[VRM]

Ernie,
Pravda tends to exaggerate to make their point, but Fox and CNN do the same, while managing to leave out crucial bits of information needed to properly understand the context of a situation.

In this case, education in America has been taking a turn for the worst, but it is not Obamas or GWBs fault. Teachers are teaching new math (have any of you ever tried it? I helped a friends daughter with it because I get math better than they do - it's, ummm, interesting.), not failing kids, and worrying about getting sued for allowing prayer and teaching Darwin.
And this is parents fault for not allowing kids to fail, and thinking that your kid is 'special' rather than 'needs help' It is also parents fault for making sure their kids win at sporting events by tripping the other team players, and not allowing their kids to learn honour and good sportsmanship by losing gracefully.
By properly teaching kids how to lose, and that not everybody wins, they will learn that winning is better than losing, and that just showing up does not count as winning.

We also have to watch religion. I dislike religions for a variety of reasons, but there are also some good qualities to many of them. Most religions have the same basic tenets that we have used to form part of our laws. Murder and stealing do not go over very well in most cultures, but we seem to think that a guy who robs a 7-11 of $100 should get hard time, but the guy who steals millions should get a comfy club fed sentence. I would rather our politicians be guided by the basics of their religion and our laws whilst doing their job, and save the preaching for their own private worship.

We (well, most of you, actually - I usually don't vote for incumbents) keep re-electing the same corrupt people and somehow expect things will be better. Sounds like insanity to me.

But Obama will not convert this country to marxism/socialism - there is simply too much money at stake, and there are not yet enough people with nothing to lose.

Steve