Disqus - Latest Comments for KennewickMan

Re: 20 Arguments For God’s Existence

KennewickMan — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 16:45:28 -0000

Pascal's Wager just never works for me.

It starts off with a limiting binary premise, God exists or he doesn't. While the monotheists probably find this agreeable, polytheists might just have a problem here. Add 5 more gods and things get complicated, add another 10 trillion gods and things get a tad worse. As well, I don't know why we would limit the concept of God to a current existence only, perhaps he did once exist but does no longer, perhaps he doesn't now but will later. It just seems too easy to pick apart the opening premise.

Even if we agree to go along with the God exists/does not exist premise, it stills falls apart. The next step implies that if God exists, belief is rewarded, not believing is not. Were a god to exist, humans may think they can but they cannot truly speak with any authority concerning what a deity may or may not reward, perhaps God likes skeptics more than believers or maybe he just randomly picks souls. It could be that he simply doesn't care about humans in any way.

There are just too many contrived fences set up in the wager that renders the whole thing useless.

Re: Atheists sue to remove 'Skiing Jesus'

KennewickMan — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:18:25 -0000

As an atheist I can tell you that would be just as wrong as erecting a statue to Jesus. We have real needs and issues in this country, our government shouldn't waste time or money putting up monuments to Jesus, Mohammed, the Easter Bunny, Santa or Paul Bunyan. There are plenty of real world things to do.

Re: Atheists sue to remove 'Skiing Jesus'

KennewickMan — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:14:42 -0000

Yeah, it is bummer people go to court. An even bigger bummer is when Christians can't seem to follow the Constitution or feel themselves above following it. It is really irrelevant what one's religious persuasion is, putting up monuments to atheism, agnosticism, polytheism or monotheism are all an inappropriate activity of government.

Re: Atheists sue to remove 'Skiing Jesus'

KennewickMan — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:11:38 -0000

Duh, because I don't want my kids thinking the primitive creed and gods of ignorant and superstitious goat herders is supported by my government and possibly real. You see, you don't get the right to enlist other Jesus cultist to harness the government to advertise for your nutty cult. Got it?

Re: Kent Reporter - Local News, Sports, Entertainment

KennewickMan — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 12:18:05 -0000

kentdadof2 continues his ongoing disassociation from reality, making up whatever he needs to fit to his Teabagger view of the world. As a matter of record, Mike McNett does not have a long "multi-state history of arranging strikes", the Kent strike was the first that he was involved with. Of course, kentdadof2 has no interest in facts or accuracy, just portraying unions in a way that justifies his paranoia. As to McNett, he simply didn't move on, he now heads bargaining and negotiations at WEA for western Washington.

Indeed the prior president has returned the classroom. As a democratic organization, KEA elects officers who serve their terms and then return to the classroom. It should be noted here that the simple fact that KEA is lead by a teacher chosen by the general membership belies the standard conservative line that the teachers' union is led by professional "union bosses" and "union thugs".

Re: What is wrong with Kent School District priorities: Opinion - Kent Reporter

KennewickMan — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 01:31:28 -0000

It is a pretty sad commentary that Vargas feels it is ok to shut down programs and then use money to remodel his office.

Re: Budget crisis: Kent teachers plan protest tonight at School Board meeting - Kent Reporter

KennewickMan — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 11:47:03 -0000

The teachers have this one right. The Kent School District has normally over-budgeted for reserves. There is nothing wrong with a conservative fiscal approach except that in this year that strategy needs to be looked at more carefully. Given that they district is proposing that teachers be laid off and thus reduce the service level to the students, we as taxpayers need to ask why a reduction of service needs to occur. This is especially true because the surrounding communities such as Auburn and Federal Way are faced with the same dilemma and yet will not be reducing services. The difference is that the KSD Administration overpays themselves, on average the KSD admin staff receives 20% more for the same jobs as surrounding districts. This difference a major contributing factor to the current shortfall. However, the admin is so entrenched and oblivious to how they spend our money that there is no realistic way we as taxpayers can expect the district will bring themselves into line. Dr. Vargas and the Board are either unable or unwilling to upset the status quo in the district office. So, what do we as taxpayers do? I don't think we settle for a reduction in service. I think it best that the current level of service to students be maintained while the admin is pressured quit fleecing the taxpayers with their sweetheart salaries.

