qassamcounts

on facebook, organizations and movements sometimes create mini-applications to donate your status to their cause. for example, i donated my status to an election day movement that encouraged people to vote. the application automatically updates your status so it appears near the top of your friends' news feeds and attracts their attention. recently, hawkish pro-israel supporters started a "QassamCount" mini-application that updates your status to count the number of qassam rockets sent into israel.

for example, today's qassam count status writes, "QassamCount: At least 16 Hamas rockets hit Israel Saturday. 2 rockets hit houses in the city of Ashkelon."

there is no doubt that hamas rockets sent indiscriminately into israel were wrong and dangerous and should be considered offensive attacks. we must condemn them. hamas says that they want to destroy israel, and we should believe them. violence against israeli civilians is hateful and unjust. the qassamcounts aren't offensive because they are lies. i accept that the qassamcounts are probably true. (that palestinian militants continue to shoot missiles into southern israel, by the way, undermines the central mission of israel's offensive to stop rocket fire into israel proper.)

instead, i think the qassamcounts are offensive because they are so blind and deaf to real reality right now. the israeli response, in ten days of fighting, has killed more than 800 palestinians. an ap report says that just about half of that total has been civilians.

when i was a student at the university of michigan, i participated in a debate between pro-israel and pro-palestinian supporters. no hawkish pro-israel supporter accepted the invitation so a friend of mine asked me to participate. yes, the organization consistently highlighted what they felt were unjust acts committed against palestinians. and yes, the pro-palestinian supporters often undermined or rejected or ignored sensible arguments that highlighted israeli concerns or losses.

i hope that my ideas were thoughtful enough to persuade people that people who support an israeli state are not hateful or unjust. we also hope and pray for peace and justice. yet, i remember this moment, after all, because i remember that several pro-israel supporters strenuously argued that my debate helped legitimize the group's complaints and concerns. they argued that my participation amplified the group's hateful beliefs.

unfortunately, i think the same faulty reasoning lies at the heart of this conflict. there are two whole, parallel narratives that define the israeli-palestinian conflict. it is not my right to judge and dismiss either narrative. i have no power to legitimize or deligitimize someone's beliefs and opinions. in fact, the idea that we should not even talk (TALK!) with someone else because it will legitimize their opinions is so completely offensive and arrogant. in contrast, our democracy is centrally based on the free exchange of free ideas. second, when we boycott dialogue with our enemies, we also boycott the only mechanism that can lead to peaceful progress. we must talk to create peace, and we must create peace.

now. right right now.

the world needs to mobilize an immediate ceasefire and a binding resolution that refers any aggression to an international force. israel has a right to protect her citizens, but she does not have the right to lay waste to palestinian civilians. because the nature of gaza limits any opportunity for a just military action, the only just solution is an international agreement with international support for an international military force to govern the borders.

strong critics contend that israel has committed war crimes. israel has not committed war crimes. there is no holocaust. there is no question, in my opinion, that israel pursues a humane war. they hunt military targets. they try to limit causalities by projecting their advances. they drop leaflets and make radio addresses to warn civilians. they launch sound bombs as early warning signals. they have established a humanitarian corridor to alleviate some suffering. i wholly believe this is true.

however, war is not a perfectly clean operation. in fact, the very nature of war in the densely packed gaza strip insures horrific mistakes. yes, hamas fighters endanger palestinian civilians while they hide inside densely packed civilian areas. yet, we know that even precises strikes will endanger civilians. in fact, israeli strikes have misfired and accidentally killed more than 400 civilians. while i am completely certain israel does not target civilians, they have shown a basic indifference to their clear mistakes. a un school. a complete city block. whole families.

the war in gaza inhumane and unjust. it cannot be otherwise. how do you fight a war against a hateful enemy that will cause you to kill unarmed civilians in a densely packed urban area?

you don't fight it. you organize an international coalition to enforce peace.

i support israel, but i do not support this war. i believe in israel, but i do not believe in this war. i love israel, but i do not love this war.

ceasefire.

"The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. Through violence you murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate.... Returning violence for violence multiples violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
"On Black Power"
1967

this is what i think.

1) sustained peace simply cannot be achieved by war. real peace can only ever be achieved by peace.

2) the hamas government has not pursued peace. they have a clear mission: the destruction of the state of israel. they mean what they say.

3) israel pursued a diplomatic strategy to contain the hamas government through an economic blockade. they received broad support that did severely restrict governance and eroded public support.

4) a sovereign nation has every right to defend itself when it is attacked. a country must be able to protect its citizens.

5) gaza clearly cannot defeat the israeli armed forces. when israel left lebanon the first time, and when they left lebanon after the last incursion, it is not because they were not able to achieve military superiority. it is because military superiority is not governance.

