TEXAS STANDARDIZED TESTING CONTINUES TO PROVE ITS WORTH(LESS)

Nearly $300,000,000, four years, and lackluster results bring up many fundamental questions, about the tremendous cost and the impact on children as well as teachers. While the impact on children is impossible measure or put a dollar value on.

These statistics reinforce the need for a fundamental disruption in government education. One that leads us back to simply teaching our kids and ending standardized tests. Too much time is removed from the actual education of our children. Even an improvement would merely negate lost time from actual education. Simply put, these tests prove nothing that we don't already know about our children. In fact all they do is provide a third-party with our children's personal information. They are now treated as a commodity by the school system, our elected officials, and the testing companies.

While these tests prove their useless worth, the focus should be teaching to a child's strengths and smaller classrooms. While eliminating the focus on so much of this testing. In return we commit to improving the quality of the education our children receive. In Texas alone, school districts would see roughly $80,000,000 a year back in their coffers. These taxpayer dollars would go a long way in many cash-strapped school districts, and would assuredly be well received. Especially considering the terrible worldwide ranking in education we constantly receive.

These tests simply show us what we already know, and serve no purpose. We have always been able to understand the classes where our children have struggled. Is that not why we have Report Cards, Progress Reports, Parent/Teacher conferences and decades worth testing already in place? It seems that more accurate and better overall information could be derived from the existing testing system. On a more localized and personal level. If you want to improve the quality of our education system, this is where it will happen.

Texas has spent hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts to Pearson, a company that boasts many promises. Yet Pearson's results have come under much scrutiny lately, due to the massive growth of the opt-out movement nationwide. This movement has brought much of this unwanted attention to testing companies, mainly focused on their inability to produce any desirable results.

The Impact On Children

The 2015 Texas STAAR results, and those from other states are what reinforces the current movement. Along with the commonality in the issues that parents have from every state. Nearly all parents nationwide will have questions similar to the following, in search of one thing. The truth.

• Is the cost and intrusion from third-party testing companies necessary?

• These companies provide negligible results with such a huge cost?

• What about all the lost time regarding fundamental education?

• Is this what our children endured so much stress and insecurity for?

The 2015 STAAR results in Texas show virtually no improvement over the last 4 years. Despite being touted by Pearson as a program that will improve grades. This has now proven to be the proverbial Snake-Oil, sold to us by our misinformed, power hungry, elected officials. These same elected officials have denied subjecting themselves to such ridiculous testing on several occasions. Do they think they are smarter than a fifth-grader? Apparently not...

Here’s are some base results for the last four years of STAAR in Texas:

Source: Texas Education Agency
Writing4th grade - down 1%
7th grade - up 1%

Reading
3rd grade - up 1%
4th grade - down 3%
5th grade - up 1%
6th grade - up 1%
7th grade - down 1%
8th grade - down2%

Science
5th grade - down 1%
8th grade - no change

Social Studies
8th grade -  up 5%

(Note: Math tests are not included as Texas standards and tests changed last year, for this year’s results to be compared.)

These statistics show that we are not only getting nothing in return for such a huge amount of taxpayer dollars. But our children are constantly being subjected to some felonious act, that is only destroying their individual self-worth. That is the real crime in all of this. Our children are being sold short of a quality education.

THE COST

Common knowledge would suggest that grades cannot improve while implementing such roadblocks that handicap teachers, and the learning process in general. All the while it is destroying creativity and limiting the ability to acquire the social-skills. The cost in dollars is one thing, but the damage to our children is invaluable. How much would you charge for your children were to be used as guinea-pigs in some weird socially dysfunctional experiment? If you can put a price on it, shame on you. However, you already have subjected them to a such an experiment... For free and at tremendous cost.

If you consider the costs of these tests (about $300,000,000 over 4 years), while showing us the results that have long been predicted. They show an absolute failure by Elected Officials to scrutinize such a program, particularly due of the huge cost to both taxpayers and parents as well. Instead they accept political contributions, and implement legislation on untested processes that directly affect our children based on strong lobbying by companies like Pearson. The damage to children comes with possible permanence, and an irreparable sub-par education that can not be undone. For so many to stand so high and mighty on this issue, they look foolish when refusing to take the tests themselves. However, many politicians have made a career out of looking foolish.

The state of Texas has recently awarded contracts for the next four years of testing. Conveniently they did so prior to these results coming out. As they assuredly know, that there will be massive protest over the issue. There has already been much backlash nationwide, and this will certainly reinforce it in Texas. You can draw obvious conclusions from the dubious action by your elected officials. Or you can give them a call or shoot them an email at their respective offices, and ask them yourself.

This new four-year agreement comes at nearly the same cost as the last four-years. With a slight bump to nearly $340,000,000. (Source: Texas Education Agency).

If that's not wasteful spending, I don't know what is...

THE CONTINUED BATTLE

Motivation Molly Says: Learn Corporate Slogans

As someone who has been in this fight since the very beginning about three years ago. I can assure you that neither I, nor any of the other parents nationally will lay down. When this all started, my family was the victim of some of the nastiest deception by school administrators. The same administrators empowered by the TEA, to deny us our constitutional right to have a say or take part in our children's education. They even threw in one of the most common deceptions used nationwide. Telling us that they would be denied Federal Funds if our children did not participate. Yet this has proven to be nothing more than scare tactic.

