And we, Mr. President, have a Constitution

“’We’re not just going to be waiting for legislation in order to make sure that we’re providing Americans the kind of help they need. I’ve got a pen and I’ve got a phone,’ Obama said Tuesday as he convened his first Cabinet meeting of the year.

“Obama continued: ‘And I can use that pen to sign executive orders and take executive actions and administrative actions that move the ball forward in helping to make sure our kids are getting the best education possible, making sure that our businesses are getting the kind of support and help they need to grow and advance, to make sure that people are getting the skills that they need to get those jobs that our businesses are creating.’”

http://washington.cbslocal.com/2014/01/14/obama-on-executive-actions-ive-got-a-pen-and-ive-got-a-phone/

(Ignore all after “move the ball forward.” It’s all BS, every time Obama says “kids” and “education” and “businesses” and “jobs.” He left out “the middle class.” It’s BS when he says that, too.

(Obama has told us what he will do. “If Congress won’t act, I will,” he said last year. And now, “I’ve got a pen and I’ve got a phone.” He also has a Congress that all too often seems self-emasculated.)

Again, maggiesfarm.

What government interference?

Johnny graduates from Moose Falls, Maine, High School. He enrolls in a community college. He is told he has to take remedial math.

Maine Gov. Paul LePage says the Moose Falls School District should pay for Johnny’s remedial math class. Gov. LePage says school districts should pay colleges and universities for every remedial class. Local school districts failed to teach students; therefore, those districts should pay for college classes.

http://rumfordmeteor.com/?p=7238

That’s called punishment. It sure doesn’t fit under leadership.

Let’s jump up to the federal level.

“To address the alarming underperformance of African-American students in the nation’s school, President Obama yesterday (July 26) signed an executive order establishing an office in the White House whose primary goal is to improve educational outcomes for Black students.”

http://www.africanglobe.net/headlines/obama-sign-executive-order-improve-african-american-education/

Obama’s order establishes “the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans, housed within the Department of Education.”

I do not know if each racial and ethnic group has its own office in the federal Department of Education. I do not remember reading of an initiative to ensure Polish-American students improved educational outcomes, or French-Americans, or Dominican-Americans or Texas-Americans. Ordering establishment of an office for a specific racial group seems … well, racist.

The whole thing is here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/07/26/executive-order-white-house-initiative-educational-excellence-african-am

Here’s something governors and presidents should remember: You can’t fix a complex problem by hiding behind money or by bringing more schools under more government control. Yeah, I know. LePage and Obama think they can. But they can’t.