posted on August 18, 2007 11:24:12 AM new
"You bet we differ. I pay taxes to GET STUFF! Do you really NOT use schools, politicians, court systems, military, police and fire protection, highways, libraries, student loans, safety laws, parks.....? "
How silly not to take unemployment payments...it was YOUR money !
Years ago I was laid off, too, and accepted every penny from unemployment to pay my bills....I sure didn't want to freeload off my family !
I pay taxes to GET STUFF. I'lll just bet you do. mingo, you can't even carry on a decent conversation without insulting can you?? Oh well, I tried. Silly not to take unemployment. No, that's why your taxes keep going up. I have lots of savings to take care of emergencies. By the way, if you are planning on living on the Social Security that you are paying taxes to GET STUFF, forget it. My parents, (God rest their souls), probably received 10 times what they paid in as SS was new and they paid $200/year for a long time. I will never receive 1/10 of what I paid in. It probably won't be there when you and my children are of the age to collect it. I tell my children that they had better make their own retirement, that SS was not meant to retire on.
"Freeload off my family"?? Don't concern yourself with this. I have them well provided for and have provided for myself well too.
Isn't it time you stopped trying to "GET STUFF". A true lib.
And I won't try to carry on decent conversations with you again.
posted on August 18, 2007 11:36:22 AM new
You bet we differ. I pay taxes to GET STUFF! Do you really NOT use schools, politicians, court systems, military, police and fire protection, highways, libraries, student loans, safety laws, parks.....?
I find it hard to believe, etex, that you never have used anything the government provides! (Although I'm pretty sure you haven't used a public library).
What do YOU think taxes are for?
Of course I won't depend on SS for retirement...it was never meant to be a retirement fund.
AND, there WILL be SS for me when I do retire......if THIS administration hasn't invested it in the stock market or loaned the funds out.....
Can't you ever post without calling someone a scumbag????
At least try for a little variation like drunken scumbag
It is nice to note that you lost the "get a hobby" refrain...
posted on August 18, 2007 11:45:43 AM new
Can't I post without callin you a scumbag.?? Not as long as you insult and spew with your every post. Not as long as you are one. Of course I use libraries, roads, etc. But I do not use welfare, unemployment, subsidies, etc. Unlike you, I don't have to.
Example of why I don't want the government in my business. I like the Texas legislature session that is of a maximum duration of 140 days, only on odd numbered years. And that's too long. But, one of the reasons that Texas has a 14.3 BILLION dollar surplus with no state income tax. The legislature is not there often enough to spend it.
[ edited by etexbill on Aug 18, 2007 11:50 AM ]
posted on August 18, 2007 12:02:31 PM new
"""Can't I post without callin you a scumbag.?? Not as long as you insult and spew with your every post. Not as long as you are one. ""
So you call 'em like you see 'em ....and so do I. I do think it's cute how you think you are following MY lead....do you always follow????
Sorry, etex, but in the U.S. you don't get to choose where your taxes are spent.
I don't like my taxes making up for those the ultra-rich and corporations don't pay but there's not much that can be done about it especially under this administration.
So Texas has a surplus....what do you think they should do with it if you don't think spending it is an option ?
posted on August 18, 2007 12:11:46 PM new
How about education???
Texas' public education rank moves up 2 spots
Report says state behind most of nation despite increased funds
By Erin Lehr
Page 1 of 1 Texas jumped two spots - improving from 41st in 2004 to 39th (WOW!)in 2005 - in a ranking of state public education, but it still lags behind much of the country, according to a report released last week by a group of lawmakers.
The report, issued by the American Legislative Exchange Council, factors eighth-graders' scores from the National Assessment of Education Progress test, along with the state's SAT and ACT scores. The report also factored in total state education spending.
Nationwide, the report showed that student achievement is not improving, despite increases in school funding, said Lori Drummer, education task force director for the council.
Of the 10 states that have increased their expenditures per student by 100 percent or more, only two of those states, New Hampshire and Vermont, ranked in the top 10 for academic achievement, according to the report. Drummer said this supports the growing argument that simply spending more money on education does not necessarily increase student performance. Of the top 10 states that reduced their pupil-to-teacher ratios, Vermont was the only state among them to rank in the academic achievement top 10, according to the report.
A misconception is that if schools had more money, they would perform better, Drummer said.
