Lonestar Textbook Revisionists

WHAT is this business about the Texas ignoranti "rewriting" school textbooks? Joe McCarthy is now an admirable historical figure? Church and State are no longer separate? The part that's the most infuriating is the common wisdom that since Texas buys such a large volume of textbooks, these revisions will be in the books all across the country.

Without getting into the (non-existent) merits of the board's revisions, why would a legitimate publisher of history textbooks let a customer rewrite the history based on their (the Texas school board's) political agenda? Are they -- the publishers -- not the experts on history? If they are willing to just change it because one of their big customers leans on them, why would any other school system want to buy their books? That's like a news organization caving to the demands of a big advertiser and not reporting news about which that advertiser has a business interest. That news organization would be discredited, as should any publisher of history books that rewrites history for the "Texas Account."

School boards that function in the civilized world need to stick together and face down this threat. Tell these publishers that we expect legitimate historians to write history, not small-minded political hacks and bigots. There are plenty of publishing industry professionals looking for opportunities these days. If the major textbook publishers are going to throw away their credibility, this could be a gift to an entrepreneur.

Oil Industry Scumbags

OK, so each of the three CEO's (from BP, Haliburton and Transocean) has claimed his company is not at fault. NO PROBLEM -- that still doesn't mean taxpayers have to pay. Have each company put an initial $5 Billion into a cleanup fund. They each then contibute additional dollars as the fund is depleted and costs continue. The three companies can take each other to court and fight it out. If there are any winners, the loser(s) can reimburse the winner(s) for their contributions to the fund.

Make sense?

Greek Debt

What's with all the toddler-style temper tantrums coming from the Greek populace around the austerity demands of their rescuers? Do they really think they deserve to live better, make more, and retire earlier than the people giving them Billions of Euros?

I heard that one Greek commentator declared "Greece gave the world democracy," so the LEAST Europe can do is bail them out! WELL, Stavros, according to many hilarious jokes I heard in high school, Greece also gave the world anal sex . . . so you tax-evading freeloaders should be prepared to bend over and take your damn medicine!

Seriously, though, we love Greece and the baklava and all the goodness. Just act like adults and all will be OK, Zeus willing.