To unsubscribe please visit: http://www.chuckmuth.com/remove X-ListMember: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
****************************************** Let Your Fingers Do Some Walking AARP is cranking up its efforts to get the government to add a prescription drug entitlement to the already seriously screwed-up Medicare program. They are providing a toll-free number today you can use to contact your U.S. Senator. Why not take advantage of their generosity to let your opinions be known and heard on this or any other issue confronting the nation. Just call 1-800-795-5336 and ask the operator to connect you to the Senator of your choice. ****************************************** All Roadmap and No Peace "The word cease-fire is not in our dictionary. Resistance will continue until we uproot (the Israelis) from our homeland." - Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi, Associated Press, 6/15/03 ****************************************** Perfectly Stated "As a God-fearing Christian I look for my church to condemn homosexuality, not my government." - News & Views reader Noah in Orlando *************************************** Campaign Hot Tips New to campaigns and grassroots activism? Seasoned veteran who recognizes there's always something new to learn? Then sign up for Mark Montini's FREE "Campaign Hot Tips" e-newsletter at: http://www.campaignsecrets.com/hot_tips.asp ***************************************** You Can't Fix "Stupid" "I am a United States Army veteran who served in Viet Nam from 1967 to 1968. I pity the fools who burn our flag and have no respect for the liberty we enjoy. I also pity the fools who think that a Constitutional Amendment will cure stupidity." - News & Views reader Jim Wood ****************************************** Jackass Identification Program "Chuck, I haven't been reading New and Views long but just had to weigh in on the flag burning issue. I, too, am not just a 'so called vet' (U.S. Army 1960-1980, Vietnam 1971). I have the same view on this as I do on censorship. There is junk out there that does not need to be supported; but who gets to decide? The government? Not on my nickel. Same with flag burning. When everyone is allowed to express themselves we all get to see the jackasses for what they are." - News & Views reader Dan Malcolm ****************************************** Using a Sledgehammer on a Fly "Chuck--here's one more vet--AUS 1942-45--who opposes a flag burning amendment. Can any one tell me how many nuts burned how many flags last year...or in the last ten? And we need a constitutional amendment to handle this problem?" - Former Reagan press secretary Lyn Nofziger ****************************************** Preferred Way to Deal With Flag-Burners "At the annual Mensa (a group not necessarily noted for strong conservative feelings, and with no official political position) convention in Atlanta some years back, held as is customary over the Independence Day weekend, the hotel was decorated with numerous flags, including the 3x5 plastic ones usually seen waved by throngs at parades. One individual 'liberated' one of these flags, and flourishing it and his Bic, attempted to 'make a statement'. "Without a word said or a glance passed, one veteran seized the flag, one non-vet and another vet caught the individual up under his armpits, carried him backward through the halls to the main entrance, and unceremoniously deposited him in the grass, on his 'brain housing group (obviously located somewhat south of the nape of his neck)', and returned to the party...to cheers and applause. It felt good!" - News & Views reader J.D. "Duke" Schechter ****************************************** Affordable Campaign Websites! Now you can get professional-looking campaign web sites for as little as $10 a month. That's right...just ten smackeroos a month. Here's what's included in this fantastic new program from Campaign Secrets, Inc. (available ONLY to Republican candidates): * Free Hosting * Unique Domain Name * Personal Email Accounts * Credit Card Processing * Unlimited Edits * Event Calendar * Volunteer Sign-up Page * Built-in Bulk Emailer Campaign Site Builder can be used for political organizations and non-profits, as well. For more information, just go to: http://www.campaignsecrets.com/websites.asp ***************************************** Failed Health Care System "Because the federal government doesn't tax employer-provided health insurance, businesses provide insurance, which means they choose providers and plans. Most companies, understandably, are more interested in constraining costs than expanding coverage. . . . The system makes no sense. Employers don't provide auto or home owner's insurance." - Doug Bandow of the Cato Institute ****************************************** Avoiding Blame at All Costs "Teachers' unions complain bitterly about outside testing of students, claiming the tests are flawed, that 'teaching to the test' distorts education and miscellaneous other whines and smoke screens. The cold fact is that these tests came about only after decades of dumbing down of academic standards - which the education establishment ignored, denied or blamed on every conceivable thing other than themselves." - Columnist Thomas Sowell ***************************************** Test? We Don't Need No Stinkin' Test! Who's responsibility is it to assure a child's education...parents or bureaucrats? This gets right to the heart of the limited government debate. At first blush, this seems an easy and non-debatable question. But once the cradle-to-gravers and their bureaucratic henchmen get involved...watch out! Are we really supposed to trust government bureaucrats to teach our kids how to read and write and add and subtract when it often seems the only thing they're any good at teaching is how to 'multiply' (and I ain't talking about nine-times-eight, if you get my drift)? Which brings me to a battle royale over home-schooling which blew up in Waltham, Massachusetts last week. Kim and George Bryant have been home-schooling their two kids, George (15) and Nyssa (13), much to the chagrin of the Waltham Public School (WPS) system. The Bryants thus far have refused to force their children to take a government-mandated