6) israel learned from a failed strategy in lebanon, and they are determined not to repeat the same mistakes. this incursion will be more powerful and more successful than the incursion into lebanon.

7) however, military incursions simply cannot deliver this peace. you can acknowledge that hamas incited this conflict, even as you acknowledge that israeli force will not deliver sustained peace.

8) israel clearly uses disproportionate force when they conduct air operations. further, bombs flown into densely populated areas are unjust. in my opinion, israel simply cannot pursue the heavy air operations if they inflict such high civilian casualties. leaflets, radio addresses, phone calls, and sound bombs simply do not justify those operations.

9) all civilian death is unjustified. it's not justified if a civilian is israeli. it's not justified if a civilian is palestinian.

10) we have to stand up when we believe things are not just. it doesn't matter who does what. it is not just for hamas militants to send missiles into israel. it is not just for israel to send heavy bomb barrages into densely populated civilian areas.

11) i would tell my kids the same thing. you punch a kid in the face it doesn't solve your problem. your problem is still there. and it's probably a little bit more pissed off.

12) why? war cannot deliver peace.

13) peace now.

detroit

i don't know the whole story, and i'm certain that i don't know all of the information. still, i can't help thinking that there are class issues circling in the ongoing debates on federal relief and bailout programs. it seemed there was a fierce urgency of now to complete the bank bailouts. many people claimed immediate bailouts were necessary to prevent a complete collapse of the worldwide economic system. and the stock market clearly thought that first word of the bailout was positive.

for a long time, i've maintained that free market advocates haven't understood that we already live in a clearly regulated economy. our regulation even predates government stakes in major banks and insurers. we have long lived in a modified free market and modified socialist economy. in many ways, i've felt like our economy mirrors our two party system. we have two stringent poles that advocate for static ideas, even against what real research and real data tells us. (although, i don't know if more economic systems would help our economy in the same way more political parties might help our democracy.)

still, i feel like there is a strong element of class discrimination in the heightened politics of the auto bailout versus the smash mouth agenda of the bank bailouts. while i certainly believe that each bailout should have required tough questions and clear financial plans from congress, why is it that only detroit received an extreme toungue lashing? why, further, does it seem that poor people and lending to poor people served as the right's talking point to explain the mortgage crisis, when in reality, the leadership of banks and need for extreme profits led to greedy and overly risky mortgage driven securities and sub-prime mortgages? why were bankers sitting on one side of the table while auto executives sit on the other?

yes, of course, detroit made serious mistakes in the operation and management of their product lines, including missed opportunities in hybrid and flex-fuel vehicles. and, of course, detroit unions overbargained and failed to realize burdensome corporate debt is also not good for retirement and health care plans. and yes, of course, our government needs to ensure that our money is protected and that there are clear rules for transparency and accountability. yes, we need to reign in executive compensation and make sure that government funds actually work in the way they are intended to help. yes, yes, yes.

but why only for the auto makers? why were the wheels greased for wall street and stopped for woodward avenue? however, why is there such umbrage only at blue collar auto workers? why do white collar workers need to keep their bonuses while blue collar workers need to receive pink slips?

let's regulate. i'm for it. let's help struggling industries. i'm for it. let's have oversight. i'm for it. but, really, why such different perspectives? i think it's class.

radiance and rosebud

so many writers explain that obama's ascent is confirmation of dr. king's boldest dream. of course, i don't think that that's true. it's clear that while 43% of whites did vote for obama, and more than 54% of young whites ages 18 to 29 voted for obama, there are still grim realities in america. we know that blacks are disproportionately poor, black and latinos dramatically underperform their white and asian peers in school, and our neighborhoods and institutions are still wildly segregated.

and while the far right is staggeringly afraid that obama will tilt america socialist, it's clear to real liberals that obama governs a centered coalition. rep. john clybourn recently explained that he may sometimes be "center-right, sometimes center-left, but always from the center." cabinet appointments that may include republicans, including current secretary of defense robert gates, make it clear that obama is not interested in being overtly partisan.

in fact, i hesitated to support obama in the primaries because i felt john edwards' policies were more clearly focused on redistribuiting opportunities and access to the poorest and most disenfranchised. i also felt that hillary clinton's clear and express support for universal health care advanced more sustainable protections for more underserved than obama's employer/employee based health plan. while many wealthy can still afford private health care in socialized health plans in europe and canada, the larger advantages of prevention and protection more clearly help the second 95% of the population.

yes, it is still clear that obama is interested in change, and it's even more clear to me that he also has the vision and the pragmatism to serve us all. it has also been clear that people across america are aware of this moment. people left, center, and wrong are proud that we have made such an historic leap forward in our history. it is true that the first 14 president could have legally owned a black slave. it also true that the first 35 presidents could not have even voted for not have even been able to a candidate obama in some places in the united states.

