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Open thread
- By Phillip Brownlee
- Posted Feb. 25, 2007 at 1:06 a.m.
- Filed under Open thread
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27 Comments
I made it as #1. Hooray!
On poverty:http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070225/ts_alt_afp/useconomypoverty;_ylt=ApwS9VrzeYwKBSI7npMfAjPZa7gF
What happenned to “rising tide lifts all boats”? Ask this when the next time a politician opens a speech saying, “My fellow Americans.” Who are these “fellow Americans”?
USA Vets NEED National Health Insurance
Bush budget cuts veterans health care in 2009February 13, 2007
• Bush budget assumes cuts in veterans’ health care in 2009, 2010• VA medical care costs have risen yearly for 20 years• Number of veterans from Iraq, Afghanistan expected to increase 26 percent
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/02/13/vets.budget.ap/index.html
“… just-released test results for 12th graders on the NAEP, a widely respected barometer of educational achievement known as the “nation’s report card,” indicated that students are graduating with mediocre math skills and reading abilities that have tumbled to their lowest level since the early 1990s. The 12th-grade tests are designed to measure the sorts of high-level thinking demanded in college work.
The findings raise questions about whether college-prep courses are as tough as their titles indicate, and, if so, whether high schools and their instructors are adequately prepared to teach such courses to a rapidly changing mix of students.
The decline in reading abilities was not a complete surprise. A recent study by ACT Inc., the nonprofit testing concern based in Iowa City, Iowa, found that only about 51% of high school graduates who took the ACT test in 2005 were prepared to tackle college-level reading, down from 55% in 1999. ACT also found a decline in reading skills through the high-school years, with more eighth- and 10th-graders on track for college reading than seniors. “Reading just drops off the radar in high school,” said Jon Erickson, ACT’s vice president for educational services.”
Is it any coincidence that Reagan/Bush held the same views on economics and at the same time, both had huge leaps in poverty?
My question to all of those who think the poor make themselves poor…Did the poor just decide to work harder because Clinton was in office?
When the poor aren’t poor, they buy, they pay their bills, they buy better cars, better homes, do improvements, they buy more stuff and they contribute to the tax base. WHY is it not in your best interest to provide opportunities for them NOT to be poor anymore?
Perhaps you like paying all the taxes yourself?
Great stories today in the Salina Journal about the water crisis in western and central kansas. Seems the KWO is making their usual quality of decisions regarding our water and the future of our state.
Hear me now, believe me later. If this legislative session is so “fun” and “relaxed” and lawmakers are in a generous and tax cutting mood…
…seems to me that they could take some time to tackle the tough issue of our future water supply.
Crowson, I see the fiddler’s three are fiddling again while irrigators let our water supply “burn”.
Nero anyone?
The “story” on the Water Office and their shenanegans in Salina
Great editorial
http://www.saljournal.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=10126&format=html
The story:
http://www.saljournal.com/
This last week the Ks House forced a vote to repeal the minimum wage in Kansas. Fortunatly the Dems were able to defeat this move with the help of a few moderates.
The timing for this move could not be better considering the news of exploding poverty in America and Kansas. The tired old rants of how increasing the minimum wage would only hurt the low income will surely follow this post.
But the fact that Kansas has the lowest min. wage in the nation has to go down as a shared shame on all of us.
This last week the Ks House forced a vote to repeal the minimum wage in Kansas. Fortunatly the Dems were able to defeat this move with the help of a few moderates.
The timing for this move could not be better considering the news of exploding poverty in America and Kansas. The tired old rants of how increasing the minimum wage would only hurt the low income will surely follow this post.
But the fact that Kansas has the lowest min. wage in the nation has to go down as a shared shame on all of us.
(Double post due to verification rule)
In case you did not use the above link provided by Roo Haa, here are some excerpts from the article:
By TONY PUGHMcClatchy NewspapersWASHINGTON :The percentage of poor Americans who are living in severepoverty has reached a 32-year high, according to a McClatchy Newspapers analysis.
Nearly 16 million Americans are living in deep or severe poverty, the study of 2005 census figures found. A family of four with two children and an annual income of less than $9,903 — half the federal povertyline — was considered severely poor in 2005. So were individuals who made less than $5,080 a year.
Nationwide, the McClatchy analysis found that the number of severely poor grew by 26 percent from 2000 to 2005. That’s 56 percent faster than the growth in the overall poverty population.
Among the states, Kansas saw the fifth-largest rate of increase. Its number of extremely poor people grew 43 percent, from 88,904 in 2000 to 127,446 in 2005.
Among large counties, Johnson County led the nation with a 350 percent increase in the number of severely poor residents, from about 2,100 in 2000 to about 9,600 in 2005.
It is a valid point, we live in a symbiotic relationship between business and the public. The better the public is doing the better business is doing. I can not see a day ever coming that there is 100% employment, that there will ever be a day come that there is no need for public assistance. But it is possible to have a near condition to 100% employment. If the cost of living could be brought down and the wages be brought to a standard that would allow even the lowest waged employee to support a family and themselves. The balance would be struck i.e. the “American dream”.
