Debt limit could threaten military pay

[Pete]

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.

[1stindoor]

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.

[Pete]

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?

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by Pete

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

[Pete]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

Essential services continue to operate.

TR

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

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by Pete

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

[MtnGoat]

Originally Posted by 1stindoor

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.

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!!

[Dozer523]

Originally Posted by MtnGoat

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. 1

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.2

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.3

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?

[Pete]

Originally Posted by Dozer523

1 Maybe it really is free, Maybe this is a "loss-leader" to expose quality candidates to the colleges. .......

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.

[1stindoor]

Originally Posted by Pete

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

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.

[MtnGoat]

Originally Posted by Dozer523

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?

I know this isn't military pay tread....


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.
I know it works for many kids and their families, but we sates are having to fire or lay-off teachers.. Maybe???

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. No it is a Ton of Money that goes out to pay for Students who pareants can't not take them to these Colleges along with the ones that can't pay for courses. I will find out the cost, I was surprised how much it was just for Buses. It's not just Gas, it's overtime for drivers, maintance fees rolled in (Likely BS) and other fees.

3 How do teachers suffer? Other then one less "fun to teach" kid not in the classroom? So we put them into College course to Disrupt that classroom? I don't like this idea if that is one of teh reasons. I don't think it would be, just because most of those kids wouldn't be in a AP school program.

SO I'm sorry, you want to save money for teachers and other pay, cut programs that students don't need graduate. I understand it is great for many students and what they get out of it. I'm talking about overall funds going out.

[MtnGoat]

I saw this morning one top Army official and a Congressman confirmed that, if there is a shutdown, troops would not receive pay past April 8 and would have to be paid retroactively once legislation for funding is passed.

So how many times you gotten your back pay done on TIME!?!?! Yeap that's what I think too.

[longrange1947]

Originally Posted by 1stindoor

...................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.

Remember, the dims immediately took what was "extra" from the education budget and instead of saving or paying down, spent it on pet projects.

that is why increasing taxes will only encourage more spending. they see and increase in revenue and see that as a green light to spend.

CHARGE!!!!!!!!

[1stindoor]

I remember all too well. I've also watched them "borrow" from other funds such as the highway fund...I told my wife not to expect too much from her retirement.

In other related news, I found this "opinion" piece on Fox News. I think there's some merit in a lot of the sarcasm.

Everyone keeps talking about a possible government shut down on Friday, April 8 as though it is a bad thing. Someone will get the blame. The president or the Republicans or Democrats will suffer at the polls. The planets will fall out of alignment. Reporters might run out of things to pontificate upon.

Listening to pundits one gets the impression that there will be a federal tsunami washing away life as we know it; chaos in the streets; weeping and gnashing of teeth for all. But one wonders, how bad would it really be for government to call in sick for a few days?

With less government, would teachers send home less busy work for parents so that evening hours would be spent on family time rather than shanghaied by the government-run school systems that already had your children for 8 hours?

Could people drive to the grocery store unharrased by speed traps set for the peaceful among us who happened to drift 5 miles over the legal limit?

Would forests be saved as politicians were unable to put out self-aggrandizing statements about their views on the environment?
Could we quietly enjoy a hamburger without the haranguing of the self-appointed food czars who comment on weight with all the viciousness of a cheerleader in high school?

Do we really believe our soldiers would be less brave or less honorable during the days in which politicians waffle over their finances?

With full funding, does anyone believe that highway departments will diligently fill potholes with efficiency and speed or that the miles of orange cones that clog the nation’s highways will involve actual work?

Will the Department of Motor Vehicles give you service with a smile as it keeps the lines moving?
Stephen Moore in the Wall Street Journal this week reported that today in America nearly twice as many people are working for the government (22.5 million) than in all manufacturing (11.5 million). We’ve become a nation of “takers, not makers,” he writes. And we’ve also all become well acquainted with what kind of service is available from those who draw a salary from the rest of us.

You could think of government workers like teenagers. You pay them an allowance, but do you get any work out them? They eat the food, put their feet on the furniture and complain loudly whenever they are unhappy.
A Pew research poll out this week indicates that 39 percent of Americans would point fingers at the GOP if the government were shut down, while 36 percent would blame President Obama. A whopping 16 percent think everyone is at fault. Which leaves the majority of Americans perhaps pondering if we might be better off if they did have a time out.

For the politicians in angst this week about whether they should shut the government down, here’s something to consider: What if you shut it down and we all liked it better that way? If I were you, I would find a way to play nice with others and keep working lest you find yourself out of a job.

Kristi Stone Hamrick is a media consultant.

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/...t-shut-cared/#

As a father to three teenagers...I can attest to the "they'll eat you out of house and home" statement.

[longrange1947]

And here I am a gov't worker.