discoveryinstitute--2020-11-22--This Thanksgiving Is Time for a ‘Great National COVID Repentance’

The CDC has requested that we stay home for Thanksgiving .
That ’ s a bitter pill .
But to the CDC ’ s credit , it did not attempt to impose a legally enforceable travel ban .
Rather , the agency treated Americans as adults capable of making appropriate decisions .
The approach worked .
AAA Travel has predicted that fewer people will be traveling for Thanksgiving than at any time since 2008 .
How novel—and wise .
The proliferation of lockdown and other mandates has caused intense mistrust of our political , scientific , and medical leaders—and , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following basic public health measures .
The good news is that with a new presidential term upon us , we have the opportunity for a COVID reset .
What would that look like ?
It seems to me it requires a “ Great National Repentance ” —in which we acknowledge past mistakes and commit ourselves to a different course hereafter .
Of what do we need to repent ?
Beyond mandate overreach , here is my partial list : Hyper-Partisanship : When Pfizer and Moderna announced the development of vaccines , New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On the way out the door , he [ Trump ] wants to be able to say , I solved COVID because I discovered a vaccine .
No , it ’ s all B.S .
He didn ’ t do anything.
” True to type , President Donald Trump lashed back , threatening to withhold the vaccine from New York .
Bad form by both men .
Cuomo ’ s gratuitous insult and Trump ’ s hypersensitive inability to shrug off any affront sowed mistrust in the vaccines and the government ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Give Credit Where Due : Cuomo ’ s charge that Trump has done “ nothing ” to fight COVID—a charge echoed repeatedly by the media—is both factually wrong and mean spirited .
Operation Warp Speed , Trump ’ s mobilization of a private/public sector partnered response has been a masterstroke .
Failing to credit Trump ’ s team for this great achievement is not only unfair but enrages the president ’ s millions of supporters , widening the chasm of distrust .
Too Much Trump : Trump should have taken the intense negativity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ account when determining his strategy for communicating with the country .
At first , he did .
The president appointed Vice President Mike Pence—not exactly Mr. Volatility—to lead the Coronavirus Task Force .
Then , Trump decided he should become the face of the COVID fight .
It did not work out well .
Trump ’ s constant presence sparked conflict .
Moreover , precise language and measured tones—essential in a crisis like the present—are not the president ’ s strong suits .
One episode stands out vividly .
At the start of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a behind the scenes conversation about how ultraviolet light might act as a COVID disinfectant .
“ I see the disinfectant , where it knocks it out in one minute , ” Trump mused .
“ And is there a way we can do something like that , by injection inside or almost a cleaning , because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs , so it ’ d be interesting to check that , so that you ’ re going to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it sounds interesting to me.
” Not only did that statement serve no useful purpose , but it allowed Trump ’ s enemies to invent the canard that he recommended swallowing bleach .
He had done no such thing , of course .
But the media and Democrats ran with the myth , deepening our divisions when we needed unity .
Media Mendacity : Too many in the mainstream media believe their job is to make Trump look as bad as possible , including about COVID .
Toward that end , leading pundits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every death and spike in infections .
This not only harmed the administration but helped spark the rancorous divides we now see over issues such as masks and vaccines .
Stifled Debate : The press and social media companies became enforcers of COVID orthodoxy , suppressing heterodox ideas and stifling debate .
The Great Barrington Declaration—in which notable scientists argued against lockdowns and school closings—is a classic case in point in which legitimate viewpoints were underreported and ill considered .
Suppressing dissent doesn ’ t end conflict , it exacerbates it .
Enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health officials told us .
“ Don ’ t gather in large crowds !
Shelter in place.
” To which I respond , “ Practice what you preach.
” After California Governor Gavin Newsom instructed Californians not to gather in large numbers for Thanksgiving—and even to wear masks between bites of food !
—he was caught dining with more than ten other people , indoors , and not wearing a mask .
Oops .
The hypocrites ’ list goes on and on .
When thousands of motorcyclists gathered for the annual Sturgis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and public officials tut-tutted that the gathering could become a super-spreader event .
But when huge racial justice demonstrations broke out , many of these same public health officials and pundits applauded .
So , what would a great COVID repentance look like ?
• Our leaders should trust the American people .
Transparency should be increased .
Debate should be encouraged .
Costs and benefits of various approaches honestly presented .
Most of us will do the right thing .
• Mandates should be avoided unless predicated by clear and present need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump should be thanked for his anti-COVID efforts , particularly Operation Warp Speed .
• If Joe Biden becomes president , his strategy going forward should be scrutinized fairly by conservative press and without sycophancy by liberal media .
• Finally—and perhaps most importantly—we need to forgive each other and assume good faith on the part of those with differing opinions .
Acting with humility and forgiveness toward each other and our leaders could restore the strained bonds of mutual affection we need for an effective fight against COVID .
More than that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resulting goodwill could initiate a great national reconciliation in which we once again perceive those with whom we disagree not as enemies but friends .

The CDC has requested that we stay home for Thanksgiving. That’s a bitter pill. But to the CDC’s credit, it did not attempt to impose a legally enforceable travel ban. Rather, the agency treated Americans as adults capable of making appropriate decisions.
The approach worked. AAA Travel has predicted that fewer people will be traveling for Thanksgiving than at any time since 2008.
How novel — and wise. The proliferation of lockdown and other mandates has caused intense mistrust of our political, scientific, and medical leaders — and, in some quarters, irrational resistance to following basic public health measures.
The good news is that with a new presidential term upon us, we have the opportunity for a COVID reset. What would that look like? It seems to me it requires a “Great National Repentance” — in which we acknowledge past mistakes and commit ourselves to a different course hereafter.
Of what do we need to repent? Beyond mandate overreach, here is my partial list:
Hyper-Partisanship: When Pfizer and Moderna announced the development of vaccines, New York Democrat Governor Andrew Cuomo sniffed. “On the way out the door, he [Trump] wants to be able to say, I solved COVID because I discovered a vaccine. No, it’s all B.S. He didn’t do anything.”
True to type, President Donald Trump lashed back, threatening to withhold the vaccine from New York.
Bad form by both men. Cuomo’s gratuitous insult and Trump’s hypersensitive inability to shrug off any affront sowed mistrust in the vaccines and the government’s plans to distribute them.
Failing to Give Credit Where Due: Cuomo’s charge that Trump has done “nothing” to fight COVID — a charge echoed repeatedly by the media — is both factually wrong and mean spirited. Operation Warp Speed, Trump’s mobilization of a private/public sector partnered response has been a masterstroke. Failing to credit Trump’s team for this great achievement is not only unfair but enrages the president’s millions of supporters, widening the chasm of distrust.
Too Much Trump: Trump should have taken the intense negativity half the country feels toward him into account when determining his strategy for communicating with the country. At first, he did. The president appointed Vice President Mike Pence — not exactly Mr. Volatility — to lead the Coronavirus Task Force. Then, Trump decided he should become the face of the COVID fight.
It did not work out well. Trump’s constant presence sparked conflict. Moreover, precise language and measured tones — essential in a crisis like the present — are not the president’s strong suits.
One episode stands out vividly. At the start of one press briefing, Trump inexplicably riffed on a behind the scenes conversation about how ultraviolet light might act as a COVID disinfectant. “I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in one minute,” Trump mused. “And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning, because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it’d be interesting to check that, so that you’re going to have to use medical doctors with, but it sounds interesting to me.”
Not only did that statement serve no useful purpose, but it allowed Trump’s enemies to invent the canard that he recommended swallowing bleach. He had done no such thing, of course. But the media and Democrats ran with the myth, deepening our divisions when we needed unity.
Media Mendacity: Too many in the mainstream media believe their job is to make Trump look as bad as possible, including about COVID. Toward that end, leading pundits proclaimed Trump inept and blamed him for every death and spike in infections. This not only harmed the administration but helped spark the rancorous divides we now see over issues such as masks and vaccines.
Stifled Debate: The press and social media companies became enforcers of COVID orthodoxy, suppressing heterodox ideas and stifling debate. The Great Barrington Declaration — in which notable scientists argued against lockdowns and school closings — is a classic case in point in which legitimate viewpoints were underreported and ill considered. Suppressing dissent doesn’t end conflict, it exacerbates it.
Enforcement Hypocrisy: “Socially distance!” public health officials told us. “Don’t gather in large crowds! Shelter in place.” To which I respond, “Practice what you preach.”
After California Governor Gavin Newsom instructed Californians not to gather in large numbers for Thanksgiving — and even to wear masks between bites of food! — he was caught dining with more than ten other people, indoors, and not wearing a mask. Oops.
The hypocrites’ list goes on and on. When thousands of motorcyclists gathered for the annual Sturgis, South Dakota rally, the media and public officials tut-tutted that the gathering could become a super-spreader event. But when huge racial justice demonstrations broke out, many of these same public health officials and pundits applauded.
So, what would a great COVID repentance look like?
Our leaders should trust the American people. Transparency should be increased. Debate should be encouraged. Costs and benefits of various approaches honestly presented. Most of us will do the right thing.
Mandates should be avoided unless predicated by clear and present need, backed by scientific certainty.
Trump should be thanked for his anti-COVID efforts, particularly Operation Warp Speed.
If Joe Biden becomes president, his strategy going forward should be scrutinized fairly by conservative press and without sycophancy by liberal media.
Finally — and perhaps most importantly — we need to forgive each other and assume good faith on the part of those with differing opinions.
Acting with humility and forgiveness toward each other and our leaders could restore the strained bonds of mutual affection we need for an effective fight against COVID. More than that, maybe, just maybe, the resulting goodwill could initiate a great national reconciliation in which we once again perceive those with whom we disagree not as enemies but friends.


discoveryinstitute--2020-11-21--Michael Behe: A Mousetrap for Darwin

Michael Behe: A Mousetrap for Darwin

Biochemist Michael Behe , author of Darwin ’ s Black Box , Darwin Devolves , and other books , discusses @ @ @ @ @ for Darwin : Michael J. Behe Answers His Critics with John West , Associate Director @ @ @ @ @ and Culture , and fields questions from an international audience .