yes, we can. si, se puede. ken, anu y'cholim.

still, i believe obama's election will have the greatest impact on those even too young to realize what just happened. for those who are 80 years old and older, they have heard biological arguments that served to barbarize and colonize blacks. they witnessed and maybe participated in or demonstrated against violent laws that forcibly segregated and oppressed blacks. for our oldest seniors to know that america has rejected our past as vile, contemptible, and disgraceful is a just reward and a dish served cold.

yes, i am unendingly happy that barack obama will be the next president of the united states. and yes, i do believe it sends a powerful message to the world that americans are real people. we are not the caricature of all the right or wrong decisions our elected government makes. we are smarter than our history has sometimes shown us to be because i have always believed this country makes a slow but steady walk forward.

still, our middle aged have been too slow to this moment and we will be too slow to change again. we have been colored already. i don't think his election means we have arrived. it's been disgraceful that we've only had 43 white men serve as president. and yes, i'll have to change a long standing lesson i give where i explain that we have never ever elected anything but a rich white male. but, man, we've still got a long way to go.

so, now, i don't think we haven't arrived anywhere, yet. but i really do believe that radiance and rosebud have. i am beyond amazed and thrilled and happy to see that malia and sasha will be the face of the kids of the first family for everyone to see.

for our youngest, this is the absolutely most powerful new show on the wb or disney. we will see young african american girls the ages of my students and younger inside the white house. girls with locks or braids or flat irons. girls who go to black church. girls who sing "lift ev'ry voice and sing". girls with names like malia and sasha and radiance and rosebud. in fact, the first time i cried this election is when i read an article this morning that revealed the new secret service names for the obama family.

the faces of the kids on america's front lawn are young african american girls. they'll be reading books and doing their homework and hugging their mom and dad. they'll be young and strong and fun and all over the place. they'll just be regular little girls and they'll like whatever they like and they'll do whatever they do and they'll be the president's daughters. and they'll be black.

now, that's deep.

sicko

aviyah's a little sick. sick babies are no fun. : (

on a side note, i think political campaigns should be publicly financed. it doesn't make sense to me that the media covers the fundraising of candidates, and the candidate fundraising somehow becomes a proxy for their electibility or popularity. i wish that each candidate had a fair shake and a fair and level playing field. it just isn't fair that candidates are counted out of a democracy because they don't receive moneyed donors. our campaigns hsould be about issues, and our candidates should not in any way be beholden to campaign donors. i don't have time to do a full researched blog on it, it just doesn't make sense to me.

trippin' march 7th

an early march against the war in ann arbor, michigan, proclaimed, "support our troops: send them home." in the leadup to war, and in campaign 2004, president bush and conservative hawks questioned the credibility and patriotism of war opponents. however, two recent articles strongly question the credibility and patriotism of the republican administration.

thomas friedman writes that the walter reed scandal highlights an irresponsible arrogance. friedman argues that war activism has remained largely absent because the administration has worked keep the american public distant from the sacrifice required by war.

dick cavett explains that asking soldiers to sacrifice their life is offensive. his uncle was a decorated veteran from the south pacific. his uncle explains:

“Your life isn’t given,” I remember him saying, “it’s brutally ripped away from you. You’re no good to your buddies dead, and when the bullets start pouring in you don’t give a goddamn about God, country, Yale, your loved ones, the last full measure of devotion or any other of that Legionnaire patriotic crapola. You just want you and your buddies to see at least one more sunrise.”

ourdream

when i was younger, the world seemed so confusing. so many things didn't make any sense. why is there is much poverty? why is there so much injustice?

as i grow, i understand the crazy story more. still, i do not understand the apathy and patience that allows deep and persistent inequality. we retain the institution of slavery in our government, our schools, and our businesses. in an early sermon, dr. king writes, "life is a continual story of shattered dreams.''

the dream remains inspiring. however, we must work to make the dream more real. we should not tolerate the continued injustice and inequality in our communities. as we struggle to promote republican democracy, we must also learn to redress our own tyranny. cain hope fielder explains:

I am sick and tired of hearing Dr. King's 'I Have a Dream' speech when the daily reality is that for an increasing number of Americans, and the African American poor in particular, living is a nightmare.

in august 1967, king explained that he believe equality and social justice remained possible. "i refuse to give up," he said to a panel of journalists on nbc's meet the press. "i refuse to despair in this moment. . . i think in any social revolution, the one thing that keeps it going is hope."

