World Politics

[redtreviso]

Naw. I can't think of a politician I even trust, much less worship.

But then you are the first in line to vote for a Bush or a Palin...

 

[Anonymous]

But then you are the first in line to vote for a Bush or a Palin...

Oh, I vote. Never voted for Palin tho.

 

[rhubroma]

Oh, so that what it's called.

So then when our representatives vote in a way to limit a workers 'right' to collectively bargain we should be able to accept this, right? Unless of course when our reps leave the state effectively shutting down the state govt.

Are those the representatives you speak of?

BTW, where does the taxed monies come from? Since I know you won't answer a direct question I'll fill in the blanks for you. Money to tax comes from the creation of wealth. That would be the private sector, old boy.

So, if you are keeping score at home we have the private sector bearing the brunt of the economic downturn while the public sector does not. To make matters even more interesting, the public sector unions act like 12 year old girls who's parent has taken their cell phone away when asked for help.

So the score remains; Public Workers 2, Private Worker 0.

In the real world the private sector has raped and pillaged the nation, through government allowing the private wealth to create entities that are simply "too big to fail". This, of course, is why the public has been forced to bail out the financial excesses of the financialists at Wall Street, driving up thereby an already exorbitant national debt.

Then there would be those private interests and the wealth they generate for which the nation has gone to war in the Middle East, ostensibly to root out terrorism and bring democracy to the region, though in reality over oil. I seriously doubt George W. Bush reserved much concern over the plight of oppressed Afghani women, before 9-11, nor was it necessary to fabricate atomic weapons for Saddam Hussein to transform him into a new Slobodan Milosevic - simply because he already was one and thus a per-Milosevic, while the US had happily supported him with weapons, perhaps even chemical ones, against Iran. The neocons then in power had simply acted upon their criminal interests in private wealth to support their colleagues, and I stress colleagues, in the various Halliburtons who gained enormously financially as a result, but also to demonstrate America's military superiority (“Shock and Awe”).

Back in the 50's Ike, a former WWII general and conservative republican president, warned America to "beware the military-industrial block". But alas Bush, the neocons and Iraq have let us know that Eisenhower’s prescient vision, at least in this, was not adhered too and that the latest generation of republicans is composed of complete madmen. But of course when a democracy and a superpower lets private wealth take over, such an outcome was inevitable.

What's that make it 10-0, in my favor?

PS. I have said before that workers unions do not always work the best, though they are the only checks and balances against what would otherwise become a tyranny of the bosses, which is exactly what we had during the Industrial Revolution when, not coincidentally, they were invented of a dire necessity in case you have forgotten this important point. And compared to European states, the US public work sector has a limited force, which, of course, has nearly been completely broken by the oligarchy that runs the country, initially under the driving force of Reaganomics and it continues to be an endangered species of the XIX century when worker exploitation was at a fevered pitch in our society by the forces of neoliberalism today. This, however, is not good for the American democracy.

The other thing, my dear Scott SoCal, is that you seem to conceptualize what's private vs. what's public purely in terms of an economic status. But I don't see things that way. To me, in a state of civil rights where enlightenment and humanistic principles prevail, things like education, health care, job securities (within reason, though I'm certain what is reasonable to me is quite unreasonable to you), retirement subsidies, compensation for ailment or invalidity, etc all form part of the public domain like the air we breath and the water we drink. And that the job of the state of law, under the direction of its elected officials, should be to ensure that the required fiscal contributions from its workforce (whether they come in from jobs in the private or public sectors - yes, you conveniently neglected to mention that state workers pay their taxes, all their taxes, too) are spent by giving priority to these social services. To me this is what is meant by the civilized State. We must also bear in mind that nothing is absolutely "private", unless in an anarchy I suppose. Whereas without the public or the State, private business goes nowhere, though you conservatives would seem to think that it exists in a social vacuum. It doesn't and it thus owes much back to society that provides it the very oxygen and lymph it needs to thrive.

By contrast in America there are all types of official and unofficial unions of a very select and elite group of rich and powerful tycoons, financialists, industrialists, technology monopolists, arms dealers, media moguls, etc. of a cult and masonic nature, who use their private wealth to gain a disproportional political clout in a representative democracy and who work unremittingly against the public interests. But these trade and financial unions, which have driven the public job sector and those of the middle and lower classes in the private one straight into the grave and that wage far more power and influence over the country, you are neither willing to acknowledge, let alone talk about in any meaningful critical way.

