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$15/year All correspondence to: Editor: Joyce Bates All correspondence to: P. O. Box 1744 Greenville, SC 29602 July, 2010 |
The Voice of
Sanity
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE UPSTATE S.C. SECULAR HUMANISTS Visit our web-site for current and back-issues at: www.uscsh.org
e-mail: secularhmnst@aol.com |
We have NO meeting of any kind in July. The August brunch will be on August 14th. Our annual picnic will be August 22nd.
All dates, etc will be announced in the August Voice of Sanity.
Reminders will be sent as events come up.
Recently, articles appeared in the Greenville News on local budget cuts to public schools. One featured the elimination of 52 positions and the furlough of other employees in the Anderson school district giving the millage increase of 1.9 mills ($188,000) to business. Although business in this district will also be taxed the extra 1.9 mills they will at least receive the benefit of the increase. But, there are plans for at least four schools in the county to build major additions. Why is such a building program occurring when the teaching staff is being cut and/or furloughed?
There were two other recent articles In the News of interest. One, by David Broder, stated that although 300,000 teaching slots were saved by the 2009 federal rescue package, there is no indication that federal money will be available for the coming years. However, some of the state systems are stiffening their requirements for math and science.
The other article in the News was by Paul Thomas and he suggests our attitudes toward the welfare of our children are reflected in what we do socially and politically. Here are two things we are willing to accept: disproportionate low birth weight among races and socio-economic classes, and instructional problems due to poor health conditions of children living in lower income neighborhoods, In addition, the number of schools labeled as high-poverty has increased from 15% to 20% for elementary schools and over 5% to 9% for high schools over a nine year period. How can high standards in public education be achieved by closing poor performing schools in poverty areas, if the children that go to them will continue to have the same disadvantages in health?
A study done in 2004 by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development compared the poverty rates of 19 countries in the developed world. The US ranked first in per capita income, but it came in 7th in productivity, behind France (which has only a 35 hour workweek). The US ranked 13th in growth of wages and benefits. The last statistic, that the US has an 18% poverty rate, is one the media has emphasized a great deal lately. Exclusively listening to the TV and radio would give one the impression that the rate has increased significantly over time. A look at the OECD statistics for the poverty rates from 1980 to 2004 told a different story. The rate for the US was 17% in 2004 and in 1984. Latest figures (2008) show the US poverty rate at 18%. The rate has varied between 16 and 18 percent, never falling below 16% for the past 24 years. Here is a list of what some selected countries’ poverty rates and social spending rates have been. Some listings are from 1985 because those countries did not join the count until then.
Country Year Poverty
rate Social Spdg* Year Poverty
rate Social Spdg*
United
States 1980 17% 13% 2004 17% 16%
Mexico 1985 20% 1.9% 2004 18% 6.8%
Canada 1980 12% 14% 2004 12% 17%
Japan 1985 12% 12% 2004 15% 19%
New
Zealand 1985 6.2% 18% 2004 11% 18%
Sweden 1985
3.4% 29% 2004 5.3% 31%
Social Spdg= percentage of GNP on social spending.
These statistics aren’t complete enough to be significant, but are interesting. All of these countries have increased social spending except New Zealand.
Here are a few arguments for the existence of God. They are found on www.godlessgeeks.com/LINKS/godproof.htm.
Argument from fear:
If there is no god, then we’re all going to not exist after we die.
I’m afraid of that.
Therefore God exists.
Argument from belief:
If God exists, then I should believe in him.
I believe in God.
Therefore God exists.
Argument from money:
All US currency contains the motto “In God We Trust”.
Therefore God exists.
Argument from blindness:
God is love.
Love is blind.
Stevie Wonder is blind.
Stevie Wonder is God.
Therefore God exists.
Argument from history:
The Bible is true.
Therefore the Bible is historical fact.
The Bible says God exists.
Therefore God exists.
Argument from tornados:
A large tornado hit Kansas City
The tornado missed a church but destroyed several hundred homes.
Therefore God exists.
Argument from personal sanity:
I’ve had religious experiences that can’t be explained unless I’m insane or God exists.
Therefore God exists.
Argument from political expediency:
The vast majority of Americans believe in God
I’ll get elected if I believe in God
Therefore God exists.
Argument from argumentation:
God exists.
(Atheist’s counterargument)
Yes, he does.
(Atheist’s counterargument)
Yes, he does.
(Atheist’s counterargument)
YES, HE DOES!!!
Atheist gives up and goes home.
Therefore God exists.
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