Kos and Me, Part 2
The other day, I mentioned that I'd started to blog on the Daily Kos site. Usually I post a variation of a story that's appeared on Ragged Edge Online, or a modified version of my Edge-Centric entry.
Daily Kos is considered a liberal blog. However. . .
It was interesting to me to see the comments that were posted when I blogged that disability activists questioned abortion for Down syndrome diagnosis in much the same way as feminists protested abortion for gender.
Today I did it again: I posted a variation of my earlier blog entry today, about the fallout from Monday's Supreme Court ruling on special ed. And, much as with the "abortion" entry, I'm getting comments that to me seem decidedly one-sided -- and not the side that disability rights activists usually come down on, either.
Well.
If you are interested, I'd like you to wander over and read them. I don't think you need to register to read; only to comment. Of course it would be great if you'd comment there, as well.
I'd love to get your take on the comments.
I loved the idealism in some of those Kos responses-- There will be advocates!? Administrators only have the best interest of the child in mind!? Only the unreasonable, rampaging, litigious parents will be hurt by this ruling!? Thanks, I needed that bitter laugh. I haven't found any of these conditions to be universal in my experience. Kids are going to be hurt, really badly hurt, by this ruling; and in the long run the negligence will cost us all far, far more than it will save.
Posted by: Penny | November 16, 2005 04:55 PM
I think the response you are getting at Daily Kos is evidence of how far your views are from mainstream. For example, most rational people who know anything about law and economics would agree with SCOTUS' ruling on parents bearing the burden of proving special ed plans are insufficient. We would base our position on the fact that the challenger normally bears the burden of proof, and, that money for education is scarce and must be spent to benefit as many students as possible. Your inability to even acknowledge these criteria matter guarantees that you are going to get a less than encouraging reception even from liberals.
As I've said before, you fail to consider society as a whole. One of your commenters expressed the hope I would be hit and killed by a bus on another thread. That attitude -- that the rest of society is dismissable and only the disabled matter -- is much too readily apparent from you and other 'disability activists.' Daily Kos readers may be responding to it.
Posted by: June Gordon | November 18, 2005 11:06 PM
Ah, the old "money for education is scarce" approach. See, that doesn't wash with me--because too many folks define "education" as CG-animation editing and robotics labs, pools and yoga studios (all part of public high school offerings in my neck of the woods). So, is money scarce, or is it possible that it's being spent in ways that aren't addressing basic education for *all* children? Special education services are often highly cost effective--spending a dollar extra support to give a third-grader basic skills saves the state countless dollars when he's a teenager or an adult. The vast, vast majority of parents don't want extravagant supports for their schoolkids--they just want school to work.
Posted by: Penny | November 23, 2005 02:21 PM