Daily Archives: June 6, 2017

Is Jeremy Corbyn really out to help the poor? – Spectator.co.uk (blog)

Posted: June 6, 2017 at 6:08 am

Is Jeremy Corbyn really out to help the poor or just to entice the middle classes into his big socialist tent? I ask because the more you examine the manifesto he keeps waving before the television cameras, the more it seems to be designed around giving benefits to the better-off. These wont come without cost, of course the better-off will also be paying for the benefits which Corbyn is dangling before their eyes, in the form of higher income taxes, and possibly new wealth taxes, too. But for the moment, it seems to be the potential handouts which are making Labour headlines rather than the prospect of higher taxes.

Could Corbyn potentially sweep to power on the back of the student vote, and the votes of students parents? Probably not, but the promise to abolish tuition fees has certainly helped to turn the polls. Would it really help to increase participation of low-income groups in higher education? Not to judge by the experience of Ireland, where tuition fees were abolished in 1996. A study by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) in 2011rather poured cold water on the theory that tuition fees are all that stands between us and more children of poor families going to university. The IFS looked atparticipation rates before and after abolition of tuition fees and concluded that the policy had done absolutely nothing to increase educational opportunities for the poor. On the contrary, it found:

The only obvious effect of the policy was to provide a windfall gain to middle class parents who no longer had to pay fees.

The experience contrasts with that in England when tuition fees were trebled in 2012. In the first year, the number of students from poorer backgrounds rose by 10 per cent in the first year. Why? Because as the IFS found in Ireland, factors other than tuition fees are far more important in determining whether children go on to study at university. The biggest barrier is low educational attainment at school. The English tuition fee increase coincided with a period in which the government was putting pressure on universities to offer places based on lower exam grades to students from poorer backgrounds.

There is a difference between England now and Ireland in 1996. Prior to then, Irish students from poor backgrounds already enjoyed means-tested grants which covered bother tuition fees and living costs. Abolishing the fees, in other words, offered nothing new to them, and in fact put them at a disadvantage because it encouraged more middle class children to apply to university.

If Labour really wants to help the poor, why not means-test free tuition fees? That would work out considerably cheaper than a wholesale end to the fees which will cost 11 billion. Is it that Labour is shamelessly going after the middle class vote with a bribe? I think the answer is a little more subtle than that. Corbyn opposes means-tests because he wants us all to share in socialism. Like Nye Bevan, who wanted the banker and the architect to live in council housing next door to the welder and the plumber, Corbyn first and foremost wants to make us all clients of the state. In Corbyns mind, the well-being of the poor comes second to this principle.

View post:

Is Jeremy Corbyn really out to help the poor? - Spectator.co.uk (blog)

Posted in Abolition Of Work | Comments Off on Is Jeremy Corbyn really out to help the poor? – Spectator.co.uk (blog)

How we teach our children: We must prepare children for professions of the digital age – Irish Examiner

Posted: at 6:08 am

Moira Leydonof the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland outlines her organisations perspective on what can be done to improve our education system.

In 2015, Ireland ranked third out of 35 countries for literacy, including digital literacy, and 13th out of 35 countries for both science and maths.

THE Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation hosted a conference on the future of work last month.

In her address, Minister Mary Mitchell OConnor quoted research which forecast that 65% of children in primary school today will work in jobs which currently do not exist.

Not only is the economy changing, so too are the political and international institutions which have created, for better or for worse, the world as we currently know it.

The future is unknown and, therefore, uncertain. Education policy has to navigate this uncertainty. It has to prepare young people for their future lives as citizens, parents, workers and job creators in a digital society.

At the same time, education must sustain young peoples wellbeing in the here-and-now as well as ensuring that culture, values and knowledge are passed on, shared and re-shaped between the generations.

In this context, we must ask deep questions: What is the purpose of education today? How can we ensure young peoples wellbeing and happiness? How do we prepare them for a world where exponential change is the norm? Such questions are not just the prerogative of educators. They concern all of society especially those who set the public agenda. What happens in education today shapes the society and economy of tomorrow.