So like I said before, before we can expect to make ordinary workers (state or otherwise) under the backing of their unions make more "reasonable requests" and of course accept more sacrifices, I think we should first demand that the members of this elite club to diminish their gargantuan year end bonuses, to desist from exploiting their wealth for political gains as instruments to make even further profits which they hoard and keep from the public wellbeing; while the average factory worker, or school teacher, or public clerk has a far less luxurious lifestyle and in many cases is just struggling to make it to the end of the month, especially because of all the services he has to pay to the private sector out of pocket like medical insurance, tuition fees and retirement finds that his taxes aren't being spent on. Taxes that instead are being used to fund Wall Street and the great players of privatized industry and the military apparatus that is called to light the world on fire in the latter's interests and to protect their American Empire.

But then again you probably aspire to membership in their club, but I don't, and thus all of this is most likely completely meaningless to you Scott SoCal.

Game over.

 

[redtreviso]

Those unfair teachers and their lavish lifestyles.

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/jon-stewart-exposes-the-lavish-lifestyle-of-the-american-public-school-teacher/

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

...So the score remains; Public Workers 2, Private Worker 0.

I hear a lot of what you're saying, and the voters of Wisconsin got what they voted for, but you have bought the conservative bait on that one. The divide and conquer game pitting one type of worker against the other, while the collusion between politicians and those who purchased the politicians manage to again remain unquestioned by so many.

Gov Scott Walker talks to his boss.or his daddy.. ""DADDY!! I'M A UNION BUSTER JUST LIKE RONNIE REAGAN"

Not aimed at anyone here, but I'm so tired of so many Republicans today thinking they are Ronald Reagan, or doing what he did. I find a great majority of today's far right claiming to be like him to be bitter, angry, bigoted and filled with vitriol. Take a listen to Beck, Limbaugh, O'Reilly, etc. who they feed, and who their listeners are. It's all about someone else to blame for ruining the country, ruining everything. It's liberals, it's immigrants, it's the government, it's someone else. A goal of so many of these conservative leaders encourage that, and attempt to make those who are bitter even more so.

Sorry to say, but the Ronald Reagan I grew up with was nothing like this. The Reagan that was my President used, and lived by his slogan that it was morning in America. I didn't agree with many of his policies, but he was an eternal optimist who made people feel proud about their country, and doing something about it. When he would put his opponents down it was often laced with humor and whit, and sometimes his humor was even placed at himself. He saw the bright side in the country and world, and in himself, and I think he would be aghast at those that claim to be echoing him today.

 

[redtreviso]

Sorry to say, but the Ronald Reagan I grew up with was nothing like this. The Reagan that was my President used, and lived by his slogan that it was morning in America. I didn't agree with many of his policies, but he was an eternal optimist who made people feel proud about their country, and doing something about it. When he would put his opponents down it was often laced with humor and whit, and sometimes his humor was even placed at himself. He saw the bright side in the country and world, and in himself, and I think he would be aghast at those that claim to be echoing him today.

Jeez You must have been young or impaired..People felt proud of their country while they drove their U-Haul with all their worldly possessions across the country for a new job because Reagan destroyed their old one FOREVER. Reagan made the Iranians a honorary wing of the Republican party to help oppose their common enemy. You are still right that the current generation of Republicans disgrace Reagan, but the bar is very low.

 

[Anonymous]

I hear a lot of what you're saying, and the voters of Wisconsin got what they voted for, but you have bought the conservative bait on that one. The divide and conquer game pitting one type of worker against the other, while the collusion between politicians and those who purchased the politicians manage to again remain unquestioned by so many.

<snip>

Interesting take on 'divide and conquer.'

Public worker demands are out of control.

Public worker unions use union dues to support politicians who then grant public workers demands.

Economy turns south, private workers lose their jobs in the millions.

Public worker unions could care less. Public worker unions want what they paid for (which is understandable).

States like California then decide to extract further from the private sector by extending or enacting new and ever more business stifling taxes and fees putting even more burden on the private sector all the while waiting for yet another federal bailout so that we don't have to layoff teachers, cops and firemen.

Then there is the display for everyone to see in Wisconsin.

So, I'm wondering how you see the 'divide and conquer' to be a strategy used by conservatives when it's use has been by the left almost exclusively.