What ensued after that was a six-month court battle, that started with truancy accusations, and being told by the judge that I am not qualified to make decisions on my children's education. From there many issues were brought up including the constitutionality of opting out, along with the evidence of records manipulation. As one of my children was being counted absent for merely not participating in any STAAR related activities, while still attending school. Their records stated 24 absences in a three-month period, however I had school records of him being present all of those days. The records they provided in court showed absences during lunch period. This was done to trigger the truancy office to intervene, and they did so with a court summons.

We won our case, without legal counsel. We cited Supreme Court ruling both on the State and Federal level, along with exact wording from the Constitution of these United States. The ever so intelligent judge had to seek counsel from several other courts. In the end she wasn't even present on our final court date, to which the prosecution dismissed our case and a new precedent was set. We then made it public knowledge. And we started publicly sharing the proper letters with thousands of others. So that they could customize the documentation to suit their respective districts, thus allowing them the ability to exercise their rights. Avoiding the subjecting og their children to such immoral and useless testing.

Parents have become disenfranchised over these decisions to implement so much testing nationally. I no longer call them "public schools" as that implies the public has some form of control or say. Due to the fact that these politicians have implemented such ridiculous testing, without consulting the public at large is why they are now "government schools" to me and many others. Upon seeing the context of some of these tests, I will say they are dangerously close to becoming commercialized indoctrination centers.

I'm not trying to go too far on this. I believe "government schools" is certainly the proper term. Many see it as nothing short of government indoctrination centers. However the majority of us do not. We see this as a problem that can be fixed. And by making our voices heard in Texas and nationwide, politicians are starting to take notice. We are seeing a sea of change coming from the highest ranking members from the State level all the way to Washington.

They are most certainly back-peddling. Running to fix what they have broken, to appease the American people.

A very big congratulations is due to all the parents, students, and teachers who have put up such a fight. Many at great risk. To accomplish what we all agree is morally wrong, handicaps teachers, and destroys real education. Now let's give the money back to the schools, and use it where it is needed the most. On the front lines, supporting our teachers so that they may provide the quality education that they are so capable of.

The fight must go on, and it most certainly will, until we bring back the fundamentals of a proper education.



(More to come as this is an ever developing issue, as the voice of the people get louder)

THE POLITICAL TRUTH BEHIND THE JOSH DUGGAR COVER-UP

There are many new questions regarding these accusations. Many politicians have adopted the Duggars skewed view against the LGBT community. Particularly, Josh and his mother Michelle, having influenced recent intolerant legislation.

Molestation accusations against Josh Duggar are being reported worldwide. Currently this is widely cited as the main reason for the decision to take "19 Kids and Counting" off the air. The effort of the LGBT community will be widely overlooked in this regard. That this community of people have been defending themselves, not just from this family. But defending themselves against the political power of the Christian Extremists lobbying groups. The LGBT community and it's supporters have actively been fighting for the shows removal for quite some time now. Based on the Duggars being a huge source of intolerance. An absolute and total disregard for the civil liberties that are afforded as the rights of every American.

The scary part is when you consider just how many politicians have adopted the same thinking as the Duggars and many of the hate groups aligned with them. Here are just a few that include John Boehner and Eric Cantor.

U.S. Representatives: Mike Pence (R-IN), Michele Bachmann (R-MN), John Carter (R-TX), John Fleming (R-LA), Trent Franks (R-AZ), Louie Gohmert (R-TX), Gregg Harper (R-MS), Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), Jim Jordan (R-OH), Steve King (R-IA), Don Manzullo (R-IL), Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Joe Pitts (R-PA), Peter Roskam (R-LA), Lamar Smith (R-TX), Steve Scalise (R-LA), Fred Upton (R-MI)

U.S. Senators: Jim DeMint (R-SC), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), David Vitter (R-LA), Roger Wicker (R-MS)

Governors:

Governor Sam Brownback, Governor Bobby Jindal, Governor Mike Huckabee, Governor Tim Pawlenty, Senator Rick Santorum

However irrelevant it may seem, it is painfully obvious that in fact those responsible at TLC are proving to the world that even they got it wrong. Questioning the belief that they were promoting good parenting, while celebrating the strength of this hypocritical family. In reality, this was a tipping point for TLC. Who has increasingly become the center of controversy surrounding the Duggars. We all saw something was wrong within this family. When this all came about there seemed to be a collective voice saying, “I always knew something wasn’t right about them”. That’s because for those that didn’t notice, it was the subconscious trying to tell the truth. They are no different than the Branch Davidians or The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Warren Jeffs), in principle. In fact Jim Bob immediately made me think of Warren Jeffs in particular, granted on a smaller scale. But what if none of this came about?

From June 2013 to May 2015, Josh Duggar was appointed as the Executive Director of FRC Action, the political lobbying arm of the Family Research Council. Josh Duggar has described his extended family as the "epitome of conservative values”. However, The Family Research Council, which he recently resigned from, has been labeled as an anti-gay hate group, by the Southern Poverty Law Center, due to their publications of "anti-gay propaganda”. Josh Duggar was described as "a full-fledged anti-gay activist" by GLAAD. The Duggars beliefs, as well as those of their community of the disillusioned are very clear. Especially through the activities of Josh and his mother Michelle Duggar. This system of belief is the result of membership in such a secluded group of people. Merely surviving, while completely closed off from society and reality.