Re: Kent School Board meeting draws crowd to the microphone - Kent Reporter

KennewickMan — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:31:50 -0000

kentdayof2,
I'll be at the next meeting. Things will likely begin calming down.

Actually, I don't have a problem with your perspective at all and your view that the Kent Reporter was biased towards the KEA. I don't agree with you but, hey, that is what we do in America.

My problem with the referenced article is the blatant bias of using the term "misleading". Hell, everything could be considered misleading. That type of charge belongs on an editorial page, not in something purporting to be a factual article.

Of course, it is a free newspaper, so I guess you get what you pay for. You, by posting a link to the document presented by Charles Allen, showed far more journalistic integrity than the particular reporter I consider in the pockets of the KSD.

Re: Kent School Board meeting draws crowd to the microphone - Kent Reporter

KennewickMan — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:13:26 -0000

Brian Beckley,

Reading your recent articles that have covered the KSD/KEA conflict I am left with the unmistakeable impression that you are quite partisan for the KSD admin. That is fine if that is the way you feel but you should clearly lable your writings as editorial, not masquerade them as unbiased reporting

As a case in point, you went way overboard by inserting your opinion with reference to a document that Charles Allen gave the board. You wrote, "Some of the information in Allen’s packet, however, was misleading,...". The document may have actually been misleading or it may not have been but without presenting the entire document for the public to review, all we have is your opinion.

I was in attendance at this meeting and I would say that all parties from every faction were presenting "misleading" information, that is my opinion and my opinion is placed where it belongs, here in a public commentary format.

An quite frankly, I am glad that I don't have to pay for the Kent Reporter. I wouldn't. It was quite disturbing to see you write a "fluff" piece shorty before the end of the strike on just how the school board was staying in touch with the negotiations. It consisted of the board's statements to that effect and was very short on anything other than you ingratiating yourself with the board. I have been hearing that you are trying to postion yourself to replace Becky Hanks and after reading your biased propaganda for the district admin, I am beginning to believe that the idea just might be true.

Re: KENT SCHOOL TEACHERS' STRIKE IS OVER - Kent Reporter

KennewickMan — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:25:22 -0000

nothopeful,
Please review the article again. There were some class size reductions made. They were meager but the teachers can only do so much. They tried. I think the were close to being put in jail myself but we will never know. They put a lot at risk and we owe them.

Your complaint is really with the school board not the teacher. Now it is up to you to get involved and keep the pressure on the current school board to do what all the other districts around seem to be able to do. We should never reward incompetent management. Vote them out of office when their term is up and support the recall movement.

As for your specific complaint about the principals, they are part of Administration, they are not teachers. They are part of the problem. It is a rotten job and no one in their right mind would really want them. The administration beats them down just about as much as they beat down teachers.

Re: KENT SCHOOL TEACHERS' STRIKE IS OVER - Kent Reporter

KennewickMan — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:02:40 -0000

hopefulinkent,

I think you are thinking quite clearly. The posts by kentdadof2 should be regarded merely as the musings of some embittered taxpayer who doesn't want to drop a dime on public education. Now that the strike is done he can focus on the Obama birth certificate.

Re: DEVELOPING STORY: Striking Kent teachers rally Friday, still no contract - Kent Reporter

KennewickMan — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:08:55 -0000

Kent Parents,

Kent Parents Coalition Meeting
Tonight at, Friday 9/11 at 6:00pm
East Hill Park on SE 248th St.

