Did Christine O'Donnell pass High School Civics?

[Laerod]

Should politicians have at least a basic understanding of their nations constitution?

Better question: Should voters? Undoubtedly yes.

[Vonners]

Should politicians have at least a basic understanding of their nations constitution?

Better question: Should voters? Undoubtedly yes.

Politicians don't vote? Actually that's perhaps not all that bad an idea!

[Tekania]

no theyre not.

14th ammendment, eh?

The Fourteenth Amendment argument is bull, and the interpretation thereof is also bull; establishment of a state or local religion in no way necessarily depriving anyone of anything (without due process) and is in no way depriving anyone of equal representation of law. It's such a fallacy, that, frankly, I don't even understand.

There is no difficulty in understanding it. By mandating religious observance/adherence you are depriving someone of their legal liberty of religious belief. And while the late bloomers of Conn. and Mass. may have not removed their state churches well into the 19th century... Most of the rest of us realized how fucking stupid it was much earlier.... As Virginia did even before the Federal constitution was in draft...

That religion or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and, therefore, all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity towards each other. No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief; but all men shall be free to profess and by argument to maintain their opinions in matters of religion, and the same shall in nowise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities. And the General Assembly shall not prescribe any religious test whatever, or confer any peculiar privileges or advantages on any sect or denomination, or pass any law requiring or authorizing any religious society, or the people of any district within this Commonwealth, to levy on themselves or others, any tax for the erection or repair of any house of public worship, or for the support of any church or ministry; but it shall be left free to every person to select his religious instructor, and to make for his support such private contract as he shall please.

The blue part itself has remained unchanged since June 12th, 1776. The remained had been part of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom as enacted in 1786 until its later incorporation as part of the state Constitution.... That Mass. and Conn. were so backwards as to take well into the 19th Century is of no concern to us.

[Bluth Corporation]

what i found disturbing is not that she didnt understand the first ammendment. it is in effect whether she understands it or not.

i really didnt like her insistence that we need to get the feds out of education (get rid of the dept of education) so local school districts can decide whether to teach evolution or replace it with intelligent design.

Well it does have some logic. If we get rid of all that pesky engineering, math and science then we can recover all those factory jobs and we wouldn't need illegals to pick the fields.

I, for one, would be quite pleased if education focused less on worthless fields like math and science and more on what really matters, like the liberal and fine arts and humanities.

[Vonners]

Well it does have some logic. If we get rid of all that pesky engineering, math and science then we can recover all those factory jobs and we wouldn't need illegals to pick the fields.

I, for one, would be quite pleased if education focused less on worthless fields like math and science and more on what really matters, like the liberal and fine arts and humanities.

and applied sewing...

[Ashmoria]

I, for one, would be quite pleased if education focused less on worthless fields like math and science and more on what really matters, like the liberal and fine arts and humanities.

and applied sewing...

that is going to be SOOO important when you have to make your walmart clothing last for years and years!

[Vonners]

and applied sewing...

that is going to be SOOO important when you have to make your walmart clothing last for years and years!

ohhh Walmart...that's the high end shopping we can only dream about!

[Unhealthy2]

I, for one, would be quite pleased if education focused less on worthless fields like math and science and more on what really matters, like the liberal and fine arts and humanities.

I know you have this weird, and never explained or justified (which is really rare for you) anti-scientific stance, but now you're also anti-mathematics too? How? What could possibly be your objection to mathematics? I mean, you're an Objectivist fanboy right? What could possibly be MORE objective than mathematics?

My suspicion is that you don't really believe 50% or more of what you say, and you deliberately take controversial stances just to get attention from people.

Oh, by the way, I know you're almost certainly not going to give any real response to this post, so don't feel bad about either ignoring it or giving a 3 word answer like you always do.

[The Black Forrest]

Well it does have some logic. If we get rid of all that pesky engineering, math and science then we can recover all those factory jobs and we wouldn't need illegals to pick the fields.

I, for one, would be quite pleased if education focused less on worthless fields like math and science and more on what really matters, like the liberal and fine arts and humanities.

No no no. Religious studies is even more important!

[Jingoist Hippostan]

I, for one, would be quite pleased if education focused less on worthless fields like math and science and more on what really matters, like the liberal and fine arts and humanities.

I know you have this weird, and never explained or justified (which is really rare for you) anti-scientific stance, but now you're also anti-mathematics too? How? What could possibly be your objection to mathematics? I mean, you're an Objectivist fanboy right? What could possibly be MORE objective than mathematics?

My suspicion is that you don't really believe 50% or more of what you say, and you deliberately take controversial stances just to get attention from people.

My suspicion is that he's being sarcastic. Especially given the whole "objectivist" thing.

[Bluth Corporation]

I, for one, would be quite pleased if education focused less on worthless fields like math and science and more on what really matters, like the liberal and fine arts and humanities.

I know you have this weird, and never explained or justified (which is really rare for you) anti-scientific stance, but now you're also anti-mathematics too? How? What could possibly be your objection to mathematics? I mean, you're an Objectivist fanboy right? What could possibly be MORE objective than mathematics?

That you say this simply demonstrates your lack of understanding of Objectivism.

I have no objection to mathematics, in and of itself. It's simply a field of study that does nothing to improve men. Certainly, it can help make nifty devices that make life more convenient or longer--but what's the use of an extra five years of life if those years are devoid of beauty and love and enlightenment?

[The Black Forrest]

I know you have this weird, and never explained or justified (which is really rare for you) anti-scientific stance, but now you're also anti-mathematics too? How? What could possibly be your objection to mathematics? I mean, you're an Objectivist fanboy right? What could possibly be MORE objective than mathematics?

