"The Lottery"

Greetings All,


         Documentary The Lottery, by Cory Booker et.al, and directed by Madeleine Sackler is a corrosive dissection of facts that highlights the failing academic state of affairs of The United States of America's educational system.  The motivation of my words shall unveil my thoughts on the issues assembled in this film.  In addition, I will address the fairness of those issues while on occasion offering variant rationales.  Ultimately, I will convey the educational memories of my childhood.

          The Lottery disclosed alarming statistics on the disparity of academic achievement separating the upper and lower classes.  For example, 50% of low income children will fail to graduate by the time they reach 18 years of age. The roots of the deficiency, inappropriately, are the adults and politics.  To explain, per the documentary, little is to be gained during election time without the support of the teacher's union.  The teacher's union appear to be selfishly clinging on to a formula for education that is unsuccessful and obviously, according to the success of the charter schools, outdated.  Apparently, the main focus of the union is flawed because their principle concerns for the employees and not the children.  As a result, or perhaps a cause, a staggering share of low income 4th grader are illiterate.

            The faces of the status quote can no longer be accepted.  President Obama and Newark New Jersey's Mayor Cory Booker advocate soundly for more charter schools as per noted in this film.  Their message is one of more accountability in our school system.  The teacher's union must evolve if it is to survive.  I contend that if any particular school is not producing on appropriate levels that it not be closed, rather legally forced to separate from the union and adopt the charter school system, minus the lottery. The lottery would only be fair if a new school was established.

                 I attended a private Catholic school as a child in a poor neighborhood of Cleveland,Ohio; walking distance to my grandparents house.  Sadly, although I retained the basics perhaps, my grade point averages were not much to be desired.  It wasn't until I established a path to a higher education (as an adult over 40) did I truly experience diversity.  Only until then did I appreciate what knowledge has to offer.  In the spirit of Socrates I humbly submit that I know little to nothing at all. However, I inspire to learn all I can, so I too can make a difference.



Cal Sloan

"Enough is Enough"

Greetings All,

I'm sure with the recent civilian killings in Afghanistan has the average American wondering, why are we still there?  I'm too, one of those average Americans asking the same question. Haven't we either captured or killed enough of the enemy?  More importantly, haven't enough of our citizens paid the ultimate sacrifice.  When is enough, enough?  The Taliban has been forced out of Afghanistan and has felt the retaliation of our Armed Forces.

The premise of my words is job well done, mission accomplished! It's time to come home.  Now we are dealing with our own troops killing the same people we are supposed to be protecting; which sadly is the case for 10 year veteran Staff Sergeant Robert Gales.  His four tours of combat has obviously taken a toll on his mental state on mind. What else would cause a war hero to tarnish his commitment to his country with such heinous acts of murder. Americans have been at war for far too many years.  America needs to honor our fallen heros by ending all wars and use those resources allocated for  war efforts and make a difference here in the United States. Enough is Enough!

Cal Sloan

"Safety First"

Greetings All,

Above are examples when corners are cut and safety components are compromised.  I wrote a letter to the Editor of the Palm Beach Post of my dissatisfaction on HB7051 being signed into law by Governor Scott that would ultimately alleviate safety regulations and red tape for builders and significant others, making the jobs they do less expensive.  The point of my letter was the Power Elites of this country are putting you and I at risk.  Governor Scott has ignored the warnings of the environmental specialist and satisfied the groups that put him in office.

My argument is simple, we have elected officials amongst us that are crossing the line of "Common Sense" out of pure obligation to the top 10% wealthy Americans in this country.  One example of Governor Scott crossing the line is when he totally disregarded our political system and signed an executive order forcing welfare recipients to undergo drug testing when his wife owns 32 drug testing facilities throughout Florida.  If that's not a conflict of interest, the meaning of the phrase is over my head.

Suffice it to say, one cannot put a price tag on safety.  Life is too short and too precious.  There has to be a way to eradicate the corruption in politics.  "Safety First".


Cal Sloan