THE SEXUAL MOLESTATION HYPOCRISY

Now that we know the victims will never see any retribution and may never find closure. The biggest and most important question will now be this (and it should be). What about all of the legislation? The legislation that Josh and Michelle Duggar played a role in. As a large part of the Family Resource Center’s movement. A group with a well known reputation of intolerance and deception, in the name of passing laws to oppress and persecute a single group. To force their immoral, unconstitutional beliefs on the rest of us, which by all accounts is nothing short of hate and “cult-like” behavior. While Josh has been rubbing elbows with many conservative politicians. Michelle Duggar lent her voice to robo-calls against Fayetteville’s proposed anti-discrimination ordinance. And let us not forget that Jim Bob Duggar served in the state legislature as a representative from 1999-2002.

In May of 2002, just two months after initially finding out what Josh had done the first time. Jim Bob lost the state's Republican Primary to Senator Tim Hutchinson, (R-Arkansas). This was an obvious motive and a more than apparent reason to cover this up. No one seems to understand why they waited so long, well now you know. Meanwhile Josh gets “sent away” for three or four months, which conveniently was just enough time until the elections were through. And in a years time, commits the same act four more times. In fact, many in the Duggars secret community have been charged with sexual assault crimes. From the State Trooper who they claim to have filed a report with, to Bill Gothard founder of the Institute in Basic Life Principles and the chain of Christian treatment centers to which Josh Duggar’s parents sent him after he was caught molesting young girls.

The Institute in Basic Life Principles, was largely funded by Hobby-Lobby founder David Green and his family. Who are committed donors to evangelical Christian causes. Gothard, an advocate for homeschooling, conservative dress, against rock music, and debt, had resigned from the ministry he founded. Amid allegations of sexually harassing over 30 women who worked at his ministry, and failing to report child abuse cases (such as Josh Duggar's case). The women alleged they were sexually harassed, including one woman who alleged that Gothard molested her when she was 17. The hypocrisy is becoming more relevant by the minute. Honestly, if I continue researching I may never finish this article.

In 2010, the Family Research Council's Senior Researcher for Policy Studies, Peter Sprigg stated on NBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews, that gay behavior must be made illegal and that "criminal sanctions against homosexual behavior" should be enforced. Then in May of that same year, Peter Sprigg stated that repealing “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” policy would encourage molestation of heterosexual servicemembers. While In November of 2010, Tony Perkins was questioned about Peter Sprigg's comments regarding criminalizing same-sex behavior: he responded that “criminalizing homosexuality is not a goal of the Family Research Council.”

Tony Perkins continued with rhetoric, about the Family Research Council's association of homosexuals with pedophilia saying, "If you look at the American College of Pediatricians, they say the research is overwhelming, that homosexuality poses a danger to children.” In case you were wondering, the American College of Pediatricians is a small group of doctors who broke away from the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2002, because the latter group supported LGBT parental rights.The American College of Pediatricians currently stands at about 200 or so members, as compared to the more than 60,000 members of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Tony Perkins opinions are widely disputed by social science research on same-sex parenting, as well as the likelihood of child molestation by homosexuals and bisexuals. Which was found to be no higher than child molestation by heterosexuals. However, scientists note that the American College of Pediatricians have stated that the organization has, “distorted or misrepresented their work, or both.” These statements made are voiced not only by Josh Duggar, but by many members of their congregation as well. The Southern Poverty Law Center’s hate group designation in the Winter 2010, was based in part on the opinions and statements of Sprigg and Perkins.

THE POLITICS

Pay close attention to the politicians coming to their defense. Including Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. Their response to these allegations are so diluted, that they don't even realize they are defending what is essentially a cult. The Duggars belief system is solidified by absolute mis-information on a massive scale. Designed to promote intolerance and hate, while manipulating the Bible and convincing Republicans to get behind this. All but ensuring them with false and manipulated reports, that this is what their constituents want. It goes pretty damned deep, and yes I intend to make it a big deal. Because while the mainstream media may be steering your attention towards other issues, this is far from over. Myself and a few others are painting the proverbial bullseye on our backs by calling these politicians out. It is my only hope that this catches on. The last thing we need is a twisted and sick group of politicians that support such sexual misconduct, yet want to apply this behavior to the LGBT community.

If they want to oppress a singled-out group of people, with bullshit. Let’s see how they act when the truth hits them in the face. While responses from the likes of Mike Huckabee, Bobby Jindal, Rick Perry and the rest of the Looney Tunes is quite predictable. They will certainly sit up and take notice when their supporters no longer support what has been labeled as a dying party. All of the politicians involved in anti LGBT legislation, are equally guilty by citing the Duggars, the Family Research Council, and other hate groups talking points. Which are all based on fear-mongering lies. Lies that assuredly makes them all hypocrites on a whole new level.

For example, in a recent podcast Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) was talking with Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council. Senator Lee discusses how he believes religious liberty is under attack in America. He also mentions how “we don’t need to have a majority, we just need to have enough” when talking of imposing their intolerable will on the American People. What we are seeing is call to promote propaganda at it’s most basic level. By definition, this is what Mike Lee is talking about, in a self-promoting and justified case. Which leads to manipulated thinking along morally reprehensible lies at the highest levels. Ending with legislation that people can justify within their small, cult-like circles.