Biochemist Michael Behe, author of Darwin’s Black Box, Darwin Devolves, and other books, discusses his new book A Mousetrap for Darwin: Michael J. Behe Answers His Critics with John West, Associate Director of the Center for Science and Culture, and fields questions from an international audience.


discoveryinstitute--2020-11-26--The Changing Cost of Thanksgiving Dinner

The cost of living in the United States is an increasingly salient topic in public-policy circles today .
As Mark J. Perry from the American Enterprise Institute documents , child care , education , and health care have become more expensive relative to wages over the last two decades .
Conversely , cars , clothing , food and beverages , household furnishings , housing , software , and toys have become cheaper .
In light of today ’ s holiday , we will focus on the cost of a Thanksgiving Day dinner between 1986 and 2020 .
The positive picture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the real hardship American families have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic .
But it may make us more grateful for the U.S. farmers and free enterprise that make food historically superabundant .
Since 1986 , the American Farm Bureau Federation has conducted an annual price survey of food items found in a typical Thanksgiving Day dinner .
The items on this shopping list are designed to serve a group of ten people , with leftovers .
The list includes a 16-pound turkey , a 30-oz pumpkin pie mix , one gallon of milk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bread rolls , two pie shells , one pound of green peas , twelve ounces of fresh cranberries , one-half pint of whipping cream , 14 ounces of cubed stuffing , three pounds of sweet potatoes , and several miscellaneous ingredients .
What has happened to the price of a Thanksgiving Day dinner over time ?
In nominal terms , the cost rose from $ 28.74 in 1986 to $ 46.90 in 2020 ( a 63.2 percent increase ) .
Over the same period , inflation amounted to 135 percent , which would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cost around $ 67.69 .
In fact , it cost only $ 46.90 .
So , adjusted for inflation , a Thanksgiving Day dinner became $ 20.79 ( i.e.
, 30.7 percent cheaper ) .
But what if we analyze the cost of a Thanksgiving Day dinner using “ time prices ” ?
To calculate the time price of a Thanksgiving Day dinner , we divide the nominal price of the meal by the nominal wage rate .
That will give us the number of hours of work required to earn enough money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can then analyze the change in time prices over time .
As noted , the nominal cost of a Thanksgiving Day dinner increased 63.2 percent between 1986 and 2020 .
Over the same period , the unskilled hourly wage rate increased by 173.2 percent .
That means that the time price of the meal for an unskilled worker declined from 5.48 hours in 1986 to 3.27 hours in 2020 ( a 40.3 percent decrease ) .
As such , unskilled workers could buy 1.67 Thanksgiving Day dinners in 2020 for the same amount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1986 .
The hourly compensation rate of a blue-collar worker rose by 163.4 percent .
Consequently , the time price of a Thanksgiving Day dinner declined from 2.23 hours in 1986 to 1.38 hours in 2020 ( a 38 percent decrease ) .
As such , blue-collar workers could buy 1.61 Thanksgiving Day dinners in 2020 for the same amount of work required to buy one meal in 1986 .
The unskilled workers who upgraded their skills to become blue-collar workers between 1986 and 2020 saw their hourly wage rise by 547.4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a Thanksgiving Day dinner fell by 74.8 percent .
These “ upskilling ” workers were thus able to buy 3.97 Thanksgiving Day dinners for the same amount of work required to buy one meal in 1986 .
Finally , imagine providing a Thanksgiving Day dinner for everyone in the United States .
That will give you a sense of the relationship between food prices and population growth .
The U.S. population rose from 240 million in 1986 to 331 million in 2020 ( a 37.9 percent increase ) .
What happened to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 34-year period ?
If the whole of the United States consisted of unskilled workers in 1986 , the total Thanksgiving Day dinner bill would have fallen by 17.6 percent in 2020 .
If everyone in the United States were a blue-collar worker , the total bill would have fallen by 14.6 percent .
If everyone upskilled from unskilled work to blue-collar work , the total Thanksgiving Day dinner bill would have fallen by an astonishing 65.2 percent .
Put differently , the total Thanksgiving Day dinner bill in the United States fell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
With every hungry mouth comes a pair of hands and a brain capable of invention and innovation .
So , on this Thanksgiving Day , let us be thankful for all the American inventors and innovators who enrich our lives with plentiful food and , hopefully , a cure for the COVID-19 pandemic .

The cost of living in the United States is an increasingly salient topic in public-policy circles today. As Mark J. Perry from the American Enterprise Institute documents, child care, education, and health care have become more expensive relative to wages over the last two decades. Conversely, cars, clothing, food and beverages, household furnishings, housing, software, and toys have become cheaper. In light of today’s holiday, we will focus on the cost of a Thanksgiving Day dinner between 1986 and 2020. The positive picture we paint certainly does not detract from the real hardship American families have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. But it may make us more grateful for the U.S. farmers and free enterprise that make food historically superabundant.
Since 1986, the American Farm Bureau Federation has conducted an annual price survey of food items found in a typical Thanksgiving Day dinner. The items on this shopping list are designed to serve a group of ten people, with leftovers. The list includes a 16-pound turkey, a 30-oz pumpkin pie mix, one gallon of milk, a one-pound vegetable tray, twelve bread rolls, two pie shells, one pound of green peas, twelve ounces of fresh cranberries, one-half pint of whipping cream, 14 ounces of cubed stuffing, three pounds of sweet potatoes, and several miscellaneous ingredients. What has happened to the price of a Thanksgiving Day dinner over time?
In nominal terms, the cost rose from $28.74 in 1986 to $46.90 in 2020 (a 63.2 percent increase). Over the same period, inflation amounted to 135 percent, which would have meant that the dinner should have cost around $67.69. In fact, it cost only $46.90. So, adjusted for inflation, a Thanksgiving Day dinner became $20.79 (i.e., 30.7 percent cheaper). But what if we analyze the cost of a Thanksgiving Day dinner using “time prices”? To calculate the time price of a Thanksgiving Day dinner, we divide the nominal price of the meal by the nominal wage rate. That will give us the number of hours of work required to earn enough money to feed the ten guests. We can then analyze the change in time prices over time.
As noted, the nominal cost of a Thanksgiving Day dinner increased 63.2 percent between 1986 and 2020. Over the same period, the unskilled hourly wage rate increased by 173.2 percent. That means that the time price of the meal for an unskilled worker declined from 5.48 hours in 1986 to 3.27 hours in 2020 (a 40.3 percent decrease). As such, unskilled workers could buy 1.67 Thanksgiving Day dinners in 2020 for the same amount of work required to buy one meal in 1986.
The hourly compensation rate of a blue-collar worker rose by 163.4 percent. Consequently, the time price of a Thanksgiving Day dinner declined from 2.23 hours in 1986 to 1.38 hours in 2020 (a 38 percent decrease). As such, blue-collar workers could buy 1.61 Thanksgiving Day dinners in 2020 for the same amount of work required to buy one meal in 1986.
The unskilled workers who upgraded their skills to become blue-collar workers between 1986 and 2020 saw their hourly wage rise by 547.4 percent. So, the Time Price of a Thanksgiving Day dinner fell by 74.8 percent. These “upskilling” workers were thus able to buy 3.97 Thanksgiving Day dinners for the same amount of work required to buy one meal in 1986.
Finally, imagine providing a Thanksgiving Day dinner for everyone in the United States. That will give you a sense of the relationship between food prices and population growth. The U.S. population rose from 240 million in 1986 to 331 million in 2020 (a 37.9 percent increase). What happened to the total Thanksgiving Day dinner bill over that 34-year period?
If the whole of the United States consisted of unskilled workers in 1986, the total Thanksgiving Day dinner bill would have fallen by 17.6 percent in 2020. If everyone in the United States were a blue-collar worker, the total bill would have fallen by 14.6 percent. If everyone upskilled from unskilled work to blue-collar work, the total Thanksgiving Day dinner bill would have fallen by an astonishing 65.2 percent.
Put differently, the total Thanksgiving Day dinner bill in the United States fell, even though the U.S. population increased. With every hungry mouth comes a pair of hands and a brain capable of invention and innovation. So, on this Thanksgiving Day, let us be thankful for all the American inventors and innovators who enrich our lives with plentiful food and, hopefully, a cure for the COVID-19 pandemic.


