WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Capital Comment -- Daily news notes, political rumors, and important events that shape politics and public policy in Washington and the world from United Press International.
The great debate -- There was a time when the debate over Social Security reform was defined by folks who wanted to cut benefits on one end and those who wanted to increase the taxes on the other -- neither being a particularly workable solution from a political standpoint. All that started to change beginning in the early 1990s after one survey of younger Americans showed more of them believed that UFOs were real then believed they would collect Social Security when they reached retirement age. The Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, has been aggressively pushing market-based reform of the social security system and has not been deterred in their efforts by the recent stock market downturn. They believe the generational divide represents the best chance to achieve the political force necessary to achieve real and meaningful reform. Over four nights in September, CATO will have a series of panel discussions on the subject of "Social Security and Young Americans." The events are free but those interested in attending are asked to e-mail [email protected].
Welcome home -- The U.S. Department of Defense said that remains thought to be those of seven American soldiers considering missing in action from the Korean War were placed in U.S. custody during formal ceremonies this week. According to DoD, six sets of remains were recovered near the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. They are believed to be those of U.S. army personnel from the 7th Infantry Division who fought there against Chinese forces in November-December 1950. An additional set of remains was found in the area along the Chong Chon River near the junction of Unsan and Kujang counties, about 60 miles north of Pyongyang.
The Defense Department says the repatriation marks the end of the first of three operations scheduled for this year. The others are set for Aug. 24-Sept. 24 and Sept. 28-Oct. 29. According to official statistics, close to 10 percent of all U.S. servicemen still missing in action from all conflicts were lost in Korea.
The vacancy sign stays lit a little longer -- A federal judge in Ohio has turned down a request from the American Civil Liberties Union to force a special election for the now-vacant seat of former U.S. Rep. James Trafficant, D-Ohio. Trafficant was expelled from the House after being found guilty of a number of crimes including bribery. The ACLU argued that to leave the seat vacant would deny congressional representation to the citizens of the district. Ohio GOP Gov. Bob Taft declined to order the election, citing the expense and the fact that the person elected to fill the seat would likely never cast a vote in Congress. The House is tentatively scheduled to adjourn Oct. 3.
You can sure buy a lot of apples with that -- As part of a broader effort to improve the quality of teaching and education in the United States, the Ford Foundation has made a $2.5 million grant to the Academy for Educational Development in support of a new initiative, Teachers for a New Era. The purpose of the initiative, led by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, is to strengthen K-12 teaching through investment in programs to produce "competent, caring and qualified teachers." Four institutions have already been asked to submit proposals: Bank Street College of Education; California State University at Northridge; Michigan State University and the University of Virginia. Another four universities will be selected over the next two years.
"Most teacher education programs are not implementing what we know to be best practice and are inadequately funded to do a quality job," Joe Aguerrebere, deputy director of the foundation's education, knowledge and religion program says. "To improve student achievement we have to improve the quality of teaching in the classroom, and we see this initiative as a good opportunity to strengthen and expand the best programs out there." Each university will be granted up to $5 million over a period of five years as is expected to match that. Additional funds will also be made available to allow the institutions to share their experiences with other teacher training institutions.
The show must go on -- Fans of Paul McCartney were disappointed when the singer announced he would be unable to attend the 25th annual "Kennedy Center honors" tributes scheduled for the weekend of Dec. 7. McCartney, a founding member of the Beatles, said he could not attend due to an unspecified personal obligation. On Monday officials at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced that singer/songwriter Paul Simon would take his place as an honoree. Simon rocketed to fame as one half of the legendary Simon and Garfunkel folk rock duo and has had a phenomenally successful solo career. McCartney, officials said, will be instead honored in 2003, giving him plenty of time to clear his schedule.
Correction -- In the Friday, Aug. 16 edition of Capital Comment, James Bisset was misidentified. According to the Canadian Embassy, he is that country's former ambassador to Yugoslavia.
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