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Rensselaer County Taxpayers Association  

July 1999                                                                                                                                     Volume 4, Number 4


Summer

Summer is the time we all look forward to. Vacation time means going places, doing things. A time to relax, may also be a time to reflect on where our Country is headed and what we as individuals may be able to do in using our influence, even in a small way for the betterment of all.

An Associated Press release in The Times Union in June announces, Louisiana's State legislature just passed a bill requiring students to address teachers and other school employees as "maam" or "sir" or use the appropriate title of Mr., Mrs., etc. This is the first such law in the Nation. This bill of course, leaves it up to the School Board to decide punishment. How effective it will be remains to be seen.

WE northerners always assumed that our Southern brethren by cultural instinct and family tradition were extremely courteous. It now comes as a shock or at least a revelation that laws must be passed to invoke what has been a natural inclination. If this catches on who knows, perhaps our impressionable politicians may introduce some version of this law in other states? "Please" and "thank you" may also be reintroduced into our language, even as remnants of a bygone age.

One can just imagine a law demanding pupils in PS 86 in Brooklyn obey a law compelling them to answer maam or sir when a serious inquiry is made by Police as to the possession of a weapon. What strikes us as preposterous is that a group of Southern lawmakers should find it necessary is revert to law, a modicum of common courtesy as previously practiced for generations.

This law should be about as effective as having our Columbia High School coming up with "character week."

Questar III Board of Cooperative Education (BOCES) and the East Greenbush Central School District are contractually intertwined. They interact educationally, and a former East Greenbush School Board member is or was a member of the Questar III Board. James Baldwin, a current member of the East Greenbush Board serves as an attorney for Questar III. Apparently his joint affiliation is legal; but does it represent the actions of an ethical person? This is up to the readers to decide.

Both East Greenbush and Rensselaer are considering applying for the COPS in School federal grant. This program promoted by the Department of Justice would put a uniformed police officer in the Rensselaer School and add another officer to the one full time and one part time officer already in the East Greenbush school system. These officers will be in place for six years and your federal tax money will pay their salary and benefits for three years after which your local town and/or school tax money will pay salaries and benefits the next three years.

The big question is are these officers in the School really necessary? Reading the pros and cons in the newspapers makes one think that no one really knows if it is a good idea. From the taxpayers viewpoint it is similar to an unfunded mandate. The federal government says this is your choice and we will support half of the program with federal tax money, the other half is up to the local government. But who is to say it will end after six years. It is much easier to stop a new program before it starts than to try and stop it after it is entrenched. A lot of careful thought should be applied to this program before another burden is added to the taxpayer.

A great deal is being said about public school reform these days. While we have done very little to reform funding, a great deal is being done about what is taught. It would be more appropriate to say we are returning to studies that have not been taught for some time. The standards we are expecting to see implemented by the SED are merely restored, not new. Teachers are going to have to realize that there is not enough time in a day to indoctrinate our children with "feel good, graduate and join the Peace Corps" curricula, and still meet these "new" standards. While many in the education establishment have been whining about how tough it will be for the kids, I believe it is themselves for whom they weep. Real teaching is difficult. It incorporates a lot of tough love, something, which has not been utilized by the Liberals in our society, unless it's been directed toward Conservatives. Most of our colleges and universities of education have not been providing new teachers with real world teaching skills, focusing rather on the ideologies of 'community and ecology.' While there is nothing wrong with community and ecological awareness, it should not be the locus of our existence.

As large numbers of students begin failing these 'new' exams, remember that the exams are only illustrating how inadequately prepared previous graduates were. If half of this year's graduates fail their exams after what has been described as a year of preparation, consider how uneducated last year's graduates were.

For many senior readers, "CCC' stood for the Civilian Conservation Corps which served the nation well during the economic depression of the 30's. RCTA has its own definition for CCC as it applies to public school education. It is CONTRACT, more CASH, and CONTROL the system. The teachers union has used CCC extremely well.

Three cheers for the Albany New Covenant school, which will be publicly funded; however, it is permitted to function free from the mandates that regulate public schools. To be known as the New Covenant School, the curriculum will stress basic skills such as reading, writing, and arithmetic.

The New York State United Teachers Union (NYSUT) opposed the charter school concept. Albany's School Superintendent, Lonnie Palmer, expressed concerns because the school districts would have to give up $6,700 per student (times 500 students) to fund the New Covenant School. The head of the Albany Teachers Union, Bill Ritchie, was concerned that the tax money would profit an out-of-state firm. The other "C" which applies to education appears to be of little concern -- the children.

Competition will be good for public school education. With less money to operate, public school boards and district superintendents can emulate private enterprise. Fewer students require increased productivity and maximum utilization of existing resources. During the 30's, the cuts had to be made and those who remained on the payrolls assumed more responsibilities. That's what the average middle class family with children must do when budgetary problems present themselves.

A curricular evaluation is long overdue. Do we need to continue to offer electives on any and all subjects? Let us stress the basics and take a history lesson: "What goes around, comes around."

You are an American! You are free to work at the occupation of your choice, free to embrace the Religious principles you choose, free to speak your mind when a controversy arises - and you used to be free to spend the money you earned for the things you wanted. The last freedom is being diminished at an alarming rate. Our government and our school systems demand more and more of your income to support programs that you may not wish to support. You have little control over this constant picking of your pocket. This of course is taxation without representation It is also loss of freedom! We learned in high school physics that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. (Action-tax increase; reaction-loss of freedom.)

