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Educating The Children, Campaign Finance Laws, and Transportation

By Theresa Fritz Camoriano

Educating the Children – We are now seeing the effects of the “No Child Left Behind Act”, which was supposed to allow children to escape failing schools in order to get a good education.  One would think that professional educators, who are supposed to have the best interests of the children at heart, would be eager to comply with this law, but, unfortunately, that does not appear to be the case.  Instead, the professional educators are doing everything they can to keep the children locked in the failing schools.  The state has delayed grading the exams, which means that the failing results will not be available before the start of school, so families will not be able to move their children at a normal, convenient time, but would have to start the school year in the failing school and then make the switch in January. In addition, the schools are informing parents that there will not be enough spaces in other schools to accommodate all the children, and the families will not have a choice of the school their students will attend if they choose to leave their failing school.  One has to wonder what actions the professional educators would take if they did not have the best interests of the children at heart!

Campaign Finance Laws – The McCain-Feingold law was supposed to protect our tender ears from unpleasant political advertisements.  However, we are hearing even more nasty attacks than before.  Now, instead of candidates having control over their campaigns, their supporters are running off in all directions, producing movies, books, and other forms of communication that are not regulated by the law, and producing ads that have not been coordinated with or approved by the candidates, because coordination would be illegal.  So, for example, we have Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11”, which apparently is substantially more slanted and less accurate than your typical documentary, and we have Swift Boat veterans denouncing John Kerry’s service in Vietnam.  Meanwhile, you and I are effectively prevented from having a voice, and the clout is in the hands of Hollywood types, talking heads, and others, who are exempt from the law’s limitations.  Of course, the law also has put more clout in the hands of wealthy people like John Kerry as well as in the hands of entrenched incumbents.  The conventions have become carefully scripted infomercials, the so-called debate has become a spitting contest, our options have become much more limited, and there is no relief in sight.  It makes me long for the good old days of smoke-filled rooms, raucous debates, and freedom of speech. 

Transportation – After hauling our daughter Andrea to and from work all summer, I think we are in dire need of some free competition in the area of transportation.  We have bus service, which we are forced to subsidize, and which provides a way to get downtown but nowhere else.  We also have taxis, which are very expensive, because their numbers are restricted, thereby preventing competition.  If our government would de-regulate taxis, we might see jitneys, private vans, and other reasonably-priced transportation options spring up.  Under the new Kentucky law, Louisville has the right to de-regulate its taxis.  As a worn-out soccer-mom type, I would certainly welcome some relief!

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