"Democracy demands an educated and informed electorate"

While the mainstream media wieners continue the wall to wall coverage of Weiners wiener there's lots of stuff going on we need to know about.

This is why the current media disaster and the (mostly W and the republican) destruction of the public schools is so horrendous.

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." (as cited in Padover, 1939, p. 89)
". . . whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government; that, whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them right." (as cited in Padover, 1939, p. 88)

 The above quotes were the cornerstones of Jefferson's interest in education and the franchise. He placed education as the foundation of democracy and a prerequisite to vote.

Ignorance and sound self-government could not exist together: the one destroyed the other. A despotic government could restrain its citizens and deprive the people of their liberties only while they were ignorant.

Jefferson could never completely separate education from government. With the fullest faith in the ability of man to govern himself, Jefferson nonetheless realized the responsibility of self-government could be assumed successfully only by an enlightened people.

The habit of thinking of public education in essentially political terms, as an auxiliary of free government, naturally suggests a common father for both. In associating manhood suffrage with education, Jefferson was in the forefront. It was his belief in universal suffrage that made necessary the accompanying idea of universal education.

So here is some information you need to know, instead of information the media wants you to know. Or should I say not know?

Countering the Conspiracy to Disenfranchise Black Voters and make sure Obama is the first and last African American President of the United States of America.

During the Jim Crow era, white supremacists did everything within their power to disenfranchise black people. They lynched us, shot us, beat us, fire hosed us and unleashed vicious dogs on us. The segregationists imposed absurd literacy tests and poll taxes to prevent us from voting.

Sadly, in this modern era, the Republican Party is continuing that racist legacy. In some respects, the Republican Party is today’s version of the White Citizens’ Council. Similar to the Council, the Republican Party is a predominately Southern, white male organization. It opposes issues that are important to minorities such as affirmative action, immigration rights, health care reform, workers’ rights, social programs, etc.

To make matters worst, as reported in the New York Times, the GOP is even attempting to disenfranchise African Americans, Latinos, the elderly and the poor.

We must laugh to keep from crying...if the American people elect one of these guys and gals to be the President of the United States of America we will be the laughing stock of the world.

I am watching the republiclown debate from New Hampshire and I sincerely mean this when I say that it is funnier than any sitcom that's on television. These guys (and gal) are funny.
Michele Bachmann actually made some news: She is running for President.

Herman Cain's anti Muslim bigotry should be disqualifying but it's not because he's a republican.

Presidential candidate Herman Cain has reiterated his position that any Muslim serving in his administration would be forced to take a loyalty test with this statement: "That's not discrimination. It's called trying to protect the American people. This nation is under attack constantly by people who want to kill all of us, so I'm going to take extra precaution."

That's chilling logic. The last time the United States government decided that an "extra precaution" made it okay to presume the disloyalty of citizens, we imprisoned more than 100,000 completely innocent Japanese Americans.

Even if it weren't bigoted and imprudent, however, Cain's logic should be disqualifying for its sheer idiocy. Think about it. His plan for deciding whether someone is a sleeper jihadist or worthy of being trusted in the White House is essentially to ask them, "Do you swear you're loyal to the United States?" This would happen in a "one-on-one conversation," where the former CEO would do what exactly? Apparently being in a room alone with a man is enough for Cain to tell his intentions, because no one has ever lied in the history of mankind, or been misjudged when telling the truth.

Cummings: Issa Staff Released Document Under Seal In ATF Gunrunner Probe

Staffers working for House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) improperly disclosed information about a criminal investigation being run by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) which could have compromised ongoing criminal proceedings, according to a letter House Oversight Ranking Member Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) sent to Issa on Monday.

Justice Department officials met with committee staffers on May 5 and told them the committee had released a document filed under seal, Cummings wrote. A federal district court judge had issued an order prohibiting the public release of a particular document, according to Cummings' letter.

Rep. Elijah Cummings' Nephew, Christopher Cummings, Killed In Shooting At Old Dominion University

BALTIMORE — A Maryland congressman says his nephew was killed in a random shooting near Old Dominion University in Virginia.

Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings of Baltimore in a statement Sunday talked about the death of Christopher Cummings in his off-campus apartment. He says his nephew's roommate, Jake Carey, was critically wounded in the attack Friday. Both were students at the university in Norfolk.

The congressman urged the community to cooperate with police.

He says his family remains in shock over the "senseless tragedy."

Cummings says his nephew was an "amazing young man who was loved and admired by so many people who had the honor of knowing him." He had a 3.5 grade-point average and "ambitious plans for his future."

It pays to be a state University Football Coach in Alabama. Public school teachers, not so much.

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Employees of state agencies and public schools, two-year colleges and universities would pay an extra 2.5 percent of their paychecks for retirement coverage, under a bill that won final legislative approval in the Senate today.
The bill will become law if Gov. Robert Bentley signs it. State Finance Director David Perry said he expects Bentley to sign the bill into law.
A public school teacher's salary averages about $48,000 a year. A teacher making that much eventually would pay an additional $1,200 a year for pension coverage under the bill. The Senate today voted 19-12 for the plan, House Bill 414. The House of Representatives last week voted 51-48 for it.

". . . whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government; that, whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them right." ~Thomas Jefferson