The New Untouchables

In October , the Seattle City Council floated legislation to provide an exemption from prosecution for misdemeanor crimes for any citizen who suffers from poverty , homelessness , addiction , or mental illness .
Under the proposed ordinance , courts would have to dismiss all so-called “ crimes of poverty ” —which , according to the city ’ s former public-safety advisor , would cover more than 90 percent of all misdemeanor cases citywide .
In effect , the legislation would create a new class of “ untouchables , ” protected from consequences by the city ’ s powerbrokers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort in the city ’ s campaign to establish what might be called a “ reverse hierarchy of oppression.
” The underlying theory is that society has condemned the lower class to a life of poverty and stigma , which leads to addiction , madness , and indigence .
The poor , in the logic of Seattle ’ s progressive elites , are thus forced to commit crimes—including violent crimes—to secure their very existence .
Therefore , as society is the perpetrator of this inequality , the crimes of the poor must be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an expression of social justice .
On a practical level , if this ordinance becomes law , it will effectively legalize an entire spectrum of misdemeanor crimes , including theft , assault , harassment , drug possession , property destruction , and indecent exposure .
Criminals must simply establish that they have an addiction , mental-health disorder , or low income in order to evade justice .
The impact of this measure would be enormous .
In 2019 , the Seattle Police Department reported 25,993 thefts , 8,442 assaults , 6,430 property offenses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 1,640 narcotics violations—representing 72 percent of all reported crimes .
If the ordinance passes , nearly all these crimes would be permitted under law .
The courts , for their part , would be eviscerated .
The “ crimes of poverty ” legislation would nearly eliminate the caseload for nine out of ten of the most frequently filed criminal charges in the Seattle Municipal Court .
The objective here is twofold .
First , councilmembers believe that mass decriminalization is a good in itself .
Second , it almost certainly represents a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and create a rationale for dramatically downsizing the court system .
Seattle ’ s activist coalition has long argued that the courts are a bastion of racism and oppression .
Political leaders have sought to replace traditional courts with social justice and rehabilitation programs , especially for “ crimes of poverty.
” The consequence of this measure is predictable .
By dramatically reducing penalties for theft , assault , drug crime , and property crime , the city would effectively announce , “ crime pays here.
” With at least 90 percent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for indigence , addiction , and mental illness , the city ’ s criminal class could operate with impunity .
Seattle ’ s downtown , already besieged by tent encampments and an addiction-fueled crime boom , would become a free-for-all .
Lisa Herbold , the city councilwoman who proposed the legislation , must have known that it would be controversial .
Though she chairs the council ’ s Public Safety Committee , she attempted to launder the ordinance through the budgetary process , under the justification that it would reduce the cost of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a five-minute presentation buried in an hours-long budget hearing , Herbold framed her argument in social justice terms , claiming that “ poverty , institutionalized racism , and systemic oppression are root causes that lead to mass incarceration ” and that “ punishment and incarceration are harmful and ineffective tools to address behaviors triggered by poverty and illness.
” Neither questions from other councilmembers nor public comment was permitted .
Fortunately , a local watchdog organization flagged the proposal and raised an alarm in the media .
After negative coverage on television and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times , Herbold relented , agreeing to drop the proposal from the budget process and resubmit it through the Public Safety Committee later this year .
Though the legislation has been wounded , it is not dead .
Seattle ’ s political class has been working toward mass decriminalization for years and will almost certainly continue to press for it .
Seattle residents should remain vigilant , lest their public officials create a criminal class impervious to law or punishment .

In October, the Seattle City Council floated legislation to provide an exemption from prosecution for misdemeanor crimes for any citizen who suffers from poverty, homelessness, addiction, or mental illness. Under the proposed ordinance, courts would have to dismiss all so-called “crimes of poverty”—which, according to the city’s former public-safety advisor, would cover more than 90 percent of all misdemeanor cases citywide. In effect, the legislation would create a new class of “untouchables,” protected from consequences by the city’s powerbrokers.
This is the latest and most brazen effort in the city’s campaign to establish what might be called a “reverse hierarchy of oppression.” The underlying theory is that society has condemned the lower class to a life of poverty and stigma, which leads to addiction, madness, and indigence. The poor, in the logic of Seattle’s progressive elites, are thus forced to commit crimes—including violent crimes—to secure their very existence. Therefore, as society is the perpetrator of this inequality, the crimes of the poor must be forgiven. The crimes are transformed into an expression of social justice.


discoveryinstitute--2020-12-05--Repurpose Seattle’s Terminal 46 for Fast Passenger Ferries and Community Use

The recent failure of the West Seattle Bridge is proof that maintaining bridges and roads is expensive .
Their failure can isolate communities and put lives at risk .
Our region ’ s waters provide a healthy and sustainable alternative to expanded shoreside infrastructure development .
King and Kitsap counties operate popular passenger ferries .
Waterfront communities share Seattle ’ s goal for car-free access to downtown .
The Puget Sound Regional Council is studying passenger ferry routes for the Sound , Lake Washington and Lake Union .
A challenge beyond the scope of that study is the lack of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waterfront and Lake Union .
The King County passenger ferry float at the state ’ s Colman Dock is at capacity , and Kitsap Transit is looking for new landing sites .
The answer is to re-purpose the north end of nearby , underutilized Terminal 46 to a multimodal , multi-user transportation hub for current and future public and private fast ferries from communities north , south and west .
A repurposed Terminal 46 could also provide an asset in case of a catastrophic event for emergency responders and evacuation vessels .
Ferries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9/11 and expedited recovery from the 1989 San Francisco Loma Prieta earthquake .
New York and Bay Area ferries have since greatly expanded as residents embraced the resiliency , convenience and predictability of marine transit .
Fast ferries are affordable with high-tech , low emission engines that reduce vessel noise impact to marine life while providing passengers with a smooth ride — quiet and clean in almost any weather .
Local shipyards , naval architects and engineering firms build remarkable vessels for global markets , and local operators have the expertise and skilled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The city of Des Moines is a potential case study of marine technology enhancing the economy and environment .
City leaders commissioned a demand study to engage the community and rally civic leadership to passenger-only ferries .
The Des Moines Marina ’ s 800 parking spaces serve 220,000 annual vehicle visits .
Some 100,000 parking vouchers issued to Anthony ’ s restaurant patrons in 2019 attest to the economic potential of terminal concessionaires .
High-speed charging stations could serve hybrid electric passenger ferries and electric buses for a connection to SeaTac Airport , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flight operations — a potential trifecta of decarbonized marine , surface and air transportation .
Expanded fast ferry fleets would connect at Terminal 46 to Pioneer Square , International and Stadium Districts — 1,500 feet from Sound Transit , Metro , King Street Station and ride share operators .
We call the proposed transportation hub Salish Crossing to honor the Salish people who traded and fished their traditional territory on the Salish Sea .
The Crossing could complement waterfront redevelopment with a tribal cultural center and public education spaces showcasing the Port ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Alaska gateways .
Off-boat fish sales and a public market would serve the International District and visitors with foods not available in the downtown core .
The Port could also consider relocation of its headquarters .
The Port suspended the Terminal 46 initiative for cruise ship operations last spring to gauge how the industry rebounds from the pandemic .
Investments today in the Crossing can reduce future cruise terminal and land side costs , expand maritime jobs and put future cruise passengers in the midst of a dynamic , diverse neighborhood .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduce congestion on Alaska Way , Pier 66 and Terminals 90/91 with faster links to SeaTac Airport .
We encourage the city of Seattle , King and Kitsap counties , the regional council , Port of Seattle , Northwest Seaport Alliance and the state of Washington to jointly explore Salish Crossing .
What better way to help the region emerge stronger from the pandemic as both a traditional crossing , regional and international gateway for tourism , jobs , commuters , tribal culture and international trade ?