In the Duggars interview with People magazine they attempted, rather poorly, at defending their actions. Regardless of the immorality of it all. In America we have a system of laws that they ignored. They reality is that they ignored them because Jim Bob was trying to win an election at the time. Yet they still feel the need to force their beliefs on politicians, which results in legislation being forced upon the rest of us. Josh Duggar made many speeches rubbing elbows with many politicians. Michelle Duggar is equally guilty, as was promoting such intolerance and hate, by providing her views to political action as well. They were both promoting this level of intolerance and hate while covering up sexual abuse against five girls. Four of them reportedly their own.

Yes, Jim Bob was trying to win an election at the time. Do I believe this to be the reason for the cover up? Absolutely.

It’s the convenience of the truth.

(Note: The massive amount of information acquired was too much for this one article. So I will be doing a series of articles relating to my findings, while researching this one. There is a lot more story to tell, as it goes much deeper.)

Obama to Curb Militarization of Local Police

A fact-sheet released today by the White House, Office of the Press Secretary, lays out plans to stop the flow of military equipment to local law-enforcement. The fact sheet is titled “Creating Opportunity for All Through Stronger, Safer Communities”.

The fact sheet highlights innovative steps to help police do their jobs with increased safety while reducing crime in the process. Today in Camden, New Jersey, a city that has struggled with one of the nation's highest violent crime rates, he will focus on how they have instituted a community policing initiative. That represents the culmination of five years of collaborative efforts aimed at improving the quality of life for Camden children, youth, and families.

The President will also highlight how communities are adopting the recommendations of the Task Force on 21st Century Policing and will highlight new tools all cities can utilize to build and maintain the all-important trust between the law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line every day, and the communities they have sworn to serve and protect. These tools include:

• A Blueprint for Improved Community Policing: The final Task Force Report provides a blueprint for cities and towns to utilize as they develop policing strategies that work best for building trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve while enhancing public safety.
• The White House Police Data Initiative:  Leading jurisdictions have joined technologists, community organizations and police associations to commit to use data and technology in ways that build community trust and reduce unnecessary uses of force.
• Community Policing Grants: The Department of Justice (DOJ) will begin taking applications for grants designed to advance the practice of community policing in law enforcement agencies through hiring, training and technical assistance, the development of innovative community policing strategies, applied research, guidebooks, and best practices that are national in scope.
• A Body-Worn Camera Tool Kit:  Earlier this month, the DOJ announced a new pilot grant program that will help local law enforcement agencies develop, implement, and evaluate body-worn camera programs, and today, DOJ is releasing an online clearinghouse of resources designed to help law enforcement professionals and the communities they serve plan and implement body-worn camera (BWC) programs.
• Partnerships with National Law Enforcement Focused Organizations to Implement Recommendations: With support from the Department of Justice, nine law enforcement-focused organizations will develop national-level, industry-wide projects for several of the pillars outlined in the Task Force Report.
• Equipment Working Group Final Report: A federal interagency working group—led by the Departments of Justice, Defense, and Homeland Security – has now completed an extensive review of federal programs that support the acquisition of equipment by state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies.  On the basis of that review, the working group developed a series of concrete steps to enhance accountability, increase transparency, and better serve the needs of law enforcement and local communities.

Last December, President Barack Obama created the Task Force on 21st Century Policing with a mission to identify best practices and make recommendations on how such practices can promote effective crime reduction while building public trust. The Task Force was chaired by Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey and George Mason University Professor Laurie Robinson and included, among others, law enforcement representatives, community leaders, academics, and youth leaders.  Over several months, the Task Force held public hearings across the country; took testimony from over 100 witnesses; reviewed hundreds of written submissions and thoughtfully came to consensus on 59 concrete recommendations. The Task Force presented their interim report, including recommendations regarding policies, training, transparency, accountability, technology and officer safety and wellness, to the President in March, and today the final report is available.

Here are some highlights of the work police departments currently involved are taking, along with other Police Data Initiative (PDI) participants.

Open Data to Build Transparency and Increase Community Trust

• Twenty-one jurisdictions committed to release a combined total of 101 data sets that have not been released to the public.  The types of data include uses of force, police pedestrian and vehicle stops, citations, officer involved shootings and more, helping the communities gain visibility into key information on police/citizen encounters.
• Code for America and CI Technologies will work together to build an open source software tool to make it easier for more than 500 U.S. law enforcement agencies using IA Pro police integrity software to extract and open up data.
• To make police open data easy to find and use, the Police Foundation and ESRI will build a non-exclusive police open data portal to serve as a central clearinghouse option for police open data, making it easily accessible to community groups and researchers to analyze and see trends.
• To help this newly released data come alive for communities through mapping, visualizations and other tools, city leaders, non-profit organizations, and private sector partners will host open data hackathons in cities around the country.
• The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is working with the Southern Coalition for Social Justice to use open data to provide a full picture of key policing activities, including stops, searches and use-of-force trends, information and demographics on neighborhoods patrolled, and more.   This partnership will build on a website and tools already developed by the Southern Coalition for Justice which provide visualization and search tools to make this data easily accessible and understandable.
• Presidential Innovation Fellows, through the U.S. CTO and U.S. Chief Data Scientist will release an Open Data Playbook that police departments can use as a reference for open data best practices and case studies.
• The International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Police Foundation, and Code for America have committed to help grow communities of practice for law enforcement agencies and technologists around open data and transparency around police/community interactions.

