Debt limit could threaten military pay
 

Debt limit could threaten military pay

http://fayobserver.com/articles/2011...084055?sac=Mil

"........."Reductions in future spending commitments cannot supply the short-term cash needed," Geithner said.............."

The Debt Train just keeps on a rollin' down the tracks.

Propose a budget - well, we're well into this year's budget without a budget - but don't have the money to pay for it and then cry when we can't borrow more.

And speaking of Federal Money? Remember all the "creat of save jobs" talk a couple of years ago. Federal money going to school systems and the stupid school systems used it for teacher pay? I asked back then "What happens when the grant is done?"

From the Fayetteville Observer

Cumberland schools notify teachers jobs are cut, increase class sizes

http://fayobserver.com/articles/2011/04/04/1083747?sac=

"......Under Till's plan, about 80 teachers who were hired after the first day of school in August were cut outright next year to make up for a $14 million loss in stimulus and other federal funding............"

Also caused by a drop in State spending - but notice once again it's teachers - no other staff or administration positions. Out of 7,000 employees you'd think they could get at least 50% of the cuts from outside the classrooms.

The point of both articles is to show that "You" hit where it hurts the most to get people complaining "Give me my money (Teachers)".

Same thing with the High Sheriff in Cumberland County. Any time he does not get his requested budget money he cuts the school crossing guards. Soccer Moms scream bloody murder and he gets the money.

It's all over folks.

My wife is a school teacher in Cumberland County. She's in her 21st year. The budget's been a hot button issue for awhile now. I was actually surprised that the cuts weren't deeper. I'll give Dr. Till some credit though. Several months ago he told all of his teachers and administrators that he wanted ideas for budget cuts. Then he said, ask your families to submit ideas too. I sent him a lengthy email outlining some hard cuts....and he responded back personally (or maybe through one of his staff members) that some of my ideas had already been looked at.

In the end though, I agree with you, those lost jobs and increased classroom sizes are intended to polarize the community to fight for more money.

Here's something that pisses me off though, the lottery...the "NC Education Lottery" has been in existence for what? 6 or 7 years now? Seems to me we had an Education Budget at the state prior to the lottery. What happened to that money? I don't remember my taxes going down.

As a side note to the government shut down....
 

As a side note to the government shut down....

If all government offices, parks, faclities - everything - is shut down.....

Does that mean Air Force 1 is grounded?

Essential services continue to operate.

TR

Is flying to a fund raiser an "Essential serice"?

It is if you are the POTUS.

I don't like it any more than you do, and think the reimbursement by the Party should be a lot more, but the justification is that in the event of an emergency, he needs the comms suites and security AF One provides.

I didn't believe that the criticism of President Bush was valid when he was using AF 1 for the same thing.

TR

It is not the issue of fund raising. It is the issue of jetting all over the country for fund raisers while the government is shut down (if it is shut down).

Remember all the crap Bush got for playing Golf while troops died? Seems to be a lot of "let them eat cake" in this POTUS & FLOTUS.

And folks - remember this budget fight is over the D's budget from last year. The one that should have been passed well before the 2010 elections. Now is when the congress should be dealing with the budget that starts in a few months.

Military to get pay for 1 week if government shuts down
 

Military to get pay for 1 week if government shuts down

http://fayobserver.com/articles/2011...084378?sac=Mil

"...........If the funding bill expires Friday, it will be in the middle of the military's two-week pay period, so the Pentagon would send out paychecks for just the first week of the pay period, the official.................."

All you with mid-month pay need to check your automatic debits.

I thought President Reagan had some act/bill that would like the Military pay get stopped? I guess I was wrong!

NC State Advance Placement Program
 

I feel one North Carolina School system program that needs to be cut is the Advanced Placement coursework providing high school students to college-level material. This program provides a School System Student to take college-level courses at their local Community Colleges for FREE. The program pays for transportation for any student that cannot afford to get there themselves and each States County High School Students get funding for this program. I say if the state and Counties are both hurting for money. Well are we paying for a program that is not a requirement for students to graduate from High School? Each County and the State will fund it because it is a set program and they don’t want to lose face. But they will fire teachers and teachers aids funding will be cut.

Think about how much gas and maintenance is spent by each County for this program. But for that kid that can get a ride to go to college-level courses at their local Community Colleges for FREE, teacher suffer. You can go on and on with this program and its COST.

Cumberland County Program Page


Yes it is Advance Placement Program, but it is not hard at all to get into this progam. If you kid made good grades in Middle school, they are in staring in 9th grade.

1stindoor - I hope these cuts doesn't effect your wife's job. Tell thanks for what say DOES everyday!!

1 Maybe it really is free, Maybe this is a "loss-leader" to expose quality candidates to the colleges. A classroom is a fixed cost item, up to a point, it doesn't matter how many students are in the room.

2 I have not seen the spreadsheet but again I doubt one (or two) roundtrip buses per school per day is going to add that much to the bottom line.

3 How do teachers suffer? Other then one less "fun to teach" kid not in the classroom?

Yup. So? It is nice to see something for the dedicated, hardworking students. And that IS what it's for -- this is not designed for the bright kids. We have GATE (Gifted And Talented Education). Or shall we have them all plod along at the NCLB pace?

Free for some...
 

It is free for some but not tax payers. D2 took a couple, maybe three and IIRC it was around $110 per test.

Plus when she got to App State the required "electives" bounced them so she had to take their classes anyway. And don't get me talking about the guidance counselor who screwed up her freshman class so they are all scrambling for limited seats in a special required class this summer that they should have taken the freshman year. The ones who don't get in the limited seating will have to take the class next summer - after the rest of the class graduates. And yes the individual is still working there and does stuff like this every year.

Beat me to it. My son is in the program through Terry Sanford. He has been taking honors classes throughout high school and his tests run between $85-$100 as well. There are definitely problems with the program but I firmly believe the advantages are outweighing those problems.

Some of the cost saving measures I suggested to Dr. Till included revamping the bus system, and money and resources spent on HS sports.

On a personal note, I seriously doubt my wife's job is in jeopardy. But thank you for the well wishes, and I'll pass on the thanks to her.

What happens to ROTC scholarships and service academy operations? Is civilian schooling suspended for those students who rely on federal financial aid as well?

Flexible deterrent options have potential in a diplomatic setting when countries take issue with the activities and attitudes of other countries (i.e. putting a carrier off someone's coast, TLAM vessels, fund seizing, etc). Placing a negotiation mark on the wall and ultimatum is old hat when negotiating contracts and business dealings.

I think the immediate, second, and third order effects of something of this magnitude in a stumbling economy while engaged in multiple theaters at once have not been fully considered and the powers that be are soon to find out their political bluff is going to severely deteriorate their own political ambitions and aims.

In short, the potential end state derivation by ways and means is not adequately balanced by the risks incurred.

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