That you say this simply demonstrates your lack of understanding of Objectivism.

I have no objection to mathematics, in and of itself. It's simply a field of study that does nothing to improve men. Certainly, it can help make nifty devices that make life more convenient or longer--but what's the use of an extra five years of life if those years are devoid of beauty and love and enlightenment?

Oh. So you admit you don't know what you are talking about.....

[Jingoist Hippostan]

That you say this simply demonstrates your lack of understanding of Objectivism.

I have no objection to mathematics, in and of itself. It's simply a field of study that does nothing to improve men. Certainly, it can help make nifty devices that make life more convenient or longer--but what's the use of an extra five years of life if those years are devoid of beauty and love and enlightenment?

Oh. So you admit you don't know what you are talking about.....

Yeah...this. This.

[Bluth Corporation]

That you say this simply demonstrates your lack of understanding of Objectivism.

I have no objection to mathematics, in and of itself. It's simply a field of study that does nothing to improve men. Certainly, it can help make nifty devices that make life more convenient or longer--but what's the use of an extra five years of life if those years are devoid of beauty and love and enlightenment?

Oh. So you admit you don't know what you are talking about.....

What?

[The Black Forrest]

Oh. So you admit you don't know what you are talking about.....

What?

Exactly.

[Vonners]

Oh. So you admit you don't know what you are talking about.....

What?

well I for one thought you were taking the piss...

[Muravyets]

Separation of Church and State is not in the Bill of Rights, but rather, an interpretation.

Considering both Jefferson and Madison wrote about it; not much of an interpretation.........

It was their interpretation. Of what they wrote. But still just an interpretation, for whatever that's worth. Seriously, if you're not a totally prejudiced leftist like those losers Jefferson and Madison, you'd admit the words "Congress shall make no law" can mean anything the right wants it to.

[Vonners]

Considering both Jefferson and Madison wrote about it; not much of an interpretation.........

It was their interpretation. Of what they wrote. But still just an interpretation, for whatever that's worth. Seriously, if you're not a totally prejudiced leftist like those losers Jefferson and Madison, you'd admit the words "Congress shall make no law" can mean anything the right wants it to.

PATRIOT! ARGH!

[Muravyets]

Alot of people seem to confuse Freedom of Religion with Freedom from Religion... theres a difference. Separation of church and state does not appear in the constitution, or the Bill of Rights. You are free to practice or not practice, no laws can be made regarding such... theres nothing more stated. O'Donnell has a point, and everyone has their own interpretation.
Ya, Jefferson has a letter talking to a friend about it, but I believe even that letter is spun by a specific interpretation.

Madison spoke if it as well.

http://www.jstor.org/pss/1920731

You can't have freedom of religion without having freedom from religion.

No Religious test should be required for office or anything else for that matter......

That part actually is in the Constitution, the main part, not even an amendment. Article VI.

[Muravyets]

I know, judging people on what they say when running for office, as opposed to...

Uh...

What you want them to say.

Judging someone based on their past stances and things they said several years ago is stupid.

I do NOT oppose judging her for this quote though, unless, as it says in the article, she was misunderstood, which is a possibility being completely ignored here.

Ignored? No. Dismissed as a ridiculous dodge, yes.

[Greed and Death]

what i found disturbing is not that she didnt understand the first ammendment. it is in effect whether she understands it or not.

i really didnt like her insistence that we need to get the feds out of education (get rid of the dept of education) so local school districts can decide whether to teach evolution or replace it with intelligent design.

Well it does have some logic. If we get rid of all that pesky engineering, math and science then we can recover all those factory jobs and we wouldn't need illegals to pick the fields.

But the feds aren't in education. WE only got a federal standardized test under Bush thanks to the No Child Left behind act. Otherwise there is literally no across the board federal education.

[Occupied Deutschland]

Well it does have some logic. If we get rid of all that pesky engineering, math and science then we can recover all those factory jobs and we wouldn't need illegals to pick the fields.

But the feds aren't in education. WE only got a federal standardized test under Bush thanks to the No Child Left behind act. Otherwise there is literally no across the board federal education.

Every school in the country also vies for federal Education money, and that has a MASSIVE effect.

[Vonners]

Well it does have some logic. If we get rid of all that pesky engineering, math and science then we can recover all those factory jobs and we wouldn't need illegals to pick the fields.

But the feds aren't in education. WE only got a federal standardized test under Bush thanks to the No Child Left behind act. Otherwise there is literally no across the board federal education.

what about those SAT type tests? Aren't they federal?

[Farnhamia]

But the feds aren't in education. WE only got a federal standardized test under Bush thanks to the No Child Left behind act. Otherwise there is literally no across the board federal education.

Every school in the country also vies for federal Education money, and that has a MASSIVE effect.

No, they don't. The Department of Education doesn't distribute money directly to individual schools, except perhaps in the form of some sort of grant, and not "every school in the country" vies for those. Federal aid to education goes to the states, who distribute as they see fit. Nor does the ED dictate curriculum or even advise on it, expect in a vaguely general way. In fact, the biggest intrusion into education policy and practice in the country came from the Republican side of the aisle, with the No Child Left Behind Act. Of course, pranksters that they are, the Republicans passed that as an unfunded mandate to the states.

[Ashmoria]

Well it does have some logic. If we get rid of all that pesky engineering, math and science then we can recover all those factory jobs and we wouldn't need illegals to pick the fields.

But the feds aren't in education. WE only got a federal standardized test under Bush thanks to the No Child Left behind act. Otherwise there is literally no across the board federal education.

yeah that is one of the problems with her position

the other problem is that the supreme court has consistently ruled against teaching religion as science