Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this is off topic, but what's funny to me is how quickly DCUM falls into typical misogyny. There are two authors listed for the story - Someone named Luke and someone named Katie.

On the Daily Caller website, Luke is listed as the "first author." For question for comments, the article suggests contacting Luke.

And yet, here on DCUM, people who are calling out the investigative reporters are EXCLUSIVELY directing their ire at Ms. Watson.

When all else fails, attack the messager, and if that messager is a woman, so much the better. Ridiculous.

Whatever you may think of the Daily Caller (and I don't think much of it - it's the site started by Tucker Carlson), these people are reporters, they are investigative reporters, and where they live and whether or not they have children is completely irrelevant to the story they are investigating.

I just assumed ms Watson is our own obsessive residency cheating mom. Maybe it's Mr Taylor, but I thought her vitriol, and the picture of her Halloween costume, had a pretty feminine vibe. Are my accusations entirely based on assumptions and hyperbole? Totally-- but I don't think the "investigative journalism" done by the good people at the daily caller can really complain.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am extremely skeptical about the quality and motivation of Daily Caller investigative reporting, but I have to say, it does sound like a pretty severe problem and like they did actual (appropriate) reporting. It's not "stalking". But I'm not sure about the quality of the reporting. For example, how they describe L-T as

"in a mostly white neighborhood along a commuter route that runs from Prince George’s County to federal buildings downtown.

The school is almost entirely black and government statistics indicate that few of the students live in the neighborhood. Poor test scores have left neighborhood parents feeling they can’t use their own school, and must pay for private education or enroll their children in a more distant public school."

I don't think that accurately represents the L-T demographics, the current reputation of L-T, or the legitimate OOB system. It also seems to be trying to drive a pretty ugly racial/class wedge.

It is not far from the truth. The neighborhood parents know who the neighborhood kids are, obviously, but there are tons of residency cheaters with tall tales to justify their MD tags. Of the neighborhood parents, my off the cuff guess would be: 40% at L-T, (but most move due to issues with post-preschool years highlighted in article) 30% charter, 30% private, or parochial, to St Peters.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am extremely skeptical about the quality and motivation of Daily Caller investigative reporting, but I have to say, it does sound like a pretty severe problem and like they did actual (appropriate) reporting. It's not "stalking". But I'm not sure about the quality of the reporting. For example, how they describe L-T as

"in a mostly white neighborhood along a commuter route that runs from Prince George’s County to federal buildings downtown.

The school is almost entirely black and government statistics indicate that few of the students live in the neighborhood. Poor test scores have left neighborhood parents feeling they can’t use their own school, and must pay for private education or enroll their children in a more distant public school."

I don't think that accurately represents the L-T demographics, the current reputation of L-T, or the legitimate OOB system. It also seems to be trying to drive a pretty ugly racial/class wedge.

Exactly. Cheating happens in every use of public funds, but photographing people and following them home is beyond creepy.

Fraud is fraud, and this is standard for investigative journalism. It's clear that the school principal ("nothing to see here") won't do anything about the fraud, although the evidence is right in front of her eyes.

Calling this article journalism is really a stretch, with its frequent use of terms like vast majority, many, some, dozens. How does one follow "dozens" of people and also determine parental relationships? Oh and we're supposed to believe that the "vast majority" of these people are driving nice cars to jobs in DC, but "dozens" turn around and drive back to Maryland?

I don't doubt that residency fraud happens but this article is not journalism, it's hokey - and yes indeed, racist - conjecture.

So basically you are saying that yes, you believe the article because you acknowledge residency fraud happens.

Fraud and abuse happens in EVERY use of public funds. Did you know that the vast majority of West Virginia residents live most of their lives on the dole?

It's also true that the people who like to complain about fraud are most likely to be the types who will devote time and money to figure out ways to avoid paying taxes. I don't want to spend much more time on that despicable website, but I'm willing to bet its authors would rather dismantle the IRS than pay another dime going after cheaters.

Enforcement costs money. Tax payer money. Our culture doesn't like paying taxes.

Clever deflection. But I don't live in West Virginia. I live in the District, and care mightily about DC school children being cheated out of lottery spots in good schools and taxpayers being cheated by out-of-state fraudsters.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this is off topic, but what's funny to me is how quickly DCUM falls into typical misogyny. There are two authors listed for the story - Someone named Luke and someone named Katie.

On the Daily Caller website, Luke is listed as the "first author." For question for comments, the article suggests contacting Luke.

And yet, here on DCUM, people who are calling out the investigative reporters are EXCLUSIVELY directing their ire at Ms. Watson.

When all else fails, attack the messager, and if that messager is a woman, so much the better. Ridiculous.

Whatever you may think of the Daily Caller (and I don't think much of it - it's the site started by Tucker Carlson), these people are reporters, they are investigative reporters, and where they live and whether or not they have children is completely irrelevant to the story they are investigating.

I just assumed ms Watson is our own obsessive residency cheating mom. Maybe it's Mr Taylor, but I thought her vitriol, and the picture of her Halloween costume, had a pretty feminine vibe. Are my accusations entirely based on assumptions and hyperbole? Totally-- but I don't think the "investigative journalism" done by the good people at the daily caller can really complain.

Anonymous wrote:this is off topic, but what's funny to me is how quickly DCUM falls into typical misogyny. There are two authors listed for the story - Someone named Luke and someone named Katie.

