Maggie's Farm

Two of the greatest "rock operas" if you will came from The Who - "Quadrophenia" and "Tommy". The other is the "Christmas Trilogy" written by Paul O'Neal and performed by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Who would provide public education were it not for gov?

The two "debaters" or "choir preachers" in that thread are both dancing around the issue. As one commenter said, it is a governmental issue when those who can't afford to pay or in which the government has a vested interest in producing and maintaining an educated and enlightened citizenry. In fact, none other than Thomas Jefferson, who libertarians like to quote occasionally, believed that education should be under the control of the government, free from religious biases, and available to all people irrespective of their status in society. George Washington held to that opinion as did Noah Webster and Benjamin Rush.

The problem with public education is that it has become bastardized from its original discipline - learning how to read, write and do basic mathematics (arithmetic and higher order arithmetic). Originally, state and local control held the system in check, but with the advent of secondary education due to the demand for skilled workers, money became an issue - and that's when it went all icky ballooky.

The simple truth is that unless and until the Feds get out of the education business, highly unlikely short of full scale revolution, citizens will be forced to support (from an education standpoint) ungrateful and under educated kids with no recourse. Money, money, money rules the day.

“Things have gotten so ideologically driven and everybody is so focused on the next election and putting party ahead of country that we’re not able to solve our problems.”

Heh - the thing of it is that he's absolutely right. People that I've known for years, politicians that I've worked which on the state and local level have become hardened and politically motivated instead of working for the common good. The end result of course is politicians like Dan Malloy, but I don't have to worry about him anymore. :>)

And now, for something completely different. The stripers are hot - we limited out two days in a row - 25 fish from 26" to 35" - nice and fat yielding 27 lbs of filets. With a cold front moving in tonight and again on Friday it should stay hot and heavy resulting in enough fish for last for a few months of fish fry's and chowder. Running lead core at 50 ft (90 yards out - 20 foot leader) with 3 oz bucktails and plastic grub with spin tails seem to be working the best, but downrigging to 60 ft with the same lure combinations and following the old Saluda lake bed is also working great. Crappie are feeding and are also hot for the next couple of weeks. Largemouth are schooling with the stripers which is something new to me - apparently that is very common early Spring and Fall on this lake. Life is good on Lake Murray.

And that is your local fishing report for the week. :>)