Free schools from feds
The federal government's overtaxing and involvement in our public schools has always irritated me. Educating students in American schools with the same curriculum and the same goals while regulating learning stifles new ideas and teaching potential, not to mention millions if not billions in tax dollar waste.
States should be able to run their own schools without federal influence, oversight and controls.
Open diversity education with the least amount of governmental influences promotes personal freedom and imagination.
The Obama brotherhood's newest idea is to implement a program called "Connect-Ed." The goal of Connect-Ed is to install Internet in 99 percent of all schools ("for the children").
To pay for this, the Obama administration will soon be charging all cellphone users a new tax (estimated at $12 billion during the next three years). The Obama administration will be jamming this through the Federal Communications Commission, thus sidestepping Congress again.
Spending waste, fraud and incompetence are certain. Kathleen Sebelius is even pictured on the propaganda web page! This idea is being implemented in South Korea now and they "believe they will go completely text free by 2016."
Do we really want big government dictating our children's education? One more sneaky tax?
Imagine classrooms all tuned to the same programming, brought to you by the federal government.
"And now a message from our president."
What's next? Burn the old books? Little cameras on top of computers? Call me paranoid but you better call your congressman with those soon-not-to-be-so-free cellphone minutes.
Dick Mitchell
Lewiston
Job offers scams
A couple weeks ago I cautioned job seekers about job offers on Craigslist, saying they were scams.
The poster posts a job like a receptionist but when the job seeker applies, that position is taken but the person needs something like a personal assistant. The employee is sent money with a wage of $500 per week to disperse these funds where the employers direct him or her.
The second one I responded to said I was to send money to an orphanage. Nice of her, huh?
I said, "No thanks."
I read in the Tribune Thursday on page 7C the article "Couple sentenced after violation of Iranian embargo." This couple, a doctor and his attorney wife, were sending money to Iran via the orphanage. The charge is for money laundering and defrauding the government.
Writer Nigel Duara calls it pure economic greed as the couple have $20 million in the bank. The child foundation did not return calls. I wonder how come. Besides being imprisoned for a year and a day, the couple have some restitution to pay.
Now, I think if a job seeker landed a job with these people, he or she could land in jail with the couple. They say misery loves company. Isn't that interesting? Even an attorney can't get her head out of the noose.
Jacqueline Picard
Clarkston
Bait and switch
Michael Costello, your Oct. 26 commentary was indeed "spot on."
Freedom of speech, freedom of choice, is the cornerstone of our country. We fought for these rights! Obamacare says, "I will make the choice for you. I will tell you how much you will pay or I, the president, will fine you."
The sticker shock of this crap is out of reach for students, middle-class people, elderly and low-income people.
Wait until next year when this "extended scam" comes to an end. After the elections, the millions who think this will not affect them, "it's coming."
It is also interesting that if anyone speaks out on this law he is labeled a terrorist, Tea Party or a Republican. This administration cannot answer the most simple questions.
Obamacare - it is not about choice. It's about the loss of freedom of choice.
We are slowly losing our freedoms under this administration.
If this health law is so good, why aren't Congress and the White House leaders be forced to sign up or be fined?
Michael Edwards
Kendrick
