OUR YOUNG SCHOLARS MARCHED, POLITICKED, AND PARTIED, BUT NO LIVES WILL BE SAVED
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY MARCH 28, 2018) — Now that America’s Future has completed its traipse down Good Intentions Road, it’s back to reality. Now what?
The march on Washington to “demand action” on gun control fed a lot of egos, captivated the marshmallowed mainstream press, and gave the young scholars a “Get to Party Free” card no doubt replete with lots of suds, “music,” grass, Oxy, and designer drugs. Of course, locally and statewide, the press and the hacks fell in love with the march, including that bastion of fearless, crusading journalism known as The Boring Broadsheet.
“They are the world. They are The Children.”
Now what?
After their rally where preachers regaled the choir, what will change? Of course, scared and frustrated politicians will knee-jerk some new laws into effect. The kids will be able to “feel good” — a premium in today’s lower academia, much more valued than actual learning and knowledge — at playing adult. The pols can tell their constituents that they are “doing something.” And the killings will continue for the simple reason that no march, no laws can address the Imp of the Perverse (Poe) that lies and lives in the all-too-human heart. Moreover, as far as classrooms are concerned, it’s not guns that kill (32d, Row B, Hall of Cliches). It’s young people themselves pulling the trigger, usually a disgruntled former student at the school — a problem easily solved by the adoption of school uniforms.
Using the weekend for the march, the kids naturally think they are making a difference. A quick scan of yesterday’s future will tell them, however, that “Marches on Washington” happen with the frequency of kernels being popped in movie theaters: Marches for and against abortion, for civil rights, gender equity, minimum wages, maximum wages, no wages, all wages, pink leotards, and sunspots. The marches feed the insatiable media monster then disappear into the ether.
At one time, it was not so, but that was back when America truly needed pushes from the left or right to administer needed course corrections (“I have a dream,” the marches forced an end to the Vietnam Conflict). Remember, that these movements came from democracy’s vital element: Informed citizens, especially among the young. That element is largely missing today, a “benefit” brought to you largely by social media.
THE PLANET realizes we will get much push-back on this point. It will come from (a) apologist adults who have been conned into equating kids’ technical proficiencies with brilliance and (b) kids who combine a dangerous combination of smart phones and ignorance of history. That first group have been dazzled by their own comparative lack of the cyberspace’s juvenile labyrinth, a maze designed to always stay ahead of even the most astute adult. You would be SHOCKED. The second group simply doesn’t know what it doesn’t know.
Consequently, after all the new anti-gun laws are passed, after all the legislation clogs the pages and makes the dusty law books bigger, not a single life will be saved. Bad people will still do bad things. Good people will do good things.
And the “flavor of the moment” will lead to another march … on a Saturday.
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“A crazy idea is not crazy if it works, but even the most brilliant idea is foolish if it doesn’t work” — Chris and Jeff Knox.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL..
The Usual Disclaimer.
My hope for the movement is that is will encourage many of the young ones to learn more about their government and all the inequities that are part of it. When I go to the polls I see a large majority of older voters which leads me to think the young do not know how their government works or how much it effects their lives.
So if the march and movement triggers education of the governing process and inspires younger people to get involved, I see it as a good thing. A very good thing.
Government is loaded with the self serving and the dead weight and in much of its process works against the very people it is supposed to serve. These young people have my best wishes.
Mine too. May their voices continue to rub the establishment. Fight for what you believe in. Unlike the establishment, and other generations, these young people have experienced the absolute terror of an assault by weapon at their school. Killing their friends one by one. For this generation, this what they are growing up with. It’s all they know. This is their fight!
Criticizing the Bill of Rights is hardly fighting the “establishment”. The organization and funding behind this protest also had hardly anything to do with young people, the old Democrat Party machinery, old Baby Boomer agitators, and old elitist Bloomberg used these kids as puppets
When did teacher stop having to remain neutral in terms of politics? Kim Taylor, Brendan Sheran and various others should be fired. Cindy Taylor needs a pine box and off the School Committee.
Caccamo should recuse himself from voting on the school budget since his longtime girlfriend/fiancee/whatever is a math teacher there.
Hacktivists. all of them. Commie hipsters
I couldn’t agree more, LGM!
and does he not have some school related job?