Irish second-level education is internationally acknowledged as being of high quality. Successive OECD PISA reports (Programme for International Student Assessment) shows that Irelands 15-year olds achieve above average in literacy, maths and science. In 2015, Ireland ranked third out of 35 countries for literacy, including digital literacy, and 13th out of 35 countries for both science and maths.

PISA also found that Irish students feel a strong sense of belonging at school: this is vital for their wellbeing and their motivation to learn.

Second-level education is also ahead on other indicators in the EU 2020 Strategy. The latter aims to ensure that the school drop-out rate not exceed 10% by 2020: Irelands rate is currently 8.1%. The EU target that at least 40% of the population aged 30-34 years successfully complete third level education is already surpassed by Ireland: at 52.6%, Ireland currently has the highest rate in the EU.

Moving beyond quantitative evidence, there is also strong system evidence from Department inspection reports of public satisfaction with schools. Commissioned research by the Teaching Council similarly found high levels of trust and satisfaction with the teaching profession.

The work of the Teaching Council itself is focused on maintaining the quality of the teaching profession from initial teacher education, to professional standards and lifelong learning.

Another strength in our education system is the role of the statutory National Council for Curriculum and Assessment in ensuring an ongoing process of curriculum review and reform from early childhood to the end of second level education. Notwithstanding the ongoing ASTI objections to aspects of the new Junior Cycle Framework, the process of curriculum change is, in the main, dynamic and ongoing.

However, we need to look at systemic problems. Complacency has no place in our education system which is constantly charged with meeting new and enduring societal problems. From my perspective as Education and Research Officer with the ASTI, I would identify the following areas as priorities if our second level schools are to realise our aspirations for our young people.

Bestsellers such as Thomas Pikettys Capital in the Twenty-first Century, and The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always do Better, by Richard G Wilkinson and Kate Pickett, are part of a growing body of evidence on rising inequality. The proportion of children in Ireland (aged 0 to 17) at risk of poverty fell to 30.3 % in 2014 but remains higher than the EU average of 27.8%. The current policy for educational disadvantage DEIS focuses on schools with high numbers of disadvantaged students.

However, the majority of students at risk of educational disadvantage are not enrolled in DEIS schools. We need appropriate interventions in non-DEIS schools so that no child is left behind because of their family circumstances.

Invest in our school infrastructure Department projections indicate that from 2016 to 2025 second-level enrolments will grow by 19% over 65,000 additional students in the system. We need new schools, but we also need to seriously look at existing schools; overcrowding in classrooms and corridors, and the lack of space for non-traditional classroom learning are quality issues. In particular, ASTI research by Millward Brown has underlined the inadequate facilities in science laboratories.

The latter will increasingly become apparent when new practical assessment tasks are introduced for Leaving Cert science subjects in the next school year.

The gap between policy development and policy implementation is increasingly acknowledged as one of the reasons why education systems are either slow to adopt new practices or adopt them in a piecemeal fashion.

There is a real need to examine this conundrum in the Irish context. If the ASTI dispute on the Junior Cycle teaches us anything, it is that we need to look for better ways to engage teachers in the dialogue on innovation.

Teachers do not want their students to be the guinea pigs for experimentation. We need to examine how schools can engage in curriculum innovation while not undermining students learning or classroom relationships.

A proper framework for teachers lifelong learning must be developed which is underpinned by concrete supports to (i) ensure that the courses available to teachers are relevant to their work and to their personal development needs, and (ii) that they are financially accessible. Recent research by RED C for ASTI found that the biggest barrier to further learning for recently qualified teachers was the abolition of qualification allowances.

A key area for teacher learning relates to the digital revolution in our childrens lives.

There is consistent international evidence as to the quality of the Irish teaching profession. That quality is underpinned by several factors: High standards of initial teacher education and induction; continuous professional development; working conditions and level of pay. Almost a decade of austerity has seriously eroded the latter and it is now the number one priority for new entrants to the profession.