Income tax, property tax, school tax, gasoline tax, sales tax, fees and other hidden taxes now take more than one-half of the average American's income. It will not take much more loss of our freedom to have a government that controls us completely. Taxpayer apathy must turn into fear and action before it is too late. Remember, that the land of the free and the home of the brave was fought for and won by citizens concerned that they were being over taxed. We had better start a new battle for lower taxes and a chance to regain our lost freedom.

Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, according to the June 10, 1999, editorial page of The Wall Street Journal recently won voter approval for a new city charter. With 60% of the voters in favor, the charter permits the Mayor the option of hiring and firing managers and demanding accountability from all departments. In addition, Riordan has a working majority on the school board, which favors needed educational reform. As stated, "After this election, the school board will no longer be dominated by the teachers union." The union too often holds the terms of its contract with the city far above the educational future of children. An incumbent board member voiced concerns because the curriculum in place is replete with social promotions which advances unprepared students into higher grades. Unqualified students in higher grade levels are unable to complete the required work. This impacts upon their self esteem.

Is it time for other school districts to examine the Loss Angeles model and institute change. RCTA sincerely hops so.

What is wrong with you? Why aren't you mad as hops about your tax burden? Do you like your income tax? Your state, town and county taxes? Your school tax? Your sales tax? Your gasoline tax? Etc. You are losing your freedom at an alarming rate as government takes a larger and larger portion of your income. This is supposed to be the Government of the people - it has become the thief of your livelihood. Government and politicians have become the enemy of law abiding American citizens. Do something! Join the RCTA and work with others to reverse the trend. Lets fight to make Government do its job in a responsible manner. We might regain some of the freedom we have lost. Become concerned about your government's actions. A stand for what is right is important to the well being of your Country and to YOU!

It wasn't until long after the Littleton terrorist attack that I heard that some of the bombs those students planted had actually exploded. Why wasn't this widely reported? Why do you suppose the dominant media outlets are focusing on the guns? Some members of Congress are politicizing this massacre, once again ducking responsibility, and showing us that there is no level to which they won't stoop, to advance their Orwelian socialist agenda [their never-ending quest to disarm their critics].

If the students who shot all those innocent people had no guns, would they have made bigger or more bombs? Would we be struggling to cope with the national grief of another Oklahoma City? Can you think of anyone else who has recently chosen bombs over diplomacy? Think Kosovo. If the dominant media weren't focusing on the guns, would people be asking themselves what influence the world's most powerful man might have had on the Littleton student terrorists? Once again we have to consider the role of character and integrity in our president and his responsibility as a role model.

In the Stockton massacre many years ago, the gunman who killed all those innocent people used an assault rifle, which subsequently became the main focus of a national campaign to ban that type of weapon. What the dominant media didn't do was inform the public that the gunman had a long history of felonious criminal activity. Because of the Liberal rehabilitation doctrine of plea bargaining however, he was never convicted of anything more than a misdemeanor. This is important because, while he broke many laws in perpetrating his crimes, he was still allowed to legally purchase guns. Felons can't own guns. Our government's failure to live up to its judicial responsibilities is being ignored. We're intentionally distracted toward the civil, patriotic gun owners who live by the law. They and their guns are not the problem.

The old adage: "When guns are outlawed, only criminals will own guns." Still holds true, but we may also have to add: "If criminals can't get guns, they will use bombs." Until we address the real issue of violence, we will never reduce the instances of it. Blaming the shootings on the guns is like blaming Karl Marx's pencil for socialism.

On June 1, 1999, four citizens from New York State filed a lawsuit in defense of the US Constitution and the proper war making powers of the federal government. The defendants are: The United States Executive Office of the President, William Jefferson Clinton, President; United States Department of Defense, William Cohen, Secretary; and The United States Congress, Trent Lott, President Pro Tempore of the Senate and Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Interested readers may wish to request a copy of a "Dear Colleague" letter dated May 13, 1999, which was sent out by the president of the East Greenbush Teachers Association, Benedict M. Schaefer. It's a sad commentary on the proper use of the English language being employed to guide, teach, and influence our upcoming generation of leaders in East Greenbush. FOR SHAME!

At a meeting at Melvin Roads American Legion Post on 6/15/99, a record number of citizens showed up to protest the taking of private property along Columbia Turnpike in E. Greenbush.
Clinton Heights Resident

Congratulations are in order for Bob Guynup, new Commander of the VFW Post 7338. Retiring Commander George Vooris deserves a "well done." Wayne Elliot as Quartermaster second time around, after serving as Commander also has done an exceptional job.
VFW member

While husband Bill is running around Europe making everyone happy, Hillary is running around NYS on the taxpayers' money drumming up a following for a run at a vacant Senate seat. She still manages time however, to take her knitting lessons from Mdme. DeFarge.
Averill Park Resident

Rosa Parks is finally recognized for taking a stand against government wrong doing. What a great lady.
East Greenbush Resident

The new pavement job on Columbia Turnpike at the foot of the hill leading into Rensselaer is great. No delays, no confusion and no taking of private property.
Rensselaer Resident

Welcome and "Bon appetite." Two new restaurants recently opened for business. Sadie's next to Fashion Care and My Place & Co. in Schodack, formerly Chuck's Brown Derby. Best of Luck.
Schodack Resident.


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