Another Yawn here for Feisty.......

We dont want your kind of Change...........

Feisty, the dumbing down of America was begun before this reduction in expense. The Department of Education has been concerned more on entitlement teaching rather than educating children. Just look at the layers of supervising educators between the Fed, State and local boards who are accountable for the children. Look at the large amounts of funds and where these funds are spent.

Are the local board receiveing their fair share of money, and are the children actually being taught, or are they being taught to pass a test?

Fiesty:

I see another ignorant post by you.

America has not been "Dumbed" down by Congress. The Dept. of Ed has been more concerned over the years with salaries and tenure rather than teaching these kids.

Most of these cuts were requested in the upcoming Obama budget anyway.

If you can find that mush money under the cushion in your trailer, you are welcome to donate it to the Government.

Yeah - We ALL know how overcompensated educators are:

Teachers' hefty salaries are driving up taxes, and they only work 9 or 10 months a year! It's time we put things in perspective and pay them for what they do - babysit!

We can get that for less than minimum wage.

That's right. Let's give them $3.00 an hour and only the hours they worked; not any of that silly planning time, or any time they spend before or after school, or at home supposedly planning or talking with parents. That would be $19.50 a day (7:45 to 3:00 PM with 45 min. off for lunch and plan -- that equals 6-1/2 hours). So $3.00/hr x 6-1/2 hours = $19.50.

So each parent should pay $19.50 a day for these teachers to baby-sit their children. Now how many students do they teach in a day...maybe 30? OK, that's $19.50 x 30 = $585.00 a day. However, remember they only work 180 days a year!!! I am not going to pay them for any vacations.

LET'S SEE....

That's $585/day x 180 days= $105,300 per year. (Hold on! My calculator needs new batteries).

What about those special education teachers and the ones with Master's degrees? Well, we could pay them minimum wage ($7.75), and just to be fair, round it off to $8.00 an hour. That would be $8/hr x 6-1/2 hours X 30 children X 180 days = $280,800 per year.

Wait a minute -- there's something wrong here! There sure is!

The average teacher's salary (nationwide) is $50,000. $50,000/180 days = $277.77/per day/30 students=$9.25/6.5 hours = $1.42 per hour per student--a very inexpensive baby-sitter and they even EDUCATE your kids!

Sounds to me, like you ALL are getting one hell of a deal!

But please, don’t let this stop the efforts to balance budgets on the backs of the working poor & waging was on education!

Have you ever seen the test results they various states give their students to grade their performance? Several states required their teachers to also take the test, and an number of teachers failed the test. Imagine, a teacher with a Masters that can't pass a freshman in high school performance test. Now why is this teacher, a majority with tenure, still teaching?

they didnt cut there own salaries and expenses or pensions.. I wonder why ..it must have been an oversight

they didnt cut there own salaries and expenses or pensions.. I wonder why ..it must have been an oversight

Interestingly, out of the $4 billion cut, Congress could only find a measly $200,000 cut for the Legislative Branch - and it was the Library of Congress!

I like the part about Labor Dept. salaries & expenses being cut by 40 million, but still No mention of Congress salaries & expenses takeing the same Hit! Also, the Corp of Eng Construction, 341 million. Is'nt that a JOB maker?

Can 1 of You, anyone of You Fiscal Conconservative Teaparty/Republicans, Splain that 1 to me!

Where is the Shared Sacrifice?

Heck, i agree with all the Homeland Security cuts! IMO, you can do away with the Dept created by Bush. Ya know let the Free market take it's course! At least thats what i keep hearing about Capitalism. If airlines gets destroyed, someone else will come in & takeup the slack.

since most is earmarks, i am all for it. and obama should be for it too with alll he promised in campaigns. pass it and get to the real guts of this with the real budget and deep cuts. and why does our nation need all the law enforcement depts with all the overlap and management waste. DHS, ATF, ICE, INS, FBI, TREASURY, SEC SER, DEA, BORDER PATROL, US MARSHALS. why all these different depts each with its own bureaucracy and expenses.

