Assumptions....
Here are a few assumptions many politicians, parents, concerned citizens, etc, may find useful. These are independant of any culture or religious bias.
1. People will only learn if they want the knowledge. Throwing a bunch of kids into a building for 7 hours a day will not make them learn. If you do, do not expect results.
2. Life is not an issue. The sanctity of life, or the horrible circumstances thereof, should never be the basis of government policy, regardless of the substance. I don't care if the issue is abortion or capital punishment. It doesn't matter. Pick one: Killing people isn't wrong or Killing people is wrong. It's that simple.
3. The world does not revolve around the individual. If it did, then every vote would matter, but it doesn't, so only attract those people who flock together in large numbers. File sharing networks have already proven that individuals cannot change government, but large groups of people in a localized area with a common background and organization can. Attract the votes of the majority using a main theme.
4. Welfare is good, in concept. In practice, it becomes dubious. Save the government some time and only award it to people who actually tell the truth. It's not hard. Make them show their property taxes. And their parents'. And their other close relatives'.
5. Religion and politics is a bad idea. The current conservatives have already shown as much. Religious rhetoric and dogma as policy is a big no-no. It reeks of repression and stagnates the very ground. The only thing religion married to politics has given us is ignorance, which is the current disease of our times.
1. People will only learn if they want the knowledge. Throwing a bunch of kids into a building for 7 hours a day will not make them learn. If you do, do not expect results.
2. Life is not an issue. The sanctity of life, or the horrible circumstances thereof, should never be the basis of government policy, regardless of the substance. I don't care if the issue is abortion or capital punishment. It doesn't matter. Pick one: Killing people isn't wrong or Killing people is wrong. It's that simple.
3. The world does not revolve around the individual. If it did, then every vote would matter, but it doesn't, so only attract those people who flock together in large numbers. File sharing networks have already proven that individuals cannot change government, but large groups of people in a localized area with a common background and organization can. Attract the votes of the majority using a main theme.
4. Welfare is good, in concept. In practice, it becomes dubious. Save the government some time and only award it to people who actually tell the truth. It's not hard. Make them show their property taxes. And their parents'. And their other close relatives'.
5. Religion and politics is a bad idea. The current conservatives have already shown as much. Religious rhetoric and dogma as policy is a big no-no. It reeks of repression and stagnates the very ground. The only thing religion married to politics has given us is ignorance, which is the current disease of our times.