Early Warning Systems and Data Research

• While many police departments have systems in place, often called “early warning systems”, to identify officers who may be having challenges in their interactions with the public and link them with training, there has been little research to determine which indicators are most closely linked  to bad outcomes.  To tackle this issue, twelve police departments have committed to share data on police/citizen encounters with data scientists for in-depth data analysis, strengthening the ability of police to intervene early and effectively: Austin, TX; Camden, NJ; Charlotte, NC; Dallas, TX; Indianapolis, IN; Knoxville, TN; LA City; LA County; Louisville, KY; New Orleans, LA; Philadelphia, PA and Richmond, CA.
• The University of Chicago will provide a team of five data science fellows from the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Data Science for Social Good program to work with 3-4 police departments over a 14 week engagement, starting in late May to begin to prototype data analysis tools that will help police departments identify the behaviors most indicative of later problems.
• Today in Camden, NJ, the city will welcome a Police Data Initiative Tech Team. This volunteer team of technology experts and data scientists will spend two days with Camden PD. They will focus on key technology systems with a goal of helping the Camden police enhance analysis and gain greater insights on officer activity. The goal is for the Camden PD to begin developing the solutions that surface potential problems before they happen while pointing to best practices that other departments can follow.

Jurisdictions taking part in the White House Police Data Initiative (PDI) so far include: Atlanta, GA; Austin, TX; Camden, NJ; Charlotte-Mecklenburg, NC; Cincinnati, OH; Columbia, SC; Dallas, TX; Hampton, VA; Indianapolis, IN; Knoxville, TN;  Los Angeles, CA; LA County, CA; Louisville, KY; Montgomery County, MD; New Orleans, LA; Newport News, VA; Oakland, CA; Philadelphia, PA; Richmond, CA; Rutland, VT; and Seattle, WA.

The Task Force recommended that DOJ, through the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) provide incentives for state and local law enforcement to adopt the recommendations. Today, the COPS office will launch solicitations for grants and technical assistance that are closely aligned with the recommendations.  Funding is available for local law enforcement agencies committed to implementing the recommendations and to adopting policies that build community trust, including through hiring, training, initiating pilot projects, and developing new guidance and best practices.

With support from the COPS Office, law enforcement focused organizations including the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, Major Cities Chiefs Association, the Police Executive Research Forum, the National Sheriffs’ Association, Major County Sheriffs, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the Police Foundation, will develop national-level, industry-wide projects for several of the pillars outlined in the Task Force Report.

Since 2011, the Ford Foundation, with other foundations, has supported Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) in Seattle, an innovative arrest diversion program co-designed by police, prosecutors, public defenders, civil rights leaders and public health experts.  This evidence-based program lets law enforcement officers directly divert people, whom they could arrest for low-level crimes, such as drug or prostitution offenses, to case managers, who assist with housing, treatment and other supportive services, instead of using jail and prosecution.  An evaluation by the University of Washington, funded by the Arnold Foundation and released in March 2015, found that participants in the program had 58% lower odds of a subsequent arrest as compared to a control group. Equally important, it helps improve the relationship between the police and the people they encounter on the streets.

In addition to the work completed by the Task Force on 21st Century Policing, a separate federal interagency working group—led by the Departments of Justice, Defense and Homeland Security – has now completed an extensive review of federal programs that support the transfer of equipment to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies.  On the basis of that review, the working group developed a series of concrete steps to enhance accountability, increase transparency, and better serve the needs of law enforcement and local communities.  The President has directed departments and agencies to put the working group’s recommendations into practice and continue to partner with law enforcement and local communities during the implementation process.

• The working group developed a unified list of prohibited equipment that may not be acquired under any of the various programs. This list includes tracked armored vehicles, weaponized aircraft and vehicles, bayonets, grenade launchers, and large-caliber firearms.
• The working group developed a unified list of equipment that law enforcement may acquire only in accordance with new and more rigorous controls.  This controlled list includes armored vehicles, tactical vehicles, riot gear, and specialized firearms and ammunition.
• Uniform Acquisition Standards: Across all programs, the transfer of equipment on the controlled list will require the consent of the appropriate local civilian governing body (e.g., City Council, County Council, Mayor) as well as a clear and persuasive explanation of the need for the equipment and the appropriate law enforcement purpose that it will serve.
• Training and Protocols: To receive such equipment, law enforcement agencies must commit to have in place “general policing” training standards, including training on community policing, constitutional policing, and community impact.  Agencies must also agree to protocols on the appropriate use, supervision, and operation of such equipment.
• Required Data Collection: Law enforcement agencies must collect and retain certain information whenever such equipment is involved in a “significant incident.”   Upon request or during a compliance review, the law enforcement agency must provide this information to the federal agency that supported the equipment’s acquisition.  This information will also be made publicly available in accordance with the law enforcement agency's applicable policies and protocols.

Aside from having to give a "clear and persuasive explanation of the need for the controlled equipment," local law enforcement will not be eligible unless they have adopted what General Policing Standards. Including community policing programs, with more foot cops on the beat interacting with the public as well as regular consultation with community groups - as opposed to zero-tolerance policies in use by the vast majority of local law-enforcement

Source: http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/taskforce/TaskForce_FinalReport.pdf

As The Syrian Crisis Continues, It Increases In Complexity

Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri called on Sunnis this week to devote their lives, money and expertise to overthrowing Assad. While thousands of Hezbollah fighters are deployed around Syria to tip the balance for Assad. This in itself really muddies the waters quite a bit. Then you add in the Hezbollah forces, that are being deployed in cities and rural areas, where the rebels have strength in numbers to crush them. They will face not just Syrians, but well-trained fighters tied to al-Qaeda as well, who have flooded in to fight from other countries.

