A new Zogby poll indicates that Americans’ badly need a primer on the highest court in the land: 77 percent can name two of the Seven Dwarfs and 74 percent the Three Stooges, but only 24 percent can do the same for two U.S. Supreme Court justices. And Justice Clarence Thomas is the most known — named by 20 percent, compared with nearly 11 percent for next-highest Justice Antonin Scalia — probably because of Thomas’ controversial confirmation hearings. The most-cited dwarf was Sleepy, followed by Dopey and Grumpy.
Another finding to make a teacher groan: A mere 42 percent knew that the legislative, executive and judicial branches comprise the federal government. And one more: 60 percent knew Krypton as Superman’s home planet, but 40 percent knew Mercury was the planet closest to the sun.
This is how David Letterman handled the poll: “According to a recent poll, more Americans can name the Seven Dwarfs than can name the nine Supreme Court justices. Strangely, Justice (David) Souter is on both lists.”
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Give Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., credit. Unlike many members of Congress, he tries hard to be consistent in his politics, extending his “compassionate conservative” philosophy beyond a few hot-button social issues, as the Q&A on today’s Opinion pages (and related online video excerpts) show. But that philosophy also puts him at odds sometimes with traditional conservative principles of limited government and local control. And his consistency falters when it comes to opposing the destruction of embryos by researchers but not by fertility clinics. Still, he has shown considerable political courage in calling for a comprehensive immigration reform bill and in his opposition to the death penalty except in rare circumstances — stances that are at odds with many conservatives and have hurt his presidential prospects.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
GOP gubernatorial candidate Jim Barnett wouldn’t tell The Topeka Capital-Journal whether he’d rather the conservative majority on the State Board of Education had remained in place. He said: “I prefer that the people of Kansas are engaged in the election process and get out to vote.” Yet Barnett was critical of opponents of the science standards for twisting the other side’s position and being less than factual about what’s in the standards, and he said local districts should be free to teach science as they see fit. “What I think is important is both sides of this story are taught in a factual manner,” he said. For her part, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius seems pleased with the outcome of the Aug. 1 primary, which ensured that evolution critics will lose their majority on the board. “I’ve always believed that science should be taught in science classrooms,” she said.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
It’s good that local efforts to end chronic homelessness aren’t waiting on the often foot-dragging efforts of government leaders.
Inter-Faith Ministries last week announced a new $4 million apartment project in Midtown for low-income residents that will reserve some apartments for the homeless.
The project in the 900 block of North Market involves building a new 32-unit complex and renovating an existing building with eight apartments — and it adds to Inter-Faith’s two existing apartment complexes on North Market.
It is part of Inter-Faith’s strategy — affirmed by national experts and the experience of other cities — that chronic homelessness can best be ended by providing permanent housing with support services such as job counseling and addiction and mental health treatment.
The permanent housing strategy likely will be a prominent part of whatever action plan is produced by the new city-county homeless task force. Meanwhile, Inter-Faith’s strategy is leading the way.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