A differential salary structure for new entrants to the profession is eating away at the attractiveness of teaching as a career for our best and brightest graduates. Coupled with pervasive job insecurity, it has the potential to damage the future quality of the teaching profession. It is the number one political priority for the ASTI.

Moira Leydon is education and research officer with the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (ASTI)

What other countries do, with a focus on Finland.

Also, students and stress about 75% of teenagers describe pressure to excel in exams.

Irish Examiner Ltd. All rights reserved

Read the rest here:

How we teach our children: We must prepare children for professions of the digital age - Irish Examiner

Posted in Abolition Of Work | Comments Off on How we teach our children: We must prepare children for professions of the digital age – Irish Examiner

5 Reasons Gen Z Should Consider Going To College In China – Forbes

Posted: at 6:08 am


Forbes
5 Reasons Gen Z Should Consider Going To College In China
Forbes
According to CNBC, 75% of Gen Z-ers feel strongly that their work should have greater meaning than simply earning a good living. What they want out of a job is fulfillment, but also personal empowerment and a belief that what they're doing actually ...

Read this article:

5 Reasons Gen Z Should Consider Going To College In China - Forbes

Posted in Personal Empowerment | Comments Off on 5 Reasons Gen Z Should Consider Going To College In China – Forbes

‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’: Season 3 Embraces Its Sadness … – PopMatters

Posted: at 6:08 am

Season 3 Ellie Kemper, Tituss Burgess, Jane Krakowski (Netflix)

It doesnt take long for the third season of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt to remind its audience why its such a powerful and unexpected treasure; by the time the first new episode Kimmy Gets Divorced?! is over, its proven itself, once again, to be a truly wacky and wounding oddity. The first season of the show introduced the audience to Kimmy Schmidt (Ellie Kemper)the perpetually enthusiastic former cult member unleashed onto the streets of New York after being held captive for over a decadewith aplomb and style. It was a fantastic season of television, and if the second season expanded the narrative goals somewhat unsteadily, the third installment is a rollicking return to form by getting to the sadness beneath its day-glow wonderland aesthetic.

When were reintroduced to Kimmy, shes received divorce papers from her former captor and cult leader, Richard Wayne Gary Wayne (Jon Hamm). Initially, shes ecstatic to have another remnant of her old life pushed aside, but falters in signing the document, partly because her friend, the wealthy Upper East Side socialite Jacqueline (Jane Krakowski), introduces her to the idea of spousal power dynamics. Kimmy, Jacqueline argues, is now the powerful party by virtue of the fact that she has something that Richard wants. For a woman who had all of her agency removed from her and whose life was a constant struggle for even small shreds of personal empowerment, the prospect of withholding something Richard wants is irresistible.

Its an enormous testament to the show in general that this comedic set-up, in which Kimmy comes up with more and more elaborate excuses for not signing, feels so nuanced and emotional. Kimmys motivations are evident without being signposted; the joke ends up being a funny one, but its the emotional wallop that leaves a bruise. When she finally decides to grant her enemy a divorce, it feels like genuine development rather than an easy narrative cop-out, because its so rooted in character growth. Kimmys reminded that even if shes at the head of the table, shes allowing Richard to have a seat next to her; power means proximity, which ultimately leads to powerlessness again. Characters have realizations like this throughout the showKimmys outrageous roommate Titus (Tituss Burgess) more than anyonebut they never feel cloying or blithe, and never get in the way of the joke.

For many sitcoms, the trick to longevity and success is finding ways to constantly re-establish the formulae, to reset at the end of each episode so that the audience knows exactly what to expect next time; but Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt blows that dynamic up, demanding that the viewer accept that these people will be different with each passing episode: that sadness will seep through, that trauma will rear its ugly head at inopportune times. Part of what made the second season feel fragmented was the difficulty it had in giving each character side-plots whilst still maintaining the fun group dynamic that was so successful.

