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Letter to the editor: Abortion as population control? - TribLIVE

ALASKA SCHOOLS ARE PRODUCING A FAILED SOCIAL ORDER

By MICHAEL TAVOLIERO

Our public education system no longer promotes the goal of teaching our children how to think independently, and how to live free, fulfilling, and meaningful lives.

Instead, we now see the products of carefully crafted and controlled manipulation of education to graduate young Socialists who are entitled, unskilled, and politically far-left leaning.

This whole process is controlled by the Democratic Party, the mainstream media, and their willing confederates in the public employees unions.

Republicans and conservatives alike share the blame. We have been absent from the education dialogue. We have, at best, issued lukewarm and flaccid rebuttals in protest, and of course, have been ignored.The public employees unions have driven the narrative, tilting the political arena more to the left than ever before. They have almost unlimited financial resources, and the political process has quietly been manipulated to help, through independent expenditure groups, mail-in ballots, and (possibly soon) rank choice voting.

There is no excuse for Republican/Conservatives to remain passive. After all, this really is about not only our more and more endangered constitutional rights, but also the future of our children and their children.

The majority of cities in the United States see their school boards and administrations controlled by far-left Democrats and their allies, and have for over half a century. The end result is that every major city is now completely controlled by the Democrat party, particularly unions.

States like California, New York, Illinois, Michigan, Washington, Oregon, Virginia (the state whose constitution was written by George Mason and James Madison among others) and more are now totally controlled by Democrats who control the major population centers and therefore the entire states.

Alaska has become no different. Anchorage has become a state within a state. As evidenced by its mayor and assembly as well as many of its State Legislative representatives (regardless ofD or Rdesignations), our once bountiful natural resources, with their development potential, are being converted and driven into a swamp of red tape, bureaucracy and entitlements. Our education system is promoting every leftist policy as good to our children, and every conservative policy as evil, racist, and selfish.

Everything that is wrong with inner city schools that policy can fix, Democrats are responsible for. Democrats and their allies run the public school system for the benefit of adults at the expense of children. Put in the language of political war:Democrats have their boot heels on the necks of poor, black, and Hispanic children. But Republicans are too polite to mention it. David Horowitz. How to Beat the Democrats and Other Subversive Ideas

Whose fault is this? We need to look at ourselves and see the results of our lack of attention and action. These policies are allowed to take over because of poor Republican/conservative voter turnout and poorer Republican/conservative public involvement.

Our lack of involvement has allowed the growth and takeover by the public employees unions, creatingan unfair legal standard for the Democrat hatchet machine to proliferate. With seemingly unlimited funds from union dues (we have yet to see the measurable effects of Janus v AFMCME in Alaska), these unions are virtually a political party with no legal political restraints, unlike the current political parties subject to the FEC and state public offices regulators.

Sadly, Democrat-controlled schools are teaching students very little. Students who are a product of this system are moving into their future not with productive and saleable life skills, but with a quiver full ofidentity politicarrows. Our education system should promote a meaningful and independent lifestyle, but instead, it leads to narcissism, sloth, and entitlement with few exceptions.

Alaska is producing a failing social order and it will cost our progeny dearly.

Where is the outrage on the part of Republicans/conservatives?Our urbanity and our go along, get alongattitude are our demise and consequently our failure, not just to ourselves but to Alaskas future.

What is more incredible to this edifice of failure is the fact that Republicans/conservatives actually do have an education plan in place. It is not based on the failed social principles we have witnessed year in and year out. No, the Republican/conservative plan is simple and immediately outcome oriented.

Alaskas school reform is economic choice. By putting the education dollar directly into the hands of parents, schools would be forced to serve their communities and constituents. Giving parents control of their childrens education would force schools and unions to stop exploiting our tax dollars to serve their own interests (instead of the students). Our tax dollars must be redirected to the parents and follow the children, rather than the special interests of the Democrat/media/public union syndicate.

The goal is to serve our children with a profoundly reformed education and provide them with the education that will give them the best chance for a successful, fulfilling and responsible life. The Left will not listen to these ideas because they will lose the power and the control they crave and must have to stay in power.

This idea was developed in 2013 through the efforts of Senator now Governor Michael Dunleavy.

During the 28thAlaska State Legislature, our state saw for the first time an opportunity to vote up or down on the question of state aid for education reaching the true beneficiaries of education, our children.

