Young Democrats' Corner
Howard Dean Wows Them in Olympia
By Lisa Herzog
On President’s Day, the State Democratic Party held a crab feed fundraiser up in Olympia. While my parents served food, politicians gave speeches and ‘Plant a Bush back in Texas’ bumper stickers were being sold, I went to the student lounge behind the gym. Here I sat with fellow young democrats, St. Martins Democratic Donkey Club members and the odd young Republican curious as to the going-ons of the so-called ‘enemy.’
After countless mike checks, no-stop pacing of the club president an-- much to my dismay--the removal of a life-sized Bush cutout with a ‘Bush Lied’ sign on it, Howard Dean finally arrived.
In a blaze of camera flashes and the deafening sound of clapping, Dr. Dean made his way onto the stage. I sat in the 3 rd row, only a few yards away from the head of the National Democratic Party. For the next hour or so, about 100 people and I heard Dr. Dean speak and answer our questions. His speech was motivational, informative, and also surprisingly funny. The speech centered on how the Democrats are going to take back this country. He also talked about how to survive this Republican dominated government.
When his speech was over, there remained about 15 minutes for questions. This was the most enjoyable part. One question asked was, “How do Democrats win in a conservative, rural area?” Dr. Dean said that in order to win you must appeal to the voters’ hearts. The Bush administration tries to scare people into voting for them, so you must assure people that the Democrat party will be able to protect them from those fears. Democrats have to stop appealing to people’s logic, even though that should be what matters, because the current administration has taken away people’s logic.
One of the Republicans who had gotten in was finally called upon. This college student seemed to think that he was going to be able to take on the head of the National Democratic Party. He asked, “In December you gave a quote, ‘ The idea that the United States is going to win the war in Iraq is just plain wrong.’ How could you say that?” Howard Dean answered this question with ease. He started off by saying that this was not the full quote--the original quote being that we can’t win the war under the leadership we have now--then went on to completely demolish, not only the Karl Rove Wannabe who had asked the question, but all Republicans in the room and any Bush administration employees that may have been spying on us at that moment.
Another question asked was, “Do you honestly believe that the Bush administration intentionally lied to the American people?” After only a few moments of consideration, Howard Dean gave a simple answer, “Yes.” This caused a standing ovation, and triggered another wave of camera flashes.
It was an amazing experience to be so close to such an influential person. Howard Dean is an intelligent, charismatic and all around likable guy. There is no doubt in my mind that if given the chance Howard Dean would have triumphed over Bush in a landslide.
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Lisa Herzog W.F. West Student of the Month
From the W.F. West high school paper, "C Newsmagazine": The Social Studies Student of the Month is sophomore Lisa Herzog. Lisa is a person of good character who works to be all that she can be in academics and citizenship. Lisa has a keen interest in current events and politics. She sees the value of history in the connections that it makes to the world we live in today. Lisa has the courage of her convictions and is willing to stand up and speak up for the things she believes in . She is respectful to others whether they agree or disagree with her positions. Lisa is courageous, competent, intelligent and straightforward. She is a leader in the classroom.
Attack on Student Aid
From the Young Democrats of Washington State Newsletter
Affordable Education is a pillar of Democracy. Student loans have helped developed some of the brightest minds in America. To limit student loans, would limit America's potential. Find out more about this attack on America's middle and working class, and their ability to get an education.
Taken from the Pelosi 411: News for Youth and Young Adults:
REPUBLICAN RAID ON STUDENT AID-The Battle Isn't Over!
Vote Expected January 31st or February 1st
At 6 a.m. on December 19th, as many Americans were sleeping, the Republican-controlled House passed a budget-cutting bill that slashes $12.7 billion from the federal student aid programs to finance tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. Seventy percent of the gross savings derived from the cuts to student aid generated in the bill are achieved by continuing the practice of forcing student and parent borrowers in many cases to pay excessive interest rates on their loans and by increasing college loan costs.
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Every Child Left Behind
By Lisa Herzog, WF West High School
 January 8, 2002 was a sad day in American history. That was the day when President George W. Bush signed away the future of the country's youth. It was on this day that No Child Left Behind (NCLB), really the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), joined the ranks of Bush's continually growing legacy. According to the administration, ESEA will create "stronger accountability for results," "more choices for parents," "more freedom for states and committees," and "encourage proven education methods." Here are the reasons ESEA won't work.
First, let's look at what ESEA will really do, not just what the White House says it will do. ESEA focuses on reading, math, and science skills. This may sound like a wonderful idea, but with teachers and schools having to focus so much of their time and money on these subjects, things like civics, history, geography, art, and creative writing are given little attention.
ESEA standards say schools should have 100% of students reading at grade level and have math skills at par by 2014. That is totally unrealistic. Is Bush expecting each graduating class to be smarter than the last? There is just now way of getting around the fact that every year there will be students who aren't good at taking tests. Those kids' scores will bring the school's Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) down.
AYP is the worst part of ESEA. AYP means that if the school doesn't meet standards, the government will step in and attempt to improve that school by taking away funding, firing teachers, or privatizing the school and bring in their own teachers. This is Bush's idea of "stronger accountability for results."
AYP also allows parents to remove their child from a school district and put them in a different district, then the original district must pay for transportation costs. Many schools have to set aside money for future transportation costs, as opposed to putting money into education for the students currently enrolled in that school, just in case the school does not meet AYP. This is what Bush and friends call "more choices for parents."
The "more freedom for states and committees" just means that states are able to give any standardized test they want. These standardized tests, in Washington's case the W.A.S.L, are unfunded mandates. This means that even though it's the federal government that's making the states administer standardized tests, the state has to pay for the test. In 2004, it cost $15 million for Washington to give the W.A.S.L. This money comes from local tax payers.
No matter how Bush disguises the Elementary and Secondary Education Act with a name like No Child Left Behind, it's still a terrible bill. It will hurt teachers, students, tax payers, school districts, and state government. All Bush's No Child Left Behind goals are going to achieve, according to the Washington Education Association--one of the big opponents to ESEA--is "punishments rather than assistance," "rigid, unfunded mandates rather than support for proven practices," and "bureaucracy and standardized testing rather than teacher-led, classroom focused solutions."
America's public education system is the gold standard for the world. So President Bush, please don't mess it up with your acronyms.
Our thanks to Lisa, who originally wrote this opinion piece for her high school paper, "C Newsmagazine". Lisa is the daughter of Lewis County Democrats 2nd Vice Chair Nancy Herzog.
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