I have identified 49 policies being initiated by far-left progressives in our government to centralize and gain control of America. Some of their policies have been enacted over the last 40 to 50 years and others are in the works. Two of the most prominent today are:

• Healthcare -- Control health care and control the people. I consider this one of the most important. (Congressman John Dingell asserted this as well.) This is the largest tax increase in America's history compliments of the Democratic Party. Out of arrogance, we are on the pathway to destroy the greatest health care system in the world. Progressives want control over the people and have little or no concern of the health and welfare of Americans.

• Education -- Common Core State Standards was instituted to take control of our educational institutions to "brainwash" our children. Local school boards and parents have been excluded. Its goal is to give government complete control of the content and curriculum of our educational system to disseminate their propaganda, lies and misinformation.

What is not discussed is the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the original federal intrusion into this state and local responsibility, said "nothing in this act" shall authorize or mandate direct control of schools' curriculums. The 1970 General Education Provisions Act stipulates that "no provision of any applicable program shall be construed to authorize any" federal agency or official "to exercise any direction, supervision, or control over the curriculum, program of instruction" or selection of "instructional materials by any" school system. The 1979 law creating the Education Department forbids it from exercising "any direction, supervision, or control over the curriculum" or "program of instruction" of any school system. The ESEA as amended says no Education Department funds "may be used to endorse, approve, or sanction" any curriculum designed to be used in grades K-12.

Through bribery and coercion 49 state public school boards accepted Common Core as the National Education Association cunningly back-doored the educational system illegally. Uproar has arisen from teachers and parents. My question is, where is Arkansas' legislators, governor, state board of education?

I believe we have lost or are losing our constitutional rights because we've turned from God and have chosen to worship the ruler of this world, Satan.

My comfort is in my faith, not in the ruler and politics of this world.

Hiram B. Cooper Jr.

Bella Vista

Commentary on 04/03/2014