Season three feels much more fluid, making a virtue of the fact that Kimmys apartment is a place of perpetual forward motion; characters whizz in and out of it with remarkable speed, whilst still touching base with each other. Each character is integral to the fabric of the show, so their own stories feel like extensions of the narrative rather than peripheral to it. This is helped by the fact that there isnt a dud story amongst the four main cast members; each have their moments of whimsy, horror, and breakthrough.

Thats whats always been the shows greatest strength and perhaps the thing that may stop people from entering its world: the clash between the bubble-gum pink colour scheme and the darkness of the premise takes a few beats to get used to, even for someone who knows what to expect. Its a sad show enacted by characters that, at least on the surface, appear to be clowns. Kimmys gee-whiz-ness, Jacquelines privilege, Tituss zaniness, are all extremely well-constructed joke personas until the characters are revealed to be all too human: lonely, impatient for change, waking up to the injustice around them. Titus, who left New York to pursue a career as a cruise singer in season two and returns under mysterious circumstances, gets a particularly well-shaded character arc that forces him to realize that love isnt owed as much as its earned.

Please dont ad block PopMatters. We are wholly independent, with no corporate backers. Simply whitelisting PopMatters is a show of support. Thank you.

All of this makes it sound like the third season is significantly gloomier than what preceded it; it isnt. It still has a manic comedic energy like nothing else on television and follows the Tina Fey school of lobbing so many jokes at the screen that if some miss it doesnt really matter. Maya Rudolph has an especially loopy supporting role as Dionne Warwick in a plot line that sees her playing against Burgess expertly. In order to pay her way through college, Kimmy takes part in the gig economy in increasingly elaborate and ludicrous ways. A recurring joke about robots being part of the New York populace is absurd, precisely because the show refuses to acknowledge its absurdity. Fred Armisen returns with his weirdly modulated Robert Durst impression and Krakowski is excellent in a late season twist that sees her husband getting crushed by a reversing car and emerging from hospital as a significantly younger, significantly hunkier version of himself.

It certainly has one of the highest joke to screen time ratios on television at the moment, and its remarkable how smooth each delivery is; there are very few times when the episodes feel as if theyre reaching for a punchline. A sequence that shows Titus happily singing extremely offensive things about politics, religion, and gender, only to be horrified and offended at singing a breakaway pop hit called Boobs in California, is particularly noteworthy for its strangeness and hilarity.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is still, rest assured, very bizarre and rabid in its pursuit of a punchline. The sheer variety of joke formats is impressive; puns, pratfalls, satire, camp, word play, musical comedy, pop-culture riffs and sheer showmanship are thrown at the screen, making the whole show worthy of a second watch. Yet, its hard to argue that this year the show isnt more interested in the darkness that constantly threatens to disrupt the candy-toned hilarity. In the third episode Kimmy Cant Help You! the excellent Laura Dernthe queen of making sadness feel funny and vice-versamakes an appearance as Wendy Hebert, a divorce attorney who wants to rush through Kimmys divorce in order to marry Richard Wayne Gary Wayne herself.

Eventually, its revealed that Wendy is in love with the cult leader because hes incarcerated, not despite of it. Her previous relationships have been so bad and abusive that the prospect of being in love with someone whos physically incapable of damaging her seems like a dream. Its heartbreaking, but made even worse when Kimmy, in an attempt to convince Wendy that shes doing the wrong thing, calls Richard a rapist. Previously, the show has referred to Kimmys history with weird sex stuff, but its never been so forthright in its depiction. Kimmys recovering from trauma the likes of which she doesnt completely want to reveal to those around her; putting a label on her experiences, its made clear, makes them feel more real to the protagonist.

