Jennifer Rubin: Republicans are trying to turn red America into a dystopia

[Nevilledog]

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Jennifer 'pro-voting' Rubin
@JRubinBlogger
Much of the hullabaloo takes place in states where schools are massively underperforming in basic subjects such as math and reading. In fact, many of these states rank at the bottom of educational performance

washingtonpost.com
Opinion | Republicans are trying to turn red America into a dystopia
Do they really think this is how to attract the best and the brightest to their states?
12:20 PM · Feb 9, 2022

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/02/09/republicans-trying-to-turn-red-america-into-dystopia/?tid=ss_tw

No paywall
https://archive.fo/bJo7y

Some Republican lawmakers in Georgia have proposed legislation that would prevent schools from requiring any childhood vaccination requirements. Apparently fanning the coronavirus pandemic is not enough; they appear willing to spur a comeback of childhood diseases once nearly obliterated in advanced societies, such as polio or measles.

Meanwhile, the MAGA crowd in Florida has proposed legislation that seeks to prevent teaching topics that might make White students uncomfortable. Robert P. Jones, head of the Public Religion Research Institute, explains:

The most pernicious part of the bill is its bizarre definition of “individual freedom,” consisting of eight principles plainly written to protect white people. The final one is the most sweeping: “An individual should not be made to feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race.” The bill then proceeds to define “discrimination” under Florida state law as a violation of “individual freedom.”

This provision effectively gives any single white person veto power over the content of history curriculum in schools or trainings in the workplace. White discomfort governs historical truth.
Keep in mind that Florida Republicans have no problem making gay children uncomfortable. They have also introduced legislation that would hobble education about gender identity and sexual orientation. The Tampa Bay Times reports, “Critics, who call the measures Florida’s ‘don’t say gay’ bills, argue the measures are an attempt to weaponize the idea of parental rights to marginalize LGBTQ people.”

The legislation would encourage parents to sue if they find school curriculum, even at the high school level, is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate. The Tampa Bay Times reports, “Nadine Smith, executive director of the LGBTQ rights group Equality Florida, which opposes the bills, said the measures attempt to solve a nonexistent problem. There is no developmentally inappropriate curriculum about sexual orientation or gender identity being taught to young kids, she contended.”

*snip*

[lagomorph777]

1. So if they dumb down high school education to 2nd-grade standards,

is that not age-inappropriate? Won't it make intelligent kids uncomfortable?

[calimary]

2. Weren't you among those who BUILT this shit house, Jennifer fee?

You’ve come around, somehow, since then, but as a “reformed Republican”, you helped get us to this miserable, divisive point that you’ve now decided you don’t like.

[HUAJIAO]

3. What about Black kids, or Hispanic kids, or Asian kids or Native American

feeling uncomfortable? HUH !

[treestar]

4. It says just race

So it allows others to do the same. I recall posters saying they were black and were discomfited in school by black issues. They claimed the white classmates looked at them.