SJR 9 proposed amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to state aid for education which provided the wording as captioned below, if passed by the State Legislature, would have given the voters the opportunity to amend the state constitution.

It was falsely entitled a voucher program attempt and maligned extensively in the public and the halls of our state capital.This was a typical lefistsky is fallingcanard, calling it a voucher program, instead of what it really was freedom: Freedom for parents and children to choose. Freedom to use their tax money in a way that would be meaningful to them, not the few, who created a hornets nest response to their potential loss of control over public policy and public money.

It was introduced on Feb. 13, 2013 by then-Sen. Dunleavy, and Senators Fred Dyson, Pete Kelly, John Coghill, Cathy Giessel, Lesil McGuire, Charlie Huggins, and Anna Fairclough.

SJR9 had 11 of the 14 votes required, but the education industry is the most powerful lobbying force in Alaska politics. Ironically, Senators Bert Stedman, Gary Stevens and Click Bishop, all Republicans, were the 3 senators who kept SJR9 from coming out of the Rules committee and being voted upon on the floor, in spite of this being part of the Alaska Republican Party platform.

Isnt time to bring this back to the education discussion? Before you say yes, let me finish with a suggestion and a solution.

Suggestion:Redirect all education funding to follow the child. This can be done by our political will through amending the Alaska Constitution. Give the people of Alaska the opportunity to guide the direction of education policy directly and personally.

Solution:Reintroduce and pass the language of SJR9. Amend Article VII, Sec 1 as follows:

Article VII, sec. 1, Constitution of the State of Alaska, to read:Section 1. Public Education.The legislature shall by general law establish and maintain a system of public schools open to all children of the State, and may provide for other public educational institutions. Schools and institutions so established shall be free from sectarian control.

With this deletion [NO MONEY SHALL BE PAID FROM PUBLIC FUNDS FOR THE DIRECT BENEFIT OF ANY RELIGIOUS OR OTHER PRIVATE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION.]

Amend Article IX, Sec 6 as follows:

Article IX, sec. 6, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:Section 6. Public Purpose.No tax shall be levied, or appropriation of public money made, or public property transferred, nor shall the public credit be used, except or a public purpose (add as follows); however, nothing in this section shall prevent payment from public funds for the direct educational benefit of students as provided by law.

Michael Tavoliero is a realtor at Core Real Estate Group in Eagle River, is active in the Alaska Republican Party and chairs Eaglexit.

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Education solution: Give parents freedom of choice - Must Read Alaska

TEMPLE, Texas As the tensions between the United States and Iran continue to escalate, children are in the cross-hairs of the growing fear and anxiety of a possible war.

"We put God first and God's in control," Evon Baran said. Baran is a mother who said she's prepared for the conversation with her daughter.

"I would just tell her that God's in control and we put our faith in Him. That it is going to be scary if World War III happens."

Ashley Buckmore, a Licensed Professional Counselor in Belton, said it can be a sensitive time for some kids. She also said parents need to be on the lookout for warning signs. For example, kids asking more what-if questions than usual.

"Just be open and honest, give them more one on one time," Buckmore said. "Also, make sure to talk to them in language that is okay for them. You don't have to add a lot of detail or show them pictures."

Buckmore said limiting news time while kids are awake can be helpful. On the other hand, she said social media and what kids pick up through the day is equally as impactful.

"Kids learn from what's called a trickle-down effect," she said. "As a child you kind of get bits and pieces from Mom, Dad and whoever the caregiver is and you also get bits and pieces from friends and whoever else is around them."

"It is scary out there," Baran said. "I think social media does play into those fears and I think our job as a parent is to make sure that we lay a foundation for our children."

Buckmore said you can limit what your kids see, but that's not the end-all.

"Yes you can limit social media, but you can't really limit what their talking about with their friends," Buckmore warned.

Baran and Buckmore both agree that sugar coating things is not the right answer either.

"Kids should talk to their parents," Baran said. "And the parents shouldn't sugarcoat things. Rather they should be honest and say that things could get rough."

"When you sugarcoat things it's really hard for kids to understand and trust the truth." Buckmore said.

Buckmore also said that it is important to keep things to an age-appropriate discussion. She also suggests looking things up and finding answers to things together as a family. If you don't know an answer that's asked, just simply tell them you don't know.

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Kids & War: Talking to children about tensions in Iran - KCENTV.com

Despite efforts to reverse a federal district courts order, Walmart is still on the hook for tens of millions of dollars in lost trucker wages, an appeals court decided on Monday.