It also makes sense of one of the seasons more thought-provoking elements: Kimmys constant cycling through institutions and ideologies. In the aptly titled episode Kimmy Is a Feminist!, Kimmy comes up against the multitudes of modern feminist thoughts, vacillating between staunch feminism and rejecting it all together. Kimmy also decides to throw herself into religion, only to discover that shes replacing the indoctrination of her past in the bunker with a new, more socially accepted one.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is at its most humane when it allows itself, and its characters, to try on different lifestyles and points-of-view, building Kimmys worldview in front of the viewers eyes. By showing Kimmy coming up against the concept of utilitarianism, the season poses interesting questions about how difficult it is to wrestle with morality, especially for a person who was forced into arrested development. It makes the show deeper than a lot of much more traditionally serious shows on air; its its levity that allows it to sneak in so many interesting concepts about personal responsibility and reinvention.

That isnt to say that everything works. Season three doubles down on the storyline that many fans have found the most off-putting; Jacquelines personal struggle with her Native American heritage and her guilt about passing in the extremely white, extremely wealthy Upper East Side. This may not sound controversial, but Jane Krakowski is decidedly not Native American, and the show has been criticised in its clumsy handling of the whole thing (the show was also criticised for its handling of Asian American characters), and this season sees Jacqueline taking on the owners of the Washington Redskins. Its certainly an interesting discussion about the role of heritage vs empathy, but its still never fully convincing or barbed enough to be cutting. Theres also a strangely pointed joke at the expense of college campuses insistence on sexual consent, which seems strangely out of synch with Kimmys history, that amounts to arent young people sensitive about rape culture.

Overall though, its a very good, thoughtful season of television, buoyed by a fantastic performance from Kemper, some truly hilarious punchlines, and a keen, startling interest in the emotional lives of its characters. By being brave enough to suggest that the world isnt always fair or kind, even to those who approach it with nothing but fairness and kindness, it emerges as an inspiring and inspired, sly and sentimental. Oh, and if youre a Beyonc fan, you wont believe what Titus has planned when he decides to Lemonade.

Rating:

Jay has a BA in English Literature and Film Studies from Roehampton University and an MA in Film and Screen Cultures from the same institution. His debut novel Until There Was You was released last year and the follow-up, The Restart Project, is forthcoming, both with Less Than Three Press. You can read his television rants on Twitter or his website.

Link:

'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt': Season 3 Embraces Its Sadness ... - PopMatters

Posted in Personal Empowerment | Comments Off on ‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’: Season 3 Embraces Its Sadness … – PopMatters

Planet Earth gets Trumped – www.kingstonregion.com/

Posted: at 6:08 am

Planet Earth gets Trumped
http://www.kingstonregion.com/
... legacy of the Trump presidency. Citizens working together with local and state governments at the grass roots level can overcome any Whitehouse madness. And that discovery of personal empowerment may not be a bad thing for the U.S. and the world.

and more »

Continued here:

Planet Earth gets Trumped - http://www.kingstonregion.com/

Posted in Personal Empowerment | Comments Off on Planet Earth gets Trumped – www.kingstonregion.com/

Women Empowerment series: TV characters encouraging women around the world – CarterMatt

Posted: at 6:08 am

Female characters seen on TV arent found in the kitchen anymore. Or in the spotlight just a housewife for that matter. Looking to share the best of what women do in real life, the characters on TV reflect what women do today. Viewers see a positive and inspiring contribution to todays society. From scientists to firefighters, from geologists to snipers, empowering moments are shared with TV viewers every week.

On TV today, viewers see Olivia Benson of Law & Order: SVUin the streets of New York City finding justice for victims of sexual abuse. Elizabeth McCord of Madam Secretaryis in the White House making tough decisions that impact the world as she guides the country as the top State Department Head. Dr. Miranda Bailey of Greys Anatomymakes daily life and death decisionsat a Seattle hospital. Every week millions of people watch these women at work. Empowering examples of women on TV, they impact our society, our youth and our dreams.

Where do these empowering women who are TV characters come from? Its fascinating to learn that the writers who sculpt these dynamic female characters actually might be sharing a sliver of a woman they know. Its a powerful trait of a mother, daughter, sister or neighbor who pushes themselves to be the best or to make her dreams come true. These are real traits built into a TV show in the form of a character.

