Dr Fate shoots down another of those asinine Right Wing Chain Mails.

[Dr Fate]

Here is the RW propaganda disguised as a "joke"

Followed by my "reply to all" response.

> Math 1950-2006 (new version)

Last week I purchased a burger at Burger King
> for
> $1.58. The
> > counter girl took my $2 and I was digging for my
> change
> when I
> > pulled 8 cents from my pocket and gave it to her.
> She
> stood
> > there, holding the nickel and 3 pennies, while
> looking at
> the
> > screen on her register. I sensed her discomfort
> and tried
> to
> > tell her to just give me two quarters, but she
> hailed the
> > manager for help. While he tried to explain the
> transaction to
> > her, she stood there and cried. Why do I tell you
> this?
> >
> > Because of the evolution in teaching math since
> the
> 1950s:
> >
> >
> >
> > 1. Teaching Math In 1950
> >
> > A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.
> His cost
> of
> > production is 4/5 of the price. What is his
> profit?
> >
> > 2. Teaching Math In 1960
> >
> > A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.
> His cost
> of
> > production is 4/5 of the price, or $80. What is
> his
> profit?
> >
> > 3. Teaching Math In 1970
> >
> > A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.
> His cost
> of
> > production is $80. Did he make a profit?
> >
> > 4. Teaching Math In 1980
> >
> > A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.
> His cost
> of
> > production is $80 and his profit is $20. Your
> assignment:
> > Underline the number 20.
> >
> >
> >
> > 5. Teaching Math In 1990
> >
> > A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he
> is
> selfish
> > and inconsiderate and cares nothing for the
> habitat of
> animals
> > or the preservation of our woodlands. He does this
> so he
> can
> > make a profit of $20. What do you think of this
> way of
> making
> > a living? Topic for class participation after
> answering
> the
> > question: How did the birds and squirrels feel as
> the
> logger
> > cut down their homes? (There are no wrong answers.
> )
> >
> > 6. Teaching Math In 2006
> >
> > Un hachero vende una carretada de maderapara
> $100. El
> costo
> > de la producciones es $80.

Dr Fate's response:

Heh- and now for the Democratic response:

If you really want to know who is manipulating math-
ask the anti-science Republican school boards in
Kansas or Georgia how old the earth is. (4,000-10,000
years old)

Ask Colin Powell how many "tons" of WMDs were found in
Iraq.

Ask any Republican about the wonderful economic boom
we are supposed to be having by now. (Have your bills
gone up or down?)

And last but not least, ask the conservatives who cant
seem to eliminate education funding fast enough why
Johnny cant add.

The real problem isn't environmentalists & immigrants-
its annual cuts in education funding, brought to you
by conservatives.

Sorry to be a spoiled sport, but this "joke" is right
wing-propaganda.

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. Thank you for the fine reply to that, good Dr.

Made my afternoon.:toast:

[Union Thug]

2. kick! great stuff. n/t

[varkam]

3. Is it bad that...

I laughed my ass off on the 1990 section?

[Dr Fate]

7. I'm a great believer in "funny because it is true"

And since it's not true, but total propaganda/strawman designed to reflect blame, I dont find it all that funny.

To each his own.

At the risk of being accused of being humorless, what do you find funny about it?- Do you really think children are failing math because of enviromentalism?

[varkam]

9. No.

It's not that I think children are failing math because of environmentalism - I just thought it was funny.

[Dr Fate]

12. Funny because it's not true- or funny because some think it is?

Not to split hairs over what is funny & what is not- but which is it?

[varkam]

16. I suppose I found it funny because

it seemed very fitting to a large part of the national psyche during the early to mid 1990's - the whole militant environmentalism and corporate cynicism thing.

[Dr Fate]

20. I'll concede to that. n/t

n/t

[MH1]

13. For what it's worth

I loved your response and I think the original email is asinine. That said, I also chuckled a little on the 1990's one - not LMAO exactly, but did chuckle - particularly at the "no wrong answers" part. It's a little funny because there is some truth that stuff like that has crept into the classroom (there is a question of who is to blame for it, though). And actually, I'm a good liberal who thinks there is room for questions like that in school ("Discuss. There are no wrong answers") . But, it can be taken to extremes and the example given does demonstrate that, and that makes it seem a little funny.

I guess if we are going to be dead serious here, it is relevant to note that the email was effectively enough constructed that some of us would see a little humor in it. I don't see humor at all in the intention of course.

[JI7]

18. those are usually in philosophical discussion type classes

but i have never encountered such a thing in math.

but considering this guy probably thinks creationism and intelligent design belongs in a science class, it's no surprise he would not be able to see the difference.

[Dr Fate]

19. Yeah- I'll concede to that. n/t

n/t

[ThomCat]

4. Anyone who passes around that e-mail

should get smacked upside the head. You did a great job of responding.

[iamjoy]

5. I Like It! (eom)

[xchrom]

6. en guarde et TOUCHE!

with the right spirit -- it's a little like playing space invaders.

[acmejack]

8. Sounds exactly like what the Doctor ordered!

That was really well done, my compliments!

[Maestro]

10. What a racist piece of trash.

And yes there is Spanish in today's schools. So what? I have seen more children than not that could solve that in two languages. So what is the point of this trash other than to take a swipe and education and Spanish speakers? Reichwingers are mean, ugly and dumb people.

[ThoughtCriminal]

11. I'm constantly correcting "Republican Math"

When they post things like "Our troops in Iraq are safer than they would be in Washington DC".

They cannot add or subtract, they cannot divide, they do not check their work. No wonder the deficit is on a rocket sled.

And don't get me started on their faith-based spelling skills...

[Monk06]

14. Faith based math: 6 + 6 + 6 = 666

[gratuitous]

15. If you're spending $8 billion a month on war

And you cut taxes on the wealthiest Americans, how long will it be before the Chinese call in their loans and foreclose on the country?

[Erika]

17. I doubt if most Americans know China "Owns us"

W has tried to keep this quiet. We won't go to war with China or they could call in our debts borrowed by the corporatist W.