Monthly Archives: March 2015

As the TV show "Jackass"taught us,when adults do stupid things they're usually only hurting themselves. But what about when their ignorance threatens to harm their own children?

Say hello to the state Legislature of Oklahoma, where the House education committee voted Monday tobar advanced placement U.S. history courses from state high schools. The 11-4 votewas on strict party lines, Republicans in the majority. Thisactionrepresents the sort of ideological interference in education that can only end in making the state's students less informed and less prepared to function in the 21st century marketplace.

Education mavens will recognize thevote as an outgrowth of a campaign against the AP U.S. history course launched last summer by the Republican National Committee, which decided that the College Board's newly-issued outline, or "framework," for the AP coursewas infused with a radical progressive bias and insufficiently laudatory about American "exceptionalism."

Right-wing ideologuespromptly picked up the RNC's ball and ran with it. When you learn that the Oklahoma measure was introduced by Rep. Dan Fisher, an ordained minister and member of a group called the Black Robe Regiment, you'll get the picture. The organization's mission is to advance"our biblical responsibility to stand up for our Lord and Savior and to protect the freedoms and liberties granted to a moral people in the divinely inspired US Constitution," according to its website.

As Thinkprogress.org reports, legislatures in such red states as South Carolina and Georgia have considered taking action against the AP course, which is aimed at students heading for college. An effort in Colorado to require teachersto depict American history "in a positive light" provoked a walk-out by students. Now that Oklahoma's effort has emerged from committee, it appears to have reachedfurther than the others, so far.

This is an entirely manufactured controversy.We reported last August that it was startedby one Larry Krieger, a retired history teacher from New Jersey whose classroom approach underscored what he calls America's "mission to spread democracy."

Krieger linked up with the Christian conservative group Concerned Women for America, and a campaign was born. Krieger addressed the Oklahoma committee by conference call before its vote, reported the Tulsa World.

The authors of the AP outline struck back against what they accurately labeled "uninformed criticisms" of their work. "Many of the comments we have heard about the framework," they wrote last summer,"reflect either a misunderstanding of U.S. history or a very limited faith in history teachers' command of their subject matter."

It's worse than that. For the right wing,historical truth matters for naught; what's important isthe ideological narrative, and if it fails to match their vision of an America shining the light of freedom and plenty on the world, it must be "biased." Politicians who insist on inculcating such narrow-mindedness into their educational system are damaging their own students, but doing a real favor for the rest of us: our kids won't have to worry so much about competing in the real world with their kids.

Keep up to date with the Economy Hub. Follow@hiltzikmon Twitter, see ourFacebook page, or emailmhiltzik@latimes.com.

See the rest here:
Education watch: Oklahoma Legislature votes to dumb down its kids

When Sean Penn announced Birdman as Best Picture at the 2015 Oscars, he joked of the film's Mexican director Alejandro Gonzlez Irritu, "Who gave this son of a bitch a green card?"

Not everyone was laughing at this politically incorrect quip, butGonzlez Irritu, who directed Penn in 21 Grams, told Variety he personally "found it hilarious."

"Sean and I had that kind of brutal relationship where only true friendship can survive," he explained. "When I was directing him in 21 Grams, he was always making jokes...I made a lot of very tough jokes (to him) that I will not tell you."

PHOTOS: 2015 Oscars party pics!

"I didn't find it offensive," Irritu clarified. "I thought it was very funny."

At the end of his acceptance speech,Gonzlez Irritu said, "I want to take one second...I just want to take the opportunity...II want to dedicate this award for my fellow Mexicans, the ones who live in Mexico. I pray that we can find and build government that we deserve. And the ones that live in this country who are part of the latest generation of immigrants in this country, I just pray that they can be treated with the same dignity and respect of the ones who came before and build this incredible immigrant nation. Thank you very much."

During the 51-year-old director's Best Director acceptance speech, he claimed he was wearing Birdman star Michael Keaton's underwear for good luck, saying, "They are tight, smell like balls, but it worked. I'm here. Thank you, Michael!"

He later confirmed to Variety he really, truly was wearing the best actor nominee's tighty-whities, saying, "I wish I was in a more intimate setting to prove it."

Clearly, Mr.Gonzlez Irritu has quite the sense of humor!

PHOTOS: All the big winners at the 2015 Oscars

See the original post:
Birdman's Alejandro Gonzlez Irritu Thought Sean Penn's Green Card Joke Was "Hilarious"

Former neurosurgeon and noted conservative activist Ben Carson suggested Monday that President Obama take stronger reins in the war against terrorism, particularly in the battle against the Islamic State.

Instead, Mr. Carson said during an appearance on Fox News, Mr. Obamas only playing politics.

The definition of a good leader is someone who can take people who have different agendas and move them in the same direction to accomplish a goal, Mr. Carson said. We have exactly the opposite going on right now.

Mr. Carson the said it wasnt too late for Mr. Obama to take more decisive action and establish his legacy as one rooted in good governance.

If the president wants to have a good legacy, this would be a good time to start it, he said, on the broadcast. We have people trying to manage the military who know nothing about the military, who know nothing about military strategy. Our military needs to know that theyre not going to be prosecuted when they come back because somebody says, you did something that was politically incorrect. There is no such thing as a politically correct war.

He said that if there are going to be any established rules for war, the main one ought to be no war, he said.

Other than that, we have to win, Mr. Carson said. Our life depends on it.

Read more:
Ben Carson: 'No such thing as a politically correct war'

When you retire, you want to live like this guy.

Worried you wont have enough for a comfortable retirement? If youre willing to spend down your assets, as well as take a few other steps, you could boost your annual income by perhaps 30%.

Imagine a couple, both 62 years old. Well keep things simple and assume theres just one breadwinnerand well be politically incorrect and assume its the husband. They claim Social Security right away, even though they cant receive full benefits for another four years. He qualifies for $15,000 a year and his wife is eligible for spousal benefits worth $7,000.

Meanwhile, they own a $300,000 home with no mortgage and have $500,000 in savings. If they use the 4% portfolio withdrawal rate thats often recommended by financial planners, that $500,000 would generate $20,000 in first-year retirement income, with withdrawals rising in subsequent years along with inflation.

Add that to their Social Security and our hypothetical couple would have $42,000 a year. Heres how they could do better.

Paying to delay

Instead of claiming benefits at age 62, the husband files for Social Security at 66which is his full Social Security retirement agebut immediately suspends his benefit. This maneuver allows his wife to claim spousal benefits, which would be worth $10,000 a year, thanks to the four-year delay. Theres no point in postponing spousal benefits beyond full retirement age, because you dont get any further credit for delaying.

Meanwhile, the husband claims Social Security at age 70, the latest possible age. Because of the delay, he receives $26,400 a year, while also guaranteeing a larger survivor benefit for his wife, assuming he predeceases her.

The best annuity you can buy is Social Security, argues Baylor University investments professor William Reichenstein. The higher-income earner should delay benefits unless theyre both in poor health, because his benefit will be paid until the second spouse dies.

At age 70, our couple would have $36,400 in combined Social Security income. This figure is in todays dollars and ignores any intervening inflation-driven increases in Social Security benefits. To keep things simple, well also assume that their portfolios return rivals the inflation rate.

Go here to see the original:
How to pump up retirement income by as much as 30%