New work place rules....

[Bug Lover]

I'd like to see welfare reformed to a system that doesn't tolerate abuse.

As long as the Democrats are in office, the welfare system will continue to be a joke. Democrats get elected by telling people that they will tax the rich to "provide assistance" to the "underprivileged." As long as people vote based on how much money they'll be given from the taxpayers who actually do support our government, nothing is going to change. I can see helping someone get back on their feet, but the Democrats we have in office now seem to want to make it a system where you can stay on it forever.

For anyone to say that he's going to give a tax cut to 95% of Americans is a joke too, especially when only about half those people even pay taxes. I used to work at a CPA firm. If you don't make a certain amount, there are all kinds of "credits" that still entitle you to a refund, even though you haven't paid in anything at all.

As for me personally, I look at the economic policies of the candidates, then consider which one will protect me best if some extremest group decides they're going to try to bomb us. I'm not rich, but I'd like to be one day and I don't think O'bama's going to help me get there. McCain may not either, but at least he understands that taxing businesses and higher income individuals is going to hurt the economy. McCain's policies will be the most likely to keep me employed and since I'm trying to support a family, that's a good thing right now.

Right now I do some (side) work for some people who do land development and own some shopping centers. Because the political winds of change seem to be pointing to a government controlled entirely by Democrats (who will raise taxes), they are scaling back and have already laid off one person this year and cut the hours of someone else. If the Democrats do gain control, then they won't be employing that second person at all, because they will just shut down for all future developments. And that's not where the job loss stops - Because they aren't building anything new, construction companies won't need as many employees and they'll let some people go too.

No, I don't like either candidate, but I'm looking at the lesser of the two evils (as mentioned earlier, all politicians are crooks). Which candidate is most likely to keep me employed? Which candidate will not increase my taxes? Which candidate will protect our borders the best? These are questions I ask, then review the candidates.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

Tax cuts for all, but the largest for the highest earners. Yet median household income has fallen (which states that more people are getting poorer than richer). Trickle-down economics would indicate that everyone gets richer.

Besides, what wealthy person do you know who got a tax cut and actually put more money back into the economy? They didn't get rich by spreading their own money around, they got rich by being greedy. Sure, there's some who came into it, and I'm not saying the greedy ones didn't work hard for it. I'm sure they did. But the motivation for working hard wasn't necessarily a love of the job. More often than not, it was for a love of money. Why you need more than you could possibly use is beyond me.

Would I also like to be rich? Sure. Coming from a middle-class background, though, I'd probably just end up spending it. That's what the poor and middle class DO. It's what they truly excel at. Spending money. Putting money into the economy. Driving it forward. Wealthy individuals don't.

Without getting into this because I really need to do some work here is a statistic for you. In order to give the bottom 95% of tax payers $1000 you would have to increase the taxes paid by the other 5% by 48 times. There just isn't enough of them to make the math worth. Even if it did work $1000 isn't going to take you very far is it. Wouldn't you be better off for the top 5% to take that money invest it in a business and give you a job making whatever?

[Jeff_in_Atl]

The last half of your statement I agree with.

The 'fair tax' is another stupid scheme cooked up by greed. Especially when it still gives you a 'rebate' every month for 'necessities'. Besides that, it would be a HUGE income cut for our government (which isn't necessarily bad, but all at once would be completely stupid) as people shifted away from large purchases to cheaper alternatives (good-bye 48"+ plasma TVs, hello 12" CRT TVs) to try to keep some cash in their pockets. People will shift to smaller, less-expensive vehicles to avoid the tax on the more expensive ones. Goodbye Caddilac/Lexus. It will also drive up the cost of these cheaper cars, as demand skyrockets.

People attempt to AVOID taxes at all costs. Simply putting a 'sales tax' (for that's what it really is) on everything will open up a whole new ballgame for tax evasion and deal a crippling blow to our economy. I'd rather have a chunk of money taken away up front and be able to do what I please with the rest than worry about buying ANYTHING because a large chunk of the cost is going to the government, and to decrease my taxes I would need to purchase a less-expensive (possibly lower-quality) item.

Make sense?

The thing is you are paying a 20% embedded tax now. That is the cost for businesses to keep up with the federal tax code now. A 23% excluded sales tax would be the same as a 20% included (embedded) tax we have now. The cost of stuff wouldn't go up from what it is now. Read up on the fair tax. This is one time when you can have your cake and eat it too.

BTW I don't like the "prebate" either. Politicians can use that as vote buying scheme. "Vote for me and I'll raise your prebate." That aint gonna work.

[Steel2686]

I'm a little late to the party here, but I have very strong views on schooling. I have three kids, and my oldest daughter (7) has Downs Syndrome. There are some misconceprions as to the "No Child Left Behind" act and what it truly means. I've gone over it with a fine-toothed comb and found some interesting information.

Each school district treats the act somewhat differently. In our town, if there is a child at a different developmental stage than the rest of the class, they are assigned a tutor that sits with them and gives them one-on-one help with their work. My daughter has a tutor and her progression has amazed me over the past couple years. However, many towns do not have personal tutors in their school budget.

