Maggie's Farm

What the unwashed masses are on about: "where's the soap & water?"

B, your post reminded me of this--Michael Barone essay on the same topic (thank you Google):

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/opinion/articles/030512/12pol.htm

Made quite a ripple when it came out--been awhile now but nothing's changed.

Homeschoolers have for some years now been winning ALL of the national spelling bees. Considering the relative numbers of homeschoolers (what, one in a hundred?), this is flabbergasting.

Jesse Lee Peterson, among many, many other black leaders these days, is saying the same thing. Most of my extended family is Louisianian, and the issue there, post-Katrina and the spotlight on New Orleans, is gathering huge. Take a look:

http://www.withlogos.com:80/?page_id=133

Might also want to see Rev Peterson here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB7XkZUIHEQ

Don't be averse to spreading the word, Peterson requests that you do so. America can repair this, but it will take time, and enlightened attitudes.

Good links to gov't docs here:

http://www.senate.gov/reference/reference_index_subjects/Publications_vrd.htm

Recent rsearch has led to the discovery of
the heaviest
element yet known to science. The new element,
Governmentium (Gv),
has one neutron, 25 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy
neutrons, and 198
assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of
312.

These 312 particles are held together by forces called
morons, which
are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like
particles called peons.
Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert;
however, it can be
detected, because it impedes every reaction with which
it comes into
contact. A minute amount of Governmentium can cause a
reaction that
would normally take less than a second to take from
four days to four
years to complete.

Governmentium has a normal half-life of 2-6 years; It
does not decay, but
instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion
of the assistant
neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places. In fact,
Governmentium's
mass will actually increase over time, since each
reorganization will
cause more morons to become neutrons, forming
isodopes. This
characteristic of moron promotion leads some
scientists to believe that
Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a
critical concentration.
This hypothetical quantity is referred to as critical
morass.

When catalyzed with money, Governmentium becomes
Administratium, an
element that radiates just as much energy as
Governmentium since it has
half as many peons but twice as many morons.