timetables and testing -- different things, obviously

President Bush, 02/2001, on his Presidential Education Initiative:

The cornerstone of reform, as far as I'm concerned, is not only high standards and maximum flexibility, but strong accountability systems. I think it's so important to measure. I think it's a legitimate thing -- I know it's a legitimate request from those of us in public life to say if you receive taxpayers' money, you measure, and you show us whether or not the children are learning.

And when I ask Congress to pass legislation that says, in return for federal help the state of Tennessee, local jurisdictions must develop accountability measures on an annual basis, 3 through 8, to determine whether or not our children are learning. It is essential we do so.

(my bold)

Now, I know there's some around who will say we can't measure, it's not the proper role of the government. Well, I believe the proper role of any government at any level is to insist upon results.

So, if, like Congress or somebody governmental like that, said, "Hey, you've spent $600 billion and stuff and like people are dying and stuff on a war that's been going on for like four years, and you still want to continue with this, so now we're going to set to deadlines and measurements and if you don't meet them were going to close shop" you'd be cool with that? Or am I just being unpatriotic?