Re: DEVELOPING STORY: Striking Kent teachers rally Friday, still no contract - Kent Reporter

KennewickMan — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:59:10 -0000

I am a parent of a KSD student, a voter, a taxpayer and a citizen who still believes that our goverment agencies are there to serve the public. I think KSD sees serving the public as an outdated, antiquated and threatening concept.

The last bit of stonewalling by KSD in rejecting a cost-saving contract is beyond any reasonable defense. They have become so blinded by their quest for power and disdain for teachers that they can no longer do their job. Anytime a government agency reaches the point of misusing government funds to carry out a personal vendetta and a partisan political agenda (union-busting), it becomes time to remove these people from their positions.

I encourage everyone to sign the current recall petitions circulating in Kent.

Our children are only children once, they only get one chance to be an 8-year old, a 14-year old, etc. Even thought the admin at KSD has no interest in making sure that every year for every child is the best it can be, the parents of Kent do and plan on making sure that changes are made.

Re: Teachers defy court order; So what happens next? - Kent Reporter

KennewickMan — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:36:32 -0000

Bottom line here is that if the teachers are forced back to work the only thing this will mean is that KSD found a legal way to allow itself to continue to do a rotten job. The numbers are there folks, Auburn has significantly lower class sizes for kindergarten 23 vs Kent at 31 with no caps. That of course means the kids are able to receive more classroom help when needed.

Why can't Kent do what other districts can? It is odd that a bunch of you are in favor of rewarding substandard performance by a government entity. Whatever happened to holding your government accountable to do a good job? It guess is got lost in the background hatred for teachers.

Re: Teachers defy court order; So what happens next? - Kent Reporter

KennewickMan — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:00:08 -0000

The cowardly KSD has "deferred" the normally scheduled public school board meeting for tomorrow night until 9/23. The last thing they want to do is hear from the taxpayers, or should I say peasants, who have had the temerity to disagree with them. I am a parent and was looking forward to challenging them on everything despicable thing they have done throughout this process. Instead, we learn that the self-appointed royalty is not to be questioned.

Re: KENT STRIKE: Big rally Friday; no contract yet - Kent Reporter

KennewickMan — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 20:30:04 -0000

kentdadof2,

I disagree with just about everything you say. If fact, it was the KSD that pretended to negotiate. KSD refused to meet and only declared an impasse when they couldn't be bothered to do their job of improving the Kent schools.

Of course, you reveal your prejudice when you label the teachers as a herd of unthinking sheep. Imagine that, 86% of 1,700 teachers who live with the issue everyday are simply sleep-walking. Nice try but I think a more reasonably thoughtful view would yield a different conclusion.

Your blind allegiance to authority is one of the things that is most disturbing about America. You know, I don't know if you have ever noticed it before, but authorities have been know to lie, distort the truth and do everything in their power to protect their positions. The sheep are the ones who continue to graze, never looking up to see what goes on around them.

If folks like you had been around in 1776, I wouldn't be writing this, I would be taking tea instead.

Re: KENT STRIKE: Big rally Friday; no contract yet - Kent Reporter

KennewickMan — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 16:52:54 -0000

watchyourwords,

I am one who believes that Dr. Vargas could be worth $240k + per year. That is "could" be worth. I have spent just under 30 years in the banking industry. A good CEO/Supt. is worth their weight in gold if, and the if is a big if, they are leaders and not just glorified administrators. It is my experience that good leaders make decisions in a completely different manner from administrators and by that I mean, rather than operate from standard rules and traditional business concepts, they operate by following a moral compass. When that happens, you get the entire energy of an entity working in line with what is best for the employees and the community. It is a rare thing it seems and one has to wonder why these kinds of folks are so hard to find. However, when someone is found who can lead from this perspective, the benefits cascade to everyone and the taxpayer starts getting the value of their money returned to them.