The recent failure of the West Seattle Bridge is proof that maintaining bridges and roads is expensive. Their failure can isolate communities and put lives at risk.
Our region’s waters provide a healthy and sustainable alternative to expanded shoreside infrastructure development.
King and Kitsap counties operate popular passenger ferries. Waterfront communities share Seattle’s goal for car-free access to downtown. The Puget Sound Regional Council is studying passenger ferry routes for the Sound, Lake Washington and Lake Union.
A challenge beyond the scope of that study is the lack of dock and shoreside capacity on the Seattle waterfront and Lake Union. The King County passenger ferry float at the state’s Colman Dock is at capacity, and Kitsap Transit is looking for new landing sites.
The answer is to re-purpose the north end of nearby, underutilized Terminal 46 to a multimodal, multi-user transportation hub for current and future public and private fast ferries from communities north, south and west.
Terminal 46 could serve as a gateway hub for transit, cruise ships and community uses. (Courtesy of Colibri Northwest, LLC )
A repurposed Terminal 46 could also provide an asset in case of a catastrophic event for emergency responders and evacuation vessels. Ferries and terminals evacuated thousands escaping Manhattan on 9/11 and expedited recovery from the 1989 San Francisco Loma Prieta earthquake. New York and Bay Area ferries have since greatly expanded as residents embraced the resiliency, convenience and predictability of marine transit.
Fast ferries are affordable with high-tech, low emission engines that reduce vessel noise impact to marine life while providing passengers with a smooth ride — quiet and clean in almost any weather. Local shipyards, naval architects and engineering firms build remarkable vessels for global markets, and local operators have the expertise and skilled maritime labor force to operate them.
The city of Des Moines is a potential case study of marine technology enhancing the economy and environment. City leaders commissioned a demand study to engage the community and rally civic leadership to passenger-only ferries. The Des Moines Marina’s 800 parking spaces serve 220,000 annual vehicle visits. Some 100,000 parking vouchers issued to Anthony’s restaurant patrons in 2019 attest to the economic potential of terminal concessionaires.
High-speed charging stations could serve hybrid electric passenger ferries and electric buses for a connection to SeaTac Airport, where port leaders want to lower carbon flight operations — a potential trifecta of decarbonized marine, surface and air transportation.
Expanded fast ferry fleets would connect at Terminal 46 to Pioneer Square, International and Stadium Districts — 1,500 feet from Sound Transit, Metro, King Street Station and ride share operators.
We call the proposed transportation hub Salish Crossing to honor the Salish people who traded and fished their traditional territory on the Salish Sea. The Crossing could complement waterfront redevelopment with a tribal cultural center and public education spaces showcasing the Port’s working waterfront as well as Pacific and Alaska gateways. Off-boat fish sales and a public market would serve the International District and visitors with foods not available in the downtown core. The Port could also consider relocation of its headquarters.
The Port suspended the Terminal 46 initiative for cruise ship operations last spring to gauge how the industry rebounds from the pandemic. Investments today in the Crossing can reduce future cruise terminal and land side costs, expand maritime jobs and put future cruise passengers in the midst of a dynamic, diverse neighborhood. The Crossing can handle multiple sailings, reduce congestion on Alaska Way, Pier 66 and Terminals 90/91 with faster links to SeaTac Airport.
We encourage the city of Seattle, King and Kitsap counties, the regional council, Port of Seattle, Northwest Seaport Alliance and the state of Washington to jointly explore Salish Crossing. What better way to help the region emerge stronger from the pandemic as both a traditional crossing, regional and international gateway for tourism, jobs, commuters, tribal culture and international trade?


discoveryinstitute--2020-12-04--Thermodynamics and the Origin of Life

Thermodynamics and the Origin of Life

In this podcast , Dr. James Tour and Dr. Brian Miller discuss science and faith , including a presentation by @ @ @ @ @ extensive expertise in the application of thermodynamics and information theory to the problem of the @ @ @ @ @ Miller is Research Coordinator for the Center for Science and Culture at the Discovery Institute @ @ @ @ @ and holds a B.S .
in physics with a minor in engineering from MIT and @ @ @ @ @ physics from Duke University .
Questions from the audience conclude this very intellectual and detailed @ @

In this podcast, Dr. James Tour and Dr. Brian Miller discuss science and faith, including a presentation by Dr. Miller, showing his extensive expertise in the application of thermodynamics and information theory to the problem of the origin of life. Dr. Miller is Research Coordinator for the Center for Science and Culture at the Discovery Institute in Seattle, WA, and holds a B.S. in physics with a minor in engineering from MIT and a Ph.D. in complex systems physics from Duke University. Questions from the audience conclude this very intellectual and detailed talk.


discoveryinstitute--2020-12-07--The Teacher Pay Debate: Examining Teacher Pay (Part 2)

[ Editor ’ s Note : This is Part Two of a three-part article .
Click to read Part One ] Before jumping on the increase-teacher-pay bandwagon , several factors influencing teacher pay need to be understood .
These include the seniority-based salary calculation system , the nine-month work year , and the higher demand for expertise in technical subjects .
Teachers , like students , are rewarded based on the wrong criterion — years of “ seat time ” instead of performance .
Public school districts employ a salary schedule with a simple formula that includes only the education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consideration is typically given to differentiate bachelor degrees — a teacher who earned an engineering degree from MIT and teaches a hard-to-fill subject matter position is deemed equivalent to a teacher with a non-technical degree from a less rigorous university .
This does not reflect the reality outside the education system : “ An engineering degree and a literature degree both require about the same number of years of schooling but yield wildly divergent average pay upon graduation , ” explains Frederick M. Hess and RJ Martin at the American Enterprise Institute .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ past performance , formal reviews , and student learning gains in prior years .
Also , important to include are other factors typically missing in today ’ s compensation formula — a teacher ’ s growth mindset with a hunger for continued professional development and his or her rapport with students and parents — both of which can contribute to a positive learning environment and overall school experience .
Professionals in other fields are not compensated largely based only on tenure and education level , ignoring job performance and associated skills .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in public education is all too common low teacher motivation , disengagement , and mediocrity .
Furthermore , the most committed , engaged , and effective teachers are not adequately compensated for their excellent professional performance .
Teachers only work nine months a year but receive paychecks spread out over twelve months .
In other words , they work roughly 75 % of an annual full-time salary position .
Before championing a blanket teacher pay raise , this reality needs to be recognized .
In some states and districts , when the nine-month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hourly pay rate is much more competitive than many people realize .
Hess and Martin explain : Don ’ t misunderstand .
We ’ re not suggesting that teachers are living large .
But , in most locales , teachers are faring reasonably well .
Nationally , the NEA [ National Education Association ] reports that an individual teacher earns $ 60,477 a year — which is nearly the same as the median American household ( $ 63,179 ) , and meaning that a married couple composed of two teachers is well into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The poverty rate for teachers is 1.1 percent .
And a Federal Reserve survey found that 81 percent of teachers describe their financial situation as either “ doing okay ” or “ living comfortably , ” while just 2.7 percent report “ finding it hard to get by.
” Meanwhile , teacher health care and retirement benefits are generally far more generous than those of their peers in the private sector .
In short , this is the picture of a solidly middle class profession .
Benefits are another factor of compensation that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mention , “ According to the National Income and Product Accounts ( NIPA ) , which are the official ledger books of the U.S. economy , employees in public education received benefits — inclusive of the future pension benefit they accrue each year — equal to 45 % of their annual wages .
In the private sector , benefits averaged only 19 % of wages.
” Perhaps teachers could have the option to exchange a portion of their benefits for a salary increase , if desired .
This flexibility could serve teachers well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is another issue to consider .
Some teachers work only about seven hours a day , while others labor before and after school , as well as nights and weekends , putting in 50 plus hours a week .
Yet , their compensation is equal to their peers of the same tenure and education level .
This defective model needs an overhaul .
One way to improve the pay model is to offer additional salary for teachers who provide instruction to students in need of remediation who continue in classes through school breaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ breaks .
Additionally , in a year-round school schedule , teachers could be given additional compensation .
This model has proven effective at Corinth School District in Mississippi .
As a District of Innovation , after two years of town hall meetings with the community paved the way for near-full support , Corinth exercised its granted flexibility by implementing a year-round school calendar .
The school year is divided into four nine-week terms , with three-week breaks after each quarter and a six-week break for summer .
These school breaks are termed intercession @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the conclusion of each nine-weeks continue in school during the intercession .
This avenue provides real-time learning remediation instead of allowing students to fall further behind the balance of the school year before attempting remediation through traditional summer school .
Students not needing remediation , which the Corinth School District termed foundations , also have the option of attending school during breaks for enrichment , consisting of various supplemental learning activities .
Not only is this creative option enjoyable for students , but it also gives parents a much-needed option for student @ @ @ @ @ @ @ session .
Teachers can opt to work during intersession breaks and are paid for those additional workdays , which can substantially boost teacher pay .
Selection is based on need and teacher performance , not tenure .
Teaching an elementary classroom of roughly 25 students is much different than teaching Advanced Placement ( AP ) physics or calculus .
AP technical courses , which provide undergraduate college coursework , are significantly more rigorous and require instructors to possess mastery of advanced math or science content .
Teacher pay should reflect the expertise required @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , school districts across the nation have teacher shortages in upper-level math and science positions and less difficulty fielding elementary positions .
Certification is part of the issue — a teacher may be certified to teach four or more elementary grade levels , allowing for a larger pool of candidates to select from .
Combine this with the high demand for math and science majors in other industries , and schools seeking to fill math or science teaching positions may not have many applicants , or any at all , to choose from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best teachers leave the classroom and move into administration roles to earn a higher salary .
Not only can this exacerbate the shortage of teachers in the high demand areas , but it can also lead to ineffective school leadership since a thriving teacher may not be suited to be an effective administrator as skills and knowledge required differ among roles .
In summary , the current compensation system ignores the plaguing reality of mediocrity in America ’ s schools .
For a stark contrast , one should look to Singapore ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compensation as well as job promotion — which has led to Singapore students ’ outperforming the rest of the world academically .
How can the U.S. best address its teacher pay debate while bolstering student learning ?
This question will be examined in Part Three of this series .