Demonize the producer. Demonize the employer. Demonize success. Demonize the very source of the taxation that funds the pubic existence. Don't address underlying problems. Just continue to demand more and more all the while telling people who pay that they are the problem.

I simply don't get it.

 

[rhubroma]

Interesting take on 'divide and conquer.'

Public worker demands are out of control.

Public worker unions use union dues to support politicians who then grant public workers demands.

Economy turns south, private workers lose their jobs in the millions.

Public worker unions could care less. Public worker unions want what they paid for (which is understandable).

States like California then decide to extract further from the private sector by extending or enacting new and ever more business stifling taxes and fees putting even more burden on the private sector all the while waiting for yet another federal bailout so that we don't have to layoff teachers, cops and firemen.

Then there is the display for everyone to see in Wisconsin.

So, I'm wondering how you see the 'divide and conquer' to be a strategy used by conservatives when it's use has been by the left almost exclusively.

Demonize the producer. Demonize the employer. Demonize success. Demonize the very source of the taxation that funds the pubic existence. Don't address underlying problems. Just continue to demand more and more all the while telling people who pay that they are the problem.

I simply don't get it.

Are you in touch with reality?

The amount of money used to "buy" political support from the workers unions against that of the Master's of the Universe in private finance and industry since the Reagan years, is overwhelmingly in favor of the latter's astronomical resources and is set against their totalitarian demands.

I think, therefore, your concerns for the plight of the poor old capitalists and producers (though it is in fact the worker who does all the production) to be quite delusional.

You know what's happening with the unions today? They are being driven into extinction by having been overmatched. So that today they have to except plea bargaining down to the level of third world production costs in the name of sacred "competitiveness" for their workers to keep their jobs, or else risk being crushed once and for all by neoliberalism and globalization. Where "competitiveness" merely means increasing profits for the production owners, for the capitalists, while workers are asked to accept ever "necessary" concessions. This is why, for example, the German company Mercedes Benz has happily opened a production base in the impoverished south of the US, Alabama I think, where it knows the unions are less strong than in Europe and thus can exploit the weaker position of labor.

Consequently the entire system is completely in favor of the capital holders, who are ever capable of just closing up shop and moving production abroad where it's cheaper, both because of a depressed local economy and because the business gurus and the politicians there have created a working environment that is heavily rigged in their favor and against workers.

The so called underlying problems, as you call them, are therefore not the demands of workers, but an elite class of industry owners who with purchased political support have forced the workers unions back into the corner. Their irresistible leverage has left them with little or no alternative but to accept ever lower wages and benefits to make the exploited efforts of their clients more competitive within the international market.

Though its just pure chaos, Scott SoCal, and it is a chaos which moves the problems of capitalism around geographically from one region to another at unprecedented speeds, while leaving once thriving areas depressed and bringing ever less manufacturing wealth and workers rights to the new profit hunting grounds of the industry owners.

 

[Anonymous]

One interesting question: Why is it that the people who so fervently defended against taxation of bonuses given to people who worked for banks that needed to be bailed out are also the same people who believe teachers and firefighters should be the ones to pay for the economic downturn caused by those same banks?

This is, was, and will always be about a political vendetta against a block of voters who do not vote Republican in significant numbers.

Also, why is cutting taxes on upper income earners (which increases your deficit) in a state where only 1/3rd of the corporations in the state pay taxes "fiscally responsible?"

Oh yea, and if you have never stepped in a classroom and taught, yet feel you posses the expertise to critique the profession, think of how you would feel if a teacher were doing the same to you. Those teachers deserve every penny. If they are making more than the average worker, good. They should earn more. Also note that the average years experience for Wis teachers is over 13 years. That is a lot of time teaching. They are probably pretty freaking good by then, call me crazy.

 

[Cobblestones]

PCutter, others have pointed out the flaws in your views already, so I'm probably just piling up:

1) Markets are never free and it is always in the interest of most players (in particular the bigger ones) for markets to be rigged. There's usually more money to be made by restricting flow of information, goods, capital, labor, by increasing startup investments for the competition etc. A free market economy is an entirely utopian idea to begin with.

