[News] Obama signs historic healthcare reform into law

[vashti]

You sound very young and idealistic.

Or maybe I just sound old and practical.

But role models can't make a dumb, lazy kid smart.

(shrug)

[LailaK]

I am young. I am also idealistic That's ok with me. I'm not just talking out of my a**. I've seen first hand how good role models can change a lot of kids lives around for the better.

My parents have made reaching "at risk" youth their life's work. I've grown up seeing "bad" or "rough" kids become not only productive, but incredibly happy members of society.

Not all kids who seem dumb and lazy are. Some just haven't been given the chance to reach their full potential. I've seen kids do AMAZING things when they have someone who loves and believes in them pushing them to succeed.

I am successful because I had great parents behind me who supported my dreams. Not all kids have that. That's where a decent role model can be helpful.

[vashti]

You can't buy role models.

[IndiReloaded]

Do you even know what that better alternative would look like tho? Can you show me a viable example of such?

It makes her an ochlocratic aggressor and your "love it or leave it" support of such, tooth thumbing.

Not the first violation of the US Constitutional Republic, and it won't be the last...

Frasbee made a good pictoral point.

We'll leave it that.

No, we won't. You claim to have a better system, so lets see the concrete example(s) of it. Otherwise you are just blowing smoke, Doc. Or are you speaking in the theoretical about an unproven system.

Which is it? I'm perfectly amenable to reason. I'm perfectly to admit there are better alternatives out there. But you'd better be prepared to actually show them to me, present or past doesn't matter. Tho if its past, I'm pretty sure I'm already aware of them and any issues associated with that system. Its not like I won't be able to comprehend the nuances of your wisdom, I'm quite sure.

[LailaK]

You can't buy role models.

No, but you can fund after school programs instead of cutting them. Not everyone can make it to an offsite Boys and Girls Club or YMCA. Free after school programs can help a lot. I've volunteered at some wonderful programs. Once budget cuts start they are usually the first things to go because they are not a "necessity".

[IndiReloaded]

No, but you can fund after school programs instead of cutting them. Not everyone can make it to an offsite Boys and Girls Club or YMCA. Free after school programs can help a lot. I've volunteered at some wonderful programs. Once budget cuts start they are usually the first things to go because they are not a "necessity".

I've done some work with programs like this. And yes, Laila is exactly right: While I'm prepared to donate my time and experience I am been less inclined to give if it means much more work than that. I simply don't have the time to be organizing actual events and the infrastructure for them. Program coordinators and community-building programs are important to help raise the overall 'community IQ'. They should be supported financially.

[vashti]

I don't know what kind of programs you two are talking about, but I've seen plenty of after school programs that are nothing more than babysitting, even in my school district, which is top-ranked.

Occasionally, there is a program here or there that is worthwhile, but most of it is expensive junk... Junk we can't afford because we (as a state) are broke. When your bank balance shows a negative number, you have to make cuts, and quite honestly, there are plenty of other things that are just as important that are being cut, too. It's necessary.

[LailaK]

I don't know what kind of programs you two are talking about, but I've seen plenty of after school programs that are nothing more than babysitting, even in my school district, which is top-ranked.

Occasionally, there is a program here or there that is worthwhile, but most of it is expensive junk... Junk we can't afford because we (as a state) are broke. When your bank balance shows a negative number, you have to make cuts, and quite honestly, there are plenty of other things that are just as important that are being cut, too. It's necessary.

Everyone has their different priorities and things they think are important. On this we can agree to disagree.

To me, there are only a few things that are more important than investing time and money towards NOT raising a generation of idiots and unproductive members of society.

[Doc Durian]

No, we won't. You claim to have a better system, so lets see the concrete example(s) of it. Otherwise you are just blowing smoke, Doc. Or are you speaking in the theoretical about an unproven system.

Which is it? I'm perfectly amenable to reason. I'm perfectly to admit there are better alternatives out there. But you'd better be prepared to actually show them to me, present or past doesn't matter. Tho if its past, I'm pretty sure I'm already aware of them and any issues associated with that system. Its not like I won't be able to comprehend the nuances of your wisdom, I'm quite sure.

That's like a rapist saying, "well, I have to get my rocks off somehow. If you can't show me an alternative to your butthole, I'm ripping you a new one and it's your fault"

There's nothing to further discuss here, Indi.

