Obama: 6 month report card

[z31maniac]

Im scared of whats next.

Tax hikes kiddies.

Remember the promise that "Taxes for those families making under $250k a year won't raise a single dime under my plan"

Geithner dispelled that yesterday. I suspect tax increases are coming soon as well as the White House using a budget trick to ram health care through.


As far as healthcare, look at the latest story to come out of England. They are going to nix pain injections for those who suffer from severe chronic back pain because it will save $34 million pounds a year.

Gotta love rationed care.......

[mrsleeve]

well the original Bush era tax cuts will expire next year any way and will more than likely not be extended. So right there will be a income tax hike all on its own for all of us even those of us that make less than 250k.

But yes I fear you are right, that we are going to see 40%+ federal tax rates on us poor middle class people, plus a increase in FICA to cover all this heath care thats gonna get rammed down our throats.

[robrez]

You gotta the love the young Republicans and old koot reactionaries who spend their days spitting the GOP venom and then go to bed at night praying that the Obama administration's stimulus plan succeeds so the youngsters can get work for the Wall Street players after college and the codgers can see their retirement account stocks in the S&P 500 go back up :roll:

Nothing wrong with being critical of the current stimulus plan, but nobody wants to go back to the $250 stimulus check "solution" and I don't recall any politicians campaigning on a 'let's do nothing about the economy" platform. Just like no one declared "mission accomplished" on the economy after a scant six months, how could you call it a failure already either.

[Alkasquawlik]

Tax hikes kiddies.

Remember the promise that "Taxes for those families making under $250k a year won't raise a single dime under my plan"

Geithner dispelled that yesterday. I suspect tax increases are coming soon as well as the White House using a budget trick to ram health care through.

Beat you to it.
Look at my post a couple ones before you.

Nothing wrong with being critical of the current stimulus plan, but nobody wants to go back to the $250 stimulus check "solution" and I don't recall any politicians campaigning on a 'let's do nothing about the economy" platform. Just like no one declared "mission accomplished" on the economy after a scant six months, how could you call it a failure already either.

That's already been discussed earlier ITT

[metalix1021]

California has them both beat easily.

While I agree with you, Wisconsin is pretty bad. High property taxes, etc...

Yes, the parking in Milwaukee is all about revenue generation for the city.

There are a few nice e30's around. Out of the two you saw (aptyp), one was mine and is in no way anything special haha.

[Aptyp]

I just don't understand how a state or a city can vote same way elections after elections, when everything around the crumbles. North Carolina isn't the best state and has a lot of issues, but even here people alternate their votes depending on situation. In the past 10 years I saw senators voted in from different parties, presidents supported from different parties, even our mayors switch from one to another...

Illinois has a democrat in nearly every office, just as Wisconsin. If Chicago and Milwaukee is any indication, things aren't looking good for the future.

From my experience, those two states are as close to communism as this country can get. People blindly vote with unions. I don't believe that 20ish% unemployment guys still vote with unions. I doubt unions support all those people, who are losing homes. Infrastructure is collapsing all around them, just looks at roads and small businesses.


By the way, another thing that pissed me off, and this goes back to teachers. On the way back from downtown Milwaukee, I drove through North Western part of downtown. Expensive ass homes (half a mil +, easily), beautiful neighborhoods. TEACHER'S HOMES. There's nothing wrong with teachers getting paid, but it's the teachers union that gets them paid. How can a group with so much invested interest in their own agenda be teaching children? This people have no accountability. Teachers in Wisconsin cannot be fired, because of seniority. Teachers in Wisconsin aren't tested to assure kids get the best. BUT, those assholes get paid serious coin to be average, while living in homes that are simply out of financial reach form most Americans. I was very much disappointed with that, disappointed more than I am with religious zealots trying to put Bible into classrooms. Crazy is the only way I can describe this.


The worst part of all this, those two states are soooooo damn beautiful. I hardly thought of roads or any of that crap, while fishing for Muskies, swimming in freezing water, or even hanging out at downtown. Those states are breathtaking in their natural beauty.

[Pinepig]

I just don't understand how a state or a city can vote same way elections after elections, when everything around the crumbles. North Carolina isn't the best state and has a lot of issues, but even here people alternate their votes depending on situation. In the past 10 years I saw senators voted in from different parties, presidents supported from different parties, even our mayors switch from one to another...

Illinois has a democrat in nearly every office, just as Wisconsin. If Chicago and Milwaukee is any indication, things aren't looking good for the future.

From my experience, those two states are as close to communism as this country can get. People blindly vote with unions. I don't believe that 20ish% unemployment guys still vote with unions. I doubt unions support all those people, who are losing homes. Infrastructure is collapsing all around them, just looks at roads and small businesses.