The war in Afghanistan costs the U.S. tax payer $190 million a day! See: www.costofwar.com/en/ to see how much both wars are costing us. No wonder we are broke..

hmm, the atricle states that the President is asking for some of these terminations in his budget, yet folks are still fussing over those same spending cuts..... amazing!

No- JoAnna, it's YOUR guys' turn. Least, that's what I heard last November was all about.

Which reminds me.......JOBS?

JoAnnaSmith1

Is it me or does joanna always seem to go back in history, with the exception to George Bush!!!

Those who live in the past are domed for failure, and honey, sweety you a example of falure

As the great ronald reagan always said, deficts Don't matter.

Honey time is ticking, where the hell are the jobs.

Feisty,

I agree with a10% across the board at the Dept of Defense, along with cutting the billions we give to big oil.

However, the Republicans-Tea People fight that.

I remember the saying, “ It would be a great day if the government would give schools money for the arts and science and the Air Force would have to have a bake sale to by a new bomber.”

I thank that the Republicans-Tea People don’t care if our kids are falling behind. Maybe the dumber the better for building there base.

Hey Jeff, Your beloved Reagan had a 182% (verifiable) deficient. We had inflation in the double digits bordering thriple digits, interest rates for mortgages were almost 30%. We were in a mess and thats how he left us. So much for great!

I agree with a10% across the board at the Dept of Defense

Didn't you hear Job1? It's perfectly acceptable to borrow and spend trillions to blow sh!t up, but God forbid we spend money on educating our youth!

Talk about some screwed up priorities.... *shakes head*

Feisty, how much ownership during the last two years has Obama had in the blowing up on stuff? And from the actual dollars given the Department of Education, how much filters down to each local district to educate their children. What is the actual cost per student in each state Feisty?

education is funded at state and local levels with property taxes. the usa spends more per student than any other nation on earth. get the unions out of education and it would improve.

buffalo bob-937857....."education is funded at state and local levels with property taxes"

I had pulled up these stats for another post , but they apply:

Wisconsin:

State Sources of Revenue for Schools

• Revenue by state property tax: $4,068,141,705
• Revenue by local government property tax: $21,309,250
• Federal grants direct to local districts: $46,575,346
• Federal grants through state: $572,547,127

While most funding comes from Property Taxes, $619,122,473.00 comes from the Federal Government

http://www.teachersalaryinfo.com/average-teacher-salary-wisconsin.html

The Doe has spent about $1 TRILLION in the last 10 years and what have we gotten for our money??

Failing Schools,Failing Teachers, and Failing Students!

And people STILL want to throw more money at the problem!

How about letting the LOCAL Schoolboards,and Schools decide what is best for their students and keep the Federal and State Gov'ts out of the classrooms.

That seemed to work back in the 40's,50's and early 60's.

Steve-505729

Govt doesn't create Jobs. its not the Republicans in Congress'es job to create Jobs. When the Economy Sucks like it does because of the Failed Policies of the Obama Administration

Oha No No Stevie, your guys ran on the platform that they could create Jobs better than the current administration, so as i said to your girl firend, Joanna,

WHERE THE HELL ARE THE JOBS.

JOBS, JOBS, JOBS,

DEFICTS DON'T MATTER AND WHERE ARE THE JOBS.

CLOCK IS TICKING, JOBS JOBS JOBS.

Obie, the great divider has been in charge now for more than two years. Ask him about jobs....wouldn't you agree that he is the man who promoted job creation during his campaign?

He stopped the bleeding of jobs under Bush and added more than Bush did in eight years. Now, thats pretty darn good.

Jeff: WHERE THE HELL ARE THE JOBS

job1: He stopped the bleeding of jobs under Bush and added more than Bush did in eight years. Now, thats pretty darn good.

Well, there's your answer! Those jobs, they're already here!

9-10% unemployment is the new "fully employed economy"! It will be a great campaign line for Obama next year with his Win The Future (WTF) re-election campaign. Now, that's pretty darn good.

JAS1 - that was WEAK. You don't have an answer to the question. You never do.

"When the Economy Sucks like it does because of the Failed Policies of the Obama Administration ."

Its because of Obama the economy sucks? Really... I must have forgotten how great the economy was before he took office.