So far, Assad’s forces have obviously had the upper hand in this debacle. Regime forces are relying on heavy air-strikes from Syrian war planes, to clear the way for their advances. Much like they did to overtake the stronghold of Qusair. The Free Syrian Army, a collection of rebel fighters, tried to hang onto the town by creating a network of tunnels and booby trapping nearly the entire city. "Some of the rebels IEDs, as well as the tunnels they built had the markings of Hamas," said Beirut-based journalist Nicholas Blanford.

Hamas had long been an ally of Hezbollah, but it split with the group over its attacks on fellow Sunni Muslims, aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood, as is Hamas, Blanford said. It was Hezbollah who helped build the Hamas tunnel network in Gaza, so they know how the structures are deployed. Thousands of Hezbollah's fighters from Lebanon are continuously streaming into Syria to help Assad take strongholds for the rebels, such as in Qusair this week, and that victory may turn the two-year battle in his favor.

While the West debates whether to intervene on the side of the rebels, and pushes for peace talks this month in Geneva, Hezbollah and its patron Iran have gone all in to keep Syria in the hands of an anti-American dictator. Unfortunately, these talks in Geneva are too little too late, and nothing will come of it. It’s just more rhetoric and political posturing, while innocent people continue to die.

And then there’s Iran… Iran is a Shiite Muslim theocracy and the Assad regime is headed by Alawites, who are a Shiite offshoot. But it is not the centuries-old divide in the Muslim world that prompted Iran to unleash the Shiites of Hezbollah, a force also known as the Party of God that Iran has trained and armed for years, according to the U.S. State Department.

"The Assad regime has always supported the Party of God - Iran's proxy in Lebanon - during the various Lebanese wars against Israel," says Nadim Shehadeh from Chatham House, a London think tank. "In addition, Syria has long been a conduit for Iranian weapons transfers to Hezbollah. "The party is a regiment of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and is acting in that capacity in Syria," Shehadeh said of Iran's military.

So what do we do? We as a nation do nothing. What we and the rest of the world need to do is call on NATO to enforce a no-fly zone, and bring this once peaceful protest movement to an end. Much like it was done in the Balkans in the 90’s. Seems like a no-brainer right? But if you support one side or the other, it seems you are supporting and giving terrorists momentum. These terrorist organizations are on both sides.

So this is what it has become, if you pick a side, you support terrorism. It’s either the rebels and Al-Qaeda, or Hezbollah, Iran, and Assad. Maybe we should just let all these terrorists kill each other off. While it would be fun to watch, it’s just not that simple. Assad’s regime is an oppressive and sectarian one. And thousands of innocent civilians have suffered under his rule. Remember this all started as a peaceful protest that began in March 2011, and just “went off” after a massive regime crackdown on the protestors. At the time of this writing, at least 80,000 people have died in Syria. While it may not be a popular decision, something has to give. And without outside intervention, this will escalate into a decade’s long war, involving many governments and their “ghost armies”.

Unfortunately the time to intervene is now. The U.S. needs to be done in the middle-east, and push NATO to take over the situation in Syria. I know it involves some commitment from the U.S.. But it would be many Nations under a single banner.

This will truly send a message. When Nations unite and start slapping this Assad fucker around.

Thoughts and prayers to those who gave all in this disgusting battle.


Arturo Dominguez
Contributor
New Politics and New Ideas
New Politics Nation


About New Politics and New Ideas/New Politics Nation: We are a community of logical progressive thinkers, who are for the progress of our Nation. We are trying to stop the political manipulation on Wall Street, the buying and selling of our elected officials, the destruction of our civil rights, and anything else anyone would like to bring up for discussion. Think of it as the largest, open to everyone Think-Tank in the world. Join us in the fight to take our country back!!!

Please visit our website at: http://newpolticsnewideas.wix.com/new-politics-nation, on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/New.Politics.and.New.Ideas and let’s start a discussion! You can also find us on Twitter at: @NPNI_Nation.THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW!!! LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!!!

Who Would You Vote For in The Iranian Presidential Election?

Written by Arturo Dominguez   

Saturday, 01 June 2013 06:56 

 

 

Let’s assume it really matters for a minute. If you had to vote in the Presidential Elections in Iran, who would you vote for? “The Guardian Council” dictates who can run. And it seems that all of the current candidates elected by "The Guardian Council" have ties to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The fact that all applicants (Nearly 700 of them) have to be approved by "The Guardian Council" has been the subject of much debate. They have narrowed it down to eight candidates.

BBC News noted that all eight approved candidates were considered “hardline conservatives", with reformist candidates (notably former president and one of the founding member of the Islamic Republic Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani) having been barred from standing. The BBC's Iran correspondent James Reynolds commented: "the Guardian Council's decision kills off any sense of suspense over the result of Iran's forthcoming presidential election. We now know that the next president will be a conservative loyal to the ideas of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei".

People will argue that these elections don’t really matter. That the president in Iran really has no power, and the real rule belongs to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Others would argue the opposite. But let’s continue to assume it does matter.