[Editor’s Note: This is Part Two of a three-part article. Click to read Part One and Part Three.]
Before jumping on the increase-teacher-pay bandwagon, several factors influencing teacher pay need to be understood. These include the seniority-based salary calculation system, the nine-month work year, and the higher demand for expertise in technical subjects.
Seniority Versus Performance-Based Pay
Teachers, like students, are rewarded based on the wrong criterion — years of “seat time” instead of performance. Public school districts employ a salary schedule with a simple formula that includes only the education level obtained and years taught. No consideration is typically given to differentiate bachelor degrees — a teacher who earned an engineering degree from MIT and teaches a hard-to-fill subject matter position is deemed equivalent to a teacher with a non-technical degree from a less rigorous university. This does not reflect the reality outside the education system: “An engineering degree and a literature degree both require about the same number of years of schooling but yield wildly divergent average pay upon graduation,” explains Frederick M. Hess and RJ Martin at the American Enterprise Institute.
Teacher evaluation and subsequent compensation should include past performance, formal reviews, and student learning gains in prior years. Also, important to include are other factors typically missing in today’s compensation formula — a teacher’s growth mindset with a hunger for continued professional development and his or her rapport with students and parents — both of which can contribute to a positive learning environment and overall school experience.
Professionals in other fields are not compensated largely based only on tenure and education level, ignoring job performance and associated skills. The result of this fundamentally flawed pay formula in public education is all too common low teacher motivation, disengagement, and mediocrity. Furthermore, the most committed, engaged, and effective teachers are not adequately compensated for their excellent professional performance.
Nine-Month Work Year
Teachers only work nine months a year but receive paychecks spread out over twelve months. In other words, they work roughly 75% of an annual full-time salary position. Before championing a blanket teacher pay raise, this reality needs to be recognized.
In some states and districts, when the nine-month work year is factored in, the hourly pay rate is much more competitive than many people realize. Hess and Martin explain:
Don’t misunderstand. We’re not suggesting that teachers are living large. But, in most locales, teachers are faring reasonably well. Nationally, the NEA [National Education Association] reports that an individual teacher earns $60,477 a year — which is nearly the same as the median American household ($63,179), and meaning that a married couple composed of two teachers is well into the top quintile of household earnings. The poverty rate for teachers is 1.1 percent. And a Federal Reserve survey found that 81 percent of teachers describe their financial situation as either “doing okay” or “living comfortably,” while just 2.7 percent report “finding it hard to get by.” Meanwhile, teacher health care and retirement benefits are generally far more generous than those of their peers in the private sector. In short, this is the picture of a solidly middle class profession. Frederick M. Hess and RJ Martin, American Enterprise Institute
Benefits are another factor of compensation that warrants acknowledgement. As Hess and Martin mention, “According to the National Income and Product Accounts (NIPA), which are the official ledger books of the U.S. economy, employees in public education received benefits — inclusive of the future pension benefit they accrue each year — equal to 45% of their annual wages. In the private sector, benefits averaged only 19% of wages.” Perhaps teachers could have the option to exchange a portion of their benefits for a salary increase, if desired. This flexibility could serve teachers well.
The length of the teacher workday is another issue to consider. Some teachers work only about seven hours a day, while others labor before and after school, as well as nights and weekends, putting in 50 plus hours a week. Yet, their compensation is equal to their peers of the same tenure and education level. This defective model needs an overhaul.
One way to improve the pay model is to offer additional salary for teachers who provide instruction to students in need of remediation who continue in classes through school breaks. Teachers could opt to work those breaks. Additionally, in a year-round school schedule, teachers could be given additional compensation. This model has proven effective at Corinth School District in Mississippi. As a District of Innovation, after two years of town hall meetings with the community paved the way for near-full support, Corinth exercised its granted flexibility by implementing a year-round school calendar.
The school year is divided into four nine-week terms, with three-week breaks after each quarter and a six-week break for summer. These school breaks are termed intercession. Students not meeting grade-level learning standards at the conclusion of each nine-weeks continue in school during the intercession. This avenue provides real-time learning remediation instead of allowing students to fall further behind the balance of the school year before attempting remediation through traditional summer school.
Students not needing remediation, which the Corinth School District termed foundations, also have the option of attending school during breaks for enrichment, consisting of various supplemental learning activities. Not only is this creative option enjoyable for students, but it also gives parents a much-needed avenue for student supervision when school is officially out of session. Teachers can opt to work during intersession breaks and are paid for those additional workdays, which can substantially boost teacher pay. Selection is based on need and teacher performance, not tenure.
Differing Expertise & High Demand Positions
Teaching an elementary classroom of roughly 25 students is much different than teaching Advanced Placement (AP) physics or calculus. AP technical courses, which provide undergraduate college coursework, are significantly more rigorous and require instructors to possess mastery of advanced math or science content. Teacher pay should reflect the expertise required to teach these demanding courses.
Additionally, school districts across the nation have teacher shortages in upper-level math and science positions and less difficulty fielding elementary positions. Certification is part of the issue — a teacher may be certified to teach four or more elementary grade levels, allowing for a larger pool of candidates to select from. Combine this with the high demand for math and science majors in other industries, and schools seeking to fill math or science teaching positions may not have many applicants, or any at all, to choose from.
A final factor is sometimes the best teachers leave the classroom and move into administration roles to earn a higher salary. Not only can this exacerbate the shortage of teachers in the high demand areas, but it can also lead to ineffective school leadership since a thriving teacher may not be suited to be an effective administrator as skills and knowledge required differ among roles.
In summary, the current compensation system ignores the plaguing reality of mediocrity in America’s schools. For a stark contrast, one should look to Singapore’s radically different approach to teacher and administrator compensation as well as job promotion — which has led to Singapore students’ outperforming the rest of the world academically. How can the U.S. best address its teacher pay debate while bolstering student learning? This question will be examined in Part Three of this series.


discoveryinstitute--2020-12-01--Missouri Bill to Ban ‘Rights of Nature’

Missouri Bill to Ban ‘Rights of Nature’

Good .
A bill has been filed in Missouri to ban granting legal rights or court standing to any non-human aspect of nature .
From HB 54 , sponsored by Representative Adam Schnelting : 3 .
Nature or any ecosystem shall not have standing to participate in or bring a civil action in any court of this state .
4 .
( 1 ) No person on behalf of or representing nature or an ecosystem shall bring a civil action in any court of this state .
( 2 ) No person on behalf of or representing nature or an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as by filing a counterclaim , cross-claim , or third-party complaint , in any civil action brought in any court of this state .
( 3 ) Any plaintiff bringing a civil action shall be human and shall not represent nonhuman entities .
Yes .
Way to be proactive !
The rights of nature movement needs to be taken seriously .
Four rivers and two glaciers have been granted rights in the world .
So was Lake Erie before Ohio passed a preemption law .
Ditto , water lands in Orange County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state law recently passed preempting such ordinances .
I can see no reason not to pass this bill but the notorious , “ it can ’ t happen here ” complacency .
Go , Missouri !

Good. A bill has been filed in Missouri to ban granting legal rights or court standing to any non-human aspect of nature. From HB 54, sponsored by Representative Adam Schnelting:
3. Nature or any ecosystem shall not have standing to participate in or bring a civil action in any court of this state.
4. (1) No person on behalf of or representing nature or an ecosystem shall bring a civil action in any court of this state.
(2) No person on behalf of or representing nature or an ecosystem shall intervene in any manner, such as by filing a counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party complaint, in any civil action brought in any court of this state.
(3) Any plaintiff bringing a civil action shall be human and shall not represent nonhuman entities.
Yes. Way to be proactive!
The rights of nature movement needs to be taken seriously. Four rivers and two glaciers have been granted rights in the world. So was Lake Erie before Ohio passed a preemption law. Ditto, water lands in Orange County, Fla. — which conflicts with a state law recently passed preempting such ordinances.
I can see no reason not to pass this bill but the notorious, “it can’t happen here” complacency. Go, Missouri!


discoveryinstitute--2020-11-27--GOP secret for holding Washington’s Secretary of State seat for 60 years? Middle Ground

Discovery Co-founder Bruce Chapman was featured in King 5 News feature on why Republicans have been so successful in holding @ @ @ @ @ State of Washington State .

When frustrated by election results, it’s useful to remember why it’s hard to live with politicians but even harder to live without them. Bruce K. Chapman reminds us that “a good political life, in the spirit of the Constitution, aims at a ‘more perfect union,’ not a perfect


discoveryinstitute--2020-12-09--The Price of Panic

The Price of Panic

The last months have been unlike anything we ’ ve ever seen , with extreme measures taken around the world @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 .
The policy of lockdowns and mass quarantines were widely adopted — but each @ @ @ @ @ , did we take the right approach ?
COVID-19 is no doubt a real disease @ @ @ @ @ .
But , our efforts to control it have come with high costs and unintended @ @ @ @ @ s unprecedented strategy of halting the U.S. economy may have been well intentioned , but @ @ @ @ @ , broken dreams , and even death due to depression , addiction , other untreated @ @ @ @ @ in some parts of the world .
In this event and in their insightful book @ @ @ @ @ : How the Tyranny of Experts Turned a Pandemic into a Catastrophe , Discovery Institute @ @ @ @ @ Doug Axe grapple with crucial questions of how we responded to COVID-19 .

