Thumbs down

To Rep. Virgil Goode, R-Va., radio talk show host and sometimes-Fox-TV contributor Dennis Prager, and any others attempting to make an issue over Rep.-elect Keith Ellison, D-Minn., and his decision to use the Quran at his ceremonial swearing-in.

First, Prager criticized Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, for choosing to use the Quran instead of the Bible. Next, Goode sent a letter to constituents warning that unless the U.S. clamps down on immigration, “many more Muslims” will be elected and want to place their hand on the Quran.

These anti-Muslim, anti-tolerant messages are downright silly. To expect a Muslim to want to engage in a swearing-in ceremony with a Bible taking center stage is as rational as expecting a Christian to prefer placing a hand on the Quran. Certainly, the Bible has always been used until now. But until now, we hadn’t had a Muslim in Congress. Why is that so hard for some to understand?

Thumbs up

To the Federal Communications Commission for enacting rules that will add competition in the cable television market.

The regulatory change would ease the way for telephone companies, such as Verizon and AT&T to offer television services, by preventing cities from denying them a franchise.

Many communities have only one cable television provider. A FCC report on prices of cable service indicates the lack of competition has driven up the cost of basic cable higher than is reasonable.

The problem can be particularly acute for customers living in larger cities. That’s because telephone companies often serve only a portion of a large city, but those cities’ local governments often require a TV provider to offer the service to the entire city. Adding the necessary infrastructure to do that is often cost prohibitive, leaving the phone companies unable to get a franchise.

Giving competitors access to the markets they serve should help to hold down the costs of television service.

Thumbs down

To the failure to adequately and fairly fund public schools. The U.S. federal government, according to a report issued this week by the Education Trust, a Washington-based children’s advocacy group, continues to shortchange poor students in aid policies.

Meanwhile, closer to home, Minnesota legislators continue hearing from frustrated school superintendents and parents from all over the state complaining about an inadequate funding system that makes it hard for rural schools to keep up with their more economically-blessed big-city neighbors.