If it does carry any weight, then my opinion is that we should really look at Mohammad Gharazi. His campaign focuses on economic issues, and has promised to run an "anti-inflation" administration. He is the only independent candidate approved to run in the presidential election. He doesn't stand much of a chance, but he has the most promise when talking about change within Iran. Gharazi has said that if elected president his first priority would be to deal with Iran’s high inflation.

Gharazi has also said that he does not have money to spend on his campaign. On May 24 he declared “I don’t have anything but experience which I want to share with the people. It is good if they accept my experience. If not, I have to warn them that they will be once again in trouble and once again a government will hold the power which will take money from the poor and give it to the rich.” However, he has not spoken much about international affairs. He has said that he plans to run the government on "60 years of thought", (whatever that means).

So then, where does that leave Iran and its people? That is the big question. With the Ayatollah having so much power, and control of nearly every branch of government, do these elections really matter? I mean why bother. I know the U.S. government wants to see someone in there that will leave their oil in the open-market, and certainly wants to keep the situation as-is. In doing so they accomplish two things, one is keeping the people in fear of a nuclear Iran, and the “congressional military industrial complex” gets their oil.

But in all seriousness who would you vote for, if all the candidates have ties to Ayatollah Ali Khameni in some way? It doesn’t seem like change is on the horizon, and if the people were to attempt their own “Arab Spring”, they will be slapped back as they usually are. Uprisings in Iran are always dealt serious blows with a heavy hand.

So can we hope for a change in the political landscape in Iran? Sure, we can hope. Is political change in Iran really coming? Unlikely. I expect the situation to stay much the same as it is today. We can expect the status-quo for the foreseeable future. Iran will continue to sponsor terrorists at the behest of the Ayatollah, and they will continue to attempt to drag us into another war (Syria at the moment). As long as we are at war in the Middle-East, then we expose ourselves to the Iranian regime. This is the only way they can directly or indirectly go to war with the U.S., and attack our military. If we stay out of the middle-east, then they can’t do much to us, directly or indirectly.

So whoever wins in Iran doesn’t matter to our interests. The election is surely already rigged, with some of the most popular hard-lined conservatives leading the pack. None have any interest in working with us or even any of their neighbors to promote peace within the region. They want the instability, so they have an excuse to achieve more power. As civil wars continue to break-out all over the Middle-East, Iran continues to gain power and influence.

In the coming decades it is very possible that Iran will own the Middle East. And if they continue their state sponsored terrorism without being checked, we can expect a large war at some point. Not necessarily with us directly, but you can bet we will be involved in some way, shape, or form. The situation will certainly get uglier before it gets any better.

So if you and I were Iranian, I would say vote with conscience. Even though, it really doesn’t look like it matters…


Arturo Dominguez
Contributor
New Politics and New Ideas
New Politics Nation


About New Politics and New Ideas: We are a community of logical progressive thinkers, who are for the progress of our Nation. We are trying to stop the political manipulation on Wall Street, the buying and selling of our elected officials, the destruction of our civil rights, and anything else anyone would like to bring up for discussion. Think of it as the largest, open to everyone Think-Tank in the world. Join us in the fight to take our country back!!!

Please visit our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/New.Politics.and.New.Ideas and let’s start a discussion. You can also find us on Twitter at: @NPNI_Nation.

THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW!!! LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!!!



©2013 New Politics Nation

What’s The Bottom Line on Guns in the U.S.?

Written by Arturo Dominguez   

Wednesday, 22 May 2013 09:09 

 

 

While we watched our politicians ignore polls, and the cry of the people on gun control. We should better understand what’s really going on. Not only are lobbyists pumping money into political coffers, but our very own government is promoting fear, thus boosting gun sales.

Our government under our current President, as well as past Presidents, is giving criminal cartels, terrorists and the like, weapons and virtual amnesty to operate within our borders. You couple that with the criminal element, and the firepower they have been able to acquire, you have your fear. While the rest of the world criticizes us for being gun nuts, there are many situations where there is no choice but to be armed.

You look at home invasions in inner cities at all-time highs, crazy psychos shooting up schools, and all the other stupid shit you see on the boob tube involving guns, you have your fear. What makes most people in these situations feel secure? Owning and even carrying weapons, thus giving them the ability to protect themselves and their families. And this isn’t just inner-cities anymore; it’s spreading far and wide, coming to a town near you!

Let’s not muddy the waters here. I’m not saying we don’t need gun-control, because we do. But the government’s approach is backwards. All of this legislation is focused on new laws for law-abiding citizens. The focus must be shifted to the criminal element and then focus on regulation. I’m all for background checks, especially expanded checks that can see if someone is mentally stable to own a firearm. But until we can feel safer walking down the street in every community, don’t tell me what kind of guns I can own.

The government needs to have stiffer penalties for illegal firearms, period. Gun shows must be regulated unlike any other industry, and stop putting these “illegal” guns on the street. But since our government, their spending, and everything they do is based on the people’s fear, they will continue to let cartels operate on our soil, supply them with weapons, and promote gangland violence.

Therefore what choice does a Joe like anyone of us have, when it comes to protecting our families? A Rottweiler and a baseball bat? I mean let’s get serious here, places where I’ve worked there were guys with a past. I’ve worked with guys that were recovering addicts, junkies, all kinds of people. Not that I didn’t trust them, but you never really know someone, or their demons. I worked in the service industry for many years, and while employees get free maintenance service, I don’t use it.