"we have the resources to do it, but we presently don't have the will. negroes and decent, committed whites, maybe they may be in the minority now but they are there, must work together to so arouse the conscience of this issue . . . through direct action."

public comments have increasingly focused on declining standards in the urban black community. however, we still promote an open, free market for business and economy that reproduces inequality. we must support government that supports regulation of industry and trade that promotes equality and social justice. we require a revolution in the way we tolerate systematic poverty and racism. dr. king wrote: ''the law cannot make a man love me -- religion and education must do that -- but it can keep him from lynching me.''

trippin' jan. 13

inline pipeline
roger stern describes a growing oil crisis within iran. stern explains that the revolution created bloated subsidies for oil and gasoline consumption. however, the government has diverted remaining profits to nuclear production.

[Iran] has failed to reinvest in new production. Why? For the mullahs, the short-run political return on investment in oil production is zero. They are reluctant to wait the 4 to 6 years it takes for a drilling investment to yield revenue. So rather than reinvest to refresh production, the Islamic Republic starves its petroleum sector, diverting oil profits to a vast, inefficient welfare state.

the us maintains that iranian attempts to acquire nuclear energy are diversions. the eu also solidly opposes unregulated attempts to acquire nuclear power. stern explains that iran may or may not be pursuing nuclear weapons. however, he concludes that the growing energy crisis might actually require oil rich iran to identify alternative sources of energy. this clearly complicates growing international consensus to regulate and sanction iran.

outspoken circle

defense minister amir peretz led the disastrous invasion into lebanon, and he has been widely condemned by israeli politicians. however, recent initiatives have helped build trust with mahmoud abbas and the secular fatah movement. retired adviser baruch spiegel datials one plan to close more than 250 checkpoints in the palestinian territories. while it is important to guard against terrorist attacks in israel, the checkpoints are incredibly ineffective and inhumane.

spiegel does reconfirm israel's commitment to the border fence and wall. the border has been undeniably effective against terrorist attacks. however, i believe the central problem with the border is that it annexes private territory across recognized 1967 boundaries. israel retains its sovereign right to safety and security. however, i believe the continued plan to establish fixed boundaries beyond israel proper is arrogant and misguided.

trippin' jan. 8

the rising sun

martin feckler explains that japanese culture is increasingly obsessed with energy conservation. the government provides generous subsidies to individual families, and companies develop technology that sharpen energy consumption and promote reuse. the root of energy conservation may be frugal families. however, japan is also an isolated island, and citizens "have an acute sense of insecurity." hitoshi ikuma, an energy scholar for the Japan Research Institute, explains:

"It's not just technology; it's a whole mind-set. Energy conservation is almost an obsession here among government, companies, regular citizens, everyone."

while small scale energy conservation cannot retard large scale climate change, popular support for energy efficiency can advance systemic change. government policy includes hefty gasoline and oil taxes that generate revenues that support energy efficient technologies. per capita energy consumption in japan is roughly half united states per capita consumption.

apan's higher energy prices have created strong domestic demand for energy-saving products of all sorts, spurring the invention and development of things like low-energy washing machines and televisions and high- mileage cars and hybrid vehicles. Japanese factories have learned how to cut their energy use to become among the most efficient in the world.

house divided

following emergency elections, ehud olmert organized a unity government and labor mk amir peretz bargained the defense ministry portfolio. peretz's portfolio was significant because he had not gained serious honor for his military service. the body politic has consistently elected military leaders and heroes. however, retread approaches to conflicts and diplomacy failed. unfortunately, the olmert government has made a series of significant military mistakes. now, the defense minister is increasingly under pressure to resign or accept reassignment. another article heralds ehud barak's announcement that he will run for leadership of the labor party and, ostensibly, the defense portfolio.

trippin' jan. 7

sunny day

samanth and i recently viewed an inconvenient truth. former vice president al gore presents a blunt review of climate change science and explains the dire consequence of current global warming trends. our building recently started to research installing solar panels on the roof to defray common electricity costs. while first costs are significant, users gain credit for energy sold back to the power grid. over time, users see significant decreases on their energy supply bills. our discussion reflects a growing interest in renewable energy by individual homeowners, small businesses, and larger corporations.

the article explains that rising energy costs led to limited subsidies for solar energy providers and substantial tax credits for consumers. increased demand have also sharpened production cycles and decreased the cost of production, installation, and maintenance. in turn, solar energy is an increasingly valuable investment. the article explains that homeowners can expect to "zero-out" individual electric bills.

Excess credits are lost at the end of the year, so homeowners, at least for now, cannot make a profit from their solar systems. Even so, the savings can be substantial: in 2005 Mr. Felton paid Pacific Gas and Electric about $2,500 a month for electricity. . . [Today] he seldom sees an electric bill. Borrego Solar estimated the system could save Mr. Felton almost $2 million over 30 years — far more than the $255,000 the system cost him after a $134,000 rebate.

clean wages

jared bernstein explains that the new democratic congress will present a minimum wage increase soon. however, president bush and the republican opposition have coupled their support for the bill to further tax cuts. in short, bernstein argues that the bill should be clean of earmarks and party politics. while the minimum wage increase will be dulled by inflation, the proposed tax breaks will remain sharp.