Govt doesn't create Jobs. its not the Republicans in Congress'es job to create Jobs.

Then why did they run on the platform of jobs? Why did they consistantly ask the Democrats, "Where are the jobs." Why do the Republicans not stand up right now and say, "It is not our job to help create jobs."

Why?

As some mentioned before.

"Legislative Branch

-$0.2 million - Library of Congress Salaries and Expenses - digitalization program"

Well, I gotta say that is some pretty steep cuts to the legislative branch. I honestly do not understand why Congress can not easily cut 20% of their own salary. They make about what, 170k a year? 20% would lower it to about 135k. Man I would hate to have to live on that. And what in the world will they do without benefits? Oh wait........

Now I do understand that these are just listed here as part of a plan to keep funding government a little longer, but it is not like they have to worry about what the people of the US think about Congress taking a pay cut. Remember these people fought HARD to get elected, they freely made the choice to take this job. They did not do it as a means to feed their family...Hopefully.

There has been over 1,ooo,ooo jobs created in the last year.

Steve: Govt doesn't create Jobs. its not the Republicans in Congress'es job to create Jobs. When the Economy Sucks like it does because of the Failed Policies of the Obama Administration . Who i might add promised his Govt would Create Jobs and hasn't. Yes. we must Ask. Mr Obama. Where are the JOBS.......

Appears to me that there are a heck of alot of jobs going to or existing in China, India, Mexico and other used to be 3rd world countries. All you have to do is watch the news for awhile and you can start identifying what it will take for jobs to be created over here. It isn't tax breaks for the wealthy that will encourage job creation here. It is the driving down of wages comparable to what "used to be" the 3rd world countries that will get them investing here.

Are we all prepared to share in that? Learn how to subsist on rice? That's what it's coming to. What sort of military that subsists on rice and peddles bicycles will protect the wealthy ruling class then?

We only survive under this system as long as we make sure we're all strong. Anyone who insists on driving the middle class to poverty while yachting the world needs to learn to defend themselves and their interests on their own.

Just my humble opinion.

Jeff, the only jobs government creates are in their own departments. Government can only create the conditions that promote job creation in the private sector. Obama's own 2012 budget calls for 1.1 trillion in cuts, yet the reult is another 7.5 trillion to debt. and that assumes over 4% growth in the economy. Right! Thank god we have the states showing the way. And for those who complain about the house, the first thing they did was cut their operating expenses 10% across the board

Why does anybody think it is ok to reduce funding for special ed? Got no problem on most other cuts. But if it wasn't for federal gov. subsidies school districts would do nothing but provide bad babysitting for the disabled. Even with gov. help they fight you tooth and nail for any services. They always blame the student when things go wrong.

I thought they already gave vouchers for anyone who wants to send their kids to private schools, or home-school their kids.

Too bad, Bob - the teacher's year is longer than the minimum 180 days kids have to be in school - 2 weeks before, 2 weeks after the kids plus training days the kids have off. Too bad their day is not the same number of hours as the kids...they are there a full 8 hours, longer if coaching, mentoring, tutoring, running extracurriculars or before and after school arrangements for working parents.

The cost of the teacher's education with only a Bachelor's degree, tuition only, not counting books, fees and cost of living while in school, in the cheapest program in the country is about $30K. The salary for Bachelor's degree only teachers is about $30K, less in states with no collective bargaining. Add the Masters the cost goes up at least $10K, combined from great schools, that same Bachelor's/master's combo from great schools costs about $150K...and then only does the salary approach $50K.

Then there are the costs - out of pocket - for attending courses during the off time to maintain credentials.

The teachers unions do a lot to protect our kids. They negotiate working conditions - which include class size, adequate materials, etc. They negotiate ways to keep lesser credentialed people out of the classroom. While that may seem like a problem, do you really want to see 45 kids stuffed in a room with a TV monitor teacher or is in-person teaching what parents expect and children need? - Chances are with the removal of collective bargaining, everyone is going to find out.

It is the teachers unions who have consistently been vocal about the "No Child Left Behind" legislation creating a teach the test instead of teach the kids climate we see today...that won't change with removing collective bargaining for class materials, class size and decent working conditions.