2) Companies, beholden only to profit, will chose to operate under the most favorable conditions to them, i.e., where the markets are most rigged in their favor. This means, production in China, which for instance doesn't allow independent labor unions, and which keeps production cost low by undervaluing their currency. Then they sell their stuff in the US, where demand and prices are high because of the debt pushed onto the consumer and where the US$ is probably overvalued because it doubles as a safe haven for a lot of investors. Taxes on the whole operation are then paid in some Caribbean island state or wherever the corporate tax rate amounts to a minimum.

3) The game is therefore rigged in particular for large, global players and represents a race to the bottom. If a country wants to have large production facilities, it needs to depress wages (undervaluing their currency), suppress workers (not allowing them to organize) and have low or non-existent ecological standards. If a country wants to have happy consumers, it needs to be able to push debt onto the consumer (because wages aren't sufficient any more), basically by underwriting a bailout guarantee to the largest creditors in case the system goes belly up. If a country wants to host large companies and benefit through taxes from their profit, it basically needs a very low tax rate and space for thousands of post office boxes.

Can you not see that all of this will basically only benefit some oligarchs?

Yes, there will be instances where some elements in the chain (e.g. the Chinese factory worker) might be better off than previously. But it is not clear to me that this represents the optimal outcome of the global economic system when in fact a similar, higher wage, higher standard job (in terms of ecology, safety etc) has been eliminated elsewhere to basically squeeze out a larger surplus value to benefit some postbox headquarter on the Caiman Islands and their nameless shareholders. Maybe you can explain why everybody is better off in this scenario?

It is abundantly clear to me that globalization of rigged markets benefit mostly large global players. It will run out of steam when either everybody has reached the bottom or when natural resources run out. Neither of which is a desirable prospect. I think a much better way forward from here would be to set up sustainable, local markets which are well regulated for the good of the people.

I'm quoting myself here from a while back.

Thinking about the bolded part, it is pretty clear what the game is. On the US side, we have union busting going on throughout the old manufacturing states in the upper mid west, on the Chinese side, we have learned this week that China will allow more and more foreign trade to be done in renminbi (instead of dollar). So we might just see the beginning of a large shift.

In the US, because of the large debt (public and private), the market is fairly saturated. In China, on the other hand, because of large growth rates and saving ratios, there's a pent up demand. China becomes less reliant on export to the US which makes it less important to undervalue their currency. US companies, on the other hand, take a page out of China's playbook. No independent unions, no regulations on environment, work safety etc. etc.

No question now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.

George Orwell, Animal Farm, Ch. 10

 

[fatandfast]

Are you in touch with reality?

The amount of money used to "buy" political support from the workers unions against that of the Master's of the Universe in private finance and industry since the Reagan years, is overwhelmingly in favor of the latter's astronomical resources and is set against their totalitarian demands.

I think, therefore, your concerns for the plight of the poor old capitalists and producers (though it is in fact the worker who does all the production) to be quite delusional.

You know what's happening with the unions today? They are being driven into extinction by having been overmatched. So that today they have to except plea bargaining down to the level of third world production costs in the name of sacred "competitiveness" for their workers to keep their jobs, or else risk being crushed once and for all by neoliberalism and globalization. Where "competitiveness" merely means increasing profits for the production owners, for the capitalists, while workers are asked to accept ever "necessary" concessions. This is why, for example, the German company Mercedes Benz has happily opened a production base in the impoverished south of the US, Alabama I think, where it knows the unions are less strong than in Europe and thus can exploit the weaker position of labor.

Consequently the entire system is completely in favor of the capital holders, who are ever capable of just closing up shop and moving production abroad where it's cheaper, both because of a depressed local economy and because the business gurus and the politicians there have created a working environment that is heavily rigged in their favor and against workers.

The so called underlying problems, as you call them, are therefore not the demands of workers, but an elite class of industry owners who with purchased political support have forced the workers unions back into the corner. Their irresistible leverage has left them with little or no alternative but to accept ever lower wages and benefits to make the exploited efforts of their clients more competitive within the international market.

Though its just pure chaos, Scott SoCal, and it is a chaos which moves the problems of capitalism around geographically from one region to another at unprecedented speeds, while leaving once thriving areas depressed and bringing ever less manufacturing wealth and workers rights to the new profit hunting grounds of the industry owners.

cars and the manufacturing of them is a dirty secret on every level. cars can have over 38% of the parts made outside the US and still be called domestic. The SUV craze was only sustained because the government played a name game and called them trucks..even though the primary use is haul people.

