Nancy Salvato

The Shot Heard Round the World

“By the rude bridge that arched the flood, Their flag to April's breeze unfurled, Hence once the embattled farmers stood, And fired the shot heard round the world.” -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Counting the Votes Before They Are In

Everyone can identify with foreshadowing, you know what I'm talking about, the part in a book or a movie or a play when you have that sense of foreboding that something isn't quite right, that the characters are celebrating too early.

‘Excuse Me…Can You Help Me Out with Some Change?’

Every evening on my way to Union Station, the same set of street hustlers are hanging about, soliciting for a handout. Some line the sidewalk, perched on the foldable camping chairs one would expect to see toted by soccer moms en route to children's' organized sporting events, not associated with placards that read homeless or jobless.

For the General Welfare, or an Encroachment on Rights?

Taking Metra usually affords me a solid 20 minutes to read on my Kindle during my commute home and I relish that pause from responsibility to research many of the topics on which I write. Tonight's train ride, however, provided an unanticipated diversion during which I mused on a variety of scenarios that left me pondering.

The Turkey That Is Obamanomics

Thanksgiving day progressed in somewhat the usual manner, sleeping in; savoring our coffee; reading the news; putzing around on the computer; and at least one of us (me) working out in anticipation of moderating the inevitable consequences of splurging on an inordinate amount of really good food.

An Abridgement of Constitutional Rights

“We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America...”

Political Science 101: Power Breeds Corruption

Chicago is known as “The Windy City” not because it is windy (although anyone who tries to use an umbrella during a heavy rain in the Loop knows how difficult that can prove) but because of the blowhard politicians it has produced throughout the centuries.

M-O-N-E-Y & Influence

If you want that girl Listen, son Don't you sit around and cry Because, love In this world Ain't nothing you can't buy -- Lyle Lovett, Money Money may not really buy love or make the world go round, but it certainly does help society to function efficiently. Money, which is assigned a value, is the item of exchange we use if we want to purchase something.

Two Americas or One Nation with Liberty & Justice for All

Fundamental law is the key to maintaining the rights and freedoms of every citizen in the United States of America. It is questionable how many people actually understand what is considered fundamental law, or why it is referred to as such. The US Constitution and the Bill of Rights -which was promised as part of the ratification of the US Constitution in order to ensure its passage-, are both considered to be the fundamental law of the United States. These documents, along with the Declaration of Independence are commonly referred to as our founding documents – the Charters of Freedom.

Setting New Standards with Online Education

“The full-time residential model of higher education is getting too expensive for a larger share of the American population.” (The College of 2020: Students) Is it any wonder “more and more students are looking for lower-cost alternatives to attending college?”

Circumnavigating the Rule of Law

The last I heard, the United States was not a signatory to the Law of the Sea Convention. Yet back in 1996, under President Clinton, we became signatories to an agreement with the Commonwealth of the Bahamas "concerning a cooperative Shiprider and Overflight Drug Interdiction Program for Joint Operations," known as the 1996 Shiprider Agreement.

In Just 100 Days

January 20, 2009, Barack Hussein Obama became the 44th president of the United States. Our most recently elected president has been presiding in what is commonly referred to as the "honeymoon period", the beginning of a new president's term in which the chief executive enjoys generally positive relations with the press and Congress. During this first hundred days, or "honeymoon" a new president uses good will to his advantage, trying to push through an executive agenda while generally being forgiven for what could be considered novice mistakes. April 30th marks the end of President Obama's first 100 days in office. What has been accomplished in since his inauguration?

Defining Article 2, Section 1 in Context

According to Article II, Section 1 of the United States Constitution, no person except a “natural born citizen” (citizen at birth) shall be eligible to the office of President.

A Constitutionally Illiterate Congress

The definition of a citizen is one who is ruled and can rule in turn. We must have the capacity for both under the law. All citizens must be able to take the following oath of office:

Natural Born Citizens

This is a commentary in response to James Taranto's recent column in which he takes yet another opportunity to use his bully pulpit to jab at the vast numbers of people who take painstakingly seriously the idea that no person except a natural born citizen shall be eligible to hold the office of President.

Impoverishment, Elitism & Apath

We experience considerable disjoint between those with money to run expensive campaigns for the Senate or House of Representatives and those persuaded to elect the chosen few. This great disparity is without a doubt a function of the degree to which impoverishment or elitism defines the classes that make up our society. While many people let the world of politics revolve without giving it a second thought, our present political reality begs for our attention and consideration. We cannot afford to disengage.

An Alternative to Impending Doom

In the time that has passed since President Obama was elected to and now holds the presidency of the United States, there has been something of an ominous and disturbing feel accompanying the media's portrayal of his administration. It brings to mind news coverage of third world countries taken over by a military coup or overrun by a junta or dictatorship whose next move is to nationalize their industries or indiscriminately ravage the countryside.

Effective Tools in Education

“I don't know, I'm waiting for you to tell me how I feel.” (Reese stops thinking and becomes the world's happiest tool) Reese Joins the Army “Malcolm in the Middle”

Houston, We Have a Problem

64 percent of all students engage in one of three of the most serious cheating behaviors — copying from another student's work, using cheat notes or helping someone else cheat.”

Letting the Evidence Speak for Itself

In a letter recently submitted to Education Week CITATION Ste09 \l 1033 (Stephen Krashen, 2009) Stephen Krashen, Professor Emeritus, Rossier School of Education, University of Southern California, draws attention to the Reading First final impact study which showed that children following an intensive decoding-based curriculum do well on tests of decoding but not on measures of reading comprehension when compared with regular students. He reminds readers that the National Reading Panel, the foundation for Reading First, came up with similar results.