The last months have been unlike anything we’ve ever seen, with extreme measures taken around the world to slow the spread of COVID-19. The policy of lockdowns and mass quarantines were widely adopted — but each passing day begs the question, did we take the right approach?
COVID-19 is no doubt a real disease that should be taken seriously. But, our efforts to control it have come with high costs and unintended consequences. The government’s unprecedented strategy of halting the U.S. economy may have been well intentioned, but it has yielded lost businesses, broken dreams, and even death due to depression, addiction, other untreated diseases, and even starvation in some parts of the world.
In this event and in their insightful book, The Price of Panic: How the Tyranny of Experts Turned a Pandemic into a Catastrophe, Discovery Institute Senior Fellows Jay Richards and Doug Axe grapple with crucial questions of how we responded to COVID-19.


discoveryinstitute--2020-12-14--Celebrate Alfred Wallace’s Birthday on Jan. 8 with Historian Michael Flannery

One of the greatest naturalists of the nineteenth century , Alfred Russel Wallace ( 1823-1913 ) co-discovered evolution by natural @ @ @ @ @ But unlike Darwin , Wallace became convinced that life and the universe displayed clear evidence @ @ @ @ @ ’ s birthday is January 8 .
Join us for an online birthday party as @ @ @ @ @ legacy of Wallace with historian Michael Flannery , editor of the new book Intelligent Evolution @ @ @ @ @ ’ s World of Life Challenged Darwinism ( 2020 ) .
Learn why Flannery thinks @ @ @ @ @ one of the founding fathers of the modern intelligent design movement .
Flannery will be @ @ @ @ @ President John West , followed by Q & A with the audience .
Be sure @ @ @ @ @ Intelligent Evolution : How Alfred Russel Wallace ’ s World of Life Challenged Darwinism .
@ @ @ @ @ Russel Wallace , check out https : //alfredwallace.org/ or watch the documentary Darwin ’ s @ @

One of the greatest naturalists of the nineteenth century, Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913) co-discovered evolution by natural selection with Charles Darwin. But unlike Darwin, Wallace became convinced that life and the universe displayed clear evidence of purposeful design. Wallace’s birthday is January 8. Join us for an online birthday party as we celebrate the life and legacy of Wallace with historian Michael Flannery, editor of the new book Intelligent Evolution: How Alfred Russel Wallace’s World of Life Challenged Darwinism (2020). Learn why Flannery thinks Wallace could be regarded as one of the founding fathers of the modern intelligent design movement. Flannery will be interviewed by Discovery Institute Vice President John West, followed by Q&A with the audience.
Be sure to get your copy of Intelligent Evolution: How Alfred Russel Wallace’s World of Life Challenged Darwinism.
For more information about Alfred Russel Wallace, check out https://alfredwallace.org/ or watch the documentary Darwin’s Heretic.


discoveryinstitute--2020-12-15--First Animals? Fossils Won’t Fit Cambrian Evolution

Evolutionists are still fighting over the first animals .
Each new fossil creates new questions , but there is one constant : bluffing confidence that Darwinism is true .
Here are some new developments in the Cambrian Explosion debates .
According to Live Science , “ Early life may have been far more like animals than we thought , suggests new research that shows bacteria can ‘ develop ’ like an embryo.
” Croatian scientists looked at biofilm development in the laboratory and envisioned animals trying to emerge .
A hint of Haeckel ’ s recapitulation theory popped into their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expression during biofilm growth mirrors the timing of these genes ’ evolution — just like the expressions of genes in developing animal embryos… .
“ This means that bacteria are true multicellular organisms just like we are , ” said Domazet-Lošo .
“ Considering that the oldest known fossils are bacterial biofilms , it is quite likely that the first life was also multicellular , and not a single-celled creature as considered so far.
” [ Emphasis added . ]
Needless to say , this idea is not going to sit well with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not account for the 20-some-odd hierarchical body plans that appeared in the Cambrian explosion .
But it works in the lab !
Oxford ’ s journal Molecular Biology and Evolution gave it a plug , Haeckel and all .
The paper by Futo et al.
, ( 1 Sept 2020 ) begins , The evolution of enhancers ( genes that regulate protein transcription ) is “ weird ” according to an article in The Scientist , “ Regulators of Gene Activity in Animals Are Deeply Conserved.
” Researchers put the enhancers from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and they still worked .
That can only mean one thing : evolution happens , even when it doesn ’ t evolve anything .
Wong et al.
, writing in the journal Science , deciphered “ Deep conservation of the enhancer regulatory code in animals.
” There must have been an enhancer explosion when sponges were the only game in town .
Stephen Meyer in Darwin ’ s Doubt discussed the excuse that a lack of animal fossils in the Precambrian was an artifact of collection .
This excuse returns in news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe could be animal embryos : “ Half a billion years old microfossils may yield new knowledge of animal origins.
” Hoping that their work “ is likely to prompt many interesting discussions , ” they point out that these microfossils appear in Greenland and in China during the Ediacaran period .
But will they explain the Cambrian explosion ?
“ We believe this discovery of ours improves our scope for understanding the period in Earth ’ s history when animals first appeared — and is likely to prompt many interesting discussions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s first author and a palaeontologist at Uppsala University .
The existence of animals on Earth around 540 million years ago ( mya ) is well substantiated .
This was when the event in evolution known as the “ Cambrian Explosion ” took place .
Fossils from a huge number of creatures from the Cambrian period , many of them shelled , exist .
The first animals must have evolved earlier still ; but there are divergent views in the research community on whether the extant fossils dating back to the Precambrian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Admittedly , the microfossils are a matter of interpretation : “ some think they are eggs and embryos from primeval animals.
” What the microfossils show , instead , is that the Precambrian strata were capable of preserving adult animals if they had existed .
In Darwin ’ s Doubt , Meyer uses this fact to support the suddenness of the Cambrian explosion .
A brief article on Phys.org teases that a “ Study reveals true origin of oldest evidence of animals.
” Spoiler alert : no animals were found .
Instead , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to “ have resolved a longstanding controversy surrounding the origins of complex life on Earth , ” took another look at steroid signatures in rock thought to be produced by sponges .
Did that prove animals had evolved before the explosion ?
But then we learn that geological processes can also produce the steroids , so biology didn ’ t have anything to do with it .
What were the big implications , then ?
No evolution !
That makes the headline very deceptive : “ Study reveals true origin of oldest evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” was the oldest evidence of non-animals !
The Chengjiang fossil bed has produced another beautifully preserved animal named Kylinxia .
SciTech Daily has beautiful pictures of it .
The scientists try to make it a “ missing link ” between Anomalocaris and true arthropods , but it ’ s too late .
The Cambrian explosion had already happened .
That is the issue .
Complex , hierarchical body plans with organ systems and sophisticated behaviors appear in the Cambrian suddenly without ancestors .
They are not bacterial biofilms .
They are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ microfossils .
They are animals , and they exploded onto the scene , confounding Darwin and all the evolutionists that have followed him .