In 2000, the GOP leadership added these bright ideas to a proposed minimum wage increase: a reduction in the estate tax, increased write-offs for business meals and for business investments, tax breaks for timber companies and for tax-exempt bonds, a higher self-employment health deduction, and expanded enterprise zones. Whatever their merits, neither the legislated tax cuts in 1996 nor the proposed tax cuts in 2000 were "targeted offsets" for businesses paying the minimum wage.

former secretary of labor robert reich also argues for a clean bill. he explains:

In fact, a minimum wage hike may actually help small businesses. Evidence from states that have already increased their own minimum wages suggests that a modest increase convinces more people to enter the labor market -- people like retirees, spouses, or teenagers who wouldn't bother working at a lower minimum wage. With more people willing to work, small businesses have more choice of whom to hire. That means they can find more reliable employees, and reduce costs associated with turnover.

speak easy

a recent article profiles the controversy caused by "breaking the silence", a traveling speaking tour that features former IDF soldiers. the soldiers contest "excessive force" and "unethical military behavior" against palestinians in the occupied territories. the speaking tour sparked controversy against the union of progressive zionists, a campus outreach group. the zionist organizations of america (ZOA) demanded their exclusion from the ICC, an umbrella organization for israel advocacy groups.

the soldiers' testimonials are strong and credible. however, they complicate and threaten the traditional narrative presented by israel advocacy groups: israel, the advocacy groups explain, is always correct, always justified, and always humane. political discussion in israel proper is decidedly more complex and more honest.

"American Zionist organizations. . . are becoming increasingly intolerant and bullying," explains Juan Cole, a professor of Middle Eastern history at the University of Michigan. . . "[T]he UPZ is just being treated as everyone else is that does not toe the ZOA party line, which is: no criticism of Israel is allowed by anyone, ever, and where someone dares engage in it, they should be relentlessly marginalized and punished."

trippin jan. 4

show and tell
former chairman of the joint chief of staff john shalikashvili reconsiders his former position against open gay soldiers in the military. shalikashvili explains the former president clinton was completely committed to reversing the traditional ban against gay soldiers. however, he faced overwhelming, intractable opposition from military leadership. while the compromise policy was panned by activists, shalikashvili maintains that "don't ask, don't tell" provided an effective transition from outdated tradition to progressive policy. he explains:

Last year I held a number of meetings with gay soldiers and marines, including some with combat experience in Iraq, and an openly gay senior sailor who was serving effectively as a member of a nuclear submarine crew. These conversations showed me just how much the military has changed, and that gays and lesbians can be accepted by their peers.

global flashpoints place significant stress on the comprehensive military. with perspective, shalikashvili explains: "we must welcome the service of any American who is willing and able to do the job."

mideast rules
i think thomas friedman does the most consistent, straight forward reporting on the middle east. he explains the mistakes in his early outlook on iraq, and he suggests a series of lessons to frame us policy. the most salient lesson explains that mideast politicians will declare false promises in private english. friedman writes:

What people tell you in private in the Middle East is irrelevant. All that matters is what they will defend in public in their own language.

college football playoff
the florida gators recently leapfrogged the michigan wolverines to play ohio state in the college football national championship. the new york times interviewed 12 major commissioners that decide the structure of the college postseason. unfortunately, there remains strong reluctance to start a national playoff system. the article guesses that the most likely revision retains the bowl championship series and adds one final championship championship game.

it seems like they are building an unfloatable ship, and they need to build a whole new boat. while i am disappointed the bowl championship series eliminated the traditional rose bowl matchup, the current system is clearly limited. there remains too much controversy, too much debate, and too much flexibility. a systematic playoff would crown one undisputed champion through full and fair games.

trippin' 2007

the progressive left
a hateful paper published by the american jewish committee claims that progressive liberal politics foments antisemitism.

Jews themselves, especially so-called “progressive” Jews, [contribute] to the intellectual and political climate that helps to foster such hostility, especially in its anti-Zionist forms.

the paper largely addresses unfortunate increases in public antisemitism. however, it is mistaken and decidedly unfair to claim independent political voices support antisemitism. we must be able to openly and honestly criticize, create, and debate political ideas.

student achievement and poverty
a feature article in the miami herald chronicles the impact of poverty on student achievement and school performance. the article explains that arcane legislation organizes funding for schools and consistently reproduces high density poverty. in short, the article determines:

"students who live in poverty go to school less prepared than upper- and middle-class students, score lower on standardized tests and are less likely to graduate from high school."

the article concludes that student achievement is more complex than school funding. however, the associate superintendent contends: ''Money isn't everything. . . but let's get to these children the funds that, by law, they're entitled to.''

