refuses to properly educate its young people or to maintain its physical plant is one that has clearly lost its way. Add in the myriad problems associated with unnecessary warfare and a clueless central government that wastes taxpayer dollars by the trillions, and you’ve got a society in danger of becoming completely unhinged."
This is not a feel good news story, but it is one we must look at with wide-open eyes. Herbert is not optimistic. He ends with:
"Surely this is a good issue for discussion and analysis in the presidential campaign. Let the candidates have at it in their final debate. Let the pundits weigh in. And why not interview a few teachers, principals and thoughtful citizens?
Don’t hold your breath. Neil Postman warned us years ago about amusing ourselves to death.
The end is near."
Something to think about as we prepare for the upcoming election… both state and national. I still like to think my vote is a way to have my voice heard.
... PLM
Secretary of State Sam Reed is predicting 83 percent voter turnout in November.
“If he's right, it would be the best showing for the general election in more than six decades. The statewide general election turnout average since 1936 is 78.85 percent. The previous record in modern times was 84.5 percent in 1944.”
The bad news is what most Americans don't want to hear, but Bob Herbert of the New York Times so clearly shines the spotlight on in his Op-Ed piece “Amusing, but not funny.” This quote from the article gives a good summation.
"A country that refuses to properly educate its young people or to maintain its physical plant is one that has clearly lost its way. Add in the myriad problems associated with unnecessary warfare and a clueless central government that wastes taxpayer dollars by the trillions, and you’ve got a society in danger of becoming completely unhinged."
This is not a feel good news story, but it is one we must look at with wide-open eyes. Herbert is not optimistic. He ends with:
"Surely this is a good issue for discussion and analysis in the presidential campaign. Let the candidates have at it in their final debate. Let the pundits weigh in. And why not interview a few teachers, principals and thoughtful citizens?
Don’t hold your breath. Neil Postman warned us years ago about amusing ourselves to death.
The end is near."
Something to think about as we prepare for the upcoming election… both state and national. I still like to think my vote is a way to have my voice heard.
... PLM
posted by Looking for Hope | 8:11 PM
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