Evolutionists are still fighting over the first animals. Each new fossil creates new questions, but there is one constant: bluffing confidence that Darwinism is true. Here are some new developments in the Cambrian Explosion debates.
Are Biofilms Animals?
According to Live Science, “Early life may have been far more like animals than we thought, suggests new research that shows bacteria can ‘develop’ like an embryo.” Croatian scientists looked at biofilm development in the laboratory and envisioned animals trying to emerge. A hint of Haeckel’s recapitulation theory popped into their crystal ball.
The order of gene expression during biofilm growth mirrors the timing of these genes’ evolution — just like the expressions of genes in developing animal embryos…. “This means that bacteria are true multicellular organisms just like we are,” said Domazet-Lošo. “Considering that the oldest known fossils are bacterial biofilms, it is quite likely that the first life was also multicellular, and not a single-celled creature as considered so far.” [Emphasis added.]
Needless to say, this idea is not going to sit well with serious Cambrian experts, since it cannot account for the 20-some-odd hierarchical body plans that appeared in the Cambrian explosion. But it works in the lab!
The team cautions these results are limited to single-species biofilms in laboratory conditions, so more research is required to see if the findings also hold true in the natural environment with multi-species interactions.
Oxford’s journal Molecular Biology and Evolution gave it a plug, Haeckel and all. The paper by Futo et al., (1 Sept 2020) begins,
Correspondence between evolution and development has been discussed for more than two centuries. Recent work reveals that phylogeny−ontogeny correlations are indeed present in developmental transcriptomes of eukaryotic clades with complex multicellularity.
Conservation Is Not Evolution
The evolution of enhancers (genes that regulate protein transcription) is “weird” according to an article in The Scientist, “Regulators of Gene Activity in Animals Are Deeply Conserved.” Researchers put the enhancers from a sponge into a zebrafish and a mouse, and they still worked. That can only mean one thing: evolution happens, even when it doesn’t evolve anything.
The results of the new study, published November 5 in Science, show that, at least in some cases, enhancer function persists across species that last shared a common ancestor as far back as 700 million years ago.
Wong et al., writing in the journal Science, deciphered “Deep conservation of the enhancer regulatory code in animals.” There must have been an enhancer explosion when sponges were the only game in town.
Transgenic expression of sponge enhancers in zebrafish and mice demonstrates that these sequences can drive cell type–specific gene expression across species. These results suggest an unexpectedly deep level of conservation of gene regulation across the animal kingdom maintained over the course of metazoan evolution.
Return of the Artifact Hypothesis
Stephen Meyer in Darwin’s Doubt discussed the excuse that a lack of animal fossils in the Precambrian was an artifact of collection. This excuse returns in news from Uppsala University about microfossils that they believe could be animal embryos: “Half a billion years old microfossils may yield new knowledge of animal origins.”
When and how did the first animals appear? Science has long sought an answer. Uppsala University researchers and colleagues in Denmark have now jointly found, in Greenland, embryo-like microfossils up to 570 million years old, revealing that organisms of this type were dispersed throughout the world.
Hoping that their work “is likely to prompt many interesting discussions,” they point out that these microfossils appear in Greenland and in China during the Ediacaran period. But will they explain the Cambrian explosion?
“We believe this discovery of ours improves our scope for understanding the period in Earth’s history when animals first appeared — and is likely to prompt many interesting discussions,” says Sebastian Willman, the study’s first author and a palaeontologist at Uppsala University. The existence of animals on Earth around 540 million years ago (mya) is well substantiated. This was when the event in evolution known as the “Cambrian Explosion” took place. Fossils from a huge number of creatures from the Cambrian period, many of them shelled, exist. The first animals must have evolved earlier still; but there are divergent views in the research community on whether the extant fossils dating back to the Precambrian Era are genuinely classifiable as animals.
Admittedly, the microfossils are a matter of interpretation: “some think they are eggs and embryos from primeval animals.” What the microfossils show, instead, is that the Precambrian strata were capable of preserving adult animals if they had existed. In Darwin’s Doubt, Meyer uses this fact to support the suddenness of the Cambrian explosion.
False Lead
A brief article on Phys.org teases that a “Study reveals true origin of oldest evidence of animals.” Spoiler alert: no animals were found. Instead, two teams of evolutionary scientists, claiming to “have resolved a longstanding controversy surrounding the origins of complex life on Earth,” took another look at steroid signatures in rock thought to be produced by sponges. Did that prove animals had evolved before the explosion?
The joint studies found molecular fossils extracted from 635-million-year-old rocks aren’t the earliest evidence of animals, but instead common algae. The researchers from The Australian National University (ANU), Max Planck Institute and Caltech say the finding has big implications for our understanding of evolution.
But then we learn that geological processes can also produce the steroids, so biology didn’t have anything to do with it. What were the big implications, then? No evolution!
“While it holds true sponges are the only living organism which can produce these steroids, chemical processes can mimic biology and transform common and abundant algae sterols into ‘animal’ sterols,” he said.
That makes the headline very deceptive: “Study reveals true origin of oldest evidence of animals.” The “true origin” was the oldest evidence of non-animals!
Another Complex Arthropod from China
The Chengjiang fossil bed has produced another beautifully preserved animal named Kylinxia. SciTech Daily has beautiful pictures of it. The scientists try to make it a “missing link” between Anomalocaris and true arthropods, but it’s too late. The Cambrian explosion had already happened.
“Owing to very special taphonomic conditions, the Kylinxia fossils exhibit exquisite anatomical structures. For example, nervous tissue, eyes and digestive system — these are soft body parts we usually cannot see in conventional fossils,” said Prof. Zhao Fangchen, co-corresponding author of the study. Kylinxia shows distinctive features of true arthropods, such as a hardened cuticle, a segmented trunk and jointed legs. However, it also integrates the morphological characteristics present in very ancestral forms, including the bizarre five eyes of Opabinia, known as the Cambrian “weird wonder,” as well as the iconic raptorial appendages of Anomalocaris, the giant apex predator in the Cambrian ocean.
That is the issue. Complex, hierarchical body plans with organ systems and sophisticated behaviors appear in the Cambrian suddenly without ancestors. They are not bacterial biofilms. They are not sponge steroids. They are not questionable microfossils. They are animals, and they exploded onto the scene, confounding Darwin and all the evolutionists that have followed him.


Homelessness

This short film will help you understand the homeless and poverty crisis from the inside-out — what drives it , what perpetuates it , and why nothing seems to help .
Center Director Christopher Rufo breaks down the dominant narrative and explain how cities such as Seattle , San Francisco , and Los Angeles can spend billions of dollars per year on homelessness , but there are more tents on the streets than ever .
Christopher Rufo is the director of the Discovery Institute ’ s Center on Wealth & Poverty .
He has directed four documentaries for PBS , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his latest film , America Lost , that tells the story of three “ forgotten American cities.
” Christopher is currently a contributing editor of City Journal , where he covers poverty , homelessness , addiction , crime , and other afflictions .
Christopher is a magna cum laude graduate of Georgetown University , Claremont Institute Lincoln Fellow , and has appeared on NPR , CNN , ABC , CBS , HLN , FOX News & more .
The mission of Discovery Institute ’ s Center on Wealth & Poverty is to connect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perennial truths of ethics .
We are building a sustained and accessible defense of free enterprise , entrepreneurship , and stewardship in the moral categories consonant with most Americans .

