[pbs] Big Government
Adam Fikso
adam14113 at ameritech.net
Sun Feb 1 18:11:54 EST 2009
Worse than that. You've got new college graduates who majored in human
resources, or some such thing who were politically naive but loyal who are
still trying to learn. You cite common sense as a standard. One: there's
no such thing! Common sense is very uncommon. Common sense to a religious
fundamentalist who draws most of his or her working knowledge of the world
from one book (when it comes to problems) is often at a loss except to
follow orders. Constant education is the watchword. When I was a kid
growing up in California, it had one of the finest educational systems in
the world, with all classes from kindergarten on geared to eventual possible
college placement or industrial training., Girls could take shop
specicalizing in sheet metal or wood, and boys could take cooking and home
ec. I don't when it began dying out-- but it was some time around WWII with
the loss of governor Earl Warren to the Supreme Court under Rooseve.
Right now, Hispanic kids can't get necessary textbooks in elementary school
in some parts of Los Angeles, and make do with as few as one book for 20
kids. This is not the fault of big government, but deliberate and
systematized bureaucratic ignorance, and stupidity. This has nothing to do
with irises? Oh yes, it does. How many women still call irises "blue
flags"? And haven't learned much since their mothers got the vote and
didn't use it? and can't understand why or how Obama got elected?
It may seem inappropriate and not relevant , but how many African-Americans
do we have as members in the AIS or ASI? C'mon guys--How many? More than
2? I'd be astounded if there were more than 5 in the entire AIS. And if
anybody knows I'd like those persons to eMail me, or reply to this list.
It's not a private matter, it's public and nobody looks at it? Yeah....
the gorilla in the room. (Our illegitimate relatives?)
Our membership secretary/treasurer could get lists from nursery catalogs and
maybe even invite some of those oddly- named people to join. I've never
seen it as a suggestion, since 1958 when I think I joined-- so I'm offering
it here. I was too long silent. Maybe I'm prompted by the resignation of
Shaukat Chaudhary from our board. A great, great loss! Not mourned in
print so far that I've seen .
I think we might have about 5 Asian-Americans judging from names, but I
haven't looked at a membership list in about 15 years when I think there
were 2, (making allowances for my poor memory). Anybody want to do a count
of the Yamagatas, Fujiis and Kawamotos, etc. And how about the Nguyens, the
Changs, the Bhattacharyas, Shahs, Khans, Bashouras, Pangasinans,
Surabanians, Joglekars, (Patels-- as common as Smith in New Delhi)? Japan
has two members, but there are none in or from the USA that I could guess at
from the names. Not too many Japanese-American kids named Smith, but maybe
Jorgenson?
If this group has not advanced or expanded its membership, it's perhaps
because we don't have adequate representation of the gardening populations
or iris fanciers from countries where irises come from. We have Rodionenko
to take note of, but who's read any of his stuff in either English or
Russian.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Hannon" <othonna at gmail.com>
To: "Pacific Bulb Society" <pbs at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 2:39 PM
Subject: Re: [pbs] Big Government
> And California wonders why it can't reach a budget agreement, current
> global
> economy notwithstanding. I have a link somewhere that enumerates all of
> the
> branches of state government here. It is mind-boggling and ever-expanding.
>
> The fact that agencies at local and state levels are staffed by people who
> are not directly accountable to the voters necessarily puts citizen and
> business owner alike at a disadvantage. Same with USDA/DHS. Not that they
> should be made directly accountable, but we could use a better system of
> accountability for cases like this iris farm. Our elected representatives
> are swamped. It is not like a shoe store where we can move on to the next
> one if we don't like the service. Therefore they have a special obligation
> to draw from common sense in applying the laws and regulations. I don't
> think they get any training in the former.
>
> Dylan Hannon
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