On the Daily Caller website, Luke is listed as the "first author." For question for comments, the article suggests contacting Luke.

And yet, here on DCUM, people who are calling out the investigative reporters are EXCLUSIVELY directing their ire at Ms. Watson.

When all else fails, attack the messager, and if that messager is a woman, so much the better. Ridiculous.

Whatever you may think of the Daily Caller (and I don't think much of it - it's the site started by Tucker Carlson), these people are reporters, they are investigative reporters, and where they live and whether or not they have children is completely irrelevant to the story they are investigating.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am extremely skeptical about the quality and motivation of Daily Caller investigative reporting, but I have to say, it does sound like a pretty severe problem and like they did actual (appropriate) reporting. It's not "stalking". But I'm not sure about the quality of the reporting. For example, how they describe L-T as

"in a mostly white neighborhood along a commuter route that runs from Prince George’s County to federal buildings downtown.

The school is almost entirely black and government statistics indicate that few of the students live in the neighborhood. Poor test scores have left neighborhood parents feeling they can’t use their own school, and must pay for private education or enroll their children in a more distant public school."

I don't think that accurately represents the L-T demographics, the current reputation of L-T, or the legitimate OOB system. It also seems to be trying to drive a pretty ugly racial/class wedge.

Exactly. Cheating happens in every use of public funds, but photographing people and following them home is beyond creepy.

Fraud is fraud, and this is standard for investigative journalism. It's clear that the school principal ("nothing to see here") won't do anything about the fraud, although the evidence is right in front of her eyes.

Calling this article journalism is really a stretch, with its frequent use of terms like vast majority, many, some, dozens. How does one follow "dozens" of people and also determine parental relationships? Oh and we're supposed to believe that the "vast majority" of these people are driving nice cars to jobs in DC, but "dozens" turn around and drive back to Maryland?

I don't doubt that residency fraud happens but this article is not journalism, it's hokey - and yes indeed, racist - conjecture.

So basically you are saying that yes, you believe the article because you acknowledge residency fraud happens.

Fraud and abuse happens in EVERY use of public funds. Did you know that the vast majority of West Virginia residents live most of their lives on the dole?

It's also true that the people who like to complain about fraud are most likely to be the types who will devote time and money to figure out ways to avoid paying taxes. I don't want to spend much more time on that despicable website, but I'm willing to bet its authors would rather dismantle the IRS than pay another dime going after cheaters.

Enforcement costs money. Tax payer money. Our culture doesn't like paying taxes.

Anonymous wrote:Any of you who insist that our country should have open borders better not be the same people who are complaining about PG County residents illegally taking their kids to DC schools for a better education.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The article -- with an approach that may seem extreme -- shows that the many, many of the kids in question are not in delicate family situations.

The problem never gets addressed because everyone fears, understandably, doing harm to kids in vulnerable situations.

But that fear is what allows a huge amount of exploitation -- which is what the article is trying to show by its "icky stalking" of two-parent families.

At what point is the abuse bad enough that some action has to be taken despite the risks of needlessly investigating a valid situation?

I think this is really on point. Many of us knew about the fraud, but worried the kids were in need - so we didn't speak up. Now this "article" (and I use that term loosely) is making me (and maybe others) wonder if it is just a lot of people taking advantage of the system.

same w/ welfare

And you know very little about programs like SNAP and TANF.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The article -- with an approach that may seem extreme -- shows that the many, many of the kids in question are not in delicate family situations.

The problem never gets addressed because everyone fears, understandably, doing harm to kids in vulnerable situations.

But that fear is what allows a huge amount of exploitation -- which is what the article is trying to show by its "icky stalking" of two-parent families.

At what point is the abuse bad enough that some action has to be taken despite the risks of needlessly investigating a valid situation?

I think this is really on point. Many of us knew about the fraud, but worried the kids were in need - so we didn't speak up. Now this "article" (and I use that term loosely) is making me (and maybe others) wonder if it is just a lot of people taking advantage of the system.

same w/ welfare

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am extremely skeptical about the quality and motivation of Daily Caller investigative reporting, but I have to say, it does sound like a pretty severe problem and like they did actual (appropriate) reporting. It's not "stalking". But I'm not sure about the quality of the reporting. For example, how they describe L-T as

"in a mostly white neighborhood along a commuter route that runs from Prince George’s County to federal buildings downtown.

The school is almost entirely black and government statistics indicate that few of the students live in the neighborhood. Poor test scores have left neighborhood parents feeling they can’t use their own school, and must pay for private education or enroll their children in a more distant public school."

I don't think that accurately represents the L-T demographics, the current reputation of L-T, or the legitimate OOB system. It also seems to be trying to drive a pretty ugly racial/class wedge.

Exactly. Cheating happens in every use of public funds, but photographing people and following them home is beyond creepy.

Fraud is fraud, and this is standard for investigative journalism. It's clear that the school principal ("nothing to see here") won't do anything about the fraud, although the evidence is right in front of her eyes.

Calling this article journalism is really a stretch, with its frequent use of terms like vast majority, many, some, dozens. How does one follow "dozens" of people and also determine parental relationships? Oh and we're supposed to believe that the "vast majority" of these people are driving nice cars to jobs in DC, but "dozens" turn around and drive back to Maryland?

I don't doubt that residency fraud happens but this article is not journalism, it's hokey - and yes indeed, racist - conjecture.

So basically you are saying that yes, you believe the article because you acknowledge residency fraud happens.