The truck designation makes it so the vehicle can spew smog and get bad mileage without a big penalty. Makers like GM use a wild card strategy by sticking a name plate on a 60mpg Suzuki so they can make the government mandated MPG average for the whole product line. When a person is driving a Honda, Nissan, Toyota, BMW, Volkswagen or Mercedes they most often assume that it's made outside the US.

The southern governments are on their hands and knees begging people like Mercedes to build there..they give them huge tax breaks, new roads, new off ramps on freeways, rail yards..whatever it takes. While I agree a companies greatest concern is the bottom line the local and state governments all over the US are out lobbying anybody and everybody to relocate to their town.

Look at the evil German inverse when DHL left Ohio the place turned into a sink hole.

I worked for Wegmann( KMW) for a year. My bosses idea of a long weekend was 5 or 6 days in Egypt on a dive boat. I would jump at the chance to work for a German company

 

[Anonymous]

Are you in touch with reality?

The amount of money used to "buy" political support from the workers unions against that of the Master's of the Universe in private finance and industry since the Reagan years, is overwhelmingly in favor of the latter's astronomical resources and is set against their totalitarian demands.

I think, therefore, your concerns for the plight of the poor old capitalists and producers (though it is in fact the worker who does all the production) to be quite delusional.

You know what's happening with the unions today? They are being driven into extinction by having been overmatched. So that today they have to except plea bargaining down to the level of third world production costs in the name of sacred "competitiveness" for their workers to keep their jobs, or else risk being crushed once and for all by neoliberalism and globalization. Where "competitiveness" merely means increasing profits for the production owners, for the capitalists, while workers are asked to accept ever "necessary" concessions. This is why, for example, the German company Mercedes Benz has happily opened a production base in the impoverished south of the US, Alabama I think, where it knows the unions are less strong than in Europe and thus can exploit the weaker position of labor.

Consequently the entire system is completely in favor of the capital holders, who are ever capable of just closing up shop and moving production abroad where it's cheaper, both because of a depressed local economy and because the business gurus and the politicians there have created a working environment that is heavily rigged in their favor and against workers.

The so called underlying problems, as you call them, are therefore not the demands of workers, but an elite class of industry owners who with purchased political support have forced the workers unions back into the corner. Their irresistible leverage has left them with little or no alternative but to accept ever lower wages and benefits to make the exploited efforts of their clients more competitive within the international market.

Though its just pure chaos, Scott SoCal, and it is a chaos which moves the problems of capitalism around geographically from one region to another at unprecedented speeds, while leaving once thriving areas depressed and bringing ever less manufacturing wealth and workers rights to the new profit hunting grounds of the industry owners.

The amount of money used to "buy" political support from the workers unions against that of the Master's of the Universe in private finance and industry since the Reagan years, is overwhelmingly in favor of the latter's astronomical resources and is set against their totalitarian demands.

Nice obfuscation, but that's not what is being discussed. I have said many, many, many times in this thread that I have no tolerance for corruption. So, by you justifying corruption by pointing to corruption is the argument a ninny might make.

You know what's happening with the unions today? They are being driven into extinction by having been overmatched.

Unions in the private sector are in decline mostly because they are corrupt and the original intent of the unions have been usurped by govt regulation. Unions in the public sector are thriving. I wonder why?

Consequently the entire system is completely in favor of the capital holders

Not completely. Just look at the situation in Wisconsin (and elsewhere) now. You think this is the design of some nefarious capitalist? Hardly.

The so called underlying problems, as you call them, are therefore not the demands of workers, but an elite class of industry owners who with purchased political support have forced the workers unions back into the corner.

You completely overlook the deamands that are being made. And they are substantial. The Gov is asking for them to participate in the health insurance premium. Pay for one third of the cost. Additionally, he's asking for greater participation in their Pensions. In exchange, everyone gets to keep their job. Sounds reasonable to me.

while leaving once thriving areas depressed and bringing ever less manufacturing wealth and workers rights to the new profit hunting grounds of the industry owners

Before you have workers who have 'rights' you must have someone willing to risk their capital. This is NOT a difficult concept. In your world, who the F would want to risk anything? For what reward?

 

[Anonymous]

One interesting question: Why is it that the people who so fervently defended against taxation of bonuses given to people who worked for banks that needed to be bailed out are also the same people who believe teachers and firefighters should be the ones to pay for the economic downturn caused by those same banks?