On Monday, Jan. 6, a panel for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower courts decision to award Walmart truck drivers in California $54.6 million in lost wages in addition to nearly $6 million in restitution.

Like similar cases, Walmarts wage lawsuit is based on whether the company controlled the drivers.

During oral arguments, Walmart argued that drivers should not have been awarded damages for layovers. That portion of the verdict accounted for $44.7 million of the $54.6 million in damages. A jury decided that drivers should be compensated for the 10-hour layover period when they cannot work and are free to engage in rest, sleep and leisure activities away from their truck.

Walmart argues the verdict makes it sound like the payment plan requires pay for every minute of the 10-hour layover. However, the plan does not say that drivers must take their layover in the truck. In fact, if truckers want to earn a $42 inconvenience fee, only then does Walmart require the layover period take place inside the truck.

Attorneys for the drivers claim that truckers need permission to sleep anywhere other than the cab. Company policy states that drivers must park at a safe and secure location, typically a distribution center. According to oral arguments, drivers cannot conduct personal errands. If drivers want to leave the cab, they must first receive permission. Truckers hauling an expensive load rarely receive that permission.

In its appeal, Walmart argued that layovers are not compensable. However, the federal court applied California law to the case.

The appeals court ruled that under California law, time drivers spent on layovers was compensable if Walmart exercised control over the drivers during those breaks. On that note, the panel also agreed that Walmarts written policies, if applied as written, resulted in Walmart exercising control over employees during mandated layovers as a matter of California law.

In California, an employer must pay minimum wages whenever it controls the employee, the appeals court states. And there is no reason to think that, as a matter of law, an employer cannot exercise control of a trucker even when the driver is taking a legally-mandated break.

Second, Walmart argues that even if that is the case, it has no control over the drivers during layovers. The companys pay manual only requires a driver to seek approval for the $42 for a layover taken at home. Walmart argues that the pay manual does not require employees to seek approval to go home during layovers. Rather, it requires drivers to seek preapproval to obtain the $42 inconvenience payment.

The manual states that a driver can take a break at home only after receiving approval from a member of transportation management, according to the appeals court. The manual also states that taking an unauthorized break at home is unacceptable and may lead to immediate termination.

The court also ruled the following:

Walmarts policy restricted drivers freedom of movement and prevented drivers from making a unilateral decision to spend layovers at home without preapproval. Walmart employees may have been free to leave the truck and engage in personal activities during layovers, but they could not go home. This foreclosed drivers from numerous activities in which they might otherwise engage while on layovers. As a result, employee liberty and freedom of movement was controlled by Walmart.

Consequently, the appeals court affirmed the $54.6 million in damages. Those damages include (rounded up):

The appellate decision also affirms restitution in the amount of $5.86 million and more than $300,000 for class representatives.

Walmart can still request an en banc rehearing or petition to the U.S. Supreme Court.

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Walmart on the hook for $54.6M in trucker wage lawsuit - Land Line - Land Line Media

Last year, tech companies couldnt get enough of letting you use their products less.

Executives at Apple and Google unveiled on-device features to help people monitor and restrict how much time they spent on their phones. Facebook and Instagram, two of the biggest time sucks on the planet, also rolled out time spent notifications and the ability to snooze their apps new features meant to nudge people to scroll through their apps a little less mindlessly.

These companies all became fluent in the language of time well spent, a movement to design technology that respects users time and doesnt exploit their vulnerabilities. Since the movement sprang up nearly seven years ago, it has invoked mass introspection and an ongoing debate over technology use, which people blame for a swath of societal ills including depression and suicide, diminished attention spans, and decreased productivity.

But a year after Big Tech rolled out their time-well-spent features, it doesnt seem like theyre working: The time we spend on our devices just keeps increasing.

Fortunately, the problem might not be that bad in the first place. Though correlations exist, theres no causal link between digital media usage and the myriad problems some speculate it causes.

Every time new tech comes out, theres a moral panic that this is going to melt our brains and destroy society, Ethan Zuckerman, director of the Center for Civic Media at MIT, told Recode. In almost every case, we sort of look back at these things and laugh.

What time well spent has done is spurred a whole cottage industry to help people digitally detox, and its being led in part by the big tech companies responsible for and that benefit from our reliance on tech in the first place. As Quartz writer Simone Stolzoff put it, Time well spent is having its Kendall Jenner Pepsi moment. What began as a social movement has become a marketing strategy.