2006 color of the year: green
thomas friendman increasingly promotes environmental activism in his columns. in short, he maintains that old business and bush conservatism fund both sides of the war on terror. going green, he explains, is good for the environment and good for business. however, environmental awareness was largely relegated to hippie kooks and hard lefty progressive. now, friedman explains that green is mainstream.

We reached a tipping point this year -- where living, acting, designing, investing and manufacturing green came to be understood by a critical mass of citizens, entrepreneurs and officials as the most patriotic, capitalistic, geopolitical, healthy and competitive thing they could do. Hence my own motto: ''Green is the new red, white and blue.''

new american jewish population survey
a major 2001 survey estimated there were 5.2 million American Jews. this represented a significant population decline, and it sparked strong concerns in the organized jewish community. however, 2 large surveys recently determined the American Jewish population continues to increase. a survey summary is published in the forward:

"Two major new demographic studies estimate the American Jewish population at well above 6 million people, indicating a growing Jewish community that contrasts sharply with popular images of Jewish decline. In particular, scholars say, the new studies appear to refute a widely publicized survey conducted in 2001, which counted 5.2 million American Jews and sparked widespread anxiety over American Jewry’s future."

bonus teachers

several cities have recently introduced merit pay salary programs for public school teachers. merit pay bonuses are generally linked to student achievement on stuandardized tests, and proponents believe that increased pay will increase teacher performance. traditional capitalists maintain that free market choice supports competition and market rate compensation promotes achievement. they further explain that individual workers will work harder to achieve company goals if they receive salary bonuses or increased commissions.

merit pay advocates maintain that "value added assessment" will enhance teacher performance and promote student achievement. in fact, education secretary margaret spelling recently declared:

"[The Teacher Incentive Fund] will reward teachers and principals who show progress in raising achievement levels and closing the achievement gap . . . It works in every other endeavor. Why not [teaching]?"

chicago recently received a $27.5 M federal grant to pilot a merit pay program in 10 volunteer public schools. public school districts are increasingly studying merit pay programs nationwide. legislation or grant programs are in process in california, ohio, texas, massachusetts, michigan, new york, and tennessee. progressive school reforms have dramatically changed our buildings and our classrooms. we must continue to redesign and reshape our schools: urban public schools still have serious challenges.

i sincerely believe cities should use pay incentive to promote effective teaching. however, merit pay bonuses are misguided and ineffective. merit pay is largely centered on student achievement on standardized tests, and standardized tests can be effective measures to study larger trends in education. however, current standardized test programs mandated by NCLB privilege select ideas and skills. students and schools increasingly focus curriculum and resources towards boosting aggregate test scores. yet, research consistently shows that well rounded programs best support long term student achievement.

i believe we should provide pay bonuses to attract teachers to understaffed, underperforming schools. there are too many variables in comprehensive student achievement to accurately assess teacher pay and performance. what is family support? who are cohort teachers? what is adequate classroom progress? is principal discretion too arbitrary? what standards are measured in standardized tests?

chicago mayor richard daley declares that he "wants the very best teachers possible to go to into the most underperforming schools." yet, if we really want the very best teachers possible in the very toughest schools, we need to staff schools with the very best teachers. too often, schools hire from disadvantage. if we create competition for teaching positions in the toughest schools, school administrations can hire from advantage. fixed salary bonuses of $10,000 - $20,000 can increase teacher applications tenfold. ineffective teachers will certainly apply. however, a larger pool of applicants strengthens the very best applications.

capitalist ideals can work in our public schools. choice and competition can provide important platforms to scale student achievement. however, capitalist reforms must be regulated to balance and promote the most effective results. teachers deserve competitive wages. we consistently struggle to design the best lessons that best teach students to be committed, engaged, innovative, and thorough. let's assign salary increases for teachers to staff our most deserving students and schools.

parent choice

several recent articles have profiled progressive legislation in new jersey that legalizes formal civil unions for gay couples. critics of gay marriage won recent election battles in . . . however, there is an inexorable more towards. . . in the larger scheme, our economy moves towards conservative free market, corporate deregulation. towards liberal social values.


http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00E1FF639550C758DDDAB0994DE404482

http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0B14FB39550C768DDDAB0994DE404482

election day

today, aviyah and i voted at ps 10 in park slope, brooklyn. the machines in new york are old school: you pull a large red lever to the right to open the ballot, turn small black knobs to cast your vote, and pull back the red lever to the left to close your ballot.

i am always moved to vote on eleciton day, and it surprises and disappoints me that we do not take our right to vote more seriously. we are incredibly passionate about our opinions, but national voter turnout consistently lags. wisconsin and minnesota lead turnout participation at more than 75%, but national turnout hovers just above 50%.