Word was he resigned from his PHS job as soon as word got around that he’d be Ward counselor, he eventually ended up with a cushy job at BArT Charter. You only get in there by being ultra liberal and connected. Everyone knows this in the berkshires. Keep that in mind while he raises your taxes “for the children”
So true and yet we shouldn’t fear Progressives being in power even when they reward their own and ignore anyone for jobs who isn’t a far left liberal. Even when they want to shut down free speech if it is conservative.
The combination of big government and taking away gun rights is very dangerous yet this is what Progressives want to do. Young people don’t understand the long term implications of these ideas.
Note to Jonathan regarding yesterday’s post concerning Luciforo: sounds like you & your family were treated unfairly. Life is unfair. Forgive & move on – otherwise your bitterness & resentment will eat you alive & make you physically sick!
Thank you, Lenny. I participate in mental health treatment at the VA hospital and I have a positive outlook on life.
When people, such as my family and me, participate in politics, there are always those insiders who treat people like me unfairly. Being a political activist comes with a price. If we want a voice in our government and community, we have to endure the reprisals of Good Old Boys like Luciforo and his network of bullying henchmen.
Per Planet Valenti’s commentary on the youth’s march for gun control for school safety, I was disappointed that Donald Trump chose to play golf in Florida instead of stand with the protesters.
– Jonathan Melle
The “march” was a leftist movement, led by adults, to repeal the 2nd amendment. Trump supports the 2nd amendment, as does yours truly, so why would he blink an eye over the march? The 2nd amendment will not be overturned.
Mr. Fritz never agrees with anything I write!
You make some good points at times but other times nake no sense.
I don’t agree with socialists and social justice warriors.
Do you, Mr. Fritz, agree with a president who cheats on his 3rd wife, who just gave birth to her baby, with a porn star and a playboy bunny, but he won’t own up to it?
Do you agree with a president who won’t release his tax returns? What is he hiding?
Do you agree with a president who is under investigation for his campaign ties with Russia?
Do you agree with a president who declared business bankruptcy 4 times?
Do you agree with a president who hired white nationalists like Steve Bannon and the like?
Do you agree with a president who says he likes to grab women by their [meow]?
Do you agree with a president who discriminates against Muslims, Mexicans, Women, and other minority groups?
Do you agree with a president who has many women accusing him of sexual harassment, assault, and other kinds of inappropriate sexual behavior?
Do you agree with a president who treats authoritarian leaders like Putin with respect?
Do you agree with a president who taunts North Korea with nuclear annihilation, which would kill over 25 million human beings?
Do you agree with a president who uses tariffs and treaties to stunt the flow of free trade and markets?
– Jonathan Melle
Jonathan get a job you whiner
If the little children were to march in favor of the second amendment, S.W.A.T. would have been called in and many heads would be busted on the pavement.
This psyOP was propagated by the government to sway the conscious minds of “the children”. Then trickled down to everyone. It fits the agenda which is the only reason it was allowed and praised.
The agenda here is gun control/confiscation.
One man with a gun can control 100 without one.
Actually Leeny some people it works in reverse and actually are healthier going after these muckrakers.did anyone see the exchange over the Kiosk upkeep increase between Mazzeo and Kuddlinks, a must see.
Council Grades and other
Morandi A
Connell A
Simonelli A
Krol A
Moon F
Caccamo A
Persip D
Marchetti C-
Tyer A
Kerwood A
White A
Racist-homophobe
I sensed a little fur flying when Morandi asks the Mayor to look into an alternative to the Covanta contract. How dare he ask her to veer from her agenda and look out for the unwashed taxpayers…
No,you weren’t sensing anything. It was real. dhe’s done. karma has hit the Mayor.
Wasn’t Tip O’Neil that coined the phrase all politics is local ? Will be interesting to see WTBR being passed on to BCC. Way to continue the sound waves and chants that we so vitally need to keep the Democrats in power. My prediction is this will further progressive’s agenda and NO conservatives or opposition voices will be heard from at all. Maybe David Hogg can launch his so called journalism career here in the Berkshires.
So,Councilor Krol says there is a group of citizens? Who are Interested in oversight-ing the Police Advisory Commission. Was that a private group without consent of the Mayor or City Council? Who, what and where, was this Commison assembled or to be assembled?
The day the police give a damn what the citizens have to say is the day you realize Wynn is nothing but a cheap politician in uniform
Also look at past committee… Sheriff Bowler, Pat Muraca, etc.
not political slap ass going on there Johnny Boy right? Which Commie friends from the local guild you going to promote for it?
