Commentary: Peter Roff - The big bailout hidden in relief
Peter Roff
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The $2 trillion in new spending just enacted by congressional Democrats is a COVID relief bill in name only. It’s plenty of money all right, but so little of it goes to fighting the pandemic it brings to mind an observation attributed to Benjamin Franklin concerning an ox that had been mistaken for a bull.
“He’s thankful for the honor,” the great man supposedly said, “but he’d much rather have restored what’s rightfully his.”
The politicians and public sector employees whose campaign contributions keep them in office have seized on the COVID crisis to replenish the funds in their chronically underfunded pension plans while the voters weren’t looking. And they should be ashamed of themselves.
It s one thing to offer virtual school as a matter of necessity, and it s another thing to make it great. Boise State is succeeding at both and gaining national attention in the process.
When the pandemic hit last year and lockdowns started, schools across the country that were unprepared had to scramble to put something in place, and students and teachers had to figure out Google Classroom in a hurry. My daughter s elementary school did have a program in place before the pandemic, but it sure changed a lot between March and September after parents, students, and teachers got together on what worked and what didn t. Many tweaks were put into place, like having all-day activities instead of a work-at-your-own pace approach so the kids didn t finish for the day at 9:30 am and spend the rest of the time twiddling their thumbs. Online school at the elementary level has been an adventure, to say the least. But it s good prep for college.
Wyoming Ranked Among Worst States Because Rankings are Stupid
I have argued for a long time that we need to completely disregard rankings of places and things. A new ranking that puts Wyoming among the worst states in America is even more proof of that theory.
This one stings a little more than most since it comes from US News and World Report. I normally respect them for real news . It s their 2021 version of Overall Best States Rankings. I would recommend you check out the full list, but I ll save you a little scrolling time.
US News & World Report Infographic
In recent years, there has been another uptick in interest of some citizens in the Evergreen State to split the state into two separate states. I think we should just leave it the way it is and, apparently, the folks at US News and World Report agree.