sometimes I think this state earns all the jokes made about it.

[markw]

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/somerset/index.ssf?/base/news-2/1196574259255970.xml&coll=1But I know, deep in my heart, that other states have boneheads in decision making positions as well.

 

[aberkowitz]

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/somerset/index.ssf?/base/news-2/1196574259255970.xml&coll=1But I know, deep in my heart, that other states have boneheads in decision making positions as well.

Not even so much the state, but the stupid people involved.

Was it just me or was that article very poorly written and quite confusing??

 

[markw]

Not even so much the state, but the stupid people involved.

Was it just me or was that article very poorly written and quite confusing??

It was worded strangely, particularly as to the chronology, but the basic facts still remain.

She's not allowed to sign on the school bus because it distrubs the driver.

huh??? Does she make too much noise signing?

"My response to Mr. Westerholm (the principle) was, should you not deal with the boys that are out of control instead of the child that's quietly sitting in the back of the bus," John Lesko said in his 2004 deposition. "His exact response was, 'It's easier to deal with the girls.'"

Gimme a break. Bonesheads, pure and simple. Tenure... gotta love it.

Since everyone involved in the initoial fiasco is gone, it looks like the new regime inhereted a doozey they have to defend.

I'd like to know where the ACLU is on this one.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I'd like to know where the ACLU is on this one.

I cannot see straight
I cannot believe this

They are in the best position to have done something in a timely manner to get justice. You cannot outlaw stupidity I guess.

 

[highfihoney]

Stupidity in politics never ends,i wonder if these people who make these decisions run their personal affairs in the same manner they try to make all of us live,if they did they couldnt even pay their own power bill.

 

[Seth=L]

I weep for the species, times like these make me think something like what happened in I Am Legend where to happen it wouldn't necessarily be that bad for humanity. There are too many selfish, greedy, stupid people in the world right now. All things must end at some time or another, and bull **** like that what is mentioned in the article just goes to show what corrupt world we live in.

 

[stratman]

You know who's to blame for this? We are. How you ask? Simple, we let our society become lawsuit happy, the driver was protecting his job, the principal: ditto, was it a stupid call: of course, it's utter nonsense, but when society is over legislated, its the "normal" course of procedures. How many times have you seen a tongue-in-cheek commercial yet on the bottom of the screen you'll see the captions "don't try this" or "professional stunt man, don't try this at home." You get my point, we live in a stupid, litigation happy society where everyone is afraid of someone else's actions because they might be pointed against them and in turn be made culpable for an action clearly not their fault. So I think it was dumb of the driver and the principal, but look at it from their legal perspective, they're trying to protect themselves. Sorry if I'm playing the devil's advocate, but this kind of incident has become common place.

 

[Seth=L]

You know who's to blame for this? We are. How you ask? Simple, we let our society become lawsuit happy, the driver was protecting his job, the principal: ditto, was it a stupid call: of course, it's utter nonsense, but when society is over legislated, its the "normal" course of procedures. How many times have you seen a tongue-in-cheek commercial yet on the bottom of the screen you'll see the captions "don't try this" or "professional stunt man, don't try this at home." You get my point, we live in a stupid, litigation happy society where everyone is afraid of someone else's actions because they might be pointed against them and in turn be made culpable for an action clearly not their fault. So I think it was dumb of the driver and the principal, but look at it from their legal perspective, they're trying to protect themselves. Sorry if I'm playing the devil's advocate, but this kind of incident has become common place.

"People shouldn't be afraid of their governments, governments should be afraid of their people."

People ignore what is going on in the world. North Koreans are denied the right to information and strive to get it. We are handed information on silver platter and we ignore it. People are also afraid to speak out for what's right, which is why people like Danica Lesko have to fight so hard to defend their rights.

 

[stratman]

"People shouldn't be afraid of their governments, governments should be afraid of their people."

People ignore what is going on in the world. North Koreans are denied the right to information and strive to get it. We are handed information on silver platter and we ignore it. People are also afraid to speak out for what's right, which is why people like Danica Lesko have to fight so hard to defend their rights.

Well it's not really the government as much as the litigation culture we allowed to develop, some would argue against tort reform (most attorneys I know do), but others would argue saying it's a must if cases like Ms. Lesko's are to cease. People and institutions are afraid of litigation and the incurred costs that come with it. Ms. Lesko has no reason to fear for speaking out, it looks like it's a case any competent attorney can win. On the other hand, the bus driver and the principal are just links in a chain of command that ends with the local school board. If for some reason the school bus driver was distracted and got involved in a collision then the whole point of Ms. Lasko becomes moot, since most likely the fiasco would turn into a free-for-all class action law suit against the driver, principal and the school board.

 

[Seth=L]

Well it's not really the government as much as the litigation culture we allowed to develop, some would argue against tort reform (most attorneys I know do), but others would argue saying it's a must if cases like Ms. Lesko's are to cease. People and institutions are afraid of litigation and the incurred costs that come with it. Ms. Lesko has no reason to fear for speaking out, it looks like it's a case any competent attorney can win. On the other hand, the bus driver and the principal are just links in a chain of command that ends with the local school board. If for some reason the school bus driver was distracted and got involved in a collision then the whole point of Ms. Lasko becomes moot, since most likely the fiasco would turn into a free-for-all class action law suit against the driver, principal and the school board.

There are all types of fear, and not many of them are helpful. This kind of fear is harmful to Americans. People need to realize that they will lose their freedom if they continue on as they are.

 

[markw]

I still can't see how a girl signing van be distracting to a bus driver. Aren't his eyes supposed to be on the road and how much noise could she be making?