You need some ice cream.
U? The real Mayor will be on tonight channel 1301 Gaetaii news hour,call in, everyone welcome.
So instead of three minutes of someone telling you how great they are, we get a whole hour? Okay yeah we’ll be sure to watch.
amandawell seems to have left out Mazzeo ?? so I will follow up with council grades and other
thank god for Connell A+
consistent Morandi A
talk with your hands Mazzeo B+
go with the flow Simonelli C
should I stay or should I go Caccamo D+
hang a Moon D
wanna be a cowboy Persip D-
can someone please take my picture White C
please take my picture with Mr. White Krol c+
still looking for my identity Marchetti B-
got to go derwood Kerwood D
the not so lovely Linda Tyer B-A-D
Bravo Lakeside! Much more accurate than Ms. Wells analysis! Tho I would give Kerwood an F – he seemed to be treading water all nite.
Disagree on just one Cack gets the A
Funny stuff.
Dusty this is easy,lol.
Tired Tyer gets an F-
she is fried, burnt out, DONE
Planet has made the case for apathy disingagement and a forced denial of their PTSD involving death by a massacre involving these kids a scene so frightening the police at the school stood down.I wonder why this massacre has made grown adults minimize theor not yours but their experience. A immature society would embrace their experience.
Planet has made the case for apathy disingagement and a forced denial of their PTSD involving death by a massacre involving these kids a scene so frightening the police at the school stood down.I wonder why this massacre has made grown adults minimize theor not yours but their experience. A mature society would embrace their experience.
Not minimizing their experience, TSC – just disagreeing about the solution to the problem. Schools can be kept safe, easily, the same way banks, airports, planes are kept safe – armed guards! It’s not rocket science. Launching an attack on the 2nd amendment is not the answer – research shows that no-gun zones such as Parkland are open invitations to bad guys with guns. Notice the marchers were protected by armed security – what hypocrisy!!
armed guards registered with government issued and state to carry firearms to protect citizens? Fritz, get knowledgeable,tonight Gaetani News Hour 6 pm channel 1301 pctv.
Guess what. There WERE armed guards at that school. Oopsie!
My sources tell me that school resource officers ((SRO) only carry pepper spray and tasers, not weapons.
Sheriff Department deputies were ordered to surround perimeter and stay put, and one too scared to engage. He has since resigned.
Unlike Pittsfield public schools where middle and high school SRO’s have handguns.
When’s the march against teen texting and driving?
Not just teens. It’s a terrible addiction with adults. You see it every single day while driving.
Reality is the fact that the insurance companies do not want to pay for the psychologist to treat the mentally ill…the big insurance companies would rather pay for medications to keep the mentally ill person sedated…but the mentally ill person does not like the way the medications the insurance companies are more than willing to pay for make them feel…they screw up the minds and daily habits and the mentally ill person just stops taking their medications. This leads to the mentally ill getting more psychotic and going off the deep end. IT’S ALL BIG PHARMA’s FAULT. They would rather just keep the mentally ill person drugged than try to get them the person to person help
that they need to get better…eventually the mentally ill person just snaps and starts shooting up the neighborhood. There is
just too little compassion in this world…just the bottom line…..
PROFITS for the insurance companies and chaos for everyone else.
Exactly what treatments do you want for the mentally ill?
The mentally ill who are dangerous to themselves and others should be put in an institution……period!
Ma.public school student scores have dropped every year since common core has become law.
Then more more money is needed.
Yes. That’s the solution every time: More money for “strategies” proven NOT to work.
Massachusetts ranks number 1 by every measure of the ‘no child left behind act’ and the ‘every student succeeds act’.
That’s number one in the United States.
#1. Someone forgot to give Pittsfield the memo, pop.
#2. You’re seriously telling us that’s how you measure educational success? Truly?
Who’ll join me at Park Square to protest teebs texting?
More than 3,000 teens die annually from texting while driving, compared to about 2,700 for driving under the influence of alcohol, according to a study by Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park. How many more will die? We have to change the driving age to 21. No one under 21 should be able to have a mobile texting device either.
By no means is it just teens. And I was cut off twice just last week by people on the phone. They just glared at me as they passed in front of me talking into their phones. Gave me the F U look.
Not much you can do except hope they run into a ditch around the next corner.
Adults are just as addicted, and just as wreckless while driving. You see it every single day.