Then business would see their own stable profit line and survivability rise, but of course it would all depend on a realignment on both sides of the relationship, business as well as the public would have to take a hard look at what they really want and need. Get beyond the wishful wants and realize a base line of needs.
Now what is the base line of needs of the average American? Of course it is different then those in another country, WE are Americans! A good rule of thumb may very well be that which is found in most public housing. It is perhaps the saddest statement that many in the work force, working forty hours a week. Do not have the same standards of living that those in public housing have. I still remember years ago complaining to the city utility clerk about my electric bill. She said, “Well air conditioning takes a lot of electric!”.But when I told her I did not have air conditioning, she looked shocked and said, “But everyone has air conditioning!”. Since I have gotten a 110 window unit for the bedroom since I have to sleep in the heat of the day. But the point is that we need to decide just what is the base line we can all agree with and bring it about for all.
Once both business and the public can find a balance, both will thrive and this country will once again be a driving force in the world.
heheheheh. Seems the “Concerned” women of america are worried about the advancement of gay rights this year. Blowing a gasket would be a better description of how they feel about FEDERAL legislation to ADVANCE gay rights.
hehehehe. I wonder if all the cwa folks will be moving to kansas since once again, we lag the rest of the nation by about oh, say, 50 years?
Where is my poodle skirt…..
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389×280810
Quality of care for disbled veterans should not depend on which party is holding the reins. VA care as it stands is victim to politics which simply is not fair. Treatment for Agent Orange and Depleted Uranium Weapons exposure should not be determined by the VA secretary under any administration. Care should be rendered immediately instead of Vets finding it necessary to battle for a determination from any current administration.
Veterans should receive the exact same care provided to those who send them off to battle and paid for by the taxpayers. Issue every diasabled veteran a medicare/medicaid/dental card that covers the entire familiy. Treat these veterans with respect as they did not ask to be sent into a dangerous battle zone. Never alter the funding mechanism as all who carry this medicare card somehow paid for this care.
Suggestions:*Convert all VA Medical Facilities to VA/Medicare facilities to accept all medicare patients.* would reduce pharmaceutical expenditures* keep facilities staffed as a normal hospital/walk in medical care facility* appointments of course would be best* do not allow any staff member to work more than 10 hours* re-open all shut down VA medical centers and make wise use of existing resources.* could reduce the risks of medicare fraud which is huge.* DisabledVeterans and senior citizens should never be denied excellent medical/dental care for which they have somehow paid for. They SHOULD NOT become puppets for political campaigns.
Yes I saw that KFG in the news this morning. I’m so glad to be advancing gay rights, it is long overdue. Let the neocons meltdown over it.
Aha, you’re Merrill aren’t you?
Are you asking me if I am Merrill?
No. I dont think you know me Mom. I dont post on the SJ, I just read it every day.
I watched the governor on CSPAN this AM. Kansas is so lucky to have her bringing such positive attention and light to the state. Was surprised the State Republicans didn’t call in and try to embarrass her – didn’t the spineless head of the Kansas gop say he was going to make her life miserable or words to that effect.
Certainly she made several politically correct statements but she wasn’t afraid to take GWB to task for messing up the National Guard and failing on his promises to the troops.
Kansas Republican Women should be jumping ship to support her.
No not you KFG, I was referring to Richard Heckler.
Those were some great ideas, Richard. Maybe add the same care for children under Medicaid.
Pay the doctors, nurses, and staff decent wages, and who knows? People might discover that a good NATIONAL health care system isn’t such a bad thing.
But no matter what, LET’S TAKE CARE OF OUR VETERANS!!
I love reading all of these posts from experts on the VA medical system (in this and some other recent threads).
Could I get a show of hands of how many of you were ever in a military hospital (for something other than the chicken pox) or actually use the VA medical system…and are therefore qualified to opine on the specific issue and quality of care?
Just curious. (I can raise my hand on both BTW)
RVN, You are the only person I’ve read that claims to be any kind of expert. And you don’t give an opinion, just a complaint. Maybe you could share your expertise? We all appreciate the opportunity to be better informed.
VA hospitals suck period! Dental Care was stolen by Congress years ago! Delta Dental Plans, the insurance which Vets pay for is rejected by 90 percent of all Dentists! Thanks for my rotting teeth!
My experience with VA hospitals is more than 20 years old.
At THAT time, I found the Wichita VA hospital dirty and poorly staffed.
RVN, my father is a vet, and the healthcare he has received has been ridiculous. He was sent driving 200 miles with known blood clots (incredibly dangerous) sent home with no care after surgery, was left reeling in pain from untreated back problems that they ignored for years.
Roscoe, were you homeschooled? I wonder because I have to question who taught you the proper use of the exclamation point?
This is an organization you want in charge of your health care?The fight should be for the Government to subsidize privatized care for Veterans. Not for the Government to make all health care like the VA.
Who’s Merrill? Merrill Teller the weatherman?
David Letterman’s Top Ten stupidest Bush quotes are hilarious.