aviyah encouraged me to vote the democratic line. she insists that a democratic majority will provide important opposition for the failed bush agenda. aviyah is sharp, and i voted for democratic candidates elliot spitzer and hilary clinton. however, i voted the working family party line. in new york, independent parties can draft mainstream candidates to run parallel candidacies. the candidate consolidates their votes from each party, but voters have an opportunity to make a strong statement. with a significant collection of votes, the independent parties can influence the agenda and priorities of of our candidates.

adjustments

we can certainly say that the olmert government is as agressive as the bush administration; however, they are also more clearly able to make adjustments based on ground reality. leading voices from the security cabinet increasingly urged olmert to organize a substantial ground invasion. the new york times recently reported:

"Israel sharply stepped up its ground campaign in southern Lebanon after the Israeli Cabinet decided early today to expand its operations, aiming to push Hezbollah back from the border before a cease-fire is declared and a multinational force is deployed there. . .Israeli troops may push northward to the Litani River, some 15 miles from the Israeli border, Cabinet ministers said following the meeting."

earlier, i called for a serious ground offensive to push hezbollah militants above the litani river. i believe a massive ground force fulfills the powell doctrine, which calls for overwhelming ground forces. rumsfeld believed that strong air strikes combined with lean ground forces. . . however, it cannot sustain an asymmetrical war against guerilla forces. . .

i believe that israel must defend its territory, and i believe a strong offensive can clear way for an international force. i wish that they had listened to these voices earlier, and i remain disappointed that a staggering amount of civilians were killed. we cannot keep our policy fixed if we _know_ that hezbollah militants crowd in civilian areas. we have to adjust to this reality. it may be more challenging and more difficult, but it is also more real.

four eyes

i am encouraged that israeli forces have cleared and secured paths for humaintarian assistance in iraq. this confirms that israel values and honors common rights and liberties. we genuinely should not doubt that america and israel are reasoned and humane governments that largely promote progress. i completely believe that the larger effort to promote democracy and freedom is important and essential. i completely believe that we must prosecute an aggressive war against terror.

it should also be understood that hezbollah is a militant terror organization. they are responsible for igniting the current conflict, and they should be evacuated from southern lebanon. this evening, a missile hit the central hospital in nahariya, israel. the reckless fire of missles and rockets into civilian towns in northern israel is completely immoral. there is no clear equivalency between guerrilla attacks and state military responses.

however, we should also be humbled by our own mistakes and errors. the united states and israel have made gross errors in the prosecution of war. i do not believe that we should stand down or surrender. yet, we must speak out against gross violations of our own values and principles. we must be able to openly criticize and question strategy. misguided strategy in iraq and lebanon have killed and stranded incredible numbers of civilians and soldiers. unfortunately, i believe that our mistakes betray an exaggerated arrogance and hubris.

overdrawn israeli airstrikes have been widely condemned by all international sources. they have destroyed major lebanese infrastructure and displaced more than 600,000 civilians. limited army incursions have only minimally secured bordered towns. emboldened hezbollah fighters continue to launch rockets into northern israel and sustain wave offensives against israeli soldiers in town centers.

the new york times recently reported that senior israeli leadership, lncluding army generals and cabinet ministers, have pushed for an intensified "ground campaign to drive Hezbollah militants away from Israel’s northern border, where they have been launching 100 rockets or more on most days." i remain convinced that a large scale ground force is necessary to secure a sustainable peace in southern lebanon. i am concerned that increasing international pressure combined with real strategic mistakes limit opportunities for a just peace.

i believe in america, and i believe in israel. i really do. however, i also believe that our base strategies in iraq and lebanon have been neither safe, sensible, or effective.

"is the israeli offensive justified?"

in early july, hezbollah guerrillas killed 8 israeli soldiers and captured 2 soldiers patrolling the northern border of israel. hezbollah is a militant shiite group based in southern lebanon and largely supported by syria and iran. israel called the soldiers' capture an "act of war" and planned a targeted operation to retrieve the 2 soldiers. however, hezbollah soon began shelling northern israeli towns with rockets and advanced missles, and hezbaollah chief hassan nasrallah and declared an "open war" against israel.

israel quickly reorganized a strong, sustained offensive in southern lebanon and against strategic sites in central and northern lebanon. cnn recently asked, "is the israeli offensive is justified?" in short, i maintain that "an" intervention is clearly justified, but i do not believe "the" current offensive is justified. israel must punish hezbollah. it is outrageous that hezbollah indiscriminately bombs israeli towns and cities. a consensus statement from the g8 summit and an arab league announcement both condemn the hezbollah incursion. however, i also agree with subsequent european and united nations statements that the israeli air offensive is disproportionate and should be restrained. it is unfair and immoral to wildly attack civilian towns and large scale government infrastructure.

