First Steps

STLtoday - News - St. Louis City / County

Compassionate conservatism in action! Governor Matt Blunt is severly cutting the first steps program. The program is designed to help diabled children (and their families) with education and medical costs. The governor thinks that private insurance should pay the costs for these services. Ignoring the fact that most private insurance carriers don't typically cover the kinds of treatments these children need. I can vouch for this firsthand. My daughter is a special needs child and received services through the special school district. Most insurance sucks when it comes to these kinds of issues. It gets better, the governor thinks that the program is inefficient and wastefull, yet over 90% of the parents involved in the program approve of it and over 200 parents showed up to testify at the House Education Appropriations Committee hearing.
There may be times when the private sector can provide a service in a more efficient and sheaper fashion, however I would not want to place my child in the hands of a person who sole interest is in making a proffit. "I am sorry we have to cut your child's therapy, but, please, don't take it personally, it's only business. We do have an obligation to our stockholders to make a proffit, I'm sure you understand"
My wife was at some kind of leadership training seminar today. One of the speaker spent time discussing Harry Potter. The speaker did not like the Harry potter books as he felt they were "dark" and were making America dark. I would argue that it is not Harry Potter, it is actions like the above that are making America "dark". There is a rampant heartlessnes loose in America and ideological convictions are mindlessly clung to despite the cost they cause in human suffering. Still not convinced? See Here. The House of Representitives approved a bill that would give the Director of Homeland Security virtually unlimited powers. No judge, no lawyer, no court, no Senate committes would have oversite of these powers. The bill was passed by the republican majority (gee isn't that Matt Blunt's party?). Yet Harry Potter is spreading darkness in America! By the way, if you don't feel like following the link here is the text of the bill:

Section 102(c) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 … is amended to read as follows:
“(c) Waiver. —
“(1) In general. — Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall have the authority to waive, and shall waive, all laws such Secretary, in such Secretary’s sole discretion, determines necessary to ensure expeditious construction of the barriers and roads under this section.

“(2) No judicial review. — Notwithstanding any other provision of law (statutory or nonstatutory), no court shall have jurisdiction —

“(A) to hear any cause or claim arising from any action undertaken, or any decision made, by the Secretary of Homeland Security pursuant to paragraph (1); or

“(B) to order compensatory, declaratory, injunctive, equitable, or any other relief for damage alleged to arise from any such action or decision.”

You can also go here Bill Would Place Homeland Security Above All Law for background. Kinda scary ain't it?