Politicians are also jumping on the dogpile. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) has proposed a bill to reduce what some call social media addiction by banning infinite scrolling and autoplay and by automatically limiting users to spending a maximum of 30 minutes a day on each platform. The bill currently has no cosponsors and is unlikely to go to a vote, but does demonstrate that the topic is on lawmakers radar.

These efforts, however, have yet to dent our insatiable need for tech.

By all accounts, the time we spend attached to our digital devices is growing.

American adults spent about 3 hours and 30 minutes a day using the mobile internet in 2019, an increase of about 20 minutes from a year earlier, according to measurement company Zenith. The firm expects that time to grow to over four hours in 2021. (Top smartphone users currently spend 4 hours and 30 minutes per day on those devices, according to productivity software company RescueTime, which estimates average phone usage to be 3 hours and 15 minutes per day).

Were spending more time online because pastimes like socializing that used to happen offline are shifting online, and were generally ceding more of our days to digital activities.

The overall time Americans spend on various media is expected to grow to nearly 11 hours per day this year, after accounting for declines in time spent with other media like TV and newspapers that are increasingly moving online, according to Zenith. Mobile internet use is responsible for the entirety of that growth.

Nearly a third of Americans said they are online almost constantly in 2019, a statistic that has risen substantially across age groups since the study was conducted the year before.

Not all our online activities are on the uptick, however.

Online measurement company SimilarWeb has found that time spent with some of the most popular social media apps, like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat, has declined in the wake of time well spent efforts though the decline could instead reflect the waning relevance of those social media behemoths. At least for now, the average amount of time on those apps is still near historic highs:

Since overall time spent online is going up, the data suggests were just finding other places online to spend our time, like with newer social media like TikTok or with online video games.

Some have argued that sheer time spent isnt important psychologically, but rather its what were doing with that time online. And what were doing is very fragmented.

Rather than use our devices continually, we tend to check them throughout the day. On average, people open their phones 58 times a day (and 30 of those times are during the workday), according to RescueTime. Most of those phone sessions are under two minutes.

Even on our phones, we dont stick to one thing. A recent study published in the journal Human-Computer Interaction found that people switched on average from one screen activity to another every 20 seconds.

And whats the result of all these hours of fragmented activity? Just one in 10 people RescueTime surveyed said they felt in control of how they spend their day.

Its tough to separate finger-wagging judgments about tech from valid concerns about how tech could be degrading our lives. But the perception, at least, that tech is harming our lives seems to be very real.

Numerous articles instruct people on how to put down their phones. And richer Americans including the people making the technology in the first place are desperately trying to find ways to have their kids spend less time with screens.

MITs Zuckerman suggests building better pro-civic social media, since he thinks its already clear were going to spend lots of our time online anyway.

I am deeply worried about the effects of the internet on democracy. On the flip side, I was deeply worried about democracy before everyone was using the internet, he said. What we probably have to be doing is building social media thats good for us as a democracy.

This social media would emphasize the best aspects of social media and would better defend against scourges like content that promotes political polarization and misinformation. He gave the example of gell.com, which uses experts to outline arguments for and against major social issues, and then encourages user participation to further develop and challenge the ideas.

Nir Eyal, author of Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life, thinks were overusing the language of addiction when it comes to technology usage. If we really want to limit our technology usage, he told Recode, solutions are close at hand.

We want to think that were getting addicted because an addiction involves a pusher, a dealer someones doing it. Whereas when we call it what it really is, which is distraction now in the US, we dont like to face that fact that means we have to do something thats no fun, Eyal said.

Instead of blaming tech companies, he asks people, Have you tried to turn off notifications, for Gods sake? Have you planned your day so that you dont have all this white space where youre free to check your phone all the time?

For those who are addicted a percentage he says is probably in line with the portions of the population that are addicted to anything else, like alcohol or gambling he thinks tech companies should notify users that theyre in the top percentiles of usership and offer them resources, such as software tools and professional assistance (and his book).

In the meantime, the time we spend on our digital devices will continue to increase, and theres still a need for conclusive research about whether that actually matters. Perhaps while we wait for clarity, we can turn off our notifications about how much time we spend on our phones.

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Americans spent about 3.5 hours per day on their phones last year a number that keeps going up despite the "time well spent" movement -...