The last thing I want is some guy I that barely know, knowing where I live, having access to my house, or anything like that. There have been incidents where employees who use the service were harassed by former employees who were let go for whatever reason. That’s some scary shit when you have children. After being so close to several incidents like that, I became a gun owner. I now have several guns to protect my family. My wife and my children are well versed in what a firearm can do; we go to the gun-range and promote gun safety. My guns are also secure, strictly for protection purposes.

Do I sleep better at night? Of course I do.


These are just my thoughts, and they seem perfectly logical to me. Join in the discussion and let’s talk about this issue and many others. Please visit our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/New.Politics.and.New.Ideas and let’s start a discussion. You can also find us on Twitter at: @NPNI_Nation.

About New Politics and New Ideas: We are a community of logical progressive thinkers, who are for the progress of our Nation. We are trying to stop the political manipulation on Wall Street, the buying and selling of our elected officials, the destruction of our civil rights, and anything else anyone would like to bring up for discussion. Think of it as the largest, open to everyone Think-Tank in the world. Join us in the fight to take our country back!!!

The time to act is now!!! Let YOUR voice be heard!!!


Arturo Dominguez
Contributor
New Politics and New Ideas
New Politics Nation



©2013 New Politics Nation

Criminalizing Bullying in Schools - Parents Should be Held Accountable for Bullies

Written by Arturo Dominguez   

Saturday, 11 May 2013 02:36 

 

 

I am writing this article because my youngest of three boys is a recent victim of two bullies on the school bus. My child has been suffering at the hands of one particular bully for several months. And recently was attacked by two bullies on the school bus. Even after my wife had notified the bus driver of the incidents no less than three times in the last few months, as well as by my two youngest sons (who ride the same bus), notified the driver numerous times. The bus driver continually seated my youngest son right in front of the offending child, day after day. With absolutely no regard to the safety and welfare of my child let alone any child on the bus. We believe the bus driver was absolutely negligent in the matter.

You see, I have three boys ages 8, 10, and 15 respectively. The 8 and 10 year olds ride the same bus home. They get dropped off by my wife in the mornings. So recently, (as previously stated) he was attacked on the bus, and upon retaliation (as instructed by me), he was informed the HE would be sent to the Principal’s office for disciplinary action. Now keep in mind he was defending himself. And according to Texas state law, if you’re being bullied, you are allowed to defend yourself without recourse. Texas is a provocation state, if you flip someone off and they beat your ass, it’s your own damned fault. Makes sense right?

This last incident he was left bruised in the face, and he is supposed to pay by being sent to the Principal’s office? We notified the school, requested a copy of the video from the bus, and even petitioned the school superintendent. We live in a small town of about 14,000 people, so it’s a podunk, good ole boy kind of town. Which in the end, I realize shouldn’t make a difference. Bullying in schools and particularly school buses is a nationwide problem. This is where the parents come into play.

The best ways to curb bullying is by criminalizing it, and hold parents accountable, simple as that. Most bullies come from households with aggressive parents who are even more negligent than the bus driver in question. Parents know when their kids are bullies, it’s typically pretty obvious and they also get reports from the schools. This bully for instance has a long history with this, and yet the parents take no action. He obviously doesn’t suffer any recourse because he continues to do it to several children on the bus, and at recess during school hours. The school can obviously only do so much, it is required by state law that he attends school. And teachers aren’t parents to your kids, they are teachers; it’s our job to be the parents.

Here’s where parents come in. In Texas children under the age of ten, cannot be criminally charged, in these cases the parents are charged. So if a parent doesn’t do anything to curb the violent behavior, then they should be criminally charged. If the child is ten or older, the child should be criminally charged. If this were to happen, bullying would be nearly defeated. It’s time to dish out harsher punishments for this problem; it’s the only way to curb it! It's a starting point at the least!

And then there are the bus drivers. At what point should they be held accountable for their inaction? What about the case of Patrice Sanders (bus driver) in Florida? She took teenagers to her house, so they can fight out their little dispute. In this case it was a total disregard for student safety on so many levels, it ridiculous! I mean where do they find these school bus drivers anyway?

These people need to be held accountable in some way as well. In the case in Florida, obviously there will be some sort of child endangerment charges. But, where do we draw the line? Should the driver in my case be held criminally negligent? I believe suspensions should probably be in order for first-time offenders. But if they continually ignore the cries of children, and complaints from parents, a child will eventually get seriously hurt. If that were to happen, the driver, along with negligent parents, or the offending student depending on age, should all be held criminally accountable.

These are just my thoughts, and they seem perfectly logical to me. Join in the discussion and let’s talk about this issue and many others. Please visit our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/New.Politics.and.New.Ideas and let’s start a discussion. You can also find us on Twitter at: @NPNI_Nation.

About New Politics and New Ideas: We are a community of logical progressive thinkers, who are for the progress of our Nation. We are trying to stop the political manipulation on Wall Street, the buying and selling of our elected officials, the destruction of our civil rights, and anything else anyone would like to bring up for discussion. Think of it as the largest, open to everyone Think-Tank in the world. Join us in the fight to take our country back!!!

The time to act is now!!! Let YOUR voice be heard!!!


Arturo Dominguez
Contributor
New Politics and New Ideas
New Politics Nation