We were considering moving to the town next to us and decided against it due to their being no tutors available. Instead, the teacher is asked to "keep a closer eye on the struggling students". I put that in quotes because that is exactly what was said to me when I called the school board for that town. Not only that, but students with disabilities are "graded on a different curve than those students deemed normal". Needless to say, that conversation got ugly in a hurry.

My take on the "No Child Left Behind Act"... I think it can work if the school board is progressive enough with it and doesn't just throw students into the next grade just because they have to. There needs to be a national standard. If left to town budget meetings and people with no real experience deciding how it's going to be utilized, it can be a very negative thing.

[Bug Lover]

But as a staunch supporter of public schools, I can't say that what they did was wrong. The school she was sent to didn't know she was smart enough to move ahead a grade. That fault lies squarely on the father who should have known better than to just dump her off. Her class records should have been transferred and gone over, and the decision made there. It's his fault for not understanding that.

My personal opinion is that kids shouldn't skip grades anyway. It ruins their childhood by moving them along too fast. Why can't kids be kids and play? It's part of how they learn. Academics isn't the only answer. Phys ed and other activities should still be a part of the curriculum. If they need to expand the school day by an hour, I'm sure that wouldn't upset most parents who are working later anyway. It'd save them on the babysitter bill.

I don't know about your area, but frankly, around here private schools aren't what they're cracked up to be. Most people I've met who graduated from one had a harder time understanding simple concepts and lacked quite a bit of common sense (I'd know, I'm a bit short on it myself - too much engineering background). Private schools around here stress their beliefs much more than public schools - this is most prevalent on a topic such as evolution.

As the mother of said child, I'll provide a little additional information and clarification. My daughter was transferred as a 3rd grader, but because she is an introvert and had just been ripped out of the life and school she knew, the school counselor mistook that for immaturity and demoted her to 2nd grade. My daughter has always been (and has continued to be) both physically taller than all of her classmates and more mature. (When she started high school, many of her classmates thought she was a senior and not just because of her size.) She has been reading at a 12th grade and higher level since before she entered 8th grade. Fortunately, her age group was allowed to have a distinction between the "honors" students and non-honors, but her younger sister has not had that benefit, which is totally the fault of the no child left behind act.

My younger daughter is in 8th grade and was reading at a 12th grade level before she entered 7th grade. There are no honors classes for her and she has to wait for the other kids in her classes to finally catch on while she sits there bored. She complains to me that there are students in her classes that shouldn't even be in 8th grade and can't do the work. She even worries about one boy who is failing their Algebra class.

As for private vs. public schools, I've been in both and can say for certain that overall private schools in our area are better. (Not all, but about 99%.) After 4 years in private school, I attended a public school for 2 years and did absolutely nothing new. My parents took notice and put me back in private school.

I was fortunate enough in 1983 to take AP (college level work) courses in high school, something that wasn't even offered in the public schools in our area at the time. For me, it was just another class, the work load and expectations were the same as all my other classes.

To date, my husband and I have had two children in public school take AP courses. Both have complained of the work load and stated that their education to that point had not prepared them for the kind of work expected. One teacher even had a special session with the parents explaining how different the work would be from any classes their children had taken before. If that doesn't tell you that public school does not prepare students for college, nothing will.

Unfortunately, I don't think we'll eve fix the public school system. More and more private schools (and charter schools that don't have to follow the typical public school rules) pop up every day in my area - some are even sort of affordable - which is a sign to me that parents are looking for a better solution.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

The last half of your statement I agree with.

The 'fair tax' is another stupid scheme cooked up by greed. Especially when it still gives you a 'rebate' every month for 'necessities'. Besides that, it would be a HUGE income cut for our government (which isn't necessarily bad, but all at once would be completely stupid) as people shifted away from large purchases to cheaper alternatives (good-bye 48"+ plasma TVs, hello 12" CRT TVs) to try to keep some cash in their pockets. People will shift to smaller, less-expensive vehicles to avoid the tax on the more expensive ones. Goodbye Caddilac/Lexus. It will also drive up the cost of these cheaper cars, as demand skyrockets.

People attempt to AVOID taxes at all costs. Simply putting a 'sales tax' (for that's what it really is) on everything will open up a whole new ballgame for tax evasion and deal a crippling blow to our economy. I'd rather have a chunk of money taken away up front and be able to do what I please with the rest than worry about buying ANYTHING because a large chunk of the cost is going to the government, and to decrease my taxes I would need to purchase a less-expensive (possibly lower-quality) item.

Make sense?

Oh I just thought of one more thing to say. You say the fair tax is a stupid thing. Consider this.

Which is better, a consumption based tax (fair tax or national retail sales tax) or a earnings based tax (current or flat tax). Think about the philosophy behind both tax systems. One is based on the amount you spend which is something you can control. The other is a tax based on you working which you do not have any control over. One will punish you IF you decide to spend money. The other punishes you for working hard. The harder you work the more taxes you pay. What is the incentive to work hard if you get taxed at a higher rate? Which would you rather have control or no control. No you can’t have control and still make other people pay taxes that is not fair. Which would be a better stimulation to the economy a system that encourages you to not spend and save and invest or a system that punishes you for working harder?