This short film will help you understand the homeless and poverty crisis from the inside-out — what drives it, what perpetuates it, and why nothing seems to help. Center Director Christopher Rufo breaks down the dominant narrative and explain how cities such as Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles can spend billions of dollars per year on homelessness, but there are more tents on the streets than ever.
Transcript
It’s like like a scene from the slums of India, Nigeria, or Bangladesh. But these are American citizens, living on the streets in America’s most prosperous cities: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle. It’s emotionally jarring: how is it possible that in the wealthiest nation on Earth, people are living in these conditions? How is it possible that more than a half million Americans are sleeping on the streets, in tents, and in emergency shelters?
Governments have mobilized billions of dollars to “solve homelessness,” but there are more tents on the streets than ever.
These are important questions. But despite immense visibility and public attention, it seems as if mass street encampments will be a permanent feature of the urban landscape.
This video is about how to understand homelessness — what drives it, what perpetuates it, and why nothing seems to help.
I. The Narrative
In order to understand what’s happening with the homeless, it’s important to first understand the stories we tell about homelessness.
In West Coast cities, there is a single dominant narrative — which we could call the “hard times” narrative — that capitalists, landlords, real estate developers, and systemic racism have conspired to put people on the streets. They’ll say that homelessness is a manifestation of income inequality, that a homeless encampment under a luxury condo tower is evidence of capitalism’s moral and economic failure.
This narrative is effective for three reasons:
First, it creates the impression that homelessness is essentially random — the product of chance or raw probability. The subtext here is that “it could happen to anyone” or “you’re just a paycheck away from being homeless.” And, if homelessness can happen to anyone, there is no connection between behavior and outcomes. It removes any sense of “fault” or “responsibility” from the equation.
Second, the narrative suggests that homelessness is a form of social injustice. They cite high rates of homelessness among African-Americans, Native Americans, and LGBTQ, and argue that this disproportionality is, by definition, the result of discrimination.
And finally, the narrative establishes the premise for a policy of unlimited compassion. If homelessness is random — or, even more so, if it’s a form of social injustice — a good society will act immediately to fix it. To help make their case, activists, officials, and the media can deploy a range of affectively-loaded images: people on the streets, people in tents, people suffering. The first human instinct is to say: let’s get them indoors.
II. The Housing Hypothesis
Which brings us to part two: the housing hypothesis.
Cities like Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles have all settled on a single solution to homelessness: provide housing with no preconditions. It’s a policy called Housing First and the basic idea is that homelessness is fundamentally a housing problem — and, therefore, housing is the solution.
The man who invented it, a psychologist called Sam Tsemberis, has earned the support of the national media and been called “the man who solved homelessness.”1 In the past twenty years, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has spent billions on Housing First programs. Los Angeles recently passed a $1.2 billion bond to build 10,000 housing units for the homeless. And California Governor Gavin Newsom recently said that “doctors should be able to write prescriptions for housingthe same way they do for insulin or antibiotics.”2
But here’s the problem. We’ve actually put the housing hypothesis to the test, we’ve gathered the evidence, and it’s pretty clear that Housing First has failed.
First, cities can’t build their way out of the homelessness crisis. In Los Angeles, their $1.2 billion Housing First program has been plagued by construction delays, cost overruns, and accusations of corruption.3 They will likely build less than 5,000 total units — while there are more than 59,000 homeless in Los Angeles County. They won’t even make a dent in the problem.
Second, the most progressive cities—which provide the most services and tolerate the most “quality of life” crimes — have shown a strong “magnet effect,” with large numbers of homeless migrating into those cities. In Los Angeles, 35 percent of the homeless migrated to the county after becoming homeless somewhere else, including 19 percent who migrated from out of state.4 In the City of Seattle, the number of migrants is an astonishing 51 percent.5 In effect, migration will always outpace Housing First.
Third, in the big picture, the cities that spend the most money on Housing First have failed to reduce overall rates of homelessness. Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle each spend more than $1 billion a year on homelessness, counting housing, healthcare, and law enforcement costs. And yet, since 20116, homelessness has increased7 15 percent in LA, 24 percent in San Francisco, and 25 percent in Seattle. It’s just not working as a strategy to reduce homelessness within their jurisdictions.
III. The Reality Check
Now this all leads us to part three — and a question: what have the West Coast cities got wrong? A lot, actually. As it turns out, policymakers have misdiagnosed the problem and, consequently, formulated the wrong solutions.
First, let’s revisit the dominant narrative on what causes homelessness — which, officials tell us, is economic misfortune, lack of affordable housing, racial discrimination, and bad luck. But there’s a major omission here. While there is an element of truth to all of these supposed causes, they’re missing the two most dominant causes of all: drug addiction and mental illness.
This, unfortunately, has become a taboo. Merely mentioning the connection between homelessness, addiction, and mental illness will be met with fierce resistance from activists and reporters. But the facts are quite simple: according to a UCLA study, 75 percent of the unsheltered homeless have a substance abuse disorder and 78 percent have a mental health disorder.8 In San Francisco, the Department of Public Health estimates that there are more than 4,000 people in the “perilous trifecta” — being homeless, addicted,and mentally ill simultaneously.9
And there is another element that is forbidden to say, but well documented: the homeless are nearly 100 times more likely to commit crimes and get booked into jail than the average citizen.10 The logic is fairly simple. According to city and federal11 data, virtually all12 of the unsheltered homeless are unemployed, while at the same time, those with serious addictions spend an average of $1,200 to $1,800 a month on methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, and other drugs. With no legitimate source of income, most homeless addicts support their habit through a “hustle” such as theft, fraud, prostitution, and other property crimes.
And this brings us to the deepest failure of Housing First: it does nothing to address these underlying human problems of addiction, mental illness, and despair.13 According to a wide range of studies, Housing First programs do nothing to reduce psychiatric symptoms, reduce drug consumption, or even prevent overdose deaths. In fact, in one recent study in Ottawa, Canada, Housing First participants were five times more likely to die than a control group that was simply left on the streets.14 In other words, enormously expensive Housing First programs sometimes produce worse outcomes than doing nothing.
IV. The State of Play
The irony, though, is that despite these obvious failures — none of the major West Coast cities have reduced homelessness at all — they’re all doubling-down on the same policies that got them here. On the surface, this doesn’t make sense. If something isn’t working, change it.
But there are three critical reasons that these cities find themselves trapped in the status quo:
One, ideology. The narrative about capitalism, racism, rents, and homelessness is extremely powerful — and resists any contradiction. Go to a city council meeting in Seattle, show them the evidence about addiction and mental illness, and see what happens. It subverts their narrative about homelessness and even their own identity as compassionate people. It introduces moral ambiguity: how much of addiction is chance? How much is choice? If a homeless person is committing crimes to feed an addiction, what is their responsibility? The answers to these questions are deeply uncomfortable, so most activists and reporters in these cities will simply stick to the script — and paper over the failures of the current policies by saying “there isn’t enough funding.”
Two, institutions. Remember that homelessness is now a billion-dollar industry in the major West Coast cities. There is now a large network of nonprofits, consultants, developers, service providers, and city employees whose livelihoods depend on the homeless. Most of these individuals are doubtlessly genuine in their desire to help people, but these institutions are not incentivized towards successful outcomes. In Seattle, for example, this so-called “homeless-industrial complex” spends nearly $80,000 per homeless person per year — and has consistently failed to reduce the number of people on the streets.15
Three, policy. Despite a dramatic rise in tent encampments, open-air drug markets, and property crime, policymakers have sought to “decarcerate, decriminalize, and depolice” major cities.16 In San Francisco, for example, the District Attorney has committed to ending all homelessness-related “quality of life crimes,” including public camping, drug possession, prostitution, and low-level property crimes — all under the theory that enforcing these laws is a form of oppression. But this new policy of mass decriminalization has just concentrated the problems and fed into a sense of greater lawlessness. As one public worker told the San Francisco Chronicle: “The alleys are filled with people who are high as a kite, and they are basically controlled by two drug dealers and a pimp.”17
V. The Future
These three obstacles — ideology, institutions, and policy — are formidable.
But the real tragedy in these places isn’t the ideology, the institutions, or the policies — it’s the impact on the homeless themselves, who are left to languish in the streets.
If you spend time with the activists and journalists and policymakers in these cities, they talk almost incessantly about compassion. But compassion can’t be measured by intentions; it must be measured by outcomes. And on that count, these places fail, dramatically. They speak the language of compassion, but have created a system of enormous cruelty. The tents, the drugs, the overdoses, the deaths: all of these are symptoms of personal despair and deep political pathology.
There is the possibility that the addiction epidemic will gradually subside and alleviate what’s happening in the West Coast cities. But for things to change through governance, there will have to be a dramatic shift in how people think about homelessness.
The dominant narrative will have to be broken apart; the institutions must be reformed or refigured; and the policies will have to be reoriented towards order, recovery, and accountability.
It’s not easy, but that’s what it will take to alter the tragic fate of more than 100,000 people sleeping on the streets of the West Coast’s major cities.
References
McCoy, Terrance. “Meet the outsider who accidentally solved chronic homelessness.” The Washington Post. Published May 6th, 2015. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/inspired-life/wp/2015/05/06/meet-the-outsider-who-accidentially-solved-chronic-homelessness. Newsom, Gavin (GavinNewsom). “Doctors should be able to write perscriptions for housing the same way they do for insulin or antibiotics.”Twitter. Published February 21, 2020. Uranga, Rachel. “FBI probe into Councilman Huizar widens.” The Eastsider. Published January 4, 2019. https://www.theeastsiderla.com/news/news_notes/fbi-probe-of-councilman-huizarwidens-lawsuit-seeks-to-block/article_5441eddc-db57-597b-a4f8-6e999676808c.html “2019 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count Presentation.” Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. Published June 17, 2020. https://www.lahsa.org/documents?id=3437-2019-greater-los-angeles-homeless-count-presentation.pdf Applied Survey Research. “City of Seattle 2016 Homeless Needs Assessment.” City of Seattle. Published March, 2017. https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/3480319/ City-of-Seattle-Homeless-Needs-Assessment-March.pdf Office of Community Planning and Development. “The 2011 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress.” U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Published November 2012. https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2011AHAR_FinalReport.pdf Office of Community Planning and Development. “The 2019 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress.” U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Published January 2020. https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2019-AHAR-Part-1.pdf Rountree, Janey, Nathan Hess, and Austin Lyke.” “Health Conditions Among Unsheltered Adults in the U.S.” California Policy Lab. Published October, 2019. https://www.capolicylab. org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Health-Conditions-Among-Unsheltered-Adults-in-theU.S.pdf Rufo, Christopher. “Plot Twist.” City Journal. Published March 10, 2020. https://www. city-journal.org/progressive-narrative-on-homelessness Abt Associates Inc, et. al. “The Applicability of Housing First Models to Homeless Persons with Serious Mental Illness.” U.S. Deprtment of Housing and Urban Development: Office of Policy Development and Research. Published July 2007. https://www.huduser.gov/portal// publications/pdf/hsgfirst.pdf Kilmer, B. et al. “What America’s Users Spend on Illegal Drugs: 2000-2010.” Executive Office of the President of the United States. Published February, 2014. https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/ondcp/policy-and-research/wausid_results_report.pdf Applied Survey Research. “2019 San Francisco Homeless Point-in-Time Count & Survey.” Housing Instability Research Department. Published January 1, 2020. https://hsh.sfgov. org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2019HIRDReport_SanFrancisco_FinalDraft-1.pdf The Council of Economic Advisers. “The State of Homelessness in America.” Executive Office of the President of the United States. Published September 2019. https://www. whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/The-State-of-Homelessness-in-America.pdf Cherner, Rebecca, et al. “Housing First for Adults with Problematic Substance Use.” Journal of Dual Diagnoses, Vol. 13, No. 3 pp. 219–229. Published April 17, 2017. https://doi.org/1 0.1080/15504263.2017.1319586 Stiles, Marc and Coral Garnick. “The Price of Homelessness: The Seattle area spends more than $1 billion a year on this humanitarian crisis.” The Puget Sound Business Journal. Published November 16, 2017. https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2017/11/16/ price-of-homelessness-seattle-king-county-costs.html Rufo, Christopher. “Chaos by the Bay.” City Journal. Published April 14, 2020. https://www. city-journal.org/san-francisco-experiment-in-lawlessness Matier, Phil. “SF homeless tents, once seen as problem, now seen as path to coronavirus social distancing.” San Francisco Chronicle. Published April 12, 2020. February 19, 2020. https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/philmatier/article/SF-homeless-tents-once-seenas-problem-now-seen-15193812.php
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” They were told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , allies and accomplices ” and work toward the “ abolition ” of whiteness .
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Seattle Public Schools recently held a racially charged teacher-training session that convicted US schools of committing “spirit murder” against black kids and demanded that white teachers “bankrupt [their] privilege in acknowledgment of [their] thieved inheritance.”
According to whistleblower documents from the session that I’ve reviewed, the trainers began by claiming that teachers are colonizers of “the ancestral lands and traditional territories of the Puget Sound Coast Salish People.” Later: “The United States was built off the stolen labor of kidnapped and enslaved black people’s work.” The image of a black-power fist removed any lingering hope that the presentation might involve a modicum of nuance.
Organizers identified themselves by gender pronouns and race. For example, one speaker was identified as “He/Him, White.” It has become commonplace in academia and corporate settings to list gender pronouns, but this was perhaps the first example of an institution promoting workplace race-labeling. (The district didn’t reply to my request for comment.)


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