syria controlled a shadow government in lebanon for more than 20 years. the february 2005 assassination of former prime minister rafik hariri inspired a groundswell of popular support for independent democracy. reports further suggest that international support swelled reconstruction efforts in central beirut and helped to stabilize the government. however, sectarian groups still fracture major government policies. we must ask, in turn, if lebanon is complicit in the rocket attacks against israeli towns and cities? it is certainly hard to reconcile prime minister siniora's emotional pleas for help with his tacit support for hezbollah. in fact, there are two hezbollah ministers in the current government portfolio. recent statements also indicate the lebanese army will mobilize against israeli defense forces.

i understand the military objectives for israeli strikes against lebanon's airports and highways. hezbollah receives funding and resources from iran and syria. the lebanese government does not have strong control over hezbollah, and hezbollah might use the airport or the damascus highway to transport military reinforcement towards southern lebanon or the 2 israeli soldiers away to syria. at face, major infrastructure seems legitimate targets of state war. yet, i have always maintained the the civilian deaths and collateral damage from high-powered airstrikes are untenable. in fact, recent reports highlight a growing humanitarian crisis. more than 500,000 refugees from southern lebanon have fled into beirut and western syria.

it is clearly not acceptable that a militant terrorist group controls a largely autonomous region in southern beirut. in 2004, the united nations approved resolution 1559 to dismantle the hezbollah militia and encourage the lebanese army to wrest independent control of the region. yet, the central democratic government may not have the effective stability or strength to control hezbollah. an offensive ground force to push back hezbollah installations in southern lebanon may be intractable. however, it may be the only just response. a ground attack may then clear a buffer zone to allow an international peacekeeping force.

mind trippin'

http://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F10717FD35550C738EDDAF0894DE404482

an inconvenient truth, a recent documentary and book by al gore, documents the increasing scientific consensus on global warming. gore maintains that the climate crisis presents the single, most significant crisis we have faced. research demonstrates that as the ice caps continue to melt, the sea level continues to rise. as the seas and oceans rise, low land plains and marshes will begin to flood. for example, gore explains that southern florida and lower manhattan will completely flood.

critics maintain that extant science is inconsistent, and that global warming trends may mirror earlier global temperature swings. however, gore explains that current trends far outpace historical changes and significantly skew natural weather patterns, including hurricanes. in "Next Victim of Warming: The Beaches", cornelia dean surveys current water levels on beachfronts on our coast. she identifies current consequences, including a dramatic increase in sea walls constructed to stem tides. however, "boxed" seas will continue to rise, and crowded sands will crawl over shorelines.


"Mexico's Populist"
http://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F00911F83A550C748DDDAF0894DE404482

the recent debate on illegal immigration obscures an important issue: local politics in mexico has failed. vicente fox proposed a series of reforms to promote business and open trade. however, his reforms have largely benefitted a clustered elite, and poverty in mexico continues to increase.

the article connects obrador's candidacy to a rising independence in latin america. yet, he feels obrador is distinguished from recent populist leaders in venezuela, bolivia, and peru by his pragmatism. obrador hopes to industrialize mexico's economy and end systemic poverty and corruption. for example, he suggests policies to stem poverty through working class reforms, including a high sales tax which disproportionately impacts the poor. profiles mexican presidential candidate andrés manuel lópez obrador. o obrador is very spiritied, and he compares this election to the 1910 revolution of porfiro diaz against the noble elite.


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http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=612
deja vu in iraq

the death of al Zarqawi, the former chief of al qaeda in iraq, is an important accomplishment for our military. al Zarqawi has spearheaded a consistent, militant terrorism that has disrupted american efforts for peace. is the united states gaining traction in iraq? the military has developed a safe and secure capital in the green zone, and iraq now has a positive track of early democratic governance.

yet, we also know that Zarqawi's death will not end terrorism against our troops, Iraqi policemen, or Iraqi civilians. In American Prospect, matthew yglesias argues that israel's example proves that there is no military solution against terrorism. yglesias writes: "Better tactics, better operational counterterrorism, doesn’t alter the strategic situation -- the attacks keep on coming. What’s needed to end the war isn’t better tactics, but an end to the war, a political settlement of the issues in dispute." israel has tracked and killed multiple major leaders of multiple major terrorist organizations; however, attacks in the territories persist. indeed, palestinians recently rejected fatah, a moderate, secular political party, to elect Hamas, a radical militant organization.

for example, he explains that the most successful american operation in iraq was the coordinated agreement with muqtada al sadr. while sadr was pinned by United States forces, his militia holed into a mosque for protection. while the american military initiated action, ayatollah sistani pressed the u.s. to arrange a political settlement.

american military initiated . . . however, yglesias maintains that american military involvement may be aggravating the terrorist insurgency and preventing iraqi society from expelling the terrorists.