Texsox

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Mar 21, 2007 -> 06:39 PM) lol, you guys are cherry picking the best schools. our national average is horrible. but hey, if you think the educational system is fine i'll totally belive you. i linked an article with a list of 30 countries and comparative high school math scores. the US finished 28th out of 30. we beat Mexico atleast. it's also not just the really poor schools in the US that do poorly compared to the rest of the world, it's almost all the schools in the US..... funding doesn't seem to be the problem seeing that we spend as much, if not more, than most countries on education. here's a link to educational spending http://www.oclc.org/reports/escan/economic...aryspending.htm link to our rankings http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1207/p01s04-ussc.html We have computers in every home, who needs math? One of the flaws in many of these studies are the sampling of students. We take all kids. Every one of them. Many countries are a bit more selective and some are left on the farm.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Mar 21, 2007 -> 12:09 PM) We sure did, and a excellent point you make. BTW, whatever happened to all of those manufacturing and heavy industry companies we cleaned up? At first they went to work in new industries that sprung up in newly created anti-pollution industries. They worked to install exhaust containment, others went about inventing technology that is being used around the world. Later we invented computer based systems that further reduce emissions. All the while we cleaned up toxic dumps, saved rivers, and breathed cleaner air. When was the last time a river in America caught on fire? Later, to address the back door comment. manufacturers left along with customer service jobs and other low skilled positions. And unemployment is still at an all-time low. Imagine what we would do if we had millions of low income manufacturing jobs to support. They wouldn't be paying income tax, they would be using our public aid systems for working poor. And of course we couldn't use immigrants from Mexico IMHO one of our greatest accomplishments as a nation in my lifetime as public health. Amazing what we accomplished. Now we should accept the challenge and clean up the world. Wouldn't that be the greatest legacy we could leave?

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Mar 21, 2007 -> 12:04 PM) Exactly. That's why it's so profound, double meaning and all. (No smilie face). Both sides do not have a monopoly on wisdom. Both sides have had their share of hits and misses. When we manage to figure out which are which, we'll all be better off. But that would take people accepting the other side is sometimes right, and that ain't happening any time soon.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Mar 21, 2007 -> 12:00 PM) Sure, we're uniquely positioned. Bend over, here comes the Goracle! (This is too much fun.) Some days, I wish I had more time, because I would actually take NS's challenge, but today's not the day. This MBA's killing me. It better be worth it. You know, it is far more difficult to find wisdom in someone you dislike, than someone you do. But often times the lessons are greater. We know you don't like Goracles and his preaching a cleaner environment. But as a nation we are chicken s*** to not accept our position as the world's leading super power and take leadership in global events. You want us to follow another country's lead and I will disagree. I don't like that view. If not us, who? If not now, when?

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Mar 21, 2007 -> 12:02 PM) Yes, actually. Those nasty Dems! Of course (my post) is over the top. After all, I only have straw man's arguements. Between you and me, no one else can use green or caps

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Mar 21, 2007 -> 11:07 AM) INVESTIGATE! CHARGE! IMPEACH! Little over the top, don't you think?

QUOTE(Alpha Dog @ Mar 21, 2007 -> 11:44 AM) If you enjoy the standard of living you have now and do not want it to go lower, American cannot be the only country to institute, and keep, the steep cuts that the Goracle and his minions follow. The economy will suffer, wages will suffer, productivity will suffer. If you think we lose jobs at a fast pace now to China and India, just wait, because they will do nothing in the way of changes because it would be 'bad for business'. In your rush to dekapitate Kap, you all seemed to miss that point in his posts. Yes, we can do things. but if we are the only one, we will lose in every area to the countries that do nothing. China builds coal plants like they are Starbucks. Its not 'They pollute, why can't we", its "if we stop and they don't, they win". That was the argument in the 1960s. However, we managed to clean up our environment to a tremendous degree and grow our economy. Scrubbers on coal plants would destroy the coal industry. Gore makes a statement that the US is uniquely positioned as the world's leading super power. If someone disagrees with that, tell me who we should take a backseat to and follow? We must be leaders and set the agenda and that is also the best defense against your hypothesis of economic ruin.

OK Kap, you called this b.s. So if it isn't the US, who is "uniquely situated to tackle a problem of this magnitude" Simple question, you must be thinking of some country with more influence around the globe than the US. Taiwan? Spain? England? Who should we take a back seat to and follow?

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Mar 21, 2007 -> 10:49 AM) ABSOLUTELY pure 100% Bull s***. Translation: "America, you're too greedy. The Chinese and Indian economies deserve a chance to catch up. You have to do more ... and the rest of the world MIGHT follow... but it's all up to us Americans. Give us the money, and we'll figure out what to do about it". Whaaaat? We're the world's remaining super power. Who else is better situated to influence on a global scale? Canada? France? Ethiopia? Come on CAPKOMET, besides just wanting to disagree with Gore on everything, I can't see how you could realistically disagree on which country is best situated to influence on a global scale. But I can't wait for you to pick one and tell us who?

My daughter is enrolled in the International Baccalaureate program through our local public high school. Her entire class is 16 students. No additional charges to us. She is also concurrently enrolled in her regular High School for electives and the local University to pick up college credits. She is finishing her Sophomore year and will be taking college Physics this summer. When she graduates from High School, she will hold two diplomas and between 12-20 college credits. If there is a better high school program anywher in the world that is publically funded, I've never heard of it. And BTW, McAllen is one of the poorest cities in the US.