Right now, the verdict is out on Dr. Vargas. He is likely making some choices right now about what kind of person he really is. If he is not pondering the "right" thing vs. the "legal" thing, all is lost. He followed bad advice from his main lieutenants, a classic error of an executive unsure of his footing. He can be forgiven for this, if when it really is crunch time, he does the right thing.

Re: KENT STRIKE: Big rally Friday; no contract yet - Kent Reporter

KennewickMan — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 15:00:41 -0000

Oops, typing too quickly. Prior post should have been

in the same way a police strike would, certainly no one will die because the teachers are striking.

My bad

Re: KENT STRIKE: Big rally Friday; no contract yet - Kent Reporter

KennewickMan — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 14:58:52 -0000

dvs030309,

First, no one would imply your previous post contained any racial overtones. I certainly saw nothing in that nature and apologize if your inferred that. I think when standingup brought up Rosa Parks it was merely as an example of someone who fought back against an incorrect law.

Second, in reference to "I just dont understand how the well educated teachers of our community couldnt find a better way to handle this. "

That is a big question. I guess the answer has to do with this being a stacked deck against the teachers. Police and firemen are prohibited from striking due to public safety reasons but in exchange for this prohibition have access to binding arbitration. For political reasons the teachers have been denied access to binding arbitration yet have the same legal prohibition against striking that the police and firefighters have. It is clearly a stretch to say that a teacher strike impacts the public in the same way a police strike would, certainly no one will deal because the teachers are striking. So, what we have is a federally recognized right to collective bargaining but with an unfair restriction that could render that right worthless. I personally believe the judge's ruling, which is a correct interpretation of Washington law, is wrong in that it effectively cancels the federally recognized right of collective bargaining. I believe judges, even municipal judges, have the responsibility to insure that all rights, not just those recognized by a state, are protected. However, that is just my opinion and I am certainly not a lawyer or legal scholar.

The teachers have been trying to bargain for years really and the school district has ignored them because the district had developed, under prior Supt. Grohe, an arrogant and demeaning attitude towards the teachers. Rather than working with them as professionals, the district developed a pattern of disregarding any teacher issues in favor of their salaries and an errant belief that their only goal should be to maintain a rigid and vise-like control of everything, regardless of the impact on education.
Even the judge when handing down her ruling, stated that the teachers should be part of the overall governance of schools. After all, they are educated in the profession of teaching and their ideas should be incorporated in the process.

Will it get better? I think so. If Dr. Vargas actually does what he is paid for, making the big decisions based upon what is right vs. wrong, the district will be better off and may actually be able to develop a fruitful partnership with 1,700 professionals. There must be significant changes in Kent, other districts do far better with the same resources. This will include clearing out those who view teachers as merely the "hired help". If you look at the most successful businesses, they rely on the input and offerings of their employees and treat them as "co-owners'" of the business. Kent has a long way to go. But, I am hopeful.

Re: KENT STRIKE: Big rally Friday; no contract yet - Kent Reporter

KennewickMan — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 13:16:18 -0000

dvs030309

Indeed, as standingup has said, as one American citizen, I sure hope you are not telling children that blind allegiance to the law is always the right thing to do. It isn't. By the logic of blind allegiance to prevailing law, we would still have 'separate but equal' drinking fountains. Sometimes in our democracy, the people have to rise up and force the government's hand. I am not saying this is on the same level as the Boston Tea Party or the Montgomery Bus Boycott but it is important nonetheless.

Actually, the teachers are trying to do the taxpayers a favor, getting a bloated district administration to use the money it has for classroom education, not excessive salaries for an excessive number of administrators. I would ask you to ask yourself why KSD has the highest administration salaries in the area compared to neighboring districts. Why are the Kent teachers the lowest paid in the area? Why do Kent high schools have 4 vice-principals at each school when Auburn only sees the need for 3 at each school? Why are the Kent classrooms more crowded than neighboring school districts?

You ask what students might learn from this. An observation I would have my children take from this is that the parents and teachers are doing what Americans should do, forcing an unresponsive government entity to listen to the will of the people.