Not Cynical, Not Us!

We try not to be cynical about government here at Voters. In a very real sense our governments -- at all levels -- are not "them" but, rather, "us." We try to subscribe to the notion that if we don't like the government -- at any level -- we have the power to change it. The converse of this, of course, is that maybe people have exactly the kind of government -- at all levels -- that they want -- or deserve.

In keeping with such forced optimism, or at least an aversion to hard-core cynicism, we decided against running this quotation from George Washington on the old gent's birthday on Friday:

Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force.
Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.

We note that the good folks over at MDI (http://mdischools.net/), the liberty men and women helping lead the resistance to the perversities of the consolidation scheme, have posted this schedule of the Education Committee's plans for the coming week.

WEEKLY SCHEDULE Education and Cultural Affairs Committee Week of February 25-29, 2008

Monday: Session 10:00 a.m. – House and Senate No Committee Meetings Scheduled

Tuesday: Session 10:00 a.m. – House and Senate Public Hearings 1:00 p.m. – L.R. 3490: An Act to Clarify and Improve the Laws Governing the Formation of Regional School Units L.R. 3491: An Act to Fully Implement the School Administrative Unit Reorganization Law Work Sessions 4:00 p.m. or ASAP – L.R. 3490: An Act to Clarify and Improve the Laws Governing the Formation of Regional School Units L.R. 3491: An Act to Fully Implement the School Administrative Unit Reorganization Law

Wednesday: Session 10:00 a.m. – House and Senate Work Sessions 1:00 p.m. – L.R. 3490: An Act to Clarify and Improve the Laws Governing the Formation of Regional School Units L.R. 3491: An Act to Fully Implement the School Administrative Unit Reorganization Law

Thursday: Session 10:00 a.m. – House and Senate Public Hearing 1:00 p.m. – L.D. 2175: Resolve, To Ensure Support for a Model of Consolidated and Integrated Secondary and Postsecondary Education Work Sessions 2:00 p.m. – L.D. 2062: An Act Regarding Education Laws 3:00 p.m. – L.D. 2123: Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Chapter 61: State Board of Education Rules for Major Capital School Construction Projects, a Major Substantive Rule of the Department of Education and the State Board of Education L.D. 1998: An Act To Provide Accessible Higher Education Financial Assistance for Maine Families

Friday: Work Sessions 9:00 a.m. – L.D. 2131: An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Legislative Youth Advisory Council with Respect to Educational and Organizational Matters L.D. 2043: An Act To Protect Student Athletes L.D. 2114: Resolve, Requiring the State To Use Valid Risk and Preventive Factors for Youth Programs L.D. 2025: An Act To Provide Degree-granting Authority to the Landing School of Boatbuilding and Design

Just thought you'd like to know! After all, our own efforts, or lack of them, will determine what we deserve.