standardized test to assess their education level. The WPS empire struck back last year, obtaining a court order giving custody of the kids to the Department of Social Services (DSS), which ever since has been threatening to take the kids away from their parents. As the MetroWest Daily News reported on Friday, "Both sides agree that the children are in no way abused mentally, physically, sexually or emotionally, but legal custody of the children was taken from Kim and George Bryant in December 2001." They were ruled to be "unfit" for not filing educational plans with the government. Unfit. For not filing paperwork. With the government school system. Over the education of their OWN children. In fact, George Bryant was actually ARRESTED six years ago for failing to comply with the government's dictates over the home-schooled education of HIS children. Arrested. Thrown in jail. Like a criminal. For taking personal responsibility for the education of HIS kids. This six-year legal battle exploded on Thursday as bureaucrats from the DSS showed up at the Bryants' home with police escorts at 7:45 a.m. and attempted to remove the children from their home and force them to take the mandated tests. Once again, the Bryants told the government agents to pound dirt, resulting in a seven-hour standoff. "This has been a six-year battle between the Waltham Public Schools and our family over who is in control of the education of our children," said Bryant. How DARE these parents stand up to the government and defend their right to raise their children as they see fit? Who the hell do they think they are? At least, that's the attitude of one outrageous government bureaucrat involved in this brouhaha. "We have the legal custody of the children and we will do with them as we see fit," DSS trooper Susan Etscovitz told the Bryants Thursday morning. "They are minors and they do what we tell them to do." It is near impossible to describe the rage I feel inside every time I read those chilling words. WE will do with them as WE see fit. They do what WE tell them to do. The sheer audacity of a bureaucrat to make such a statement about someone else's children who are in no way abused in any shape, form or fashion is beyond comprehension to me. Comrade Etscovitz maintained on Thursday that, "No one wants these children to be put in foster homes. The best course of action would be for (the Bryants) to instruct the children to take the test." One can just imagine her words being delivered with a thick East German accent: "Oon now, all vee need ees dee kidz!" This isn't about education. It's about control. It's about an imperial government trying to crush a movement in its infancy which could one day spell the end of the public school monopoly over our kids' educations. Home-schooling means children might start learning again. REAL learning. Not "whole language" and "self-esteem." Learning about radical notions such as freedom, liberty and personal responsibility. Notions such as limited government and the Constitution and the vision of our Founding Fathers. Yeah, we can't have THAT! BRUSHFIRE ALERT: As it appears that DSS is getting its marching orders from the Waltham Public Schools, it seems the best place to start is with the School Superintendent there. Her name is Dr. Susan Parrella. She can be reached via email at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or by phone at (781) 314-5400. Emails are great...but nothing quite ruins a bureaucrat's day like dealing with a flood of phone calls. I know. I just called. The woman who answered the phone hung up on me when she found out what I was calling about. They do NOT want to answer any questions about this. Oh, and by the way. I reached Ms. Etscovitz this morning. She was not a happy camper once she found out what I was calling about. Refused to comment on her "we will do with them as we see fit" statement, saying only, "I'm terminating this conversation now," before slamming the phone down. I think it would really bug her if a lot of people called (781) 641-8500, so please, please don't rattled her cage, OK? That number not to call again to reach Susan Etscovitz is (781) 641-8500. That's (781) 641-8500. ****************************************** Political Arson "It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds." - Founding Father Samuel Adams ************************************ Call Those Bureaucrats...Cheap, Cheap, Cheap! * All state-to-state calls in the continental U.S. * Residential or commercial * 6-second billing increments * 24 hours/day * 7 days/week * No access codes * No minimums * No activation fees * Calling Card Rate is 10 cents per minute * No monthly service charge unless your bill is less than $20.00 a month (then a $1.99 service charge will apply) * No need to change your local phone company * No hassles * Easy sign-up. * And a small portion of each bill goes to help continue publishing our FREE Chuck Muth's News & Views e-newsletter. Just go to: <http://www.GOPLongDistance.com> today. *********************************** How to Subscribe If you know someone who might like to receive News & Views, you can sign 'em up at: http://www.chuckmuth.com. Also, occasionally, the automatic listserve we use will "bump" subscribers off the list if your mailbox is full or experiences some other technical glitch. If you suddenly stop receiving News & Views, the first thing you should do is try to re-subscribe using the link above. Published by Citizen Outreach Chuck Muth Editor/Publisher 611 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, #439 Washington, DC 20003-4303 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Citizen Outreach is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public policy organization and does not endorse candidates or lobby for specific legislation. The opinions and views expressed in Chuck Muth's News & Views reflect those of the writers, editors and columnists therein and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Citizen Outreach, its officers, directors or employees. To be REMOVED, go to: http://www.chuckmuth.com/remove/default.cfm and complete the removal request instructions you'll find there. Or send your request to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # #
