The Citizen’s Briefing Book, which I mentioned in the post “Citizen’s Briefing Book at change.gov†was closed on Sunday, January 18, 2009 (see “Wrapping up the Citizen’s Briefing Bookâ€Â entry on the change.gov blog).
“Revamp the Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Program†got only 210 votes overall and two comments. I was glad to see two other “comments†got more points — “Education for Gifted Children†got 500 points and “Gifted Education†got 470 points.
“Begin a discussion about fair public school funding†was just a tad more popular – it got 230 points (and two comments). I must say I’m really surprised people put up with the way the schools are funded because it really is not fair to poor kids to have to go to crappy schools just because their parents cannot afford to live in a town where the schools are good.
“Fulfill the promise of the federal IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) funding†got 420 points (and eight comments, some of them quite passionate).
I must say I’m quite surprised that of the four “comments†I submitted “Ban artificial coloring and chemicals in foods†was the most popular – it got 620 points (and 5 comments). Granted, that’s nothing with the most popular “comments†that got thousands and thousands of votes. But if people care about this topic, why isn’t there more of an outcry to do something about artificial coloring in the U.S.? I wonder if the new administration will do anything in that direction. (I can’t find any information on whether there is going to be a new Commissioner of Food and Drugs to head to U.S. Food and Drugs Administration … Does anyone know?)
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