And, if it's the other people making an issue of it, aren't they the ones causing a distraction?

Do you blame the rape victim?

 

[stratman]

There are all types of fear, and not many of them are helpful. This kind of fear is harmful to Americans. People need to realize that they will lose their freedom if they continue on as they are.

Basically this state of affairs was manifested by greed, that's why you go into doctor's offices and they'll have posted, "I have no medical insurance." Frivolous law suits has made insurance next to impossible for a great portion of doctors. That and unscrupulous pharmaceuticals have made medicine as expensive as it is in certain regards. We have already lost our freedom, we are over-regulated, over-taxed, over-legislated and so on, ad-nauseum.

My point is, in today's legislative climate the bus driver and the principal were acting in accordance. This wouldn't have happened 40 or 50 years ago, then common sense was prevalent.

 

[stratman]

I still can't see how a girl signing van be distracting to a bus driver. Aren't his eyes supposed to be on the road and how much noise could she be making?

And, if it's the other people making an issue of it, aren't they the ones causing a distraction?

Do you blame the rape victim?

Nope I never blame the rape victim, hey I'm for castrating the perp! In this case, I understand where the driver and principal are coming from, they're protecting (rightly or wrongly) their legal perception. I understand it was a "dumb" call, but look at it from their perspective. I don't know how much noise anyone was making, for argument's sake let's says it was enough to distract the bus driver, he's not in a position to get up from his chair and referee the commotion, if he was to get into a collision, the other parents (rightly so) would be jumping all over the driver, principal and eventually the school board. Like in a ship, the driver is the captain and is responsible for the crew and the passengers.

 

[avaserfi]

Nope I never blame the rape victim, hey I'm for castrating the perp!

While castration seems like a good solution as a punishment for rape it surprisingly has little effect on the problem. The majority of rapes occur not for sexual pursuits of any sorts, but instead for power and control over another. So, while castration can reduce testosterone levels and thus reduce libido it won't actually hinder most rapists in any fashion as the need for power will always exist. Another problem with this solution is the ease that most testosterone supplements can be had. In reality, the only two real solutions to the majority of rapists is capital punishment and life imprisonment as it is extremely rare for rehabilitation to work.

 

[stratman]

While castration seems like a good solution as a punishment for rape it surprisingly has little effect on the problem. The majority of rapes occur not for sexual pursuits of any sorts, but instead for power and control over another. So, while castration can reduce testosterone levels and thus reduce libido it won't actually hinder most rapists in any fashion as the need for power will always exist. Another problem with this solution is the ease that most testosterone supplements can be had. In reality, the only two real solutions to the majority of rapists is capital punishment and life imprisonment as it is extremely rare for rehabilitation to work.

Actually I meant castration as in the Middle-East, oooouch! No pills, a rusty butter knife will do, followed by wood alcohol.

 

[markw]

but ...but... we're talkin ASL sign language, not singing. Big difference.

Nope I never blame the rape victim, hey I'm for castrating the perp! In this case, I understand where the driver and principal are coming from, they're protecting (rightly or wrongly) their legal perception. I understand it was a "dumb" call, but look at it from their perspective. I don't know how much noise anyone was making, for argument's sake let's says it was enough to distract the bus driver, he's not in a position to get up from his chair and referee the commotion, if he was to get into a collision, the other parents (rightly so) would be jumping all over the driver, principal and eventually the school board. Like in a ship, the driver is the captain and is responsible for the crew and the passengers.

It wasn't the girl silently communicating in ASL (American Sign Language) that was causing the commotion!

As it stands, if someone up the chain of command had the common sense to admit the bus driver was an idiot up front, this would not be an issue. But, since they pushed and pushed the issue, this could be a very costly position for them to have taken.

What's funny is that everyone involved in these stoopid desicions (including, strangely enough, the bus driver) has left for parts unknown, leaving this burning blivet on the doorstep of the new administration.

 

[stratman]

It wasn't the girl silently communicating in ASL (American Sign Language) that was causing the commotion!

As it stands, if someone up the chain of command had the common sense to admit the bus driver was an idiot up front, this would not be an issue. But, since they pushed and pushed the issue, this could be a very costly position for them to have taken.

What's funny is that everyone involved in these stoopid desicions (including, strangely enough, the bus driver) has left for parts unknown, leaving this burning blivet on the doorstep of the new administration.

Usually on cases like this, after so much time lapses it gets dumped on the next "sucker" in line. You said it Mark, "if someone up the chain of command had the common sense," my point exactly. But, if they were to admit any wrongdoing, they would leave themselves vulnerable legally.

 

[markw]

Usually on cases like this, after so much time lapses it gets dumped on the next "sucker" in line. You said it Mark, "if someone up the chain of command had the common sense," my point exactly. But, if they were to admit any wrongdoing, they would leave themselves vulnerable legally.

But, had it been done in the beginning, any damages they could have claimed would have been minimal.

Fire the idiot, incompotent bus driver, apologize and move on. But they, particularly the principal, just kept on picking at that scab and you what happens when you do that, don't you?

 

[stratman]

But, had it been done in the beginning, any damages they could have claimed would have been minimal.

Fire the idiot, incompotent bus driver, apologize and move on. But they, particularly the principal, just kept on picking at that scab and you what happens when you do that, don't you?

Yup, it keeps on bleeding. The reason I played devil's advocate is because Florida next to California is on the top most litigious states in the union, so I've heard cases where the bus driver's judgement was questioned and it usually fell under what I call "commander of the ship." In other words while the bus is rolling and the guy has his faculties he's in charge. They let the dust settle and take up legal arms after.