IdeaLog
Common Core “results” aren’t actually test scores
Posted on September 1, 2015
A few states have now released results from the Common Core standardized tests administered to students last spring. The Associated Press recently published a story about it, and over the next couple of months...
Time to kill the death penalty
Posted on August 19, 2015
In February 2015, Pennsylvania issued a moratorium on executions. In May, Nebraska became the 19th state, and the seventh state since 2007, to abolish the death penalty. And weeks ago, the Connecticut Supreme Court...
Why is the generic conservative philosophy so popular?
Posted on August 5, 2015
First, let’s be clear: Americans like the concept of “conservative.” Nearly 40 percent of Americans—including nearly 20 percent of Democrats—identify themselves as conservative. And 62 percent of Americans—including 47 percent of Democrats—have a positive...
Worst state and local defeats so far this year
Posted on July 20, 2015
Our last blog listed some really great progressive victories in the states and localities so far this year. Now it’s time to face some grim music. The fact is, state legislatures were more conservative...
Six key progressive victories in the states and localities
Posted on July 6, 2015
With the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives controlled by the right wing, it’s no wonder that this Congress has been among the least productive in our nation’s history. But while Congress treads water,...
The flag that offends 100 million Americans
Posted on June 22, 2015
We’ve had this discussion before. Over recent years, state and local governments have gradually recognized that flying the Confederate battle flag is offensive and inappropriate. For example, Florida took down that flag in 2001,...
School evaluation that’s data driven—over a cliff
Posted on June 10, 2015
Last week, a very distinguished panel convened by the National Research Council published an Evaluation of the Public Schools of the District of Columbia. The report is 341 pages long and cost millions of...
Neo-Cons are wrong about “freedom” and “security”
Posted on May 26, 2015
Some war hawks have defended the invasion and occupation of Iraq as a necessity of national “security” while others promoted the war as a defense of “freedom.” Poppycock, in both cases. “Values” have real...
Three reasons why voters are ignorant of policy facts
Posted on May 14, 2015
No doubt you have heard that the Governor of Texas has promised to monitor a U.S. military training exercise called “Jade Helm 15” because Tea Party websites have whipped millions of Americans into a...
The Right Wing Isn’t Crazy, It’s Strategic
Posted on April 28, 2015
So far this year…The Oklahoma House passed legislation to eliminate AP American History classes from public schools because, right-wingers said, the course is too negative about America. The Tennessee House voted to designate the...