...of course the voucher system is a fantasy since private schools don't have to hire teachers with a proven education...which is one reason why so many dinky private schools pay so much less...not the unions.

There is additional pay available as years of experience and additional credits toward their employment are earned.

But all that is moot - the fact that the "facts" about the length of work year and such are wrong and the "facts" about how the teacher's unions specifically are breaking the bank (not transportation workers? not trash collectors? not home health aides? not firefighters or public utility providers?) are wrong...what is breaking the bank are aaaaaallllllll those people who have NO healthcare, NO retirement, will be collecting poverty level Social Security....aaaaaallllll those minimum wage people who aren't even allowed to work full time except off the clock. Aaaaaaallllll those people who never got an education and thought their manual labor and manufacturing jobs would last forever.

We've had ten lousy years of NCLB, and a full 1/3 of the school year is spent teaching the test because that is what is needed to meet the rules of NCLB...yet another Republican answer to what our kids deserve.

Bob-1887910....Just keep saying VOUCHERS, VOUCHERS, VOUCHERS....let em compete for the education dollars....and let the cream rise to the top....We have tried the Teachers Union experiment for decades now and it has failed a great number of our children. It's time we moved on.

Lets break up the education monopoly, and allow vouchers for all students , so they can choose quality education instead of babysitting and public union teacher failures...

Well Bobby, since it was unions that created the middle class in this country, it would only stand to reason you want to see them BUSTED!

Actually I would like to see Sup't of schools, the administrators, school board members take the cut. Why does anyone get paid to sit on a school board? It's the fat at the top that bloat education. That said I think teacher's should pay into Healthcare and retirement. Just like the rest of us.

Actually I would like to see Sup't of schools, the administrators, school board members take the cut

I agree 100% lisa - same with upping their contribution to their benefits. Where I draw the line is dismantling their collective bargaining rights...

We're on a slippery slope here...

Have a nice weekend - see you over @ the Dew Drop Inn!

Let me get this straight , your complaining that your own daughter makes too much money, and gets too many benefits. Maybe she should just quit to make you happy.

Let me get this straight , your complaining that your own daughter makes too much money.

LMAO - if they didn't have something to bitch about - they wouldn't be able to breath...

Hey Redhead.........your sentence appears to describe you so well. Is there anything YOU don't bitch about? Your rhetoric reminds me of a little bully trying to stand out in the crowd, but in the end the other little kids finally discover the little bully is all talk and no action.

Governor Walker is doing his best to keep his state from going into complete bankruptcy. Can your mind possibly comprehend what that would entail if it should happen? Words are meaningless without actions to back those words up. He's not some wimpy little person that lacks character that will run and hide like a criminal when the going gets rough. He promised during his campaign what he was going to do and he is doing his very best to deliver on that promise, unlike some false promises I heard a little over two years ago. He's not doing the "popular" thing, but he's doing the "proper" thing for his state to survive, and that is most definitely not the easy way out. That's the type of person I can respect.

Typical Republican. Jealous of his own daughter. I bet you support more give aways to the poor Koch brothers. The envy of the Repubs and Tea Party (oops, I forgot one of the same) towards their own children and grandchildren is sick. It's like I want my government Medicare but I don't want my children and grandchildren having access to healthcare. Safecracker and the GOP=ME, ME, and ME. I'm glad I'm not your daughter.

Dear "Now:" Congratulations on buying the complete "teabagger" talking point. If you had any ability to take in neutral information, you would discover that the collective bargaining that that Governor wants to destroy has nothing whatsoever to do with WI buget, and is purely Union busting. You might also discover that the giveaways to the rich that Walker did is what IS contributing to WI financial woes. Turn off Fox "News."

Nope Jobs1, we are not out of touch, and we come from people who have had enough of the minority who has spent this country into a second class society.

Jobs1, they live under a rock, they are not a majority any more and it has them rather agitated so they dont always make sense or tell the truth, but in their world is the truth.