The free market will always provide the best solution to any fiscal issue... providing that the government doesn't overstep its boundaries and get involved beyond providing a judicial forum for redress. Which takes almost the entire 20th century off the slate. The Federal Reserve Pillage of 1913, Social Security brought in and never ended as intended, government manipulations of the healthcare industry for the last 40 plus years... the FDA playing jackbooted hall monitor with anything which could be truly beneficial, illegally levelled Federal Income Tax... the welfare system... it's all crap... it all flies in the face of our Articles and what a Constitutional Republic constitutes.

And as a woman of advancing years, I'm surprised you're so willing to swallow such bullshit hook, line, and sinker. I expect that from the milk tooth socialists... you at least had parents who would have known better and rubbed off on you.

So, pillage away... while you still can.

The Republic of Texas may well extend its borders till the edge of Canada by popular Midwest consent at this rate.

[doppelgaenger]

Everyone has their different priorities and things they think are important. On this we can agree to disagree.

To me, there are only a few things that are more important than investing time and money towards NOT raising a generation of idiots and unproductive members of society.

I agree with this. Here in the midwest we are facing a 10% budget cut from the state. Many schools have already lost their art programs, second language acquisition programs , sports programs, and every other recreational thing outside of the core school subjects. Even the colleges are suffering a bit from this. My uni hasn't been providing me with courses I need to finish my major. Instead, my professor is telling me that studying abroad will count towards the upper-level courses I need to graduate. I think that's bullshit. I've been studying extremely hard since I've been here. They've always been placing me in the most difficult German courses, because they don't offer all the ones which are necessary. I've only been studying German since 2007, including high school, and I haven't had any advanced courses on grammar. And this semester I was placed in a course where I am expected to read 8-10 novels in German and write extensive book reports, which are 2500 words in length, and in German. I've had a 4.0 in German until now. This is the first German course where I am pulling a B... even though the professor told me I could earn an A... but I have a feeling this is impossible because I'm a slow reader to begin with. Takes me about an hour just to read 10 pages of German. If I weren't a full time student, it would be much easier! Most students who might consider studying German would not be able to keep up at that pace. I'm very upset because many students which I've met have been discouraged to study German because of that.

I think art programs are also very necessary in high school. I think, however, that it should include a bit of art history and the students should learn how to properly draw and paint and sculpt instead of doing all that kid stuff.

[vashti]

And as a woman of advancing years, .

Ouch!

Foul ball.

[Doc Durian]

Thanks, I guess.

(Unless you practice voodoo)

[Doc Durian]

I'll need your Ebay log on details and password.

How many cases of feminine hygiene products would you like?

[the_robot]

I'll need your Ebay log on details and password.

How many cases of feminine hygiene products would you like?

You almost made me choke!

[IndiReloaded]

That's like a rapist saying, "well, I have to get my rocks off somehow. If you can't show me an alternative to your butthole, I'm ripping you a new one and it's your fault"

There's nothing to further discuss here, Indi.

The free market will always provide the best solution to any fiscal issue... providing that the government doesn't overstep its boundaries and get involved beyond providing a judicial forum for redress. Which takes almost the entire 20th century off the slate. The Federal Reserve Pillage of 1913, Social Security brought in and never ended as intended, government manipulations of the healthcare industry for the last 40 plus years... the FDA playing jackbooted hall monitor with anything which could be truly beneficial, illegally levelled Federal Income Tax... the welfare system... it's all crap... it all flies in the face of our Articles and what a Constitutional Republic constitutes.

And as a woman of advancing years, I'm surprised you're so willing to swallow such bullshit hook, line, and sinker. I expect that from the milk tooth socialists... you at least had parents who would have known better and rubbed off on you.

So, pillage away... while you still can.

The Republic of Texas may well extend its borders till the edge of Canada by popular Midwest consent at this rate.

Don't resort to insults. That kind of thing might work to generate an emotional response with young guys like MVP, but not someone like me. I'm not insecure about my intellect or experience, I've been around the block more than most on these issues, you know (or at least suspect) this by now. If there is a communication problem, maybe you aren't being clear about your points?

I'm still waiting for your example of the improved system we should subscribe to. You are posting examples of various things, possibly even connected (I give you benefit of the doubt) but what system do you propose that replaces the current evil one? What example can you give me of such a system that functions in any way other than imagination? Calling something 'crap' is of no value unless you have something to replace it with.