QUOTE(mreye @ Mar 21, 2007 -> 06:56 AM) I read the adult European version: Hairy Potter. The newest version is actually Harry Hotter and the Chamber of XXX Secrets

Just like Reagan singlehandedly scared the Iranians into releasing hostages and caused the Soviets to tear down the wall, DeLay would have the Iraqi insurgent's tossing down their weapons and bin laden running to the authorities. Perhaps he should change his name to Reagan II. Hammer '08

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/20/del...s.ap/index.html Hammer '08

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Mar 20, 2007 -> 06:05 PM) So how come all the kids in my classes in college were Asian and Indian? Or were you talking about our lower level education systems? They know the best education in the world is in the US?

QUOTE(Soxy @ Mar 20, 2007 -> 12:01 PM) So, I recently started quilting And y'all call me old

I guess my idea for the final Potter book wasn't followed. I wanted to see Harry coming back to Hogwartz, this time as a teacher and leading a rag tag group of students to glory, while the rest of the school, and the vice principal, makes fun of them. I called it Welcome Back Potter.

QUOTE(CanOfCorn @ Mar 20, 2007 -> 03:33 PM) I'm sure that really helped, Tex. Thank you. Fact of the matter some of that seed was dead when it's tossed on the ground, some will never germinate, and some will only germinate under ideal circumstances. And the majority will germinate just fine no matter how you abuse it. Only time will tell. There are a lot of people like that. And I'll bet Grandma FlaSoxxJim has a sayin' . . .

Both people are correct.

QUOTE(Queen Prawn @ Mar 20, 2007 -> 11:46 AM) That is wonderful that is alive and okay! Miracles do happen. I am interested in learning how much was miracle and how much was him knowing basic survival skills. One of the Scouting listservs I spend some time at was discussing this from a Scouting perspective and it wouldn't take a lot for him to survive. Rain was the most feared possibility. He probably wandered too much trying to find his way back.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Mar 20, 2007 -> 12:01 PM) $1000X 300 million people = $300 billion annually, which is a little bit more than the deficit we ran last year (about $240B if I remember right.) Our spending budget for fiscal 2008 is about $2.9 trillion, or about $10,000 per person. So we wouldn't want to live in a country where everyone paid the same cost and everyone could "afford" to contribute. So we then we are asking some people to pay more than others. I'm guessing that most would gladly make that sacrifice. I also can agree with that. So why do we have a system where people do not pay anything? One answer is we have made it so expensive to live in this country that 40% of the people can not afford to pay any income tax. Why is it so expensive to live in the US? Just buying food, clothing, and shelter is too much for some people. How can we make it cheaper to live here, without robbing from the rich and giving to the poor?

QUOTE(Alpha Dog @ Mar 20, 2007 -> 11:08 AM) This would be a great topic to sit around and talk with you about over a couple of beers, but I don't think typing words here could do it justice, at least for me. Back in the day when I first graduated college and was looking for gainfull employment, I was pissed that the best I was finding was about $19k per year, when autoworkers who can barely read were making $30+ an hour with benefits. (I know that is an unfair statement, but at the time, that is how I felt) This country became great because we had a huge middle class, which was possible when a large part of our economy was in manufacturing. Back to autoworkers, I know of Ford employees who have second homes, boats, new cars every few years and are retired. Not bad for someone with no degree. I just think that those days are over since our economy has shifted is base away from manufacturing. too much 'keeping up with the Jones'es' going on for people to feel secure with what they need, they have to have 'more' just to keep up. Man, this is just too big for my sleep-deprived brain today. Not to spin this into a comparative worth discussion, but that would be interesting as well, throughout history some of the most valuable citizens were not formally educated. I'm thinking more along the lines of let's all pay the same amount in taxes. $1000, whatever. No one pays any more, or anyless, than another. That's the total gross income, now put together government services based on that amount.

They keep reporting he is alive and fine. One video report from yesterday I watched showed the Dad saying "I trusted those leaders to take Michael on this trip and I will trust these same leaders to take him again." I pray I have earned the same trust from parents in my Troop.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/20/missing.scout/index.html I pray the reports are accurate. I've been praying for this kid for days now. As a youth leader, this was my worse nightmare.

The tax thread has me thinking. Whether it be Hotels, Neighborhoods, Airline seats, etc. we all know it costs more to go First Class and we either pay the cost or accept the best we can or are willing to pay for. Can't afford to live in Lake Forest? Libertyville may be just the ticket. What do you do when a country has priced itself too high? It costs a lot to create and maintain a First Class country like the US. If the numbers in that thread are accurate, we accept that 40% of the population can not afford to pay income taxes. In a sense, they do not earn enough to cover their share of the cost. One alternative is to cut back and in a sense have a "coach class" country and allow the wealthiest to retain more of their hard earned income. This stops the poor from robbing the rich. Problem is, I don't think the rich would want to livbe in the country that the poorest could afford to build. (think Mexico) Is there a point when we have priced ourselves too high?

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Mar 16, 2007 -> 12:18 PM) I'll say this as clearly as I know how... This is the fairest individual tax system you will ever find. There are loopholes that need to be closed, and much more so on the corporate side, but all in all, the system works pretty well. The only thing I would like to see is another simplification of the code, and the reduction of the IRS, but that is another story. The poorest taxpayers, are not taxpayers at all. In fact they actually come out ahead because of tax credits like the EIC. I have sited the link a bunch of times, usually when this very topic comes up, so it should be at least a memory to most people. The lowest quintile of tax payers, has a net negative tax rate, and the second to lowest quintile has a tax effective rate of zero. You can't get a much better situation than the bottom 40% of taxpayers paying nothing. And I always wind up agreeing with you on this. Overall the system is as good as it gets. The little rate tug of wars hardly make a difference with what always amounts to minor rate changes. The problem is the complexities that cause average filers to need professional assistance.