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In the 4th grade I was involved with a variety of family activities  - only some of these met the excused absence criteria.  I continued to work on packet materials sent hom by my teachers and, at the end of the semester, ended up with straight A's with over 40 days being absent.  I was informed that school district policy at my school dictated I flunk for the entire sememster.  Several meetings were required to overturn this decision and I lost respect for my teachers and school administrators..  this was my first encounter with beauracratic idiocy - How is this policy going to affect the students that are conintuing to perform well? ..or continue to advance in their skills?  Will they be exempt?  Or are you too going to penalize students of families that experience life challenges as mine did?

posted 3 years, 3 months ago
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In the 4th grade I was involved with a variety of tumultuous family activities  - only some of these met the excused absence criteria.  I continued to work on packet materials sent home by my teachers and, at the end of the semester, ended up with straight A's with over 40 days being absent.  I was informed that school district policy at my school dictated I flunk for the entire sememster.  Several meetings were required to overturn this decision and in this process I lost respect for my teachers and school administrators..  this was my first encounter with beauracratic idiocy - How is this policy going to affect the students that are conintuing to perform well? ..or continue to advance in their skills?  Will they be exempt?  Or are you too going to penalize students of families that experience life challenges as mine did?

posted 3 years, 3 months ago
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Well, McCain is the only one of the Republican candidates who could capture my vote. I admire the man personally as a veteran and what he has accomplished. I think he's taken his licks, publicly, for his mistakes and found a way to keep on going. I want to believe that he would continue to 'buck the trend' once in office and I believe that if a well-reasoned argument was presented to him he would be willing to re-evaluate his previous position on it, even if it was politically embarrassing to do so. I think he would seek out the opinions of the brightest and best to inform himself on issues and not just stick to 'approved mouthpieces' (mhmmm! I love the smell of a meritocracy in the morning!). These ARE things I could get behind and support him for. I have a sense that if I, personally, made enough noise and was willing to wait outside of enough offices, that I could be HEARD by McCain as a president. (And that if my remarks were well-researched, heartfelt, and clearly stated - that they might just inspire him to consider my point of view.) I wonder, a bit, if he isn't just too old, tired, or established to be able to continue to do these things - hence my remarks about a vital, centrist, running mate.

Kucinich is just awesome. I don't know that more words are needed. :)

posted 5 years ago
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I was bumped from one of the on-air calls this morning (and I enjoyed the comments of the callers who were in place of me!) but I think that one of my main points was left unsaid:

The VP pick is determining my vote!

I do not believe this is a 'first name on the ticket' race. Who is running in the VP slot will likely help me make my choice for me. I donated to the Kucinich and Clinton campaigns this primary season and in ranking of presidential candidates I have maintained:

1. Clinton
2. McCain
3. Obama

If Obama chooses Clinton as a running mate I will likely vote for him. If McCain chooses a young, moderate, centrist individual for his running mate - I will likely vote for McCain. If McCain chooses a reactionary, conservative running mate to appease that portion of the Republican party - I will be sorely tempted, for the first time ever, to refrain from casting my vote at all.

Obama on his own is not a 'win' for me and my interests. McCain, with the weight of reactionary right-wing politicos, is not a 'win' for me. I don't think I am alone in looking for someone who can speak to my interests and finding both of these candidates lacking.

posted 5 years ago
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