Racial politics is sometimes like the weather. Everybody complains about it or has an opinion about it, but there’s precious little that we can seemingly do about it. Here we are again, having the same conversation about the same issue and the politicians are crafting their statements and the sociologists are telling us about how… Continue reading The Race Confronts Race
Author: Robert I. Grundfest
I am a teacher, writer, voice-over artist and rationally opinionated observer of American and international society. While my job is to entertain and engage, my purpose is always to start a conversation.
Fifteen Days In June
Ready for the summer? Well hold on because the next 15 days will be key to determining the shape of the presidential race. First up is Jeb Bush. The smart one. The able one. The one who thinks through his actions before taking them. The one with the long-term policy proposals that are not exactly… Continue reading Fifteen Days In June
Education By Dummies
Politicians can talk all they want about how changes to the American education system such as the Common Core, new testing rubrics and teacher evaluation systems will vault us into the top tiers of learned nations over the next few years, but, really, that’s not going to happen if what’s happening in Arizona and other… Continue reading Education By Dummies
The New Kansas-Nebraska Acts
It’s been an interesting week in the conservative heartland. Nebraska legislators overturned the governor’s veto and abolished the death penalty, while in Kansas, the state legislature is thinking about raising taxes because, well, that old conservative orthodoxy that says you can cut taxes and spur economic growth doesn’t seem to be working. Even would-be conservatives… Continue reading The New Kansas-Nebraska Acts
Afraid of Rubio? They All Scare Me.
Ooohhh! Scary!!! Yes, The New York Times reported last week that many Democrats are most afraid of a presidential match-up between Hillary and…Marco Rubio. Scary!!! And why? Because…he has a story! Scary!!! And he’s good looking. And he’s a good speaker. And he’s Hispanic and his father came here from Cuba and he won big… Continue reading Afraid of Rubio? They All Scare Me.
The Foreign Policy Election
First it was Jeb Bush. Now it’s Marco Rubio. For other Republicans, it’s all about Hillary Clinton and Benghazi. Meanwhile, Scott Walker has tripped over his own feet while discussing the world and Chris Christie, who has something to say about everything, has little to say yet on foreign affairs. Why is this important? Because… Continue reading The Foreign Policy Election
Christie: It’s Not My Fault. Elect Me President
It’s one thing when you have something to run on. It’s quite another when you have to run away from your record. That’s the position Governor Christie finds himself in on the eve of his long-awaited announcement that he will run for president. Most candidates have a signature issue or can point to improving conditions… Continue reading Christie: It’s Not My Fault. Elect Me President
Pensions in the Age of GOP Math
Things are getting a bit complicated in New Jersey for Governor Christie, and that’s having a major effect on when (and it will be when) he announces his bid for the presidency. Yes, he is waiting for the economy to improve and the George Washington Bridge scandal to go away, but now he’s added what… Continue reading Pensions in the Age of GOP Math
CCRAP! More Testing Ahead
If you’re a regular American, you know, like the kind of person Hillary Clinton is trying to appeal to, you probably think that the PARCC tests are over and that the education system has moved on. Not so. This week marks the return of the standardized tests that no one likes, and are based on… Continue reading CCRAP! More Testing Ahead
Corporate America Hangs a left
All of the tension that’s been building in the grand Republican coalition, that uneasy mix of practical business, low taxes, libertarianism and the uncompromising religious sector is now being released. And it’s not working out for the most conservative of the party’s members. Just a week ago it seemed that at least two new states,… Continue reading Corporate America Hangs a left
All Eyes On Israel
We’re going to need our mucking boots today because we’re going to wade into the Middle East. Until now, I have assiduously avoided all mention of the region because it’s messy and confusing and controversial and, quite frankly, my ideas have, shall we say, evolved over time. But the events of the day are far… Continue reading All Eyes On Israel
Pearson Jumps the Shark on PARCC
We are truly in deep PARCC mode now. Perhaps the April/May test administration should include readings from the Pentagon Papers. Pearson Education, the company that produces the PARCC tests, and is reportedly being paid over $22 million dollars in New Jersey alone, is monitoring social media to check for security breaches and other untoward activity. … Continue reading Pearson Jumps the Shark on PARCC