tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212234230338648875.post6090624497013341443..comments2024-03-27T20:43:05.862-07:00Comments on The Eternal Universe: More People Like the NRA than the NEAJoseph Smidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02583891162785742138noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212234230338648875.post-56012201037673042632011-07-12T06:33:36.727-07:002011-07-12T06:33:36.727-07:00I don't equate the NRA with Colombine shooters...I don't equate the NRA with Colombine shooters. And I don't equate the NEA with quality teaching, either.<br /><br />I don't think there has to be a pro-gun vs pro-teacher concept. And Rasmussen's questions aren't going that direction. They are comparing two organizations that lobby for power.<br /><br />I am all for good education. That said, I've seen actions by the NEA that have promoted just the opposite. In many states, they protect poor teachers at the expense of children's quality education. Yes, there are some great teachers out there. But the NEA is out to become a more powerful organization, not to seek quality education for children.<br /><br />And the NRA is interested in promoting the 2nd Amendment. I do not agree with all they are about, either. However, I would feel safer with most in the NRA leadership than I would those in NEA leadership right now.Gerald Smithnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212234230338648875.post-83918038888459174652011-07-06T21:37:40.082-07:002011-07-06T21:37:40.082-07:00I also wouldn't read into this survey too much...I also wouldn't read into this survey too much. However, a few observations: First, it's true that more people had a favorable or very favorable view of the NRA than the NEA, but also more people had an unfavorable or very unfavorable view of the NRA than the NEA. The NRA is just naturally more divisive. Also, as has been said before, most people who spend any time thinking about the NEA don't view it as a bunch of <i>teachers</i>, they view it as a <i>labor union</i>. (Labor unions in general can also be a rather divisive subject.) If the survey had asked what the respondents' opinions were of their elementary or secondary education teachers (or maybe even college professors), I'd imagine the responses would have been almost entirely positive. Bill Evanshttp://bjm.scs.illinois.edu/people/wevans2noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212234230338648875.post-63565563577858595302011-07-06T19:58:51.931-07:002011-07-06T19:58:51.931-07:00Joe, only you would consider scientists glamorous ...Joe, only you would consider scientists glamorous and gun-owners weird. :)Nick Nelsonhttp://profiles.google.com/nick.j.nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212234230338648875.post-49028448099112130382011-07-06T19:13:08.382-07:002011-07-06T19:13:08.382-07:00I'm tired of surveys asking questions in such ...I'm tired of surveys asking questions in such biased ways. <br /><br />They should have asked: "What would you rather accomplish in life: A. Discover a cool new scientific theory that will go on to revolutionize the world rewarding you with unfathomable fame and fortune or B. Be known as "that wired guy" down the street with a set of rusty guns that nobody cares about?"With an unbiased question like that I bet science does better than guns. Joseph Smidthttp://www.theeternaluniverse.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212234230338648875.post-27975562350380381952011-07-06T17:56:23.405-07:002011-07-06T17:56:23.405-07:00I don't think you can read into that too much....I don't think you can read into that too much. Most people look at the NRA and don't see hunter safety training or the like but see a political action group with politics they disagree with. A lot of people look at the NEA in the same way. i.e. they don't see it primarily interested in teaching or teachers.Clark Goblehttp://twitter.com/ClarkGoblenoreply@blogger.com