Women empowerment isnt just about being strong. There is a deeper reflection. Empowerment is a woman who steps up to conquer the world in her own way. She has the will to pursue her goals and dreams. The drive to do whatever is needed. And the determination to not stop until she has found her place in life. Recognizing there are pitfalls for equality, empowering women are determined to make a change by being the first, the best or even the strongest. They never dwell on what they dont have, they focus on how to get it what they want. Only stopping when they have achieved their personal desires.

Empowering female characters on television include real women stepping in front of the camera too. There are news anchors, talk show hosts and reality show celebrities who are empowering. A peek at the inspiration, dedication and the undeniable determination of every strong woman seen on TV is what the Women Empowerment series is all about. SHE can do it on TV. And if SHE. can why cant every woman watching dream big and accomplish their goals too?

Take a minute to check out all of the television characters highlighted in this series. You might be surprised to learn those familiar faces on TV are more than just characters. They are empowering women who could encourage your daughter, sister, friends and mother to dream big and charge forwards toward the future.

You will be able to view all entries in this Women Empowerment series by visiting the link here.

This column was written by Jodi Jill and if youre looking for more then be sure to head on over to the link here.Also, you canfollow her on Facebook and Twitter! (Photo: CBS.)

Read more from the original source:

Women Empowerment series: TV characters encouraging women around the world - CarterMatt

Posted in Personal Empowerment | Comments Off on Women Empowerment series: TV characters encouraging women around the world – CarterMatt

For America’s European allies, NATO is the frontline of freedom – The Hill (blog)

Posted: at 6:07 am

As the Trump administration returns to business as usual following the presidents first overseas travel, we are left to review the outcomes and mitigate the fallout of his venture. Some foreign policy experts will focus on new possibilities in the Middle East, while others wonder of the impact that President Trump may have on future relations with Europe and NATO. One thing is very clear: despite the growing rift between the U.S. administration and our Western European allies, we need to meet the challenge of a resurgent Russia by re-energizing and expanding critical partnerships along the "front lines of freedom" countries.

These "front lines," comprised of the former Eastern bloc countries and Soviet satellite states such as Latvia, Estonia, Bulgaria and Ukraine, have played an essential role in promoting American interests since the early 1990s. A major influence on these countries' democratization is a program that receives little beltway fanfare: the National Guards State Partnership Program.

The partnerships bring allies to the U.S. for exercises and training and, perhaps most importantly in this day of Russian aggression, place our National Guard side-by-side with our democratic allies on the front lines. In this role, we make it clear that these small democracies - some only the size of Maryland - are not alone as they face the enormity of growing Russian aggression in the region.

It's no surprise, given the president's penchant for Russian favor, that the countries directly facing Moscow and its military head-on might wonder about their future and our commitment to these front lines of freedom. That is why I believe it is critical that the people of the United States reaffirm our commitment to this vital program. We must recommit ourselves to continued U.S. partnership and presence in the region through joint exercises and showing the U.S. flag. We must make the call to ensure that the military equipment of our National Guard and these partner nations is interoperable and compatible. All the commitment in the world would be rendered meaningless if we can't coordinate and maneuver effectively with our allies on the front lines.

What realistic steps can each of us take to help secure our allies and this important front line of freedom? Each of us can thank our National Guard for the important work that they do in this program. You also can support the program by speaking to your governor and congressional representatives and expressing the value that you place in facing Russian aggression. Be sure to tell them that more frequent National Guard exercises in those countries and up-to-date equipment for our National Guard and partner nations is critical.

President Trump is correct in pointing out to our NATO allies that freedom is not free, but we all should remember that it is more than a percentage of GDP for our allies in Europe it is truly the security of their backdoor as they sit on the frontline of freedom.

Todd A.Weileris a former assistant secretary of Defense under the Obama administration and deputy assistant secretary under President Clinton. He is a decorated combat veteran, currently consults on military and civilian personnel issues.