There is a vast silent majority who woke up this week and realized that this minority is no longer the future. Ouch! Its hard for the minority to process and often this leads to overreaching which often leads to bad decisions. Witness, the uproar over on the Broun thread here earlier today. 2012's election will be an eyeopener for them, that's why they are ok with 2nd Amendment solutions.

There is a vast silent majority who woke up this week

HOLLA Gingerbread Mamma!

There are going to be hundreds of thousands taking it to the street tomorrow across the country to show their solidarity for organized labor.

The Koch Brothers ain't seen NOTHING yet!

I wish all companies would give what they used to. Good benefits with retirement plans. They took all that away to pay their top execs millions every year. I guess others are mad because what was done to the private sector because of greed needs to be done to all. I `d like to see the top execs and the greedy politicians take some cuts.

Gingerbread Mamma

Jobs1, they live under a rock, they are not a majority any more and it has them rather agitated so they dont always make sense or tell the truth, but in their world is the truth.

Somehow I don't understand how a libbie can determine conservatives are no longer a member of the majority. If I recall, in November, the majority sent a message to the members of the spending party, and voted them. All polls show people are still angry with the sitting congress, and the policies of this president.

Naw, I am not a member of the minority. Wait until you guy loses in 2012.

Speaking of the minority in this case the Democrats why do they flee the State to avoid a vote? I find it disgusting and it set a bad precedent, as it will become a legislatures Nuclear Option. God help us all.

Now or Never,

Exactly the kind of leadership we need in the White House too.

All the Responsible states are facing their budget problems and doing the unpopular painful things that are needed to get themselves back in fiscal responsibility.

There are a couple of glaring exceptions though. California and Illinois are the biggest examples.

When these states come begging for a government bailout, I hope the congress sends them packing. This will send them a message they can't ignore. LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS.

Once the big spender is ejected from the White House, and we have a REAL President with REAL business experience in the Oval office, then we will start to see the huge cuts in spending that we all know are necessary.

Ever notice the big difference between Democrats (children), and Republicans (adults)??

Children base their decisions on emotion, while adults base their decisions on facts.

Edward

Are you forgetting who bailed out the big banks. It was that good old boy George W. Why don`t ask the banks to bail the states out. Do you think the American public could get a good deal, since they already have the greedy souls as collateral.

Interesting statistic. I guess those same right to work states are also the ones with job growth, the most illegals, and the most additions in congressional seats with the last census. If the median income delta is 30k now, I bet it will narrow quite a bit.

Agreed. Lets make a timely exit and save some dollars on defense. That will help. Unfortunately, even if the entire defense budget was abolished tomorrow, we would still have a budget deficit. It's the entitlements that need to be reformed as well as getting out of the foreign wars.

Northern: In the "brave new world" they dream that their children and grandchildren will not have to turn a shovel. It's all about trading and commodities. It's all about speculation and wall to wall street. There isn't a middle class in their world.

The new "middle class" are foreign nationals doing whatever building and producing needs to be done in their own nations and shipping it here at reasonable cost for the "peon servants" over here that make....maybe $3.35 per hour once we get the wages driven down.

Day Traders....Commodity speculators....the new American elite. Good luck to them. They will be on their own.

and did you notice all the lunchen and dinner meetings to discuss buget cuts? guess who pays that bill!

I am truely sorry that you have this condition where you actually think out of you a##. I am amazed how libbies can attempt to spin the truth while expecting people to buy into the spin.

look it up safecracker. I actually look on the House of Representative website and I have seen the bills. And I have also seen the statistics. I know those are rather foreign to right wing bastions like fox news. Regarding the whole "spinning the truth" speil, have you seen the Glenn Beck show? ever? anyday? he spins the truth everyday and gets paid for it. im using a crazy thing called facts. just because you don't like what I say doesn't make me wrong. You have the right to disagree with me, but conduct yourself with some dignity for christ sakes. Thinking out of my a##? charming.

I think most employers will tell you that repealing HCR "will help create jobs." While the law remains contested and headed for the supreme court, the employers will continue to hoard cash. It's the uncertainty that is preventing the entrepreneurs from investing.

