FREE-FOR-ALL

TO THE MATH AND READING INITIATIVES IN NCLB (NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND), WE NOW ADD SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) AS AREAS TO IMPROVE IN OUR PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. EVEN I CAN SOLVE THE EQUATION : GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED PUBLIC INSTRUCTION = FAILURE. THE FREE MARKET COULD TAKE CARE OF DEFICIENCIES IN OUR STUDENTS’ EDUCATIONS IF IT WERE ALLOWED TO WORK. FREE MARKETS CAN SOLVE REAL-LIFE PROBLEMS IN HEALTH CARE, ENERGY EFFICIENCY, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, BORDER SECURITY, EDUCATION, TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AS RUSH LIMBAUGH SAID RECENTLY, "IF LIFE TURNS INTO A GUANO SANDWICH," PUT THE FREE-FOR-ALL MARKET OF ENTREPRENEURS TO WORK.

THE CHINESE HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN MASTERS OF MANUAL LABOR AND REPETITIVE ACTION, YET THE DRAGON CONTINUES TO WHIP ITS POWERFUL TAIL DEMONSTRATING SUPER POWER. THE OLYMPICS, AUGUST, 2008, WILL SHOWCASE CHINA TO THE WORLD. AMERICA, ANOTHER SUPER POWER HAS TRADITIONALLY MANIFESTED INGENUITY AND CREATIVITY, NOT PROGRESS BY ROTE, AND MAINTAINED ITS BELIEF IN PERSONAL FREEDOM.

A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE ARTS RECENTLY SPOKE OF THE NEED FOR A "SYSTEM THAT GROUNDS ALL STUDENTS IN PLEASURE, BEAUTY AND WONDER. IT IS THE BEST WAY TO CREATE CITIZENS WHO ARE AWAKENED NOT ONLY TO THEIR HUMANITY, BUT TO THE HUMAN ENTERPRISE THAT THEY INHERIT AND WILL - FOR GOOD OR ILL - PERPETUATE." THIS GLITTERING GENERALITY UNDERSTANDS THAT LIBERALS ARTS ARE IMPORTANT IN ADDITION TO SCIENCE AND MATH. LET’S REMEMBER THE HIGGLEDY-PIDDLEDY PROPENSITIES OF AMERICA'S YOUTH. SOME YOUTH ARE DRAWN - BECAUSE OF GENETIC MAKEUP OR CIRCUMSTANCE - TO MATH; OTHERS TO READING. SOME ARE DRAWN TO MUSIC, ACTING, DRAWING, COMPUTERS, MOVIES, ASTRONOMY, SPACE EXPLORATION, ARCHEOLOGY, PROTESTING, SCIENCE, GOD OR BULL-SHITTING; OTHERS TO ENGINEERING, GRAMMAR, A LANGUAGE, HISTORY, GOVERNMENT, SOCIAL WORK, VOLUNTEERISM, SPORTS, TECHNOLOGY, TINKERING, ANIMALS, AUTOMOBILES, POLICE WORK, FIREFIGHTING, SOLDIERING, THINKING, POLITICS OR MERELY NOTHING. HOW DO WE ACCOMMODATE THEM ALL? WITH A FREE-FOR ALL SYSTEM THAT DOES NOT INDOCTRINATE AND DEMANDS WORK. FOR ME, BEAUTY, PLEASURE AND WONDER HAVE BEEN FOUND IN DIFFERENT PLACES THAN BEAUTY, PLEASURE AND WONDER FOR MY NEIGHBOR.