The views expressed by contributors are their own and are not the views of The Hill.

View original post here:

For America's European allies, NATO is the frontline of freedom - The Hill (blog)

Posted in Freedom | Comments Off on For America’s European allies, NATO is the frontline of freedom – The Hill (blog)

Freedom Caucus leader: Russia ‘hysteria’ paralyzing Congress … – The Hill

Posted: at 6:07 am

Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), the chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, on Monday said the "hysteria" surrounding the ongoing Russia investigation is paralyzing Congress and hindering lawmakers from executing their agendas.

"The hysterics surrounding Russia merely serve to distract from accomplishing the priorities of the American people and for what, partisan gain?" Meadows wrote in a CNN op-ed.

While Meadows said he supports bipartisan efforts to "get to the bottom" of the Russia probe, he also warned against "fueling exaggeration" when it comes to the investigation.

"America must not tolerate Russian intervention in our elections, but we must also not perpetuate a narrative that suggests a far bigger role than any evidence has proven. Fueling exaggeration and constant hysteria is something that could unravel a democracy like ours."

The Freedom Caucus leader said many Americans are tired of the "cable news drama" and "constant media frenzy" surrounding the Trump administration, and care more about policies that will impact their lives like healthcare.

Meadows said the Russia probe should now be left in the hands of Robert Mueller, who was appointed by the Department of Justice as special counsel to independently investigate Kremlin's election involvement.

"It's time we let the special counsel do his job and allow Congress to focus on actually on doing ours."

Investigations into Russian election interference and possible links between President Trump's campaign and the Kremlin are ongoing in the Justice Department, FBI and Senate and House Intelligence committees.

Meadows said in February that the attention on Trump and the White House benefitted the Republican-majority House as they voted on measures that received "little attention" as a result.

There is some merit to the argument that would suggest that much of the focus is on what President Trump is doing and not as much on what Congress is doing, Meadows toldThe Huffington Post. So it allows for votes to be taken in the House that receive little attention while everybodys focused on the bigger agenda items.

See more here:

Freedom Caucus leader: Russia 'hysteria' paralyzing Congress ... - The Hill

Posted in Freedom | Comments Off on Freedom Caucus leader: Russia ‘hysteria’ paralyzing Congress … – The Hill

Major restrictions coming to Route 65 near Freedom this weekend – Timesonline.com

Posted: at 6:07 am

FREEDOM -- Anyone driving on Route 65 this weekend should be prepared for significant delays.

PennDOT announced Monday that northbound Route 65 in Freedom will be closed from Friday night to Monday morning, while southbound Route 65 will be reduced to a single lane for the entire weekend.

The road will be severely restricted to allow for crews to conduct painting on the bridge that carries traffic from Third Avenue to southbound Route 65. In addition, PennDOT announced five similar closures will be necessary throughout the summer in an effort to complete the bridge painting.

Anyone traveling on northbound Route 65 will be detoured to Third Avenue and back onto the northbound Route 65 ramp. The closure will be in place in from 6 p.m. Friday until 6 a.m. Monday.

The bridge painting is part of an overall $20 million project on Route 65 that will conclude in October.

See the rest here:

Major restrictions coming to Route 65 near Freedom this weekend - Timesonline.com

Posted in Freedom | Comments Off on Major restrictions coming to Route 65 near Freedom this weekend – Timesonline.com

First public hearing on Freedom Plan Thursday at Liberty High School – Carroll County Times

Posted: at 6:07 am

The first of two public hearings on the accepted Freedom Plan will be held 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 8, at Liberty High School. The hearing will provide people with a chance to voice concerns or comments for the record.

The second public hearing will be held the 8:30 to 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 20, at the Carroll County Office Building.

The Freedom Plan is a guide for potential future development of South Carroll, which is a designated growth area for the county. It was last updated in 2001, which means the update is more than half a decade late since state guidelines require the plan be updated every 10 years.