This is, was, and will always be about a political vendetta against a block of voters who do not vote Republican in significant numbers.

Also, why is cutting taxes on upper income earners (which increases your deficit) in a state where only 1/3rd of the corporations in the state pay taxes "fiscally responsible?"

Oh yea, and if you have never stepped in a classroom and taught, yet feel you posses the expertise to critique the profession, think of how you would feel if a teacher were doing the same to you. Those teachers deserve every penny. If they are making more than the average worker, good. They should earn more. Also note that the average years experience for Wis teachers is over 13 years. That is a lot of time teaching. They are probably pretty freaking good by then, call me crazy.

Oh yea, and if you have never stepped in a classroom and taught, yet feel you posses the expertise to critique the profession, think of how you would feel if a teacher were doing the same to you. Those teachers deserve every penny. If they are making more than the average worker, good. They should earn more. Also note that the average years experience for Wis teachers is over 13 years. That is a lot of time teaching. They are probably pretty freaking good by then, call me crazy

Teachers are probably underpaid and undervalued by society as a whole.

But, if I were producing the product that's being produced by public education the LAST thing I would do is demand more money. Public Education has become an abject failure and I sincerely doubt the teachers are at fault... the good ones anyways.

Why do the teachers unions dislike charter schools? Private schools? Voucher systems? Any form of competition? Why do they fight to the death for tenure? Why is is impossible to be rid of poor teachers? Why is not the student the priority?

There are three groups getting screwed the way things are with public education. Teachers, Students and Taxpayers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFN0nf6Hqk0

 

[redtreviso]

Teachers are probably underpaid and undervalued by society as a whole.

But, if I were producing the product that's being produced by public education the LAST thing I would do is demand more money. Public Education has become an abject failure and I sincerely doubt the teachers are at fault... the good ones anyways.

Why do the teachers unions dislike charter schools? Private schools? Voucher systems? Any form of competition? Why do they fight to the death for tenure? Why is is impossible to be rid of poor teachers? Why is not the student the priority?

There are three groups getting screwed the way things are with public education. Teachers, Students and Taxpayers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFN0nf6Hqk0

Do you work for the Koch brothers or does being a poodle come naturally??

 

[Anonymous]

Do you work for the Koch brothers or does being a poodle come naturally??

When does the truth not hurt?

 

[Anonymous]

Teachers are probably underpaid and undervalued by society as a whole.

But, if I were producing the product that's being produced by public education the LAST thing I would do is demand more money. Public Education has become an abject failure and I sincerely doubt the teachers are at fault... the good ones anyways.

Why do the teachers unions dislike charter schools? Private schools? Voucher systems? Any form of competition? Why do they fight to the death for tenure? Why is is impossible to be rid of poor teachers? Why is not the student the priority?

There are three groups getting screwed the way things are with public education. Teachers, Students and Taxpayers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFN0nf6Hqk0

Part of the problem is standardized testing. We have ceased educating children, and instead are requiring only that they regurgitate facts, not think. That is the real problem.

The problem with the alternatives you present is that it concentrates the poorest, most neglected children in what is left of a public system when you take all of the money out. Our society hasn't proven to care too much for things they are not paying for. They would be left in sh!thole schools, on some back street (gotta keep reality out of sight from the more civilized elements of society) giving the 1 in 1000 who makes it out of that kind of poverty now a 1 in 1000000 shot. Sorry, but there are actually researched, legitimate reasons to eschew the alternatives presented by Republicans. The reason teachers protest them is because they studied about it in school. I know, I was a teacher, and I studied it in school. Its like the myth that public schools are failing and that they are all equally funded. (both myths that serve Republican goals). There is a study of the Ohio public school system that delineates the reasons schools in suburbs and outside of urban areas are doing okay, and that they are far more well funded than are urban schools.

See, people who live in neighborhoods where it is safe to go door to door to sell things get more money for their school. People who have more disposable income donate more and buy more chocolate bars. Urban schools and schools outside of urban areas are not even closely funded when you take into consideration all of the money supplied by the parents and community outside of taxes. Not even close.

