Congratulations, You've been accepted!

Receiving an acceptance letter from a university is a highlight for every 

graduating senior and a proud moment for parents.

Unfortunately, most parents and students have no idea of the climate 

at many universities across the country, as its not mentioned in 

promotional literature.

Universities will describe the outstanding programs to prepare

students for careers of their choice, providing a wide range of 

offerings that allows students to broaden their horizons beyond 

the rigors of career preparation.

Every aspect of university living is described, albeit one, the 'cultural 

climate' , often an inhibiting factor students and parents have the

right to know about., but never do, until they arrive on campus.

This is not about ideological education which parents have learned

to accept, the price they pay so their children will get a diploma that

hopefully  will open doors throughout their lives.  

This goes much deeper, it borders on anarchy, shutting down schools

unless they comply to demands.

Its time questions need to be raised.

Shouldn't universities be required to provide information on what 

occurs on campus beyond the boundaries of education? 

Shouldn't students learn that some have free speech while others 

are muzzled?

Don't  parents who pay tens of thousands of dollars in tuition have the 

right know of  the protests and sit-ins by students meant to disrupt

their child's education until contrived demands are met? 

What was once a rare occurrence has become routine at universities 

large and small whether they are highly acclaimed or run of the mill.  

Also, such protests are not spontaneous, there is a commonality.

The same problems found at Dartmouth were found in Univ. of Minn.

Spontaneity is the last word to describe what is going on!

Why bring this up now?  Perhaps, because what is going on across 

the country is happening in my backyard, at UNC-Chapel Hill!

The concern needs to go beyond the demands of protesting students,

it should also apply to the "adults", the ones who produce  appealing

college literature and cash the tuition checks!

Rather than clearly defining the boundaries of behavior and defend

administration policies most university presidents admit fault for 

whatever criticism protesters have, apologize and, in the case of the 

University of Missouri, resign!

So much seems to be unraveling at institutions around us, much we 

ignore. But when the toxicity touches our children directly we must

protest as well!

Its also time for university presidents to display a backbone.

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When is migration an invasion?

The most recent crisis is the one of Syrian "refugees" seeking to escape an ongoing civil war. As so often happens Western nations are the first to offer help. But, are the people leaving Syria really refugees? Or is something else happening and the West is either too blind or gullible to see. This exodus began over three months ago as migrants came in waves, with spontaneity, traveling across the Mediterranean in boats readily available, welcomed in Turkey, and refusing to stop in Greece and Hungary, until they reached their desired destinations, countries with the strongest economies and best quality of living. Being choosy came easy to them. There was little if any skepticism why this exodus occurs now, when the civil war has been going on for more than three years. Were boats not available sooner to take them to Europe? Looking deeper we may find this was more than an exodus, it may be something more. Those who question this migration are called heartless, a successful tactic of those who do not want to have a serious discussion. This is why so many European and American politicians were quick to offer legal refugee status and welcoming tens of thousands with more to come. No leader dared question what was going on, or wondered if this was a spontaneous migration or a well orchestrated one? The nations eager to accept the million or more Syrians should have first considered some troubling factors obvious to all who bothered to look. Begin with the makeup of the migrants arriving in Europe. More than 80% are young men. This is unusually odd on a couple of counts. First, women and children usually receive preference escaping war zones. I am unaware if there was ever a 'refugee' crisis where at least half the people were women and young children. Also, why didn't able bodied young Syrian men stay to fight? A second point, why would such a mass exodus want to travel so far from their homeland? It makes sense to leave a war torn nation, but not to travel more than more than 3000 miles to Western Europe when stable Arab states are much closer. A third point, the Arab states have a population of nearly 350 million, a shade under Western Europe, and can easily take in the millions from Syria. Yet not one is offering refugee status. Questions need to asked and suitably answered before Western nations go forward with this migration. I am sure these points were never seriously discussed, not in Washington, not in Europe and most disappointingly, not in the media. Whatever the urgency to bring 1-3 million migrants to Western nations, when governments act hastily unpleasant surprises are not far behind.