The Carroll County Planning Commission accepted the current draft of the plan, which it had worked on for a year, in April and after public comment may vote to approve it. After approval, the plan is sent to the Board of County Commissioners. The commissioners could then reject it, make changes to it or adopt it, which would begin the process of implementing the plan.

The accepted draft of the Freedom Plan and associated future land use maps can be found online at http://www.freedomareaplan.org.

The plan has had its local and vocal critics, some of whom came to an open house meeting about the plan on May 25.

Ellen Dix lives in Eldersburg and said that she is concerned about future land use designations that could lead to undeveloped land that is zoned low density residential being rezoned to medium or high density residential. It's not just the density of the developments that concern her but the effect on traffic patterns.

"Route 26 has congestion that is just bumper to bumper in the morning and afternoon," she said. "I live on a street that doesn't have a traffic light, and you almost have to make a right hand turn, go down to Walmart, and turn around and come back."

If Eldersburg were an incorporated area, Dix said, imagining what could be done if she had a magic wand to make any kind of change, she would argue for a moratorium on building.

"Because Eldersburg is not incorporated, we don't have a say," Dix said. "We never did have a say; we never will have a say."

Ross Dangel, who recently ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the Sykesville Town Council, also felt that the Freedom Area did not have ample voice in the process.

"There's nobody saying, 'Stop.' There is nobody saying: 'Is this right? Is there a right away to do this that might be less harmful to the community and make more sense?'" Dangel said. "Nobody is an anti-growth person. We understand the need for growth."

John and Jean Hruch, who live within 2 miles of the South Carroll Senior and Community Center where the open house meeting was held, said they have been concerned for the past year about medium density future land use designations on the Wolf, Beatty and Gibson parcels, and that their concerns are not being listened to.

"I just want it to be what Eldersburg is, a community that kind of makes sense. Yes, develop it, but just do it right," Jean Hruch said. "We just want an open, honest discussion. We want our voices to be heard."

At the same time, John Hruch did acknowledge that changes had been made to the plan based on input from the community.

"The Beatty property was a very good compromise: They wanted that all commercial, and they have decided to go one-third commercial and two-thirds residential. They kept traffic access off of Bennett Road," he said. "Those were the two big concerns. They fixed that."

County Commissioner Doug Howard, R-District 5, who represents the Freedom Area, said that planning is hard and that criticisms are to be expected.

"The people that find the positives in it don't react to it. People who find something they don't like it in, it's pretty easy to tell; 'That's going to be congestion in my neighborhood,'" he said. "I am not criticizing that. That is what the discussion should be."

Moreover, Howard said, he is not weighing in to say, "Stop," on any point in the plan because it hasn't yet come before the Board of Commissioners, which is when he believes it will be appropriate to make comments, voicing his opinion, during what he anticipates will be a series of meetings over the summer.

"There will probably be a meeting where we sit down with the planning commission to ask about how things were done. We will probably have a public meeting, I don't know if we are required to, but a public meeting to get more feedback from people," he said. "There does come a finite point where a decision has to be made."

Commissioner Richard Weaver, R-District 2, said he felt the plan as accepted by the planning commission, and put out to public comment, was just the beginning of a process during which people can voice opinions that will further shape the contours of the Freedom Plan prior to its eventual adoption by the board.

"You have to have a starting point to do anything, and that's what this is," Weaver said. "That's why we put it out there, to get public comments and to see what the average person says."

jon.kelvey@carrollcountytimes.com

410-857-3317

twitter.com/CCT_Health

6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, June 8: Public hearing at the Liberty High School auditorium, 5855 Bartholow Road, Eldersburg.

8:30 to 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 20: Oral comments in last public hearing in the Reagan Room of the Carroll County Office Building, 225 N. Center St., Westminster. Last call for written comment is 9 a.m.

See the original post:

First public hearing on Freedom Plan Thursday at Liberty High School - Carroll County Times

Posted in Freedom | Comments Off on First public hearing on Freedom Plan Thursday at Liberty High School – Carroll County Times