Stan Rosenberg has a challenger in the Democrat Primary on September 4th [2018]. Her name is Chelsea Sunday Kline of Northampton, Massachusetts. Interestingly, she did not mention Stanley Rosenberg in her campaign announcement.
I wonder if Adam Hinds has a challenger? What about Tricia Farley-Bouvier, John Barrett III, “Smitty” Pignatelli, or Paul Marx? I assume the Berkshire 5 will all run unopposed. It will be Rep. Pignatelli’s 9th two-year term! Maybe they’ll name the State House after him someday?
Katherine Yon, school committee chairwoman, says she does not think increasing the school budget by almost 1 million dollars is “too much of an ask”.
It is precisely this mentality that drives a city into bankruptcy. Hopefully the mayor will body slam this proposal and ignore this shill for special interests.
This City needs a clean sweep of these committee members. Just like Congress. It’s time for changes.It is broke and it needs to be fixed.
How about Taylor saying that the city shouldn’t even repair potholes since the schools should get 100% of taxpayers’ money? Kids won’t even be able to travel to school, but it’s OK as long as the checks are mailed to teacher cartel members living in foreign resorts
It is a gravy train pure and simple.
Right on, sista! They were all chiming in last night about how “the kids deserve it.” Time to slice & dice the school budget.
I think the taxpayers deserve something as well. Like not being ripped off year after year after year. The Super needs to get his head out of his self serving ass and stop taking the easy way out. Cut the goddamn budget and give the people trying to exist a fighting chance. Not all of us get an increase in income every year to keep up with all the hikes in everything. Pittsfield is not Silicone Valley where everyone makes six figures so please deal with that reality. And the mayor needs to lean hard on him as well as any city councilors not in his pocket.
Yes
Dusty: Agree!
He Dusty, they might believe you at the Senior Center but Silicone Valley has the largest homeless problem in the U.S.
We need to arrest and jail every ahole driving a oversized tinted window truck who put everyones life in danger tailgating people who slow down to turn in neighborhood streets.These guys are all over Pittsfield and think they are cool like the guys who walk around with their underpants showing
Eberwien, Curtis ,Amuso ,Yon ,Elias spent SS money on new ideas and the same people never ask them what happened to your last million dollar idea….This million means nothing to Yon who along with Curtis and,Amuso blew somewhere around 20 million ,yes just threw money at repackaged nonsense….word was they got ideas just off the internet that tickled them…..yon cant add,Amuso could not add,Curtis is a 1 man bankruptcy machine,Eberwien is being allowed to kick the tires around in Lee on his quest to reinvent himself with graphics of a upswing…….Dumbest city in the country of people over 30 years old.
JIV spreads the Jelly,Yon,Taylor et al spread the peanut butter,and Tyer furnishes the bread.
Tyer at least made lip service in support of the constituents. You have to give her that, just not much else
Not a dollar more to the school department. We can’t afford it. It’s not like that dollar produces a return. Take that dollar and lower our taxes.
Last year during budget discussion, they were going to use a consultant to analyze closing of elementary schools.
Whatever happened to that analysis? Did it happen?
Enrollment declines continue.
High school phs approx 850 THS 750
Combine the schools, stagger schedules like BCC.. am shift / pm shift.
They need to think outside the lines.
Cutting the custodian budgets, great strategy…let the buildings slide into more disrepair.
Tyer lets Yon run the city into the ground.Marchetti let Yon run our budgets,Mazzeo let Yon ruin budgets.All people ask of the overpaid Administrators is get control of our checkbook.Why are they so irresponsible ?
OFF TOPIC Red Sox 4 pm today opening game
While you are watching keep in mind that baseball was” invented in Pittsfield” and the Berkshire Eagle of a few years ago wanted to tear down Waconah Park….cuz it was falling down but it seems to have miraculously recovered and is now referred to as a Gem of the city
go figger…Kerwood could give details as he was a leader in the attempt
Won’t be long before the Saviour of Pittsfield now reaching over a 200 mil in possible savings,(water)the Wiz slayer loan wolf, (pun intended) will soon be taking Tyer and the School Committee to task. With the Mayor being reduced to lame duck status and the City Council hanging on by threads, now is the time to get behind the G-Man who is literally taking on the spending sprayers who also should be held accountable co e election time.
Aside..Rusty Staub, former Met great has passed away,73 years old. RIP Rusty.
The second coming. How timely.
My thoughts exactly, Harrison.