I dont care if you are a supporter of HCR or opponent. Facts are facts. It "will cost more" to keep existing or to hire new employees. While the intent is certainly noble, the short term consequences speak for themselves. Most of the newly elected are doing their constituents bidding by acting on budget cuts and de-funding of HCR actionsthat the POTUS will subsequently veto.

A statistic I'd like to put up: CBO estimate of how much added to the deficit if HCR repealed: $230 Billion

Just something to think about. I'm 50/50 on the HCR bill itself. not really sure on it. I think the requirement thing is a little off but I do like the part that makes sure insurance doesn't con you. but thats my stance, do with it what you will. Good day.

Just wrong on those facts Wyo. 500 billion savings from medicare used twice, when we all (or most) know that those savings are not there. Congress always has voted those reductions back. i.e, counting as cuts reductions in doctor and hospital payments, but then putting them back while not accounting those funds back as expenses.

Goliph,

Yep, just the kind of Disneyland accounting that this Obama administration is famous for.

When they say unemployment is going down....that means people's unemployment compensation has run out and they are taken off the rolls. Anything to try to make a silk purse from a sow's ear.

Double Counting is debunked.  Get off your Tea Party talking Points:

www.factcheck.org/2011.01/a-budget-busting-law/

Factcheck.org has already called the double counting false and misleading.  They agree the dems are over stating some savings, but they disagree the CBO double counted.

have you seen the message that Harry Reid sent out today stating that congress is close to a compromise? I do agree with this budget, but I also agree with investing in education. The point is valid about money being put into it in the past, but it wasn't used effectively. If a good use for the money is found, I am for that

You are probably right marcos. If the continuing resolution cuts are from the budget blueprint, it is a pretty safe bet that we will avert a shutdown.

Right Wyo

Obama probably jerked Harry's leash as Harry was barking too loud and too long.

Reid was fully prepared to cut off our nose to spite our face. Obama realized that the libbie Demospends would take the blame and muzzled him before it was too late.

I was with you all the way until the last sentence. Many good ideas. Some a little far fetched, but no program should be "off the table."

How soon we forget that FDR's entitlement was only supposed to require 1-2% from the employee and employer. Now it is 6.25% each up to $106k in pay and represents the single largest budget line item and form of taxation in the history of our country. We should be talking about shrinking FICA, not growing it. It was intended to be an insurance policy, not a guaranteed retirement. That's why the retirement age was initially set beyond the then current life expectancy. If the FICA eligibility dates were one year past the life expectancy as they were in the 1930's, we would not be having this discussion as there would still be more people paying in that collecting.

I have no problem looking at potential adjustments in Social Security and Medicare and other entitlements. My only problem is trying to believe in a system of accumulating retirement funds that are entirely dependent on a "free" market. How do we ensure that it is free and doesn't get sucked off by greed and corruption? Where do we set the limit and how do we define the "safety net"?

I'm sure there are a group of retirees that insist that it is indeed fun to use their hard earned retirement funds to go gamble in casinos and enjoy themselves along with engaging in other activities. It's their money and they should be able to do what they enjoy doing.

What about those that would use the money gambled in the markets for their own enrichment? The card sharks....who sit across from us stoned faced and suggest that we have a 'winning hand' if we bet more in order to entice us to continue putting our chips in the pot.

Should I "fold" or "call"?

Punt - if it were only 1-2% withholding as originally designed in the 1930's as an insurance policy, there would not be an expectation that "savings should grow" and that it would be your sole source of income in retirement. If you don't like the idea of giving individuals the ability to invest their own withholding, and I can understand why as many would do foolish things, you should just raise the retirement age up to match the original intent. Few if any were ever supposed to collect as the retirement age was beyond the life expectancy.

Talk about a difficult political problem to solve. Life expectancy due to wonderful advances in medicine is well into the 70's for both males and females. Either return the system back to the parameters that it was intended to address, or stop making new entrants into the work force pay into a ponzi scheme that is sure to collapse long before they ever get a dime.

Independent

Although things look good on paper they are not always good. People do live longer for sure but they are not always healthy, the ones that are have face problems with discrimination, some are slower to learn, some are not physically strong enough. To just keep them working longer unless they really want to work would be cruel.