Several important indicators are missing in the ranking's calculation, said Norma Cantu, UT education professor. The report leaves out important factors such as drop-out rates and the number of college-bound graduates, which are good indicators of school performance, she said.
"There is a relation between public expenditures and education." Cantu said. "If you remove the money, you remove the quality."
In Texas, public schools have three goals: to prepare students for college, the workforce and participation in a democratic society, Cantu added.
"Those goals cannot be accomplished with cheap forms of education." Cantu said.
Harley Eckhart, associate executive director for the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association, said that more money for schools is a key to success.
"We'd like to see the state put in more money, because we have a lot of high-need students," Eckhart said. Local districts are not allowed to generate more money from taxes because of rules and regulations, and state funding continues to drop, said Eckhart.
"It's disappointing," Eckhart said. "We'd like to be No. 1. Hopefully the Legislature will step up to the plate."""""
posted on August 18, 2007 12:24:22 PM new
Could be because the voters of Texas didn't like the "Robin Hood" law of taking from the more well off districts to give to the poorer districts. Again, government, stay out of our business.
Whatever. My local high school in a town of less than 3,000 just won academic honors for the 3rd year in a row. One of the top ranked school systems in the nation.
BTW, also state champions in football in it's size ranking. And Texas is a big state.
As you say, I'm happy.
[ edited by etexbill on Aug 18, 2007 12:25 PM ]
[ edited by etexbill on Aug 18, 2007 12:28 PM ]
posted on August 18, 2007 12:37:08 PM new
"Sorry, etex, but in the U.S. you don't get to choose where your taxes are spent."
Oh really, well, sorry about your problem.
Ever hear of keeping in touch with your congressman?? I know mine well, and he votes with what the majority of his constituents think should be done.
posted on August 18, 2007 12:55:03 PM new
etexbill
posted on August 18, 2007 12:24:22 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Could be because the voters of Texas didn't like the "Robin Hood" law of taking from the more well off districts to give to the poorer districts. Again, government, stay out of our business. """
With a surplus why would they have to do that? Don't poor kids deserve a good public education just like rich ones? This IS America, right ???
Anyway you look at it TAXES pay for public education.
"""Whatever. My local high school in a town of less than 3,000 just won academic honors for the 3rd year in a row. One of the top ranked school systems in the nation."""
One school doesn't change the whole states rankings....there is an exception to every rule which is why they're called exceptions.
"""BTW, also state champions in football in it's size ranking. And Texas is a big state. """
Football has NOTHING to do with education.....and is too boring for words.
etexbill
posted on August 18, 2007 12:37:08 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Sorry, etex, but in the U.S. you don't get to choose where your taxes are spent."
Oh really, well, sorry about your problem.""""
MY problem???? Sounds like it's more a problem for you! Haven't you read your posts ????
""""Ever hear of keeping in touch with your congressman?? I know mine well, and he votes with what the majority of his constituents think should be done. """
I keep well in touch with all my representatives but they don't always listen to just me
posted on August 18, 2007 06:50:38 PM new
We were discussing taxes and education, YOU mentioned football so it is only natural to state that it has nothing to do with education. I'm not one of those people to whom sports is everything.
Unanswered questions:
etex, ""Could be because the voters of Texas didn't like the "Robin Hood" law of taking from the more well off districts to give to the poorer districts.""""
With a surplus why would they have to do that? Don't poor kids deserve a good public education just like rich ones? This IS America, right ???
, ""Sorry, etex, but in the U.S. you don't get to choose where your taxes are spent."
Oh really, well, sorry about your problem.""""
MY problem???? Sounds like it's more a problem for you! Haven't you read your posts ????
posted on August 22, 2007 01:44:27 PM newHmmm, you wouldn't know unless you've been following me to the bathroom, like queers are known to do.
Very original etexbil - NOT. What's the matter, can't think of anything NWEW.
As I had said before, you republicans can dish out all the same insults but when the same insults are directed at you suddenly I am the childish one. How pathetic. Now why don't you run home and complain to daddy that you are being picked on by the big bad queer. I bet you dad would be proud that you are getting your ass "whipped" by a queer.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- The duty of a patriot in this time and place is to ask questions, to demand answers, to understand where our nation is headed and why. If the answers you get do not suit you, or if they frighten you, or if they anger you, it is your duty as a patriot to dissent. Freedom does not begin with blind acceptance and with a flag. Freedom begins when you say 'No.'