Uh humm, I think kudos should go to the Planet and Terry Super Citizen,also? I tried calling the G Man last night and couldn’t get in,calls were backed up, people are starting to catch on. Don’t listen to anti-savings Trump freak Fritz, and others who are against saving us taxpayers from ourselves, hasn’t anyone see the Mayor the other night, now who sounded Gruff’? Where the hell has Goofy Barry been? Suxhog and way to Lo throw up?
Randy Stein is on the Chris Canning Show, I like him, I know the Planet doesn’t, don’t like the Health Department at all.
Ahh, Gaetani, that’s the nicest compliment anyone could give me, I am flattered. I am a Trumpster……MAGA!
Harrison evidently you didn’t see Gaetani’s Letter to the Idiots over at the Beagle, are you a kook like Fritz?
You mean the letter where Gaetani proclaimed he is not a con (believe me)?
Harrison, other than the fact that you cannot complete a sentence without a lie. Don’t you at least think Gaetani has saved, our Taxpayers, 200 Million and Counting?
What grammar school did fritZ graduate from, or did you?
They were building a single a stadium where the drug store is on west.Wahconah was going to be kept for legion and high schools and will always be 3 fret under water with the rain
Well, no pun intended, that is correct. The swamp was to close to where they wanted the Stadium. But alas, we still have a LAke at The Old Ball Yard on Wahconah.
Harrison you should be thanking G man for saving you 1800 on you’re three bathrooms.
For those who think the mentally ill should be institutionalized the
answer is that they are institutionalized already…and without any
treatment…it’s called jail. It is a sorry answer to the problem…but
one that is much better than the solution of the old days when they
were handcuffed to their beds in Northampton or Belchertown.
Either way society just throws away the key. Problem solved ?
Exactly whats wrong with society. If you don’t walk in those shoes…. your ignorance takes over.
Exactly whats wrong with society. If you don’t walk in those shoes…. your ignorance takes over.
People on here really don’t know or care how much effort was put into the recent water project being scrapped. All the complaining on how many times the G Man has talked about his prowess isn’t any different than those who complained about it, maybe more times.
Sometimes reminding people is a good thing, the fact is the Museum Art Proposed Sale has been at nauseum also, to benefit whom?
But there is a great difference, the Wiz is unselfish in what he does, look what those seven on the Council tried to do. Thank you Mr. Gaetani.
SS check 1700 per month…..Yon gets 4400 per month,Simonelli 5500 per month ,Tyer gets 9000 per month…..dont cut education just consolidate education.,Behnke and her husband make 16,000 per month.Marchetti makes 150,000 k per year…they have no problem if taxes go up 2 or 300 again,Joe Curtis is at 10,000 per month…..please ,you people just need to get some control
Williams school principle hung in another year with her completely unfriendly front office in a building that does not smile an extra year just to collect 5 ,000 bucks bonus for a 9 month notification of retirement.Anoter incompetant principle hired by Jake Eberwien the number 1 phony in the school system.Still lots of rumors of shenanigans at the Crosby school dating back a couple of years about PTO money….there needs to be a accounting done for the public and parents who give money to these PTOs
It is outrageous that there are no checks and balances or oversight of the School Department. The City of Pittsfield has a population that is numb. All the surrounding towns, Lee, Lenox, Dalton, Richmond, South County and Northern Berkshire County have citizens who are involved, care and get results. It is astounding. The City of Pittsfield needs a clean sweep at the top.
It is outrageous that there are no checks and balances or oversight of the School Department. The City of Pittsfield has a population that is numb. All the surrounding towns, Lee, Lenox, Dalton, Richmond, South County and Northern Berkshire County have citizens who are involved, care and get results. It is astounding. The City of Pittsfield needs a clean sweep at the top.
Pro gun or anti gun, I think we all can agree that the strongest tool in the arsenal for these kids will not be the marches, it will be their vote. Maybe not now, maybe not the next election, but sooner or later these kids will grow up. They will grow up and vote, and they will (hopefully) remove the pro-gun nuts who want to arm every single ice cream vendor, teacher and janitor (for safety of course). I think these marches are a begging to a much longer battle that will (hopefully) end with some common sense and less blood. As mean as it sounds a lot of pro-gun supporters are not going to be around for much longer because of age, and the voting booths will be full of the same kids that are now marching on Washington. Maybe I am completely wrong, but I think there is simply too much pressure (political and economic) for things to continue the way they are.