Questions for Americans, Part IV

(Parts 1, 2, 3)

13. Would you insist that faith based organizations forfeit that right [to hire people who share their beliefs] to access federal funds?

Another question that doesn't ask what it's really asking. Any group that receives federal funding for providing services to the community must follow all non-discrimination policies of the federal government. The question isn't whether they can hire people who share their beliefs, but whether they will be forced to hire people who do not share their beliefs. And the answer is obvious to me: you take the government's money, you are subject to the government's rules, including equal employment. It may be that the churches/FBOs are in the best positions to provide services to a community, but if they are providing discriminatory services, they have no business acting on the government's behalf and should be excluded from access to funding.

This is not, as many like to claim, an imposition on or limitation on their ability to practice their own religion. They are welcome to so what they like, fulfilling their own missions, with their own money and free from governmental interference. Once they start taking money to act as a branch of the government, they have to follow all the same rules as any other branch.

14. Do you think good teachers should make more than poor teachers?

This is yet another question loaded with presuppositions that just avoids what Warren wants to ask: Should there be merit pay instituted for teachers based on test scores?

Teachers are held to professional standards, yet treated like McDonald's line workers. In what other industries must there be constant education and recertification? Professional engineers, lawyers, etc. Now substitute any of those for "teachers" in the above question. See how meaningless it is?

Once teachers are paid commensurate with their education level and work responsibilities, then we can discuss merit pay. Very few teachers actually take a summer vacation; most use the summer for classes, planning for the next year, or otherwise improving their own professionalism. Do you really believe that educating children is one of the most important roles in society today? Then you have to prove it by paying the people who do the job in accordance with their importance.

Once that is established, why not reward teachers who do exceptionally well? Instead of punishing teachers whose test scores are below average, how about figuring out what the problem is and giving them help?

15. Define “rich.” Give me a number.

There used to be a clear distinction between the rich and the poor. Now there is a vast middle class and the wealth distinctions are faded. I would define the rich as those in the top 20% of earners in an economy. I don't know what income level that is, but I do know that I'm not anywhere near it!

16. When our right to privacy and our right to national security collide, how do you decide what takes precedent?

This was also asked of Senator McCain only. Let me put it simply: those who would sacrifice individual rights for national security deserve neither.