The fact also remains that there are ways to do it within the public school system. It's interesting to ask why it is that suburban parents detest Magnet schools? They are totally cool with charter schools that are centered in their neighborhoods, but when it comes to a magnet, they get all defensive and angry because they are located in urban, poorer neighborhoods. The funniest part is that they out perform charter schools by a mile. My son is in one, and it is an amazing school. They have a Traditional curriculum, and well over a 30% free and reduced lunch population (the line that separates most schools from performing well, to not), and their test scores (as detestable as standardized tests are) are on par with the best suburban schools. Not to mention that there is only a 20% white population.

Public schools are not properly funded, doing away with busing created the same problems we saw before busing, and in the south particularly, the reasons for school segregation are the same racist reasons that have always existed.

 

[Semper Fidelis]

Do you work for the Koch brothers or does being a poodle come naturally??

Ohhh my.. your still at this?

The Unions have less power than ever before. That is just fine by the majority of the population. Good luck with the hate. BTW whats on FoxNews these days?

 

[redtreviso]

When does the truth not hurt?

I don't think you have an opinion of your own about hardly anything..Just constantly looking for those republican csing points,, like someone will give you a poodle award..Good boi!!!

 

[redtreviso]

A CEO and a teabagger and a union member are sitting around a table with 12 cookies on it. The CEO reaches over and takes 11 cookies then leans over and says to the teabagger, 'hey better watch out that union guy is going to try and take a piece of your cookie'.

 

[Anonymous]

I don't think you have an opinion of your own about hardly anything..Just constantly looking for those republican csing points,, like someone will give you a poodle award..Good boi!!!

Similar thoughts. You don't know shit. Never once thought for yourself.

We are just alike.

 

[redtreviso]

Similar thoughts. You don't know shit. Never once thought for yourself.

We are just alike.

nah...you reek of conformity..must be something at stake for you..You're kind of like the republican housewife that watches foxnews all day so she will know how to agree/submit properly to her master when he gets home from a day of swooning over Ronald Reagan to his boss.

 

[Anonymous]

nah...you reek of conformity..must be something at stake for you..You're kind of like the republican housewife that watches foxnews all day so she will know how to agree/submit properly to her master when he gets home from a day of swooning over Ronald Reagan to his boss.

I reek of conformity? I'm sorry... I actually work for myself. I'm not afraid to take a chance. I actually employ people.

Yes, I pay taxes.... I support my community where I can... I support local schools and I expect nothing from people like you. Because that is all I will ever get from you... nothing.

You are the one on this forum watching Fox and listening to Rush. It's OK.

You are still in the closet. Don't worry slick, I won't tell your parents.

How's the weather in Houston? Daytona is Tomorrow nite, live.

 

[Anonymous]

Wisconsin Democrat Gordon Hinz to Republican peer Michelle Litjens:

"You are F'ing dead" while in session. And Redtreviso, you are worried about conservatives and the tea party.

OMG, a DEMOCRAT said something like that??? What on earth would be written if this poor (cute) politician were to be a target of violence? Would we then (gasp) recoil in horror (look away, shocked, ashen faced) and point our crooked finger at the .... left, accusing them of culpability??? What do you think Red... is this HATE SPEECH?

Fool, defined;

fool1    /ful/ Show Spelled
[fool] Show IPA

–noun
1. a silly or stupid person; a person who lacks judgment or sense.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

How many wrongs does it take to make a right?

Your guy was angry and bitter, so it's your fault, and my anger and bitterness is therefore justified.

Yes, this will solve everything.

 

[redtreviso]

I reek of conformity? I'm sorry... I actually work for myself. I'm not afraid to take a chance. I actually employ people.

Yes, I pay taxes.... I support my community where I can... I support local schools and I expect nothing from people like you. Because that is all I will ever get from you... nothing.

You are the one on this forum watching Fox and listening to Rush. It's OK.

You are still in the closet. Don't worry slick, I won't tell your parents.

How's the weather in Houston? Daytona is Tomorrow nite, live.

You don't get anything from anyone..You materialize from home to your business and your business and prospers total by your means and effort. pffft

You support schools and your community? In some unique way...(unique and exclusive experiences--check)

I bet a 90ft RV and a boxtruck and a hired man hauled you around when you were 9yrs old...Rugged individualist...lololololololol .. Maybe Colin Edwards would enjoy your company shooting guns and talking about lazy slackers..

I don't know how the weather is in Houston..How's the weather in Sacramento? marrooon