Kansas State Board of Education chairman Steve Abrams (in photo) argues in today’s Eagle that the federal court ruling against intelligent design has nothing to do with Kansas’ science standards. “It is apples and oranges,” he said. “We do not have intelligent design in the standards.”
As we point out in our editorial today, though it is true that the Kansas board didn’t insert ID by name into our standards, the standards open a space for discussion of ID arguments. The board also changed the very definition of science to accommodate ID. And the Scopes-like trial that the board held last spring was run by ID proponents. It’s also clear, from their personal comments and the standards, that state board conservatives were motivated by religion, not mainstream science — as was the Dover, Pa., school board.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
Cal Thomas’ column in today’s Eagle is dishonest and incoherent. He seems to argue that those trying to question the president’s possibly illegal spying on American citizens will have to take the blame for the next national security disaster. But he conveniently ignores the fact that the bipartisan critics aren’t against spying — they’re against illegal spying, undertaken against American citizens in violation of U.S. law. Don’t like the law? Then change it.
Cal also bemoans the restrictions against torture. To him, security is more important than civil liberties, echoing Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas: “None of your civil liberties matter much after you’re dead.” But I liked the apt retort by Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis.: “Give me liberty or give me death.”
Posted by Randy Scholfield
Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, explained his vote last week against the House version of the McCain anti-torture measure this way, as quoted in The New York Times: “It’s absolutely unnecessary” — because existing laws already prohibit torture, he said. But the legislation won 308 votes in the House and 90 in the Senate — meaning the vast majority of lawmakers think the need to stand firmly against torture trumps the need to avoid redundancy. And, of course, Tiahrt doesn’t apply the same thinking to gay marriage; it’s already against the law, yet he’s a co-sponsor of an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would ban it again.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
The Washington Post had competing commentaries Tuesday from two conservatives about President Bush authorizing eavesdropping. George Will argued that the executive branch “needs concentrated decisiveness,” particularly in times of war or the threat of it. “But the inescapable corollary of this need is the danger of arbitrary power,” Will wrote. And he doesn’t understand why Bush didn’t just get court or congressional permission for the eavesdropping. But William Kristol doesn’t see a constitutional problem with Bush’s actions. “Founders intended the executive to have — believed the executive needed to have — some powers in the national security area that were extralegal but constitutional,” Kristol argued.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
For Americans who think China just makes toys, tools and cell phones, Eagle reporter Alan Bjerga’s series on China’s burgeoning aircraft industry should provide a wake-up call. The Chinese have ambitious plans to move into commercial jet parts, modification, assembly and other manufacturing work that directly competes with Wichita jobs.
True, despite their cheap labor costs, the Chinese are still far behind in technology, productivity and other areas, say experts. But the Chinese are sending the unmistakable message that they intend to be players in this industry, sooner rather than later.
China recently surpassed the United States to become the world’s largest supplier of information technology. What’s especially worrisome is the potential for a technology and skills transfer to the Chinese that they will use to develop their own aircraft industry.
Some globalization of labor is inevitable, but America must zealously guard its intellectual property and know-how, a main source of economic strength and national security. And Wichita should redouble efforts to upgrade worker skills and think strategically, even in the midst of an upswing in local aircraft jobs.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
I rented the excellent documentary “Mad Hot Ballroom” this past weekend, and I was reminded of the transformational and leveling potential of public education — and the educational value of the arts. The film is about a competitive ballroom dancing program in some New York City elementary schools. One school principal noted that more than 90 percent of her students are poor and could never afford to take private dance lessons. She also has seen positive behavioral and academic changes in students as a result of the program. A teacher at the same school observed that you can never tell what talent is within a student until you give it a chance to come out.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
Give former Sedgwick County Commissioner Dave Bayouth credit for being creative in proposing a downtown arena that spans the Arkansas River. But the County Commission has already chosen an arena site after an extensive process of professional evaluations and public input. It’s not worth starting that process over.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