Failure to Plan........maybe that IS the plan!

Most enterprises review statistics to measure success.
And usually when the statistics are disappointing steps
are taken to correct them. ​And,when an organization puts
the word "planned" in its title its expected some degree
of planning will occur.

Not so with Planned Parenthood, which reported statistics
most executives would be ashamed of!

At Planned Parenthood the word planned has as much value
as the lives destroyed at their centers, but less than
the fetuses "harvested" and sold to the highest bidder!

Since the year 2000 Planned Parenthood performed a little
less than 200,000 abortions and each year until 2009 the
number of abortions only rose higher until exceeding more
than 330,000. The number is currently 350,000 annually.

​If Planned Parenthood's family planning efforts were
successful wouldn't the number of abortions gone down?

Where is its community outreach to educate teenagers and
on the preventive measures to avoid unwanted pregnancies
before conception?

And, where are the efforts to increase the number of
adoptions with so many families anxiously awaiting children?
Shouldn't this be an equal part of "planning"?

When you see 350,000 abortions performed annually and
only 1100 babies were adopted you can rightly conclude
either Planned Parenthood is failing to help families
"plan" or doesn't even disguise its intent, be America's
largest abortion factory.

ajbruno14  gmail.com

Taxing us to the limit......

Across the country there is a bi-partisan effort in state legislatures 

to introduce new and novel  means to bring in revenue for road

maintenance and construction. Once again, the source of this 

new revenue will fall upon drivers.

The non-persuasive argument is that states are not getting the
needed revenue to maintain our roads as improved mileage

has 'cost' the highway fund coffers. (Typical "govt. speak")

Many states, including our own, NC, are going forward with tolls

to supplement the revenue from the fuel tax.  This is seen as a
"cure all", without any evidence to show it is better than increasing
the current fuel tax by a penny or two!

One matter of concern most are unaware of is the administration 

of toll collection and spending. In NC our Dept. or Transportation

has contracted with a private company, not managing revenue

collection and spending itself, a troubling decision to many who
have viewed the contract!

Some states have added a mileage tax to all drivers pay for "road usage".

These measures are add-ons to the current state and federal fuel tax

as was the "gas guzzler" tax on cars that fall below EPA standards.

States and Congress are also considering raising the federal fuel tax,
while the public remains in the dark how past revenue has been spent. 

The public deserves a full accounting how all fuel tax revenue has been
spent before we new taxes, fees and tolls are imposed.

Fuel tax revenue has been used for decades to subsidize rail and buses,
including security at stations, airports and other facilities, while roads
and highways received no additional funding beyond what driver's pay.

Until a full accounting is provided the public should balk at paying for

tolls, fuel tax increases and mileage usage!

ajbruno14  gmail 

Three "Ps" of American Governance!

The relationship between political party leaders and elected
officials is sometimes difficult to understand, at least to me.
Often there is a bond between them that leaves rank and file
members on the sidelines. 

Whether you are a Democrat or Republican, you should
expect elected officials to follow the beliefs of their respective
party and the oath of office they hold.

You also should expect party leaders to represent the party
and its members first and elected officials only when they
support the party.

Unfortunately, too often this is not the case, and often splits
the party from its members.

Party leaders and elected officials need to be guided by the
"Three Ps" rather than political consultants.

The first is 'platform', the foundation created to be strong
enough to endure no matter the challenges confronted.

Second, are 'principles' elected representatives are expected
follow in the execution of their duties and relationship with
constituents.

Third, are the "promises" party leaders and elected officials

are both expected to keep in accordance with their respective

platforms and principles.  

When the American people can be confident political parties

and elected officials adhere to the Three Ps", then they can

begin to use a fourth P, "PRIDE" when discussing governance!

ajbruno14  gmail