By the way, another thing that pissed me off, and this goes back to teachers. On the way back from downtown Milwaukee, I drove through North Western part of downtown. Expensive ass homes (half a mil +, easily), beautiful neighborhoods. TEACHER'S HOMES. There's nothing wrong with teachers getting paid, but it's the teachers union that gets them paid. How can a group with so much invested interest in their own agenda be teaching children? This people have no accountability. Teachers in Wisconsin cannot be fired, because of seniority. Teachers in Wisconsin aren't tested to assure kids get the best. BUT, those assholes get paid serious coin to be average, while living in homes that are simply out of financial reach form most Americans. I was very much disappointed with that, disappointed more than I am with religious zealots trying to put Bible into classrooms. Crazy is the only way I can describe this.


The worst part of all this, those two states are soooooo damn beautiful. I hardly thought of roads or any of that crap, while fishing for Muskies, swimming in freezing water, or even hanging out at downtown. Those states are breathtaking in their natural beauty.

Those of us in California know this term well,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerrymandering

1/2 a mil doesn't buy you all that much house in some places in California either.

[Alkasquawlik]

1/2 a mil doesn't buy you all that much house in some places in California either.

500k gets you a nice condo in Marin County and Contra Costa County.
Decent houses start at around 700-800k

[metalix1021]

I just don't understand how a state or a city can vote same way elections after elections, when everything around the crumbles.

Illinois has a democrat in nearly every office, just as Wisconsin. If Chicago and Milwaukee is any indication, things aren't looking good for the future.

Keep in mind wisconsin had a republican governer for a long time (Tommy Thompson) before the asshat Jim Doyle got into office. This will definitely change with the next election cycle.



From my experience, those two states are as close to communism as this country can get. People blindly vote with unions. I don't believe that 20ish% unemployment guys still vote with unions. I doubt unions support all those people, who are losing homes. Infrastructure is collapsing all around them, just looks at roads and small businesses.

The roads are shit because our governer took the money that was supposed to be spent on roads and used it for something else. Previously, they were'nt bad.


By the way, another thing that pissed me off, and this goes back to teachers. On the way back from downtown Milwaukee, I drove through North Western part of downtown. Expensive ass homes (half a mil +, easily), beautiful neighborhoods.

A small condo goes for 400k+ downtown. And thats not a lake/river view. Houses can be much, much more.

Teachers in Wisconsin cannot be fired, because of seniority.

Yup, teacher tenor is what it's called and it sucks.

Teachers in Wisconsin aren't tested to assure kids get the best. BUT, those assholes get paid serious coin to be average, while living in homes that are simply out of financial reach form most Americans.

Teachers also work only 9 months out of the year....

The worst part of all this, those two states are soooooo damn beautiful. I hardly thought of roads or any of that crap, while fishing for Muskies, swimming in freezing water, or even hanging out at downtown. Those states are breathtaking in their natural beauty.

Wisconsin is a very beautiful state. I'm heading up north this weekend to visit family, do some boating, and catch some fish.

[mrsleeve]

Wow the shear disrespect for teachers ITT is despicable.

In 99% of the country they are over worked under paid and have to try to teach kids some shit all while being a babysitter and primary parent for 30+ disrespectful little shit heads.

[mattdk318i]

http://hubpages.com/hub/Cash-for-Clu...-Your-Trade-In

[metalix1021]

Wow the shear disrespect for teachers ITT is despicable.

I have a very healthy respect for teachers who do their job well.

I do not have a respect for teachers who just ride the gravy train when they are entrusted with such an imporant job.

What other private sector job allows you to not get fired for poor perfomance??? It's insane.

I say we change the way we pay teachers. Have them take performance tests, etc, and pay the good ones $150k/yr (arbitrary number)based on perfromance. Make the insentive to the best and brightest to go into teaching. Make it competitive so the best teachers keep their jobs.

[Alkasquawlik]

I have a very healthy respect for teachers who do their job well.

I do not have a respect for teachers who just ride the gravy train when they are entrusted with such an imporant job.

What other private sector job allows you to not get fired for poor perfomance??? It's insane.

I say we change the way we pay teachers. Have them take performance tests, etc, and pay the good ones $150k/yr (arbitrary number)based on perfromance. Make the insentive to the best and brightest to go into teaching. Make it competitive so the best teachers keep their jobs.

this

[metalix1021]

College professors are a good example. I have had very good ones who take the time in and outside of class to make sure their students are learning.

I also have had teachers who ALL they do is show up 2-3 days per week during lecture, talk for 50 minutes, then leave. Yes, they may teach multiple classes, but mostly 2 or 3 at UW-Milwaukee. On the course syllabus they direct students to the TA's for any questions. They have multiple choice exams that they run through a machine for grading.

And yes mrsleeve, I agree the good ones are most definitely underpaid.

[mrsleeve]

Well there is catch 22 how you gonna pay all thoes teachers that kinda money???? Your property taxes will sky rocket.

Go ask a few teachers how much crap they have to go do, to be able to teach what ever their subject matter is. Lately if you are not teaching the right political view with it you are on a black list. History and science in particular

My mom is a middle school science teacher (who is very good at her job and works 14 hour days 6 days a week during the school years) and this yea they have to really push the Human induced GW/Climate change BS. Shes not going to do it but thats what the district is pushing them to do.

She has her masters in Early childhood education and a minor in chem, with almost 30 years experience and makes less than 40k a year in a city of over 1 million people.