P.S. Define “greed”

[Bug Lover]

Which is better, a consumption based tax (fair tax or national retail sales tax) or a earnings based tax (current or flat tax).

Excellent point. Consumption tax also helps in another way.

Consider this - all those illegals that come to our country and manage to get jobs, don't pay taxes but use our schools and other services. A lot of legals don't pay taxes for a specified number of years either. So, if you have a consumption tax, everyone is taxed equitably based solely on whether they spend money or not.

[Joshu]

My daughter has a tutor and her progression has amazed me over the past couple years. However, many towns do not have personal tutors in their school budget.

One school district had one per child and it was quite amazing, it was the wealthiest in the area. The one I teach at now has 8 to 1. It makes a HUGE difference.

Not only that, but students with disabilities are "graded on a different curve than those students deemed normal". Needless to say, that conversation got ugly in a hurry.

Sadly, as much as I hate to do it....I have to because every student just simply isn't the same and I have to give them a feeling of success or else they will just shut down and give up. Not to mention their IEP's allow them to have "scaled" testing.

My take on the "No Child Left Behind Act"... I think it can work if the school board is progressive enough with it and doesn't just throw students into the next grade just because they have to. There needs to be a national standard. If left to town budget meetings and people with no real experience deciding how it's going to be utilized, it can be a very negative thing.

LOVE IT. On Monday (it teach 6th grade) I had a parent in an IEP meeting tell me their kid is on the honor roll, but she can't read or spell "Saturday". How the hell does this happen? I hold back the kids who just aren't ready.

[Joshu]

As the mother of said child, I'll provide a little additional information and clarification. My daughter was transferred as a 3rd grader, but because she is an introvert and had just been ripped out of the life and school she knew, the school counselor mistook that for immaturity and demoted her to 2nd grade.

At that age social maturity is almost as important as intellectual maturity.
If that doesn't tell you that public school does not prepare students for college, nothing will.

They prepare lot of kids for college. Including most of us here on the forum who went on to secondary studies

Unfortunately, I don't think we'll ever fix the public school system. More and more private schools (and charter schools that don't have to follow the typical public school rules) pop up every day in my area - some are even sort of affordable - which is a sign to me that parents are looking for a better solution.

Public schools do not need "fixed". There is always improvement beyond what already exists. The problem lies with local, state, and federal leaders that make some sort of educational law (usually on a campaign promise) to be like "HEY LOOK WHAT I DID I FIXED/OR DID SOMETHING TO HELP EDUCATION HEY EVERYBODY LOOK!"

There are almost no private schools where I live...but then again this area I am in has some of the best teachers/schools in the nation.


EDIT: I just noticed you are from Atlanta, who will take any teachers (good or bad) they can get because of a critical shortage of teachers. So I do see a reason for private schools in those kinds of areas.

[Christopherrr]

P.S. Define “greed”

...can't wait to hear this.

[markd79ta]

We need to start a new society...conservatives for Obama! Yes that is right!!!

Those of us alive to remember and live through the h$$$ll of the Carter years know it was awful and we moved on.

Now, we need to live through the h$$$ll of the Obama years to move on.

...we will never move on until we recycle this old garbage from the 70s, realize it was and is miserable, and live our independent lives. Of course, we risk the road of socialism, having nothing, turning in our cars, shooting those trying to take our guns, drinking Bud, and singing songs of the good 'ol days.


Personally, I think we all need to shut up, drink a beer, sing Kumbah Yah, and let OBAMANATION begin.

We can't move past something if we don't go through it! Unfortunately, I am somewhat serious.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

We need to start a new society...conservatives for Obama! Yes that is right!!!

Those of us alive to remember and live through the h$$$ll of the Carter years know it was awful and we moved on.

Now, we need to live through the h$$$ll of the Obama years to move on.

...we will never move on until we recycle this old garbage from the 70s, realize it was and is miserable, and live our independent lives. Of course, we risk the road of socialism, having nothing, turning in our cars, shooting those trying to take our guns, drinking Bud, and singing songs of the good 'ol days.


Personally, I think we all need to shut up, drink a beer, sing Kumbah Yah, and let OBAMANATION begin.

We can't move past something if we don't go through it! Unfortunately, I am somewhat serious.

"those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it." Georges Santayana

[DHolmes]

http://www.theurbangrind.net/?p=2570

this video will make u think very differnt about obama


my problem with obama is i feel that people are voting for him cause he is black,not for his issue's

[Joshu]

http://www.theurbangrind.net/?p=2570

this video will make u think very differnt about obama

One of those same crazy videos about Johnny boy could be made to if you were to blow up every small issue.

my problem with obama is i feel that people are voting for him cause he is black,not for his issue's

Ya that's true, and many women will vote for Palin. Most people will vote for a candidate that is like them!

[RAF7789]

[QUOTE=TODD 2000 V6 CAMARO]
....Being that I work for Whole Foods market which is already a great company to work for....QUOTE]

That is the store that the store i work for is modelled after. what department d o you work in?