OK. So I have only been on this political forum a short while.....BUT

[Pancreek1]

To me it perfectly mirror images the US.

People on the Left won't budge. People on the Right won't budge.

I find myself constantly, whether it is here or watching TV or in everyday life conversations feeling:

1. The left doesn't represent me.

2. The right doesn't represent me

3. The Libertarians don't get me either.

On things fiscal and economic I am conservative that believes there must be restraint.

On things social I am a complete mixed bag as follows:

a. I think if someone receives a welfare check and they are able bodied, they should work, even if it is an Depression type WPA infrastructure program or the military or any other legion of ways to serve our country. Want the check? Go to work. Don't want to work? Don't get the check.

b. But at the same time, I believe there MUST be a safety net for people that are NOT able bodied and CAN'T work, or are disabled or are not of sound mind. FULL STOP. 100% protection, inclusive of everyone on the street that isn't of sound mind or body. If they are on the street but can work, make em work. If they can't, take care of them. And if they are proven to be frauds using the system? Felony with minimum 10 years.

c. The conservatives hate this one. I believe health care is, in fact, a RIGHT, not a privilege. In the early days of our country, we determined that basic utilities (gas and electric) were a Right.....not a privilege. Those utilities are capital extensive....so we set up public utility commissions to regulate their returns (think .5M surgeries and 6 figure drug bills) and make them affordable to all citizens. I'd like someone on the Right to tell me how someone deserves electricity but not basic healthcare. I don't propose socialized medicine. I propose 100% mandatory participation (all young people in the system to pay for the old people) with it being a felony and deportation for not being covered. And with that price controls on procedures and drugs to put them in line with the rest of the world. Yes.....all very liberal ideas EXCEPT not allowing single payer socialized medicine. Switzerland model works fantastic and if you are curious look it up. I know. I LIVED THERE>

d. On the other side of the equation, I believe we should only pay to support 2 kids, 3 max. And we need to pay for day care for those 2-3 kids so MOM can work instead of be on the public dole. If she continues to have kids, tough s*&t.

d. On the other hand, I believe anyone found scamming the system, whether it is food stamps/food or cash subsistence or any other program, the full force of the equivalent of the IRS should come down on them.

e. I believe all immigrants, legal or illegal, who are not criminals, should be given a path to a green card and ultimately citizenship. Yes, all umpteen million of them. On the other hand, I believe if they are criminals and bad cops, they need to be deported. AND, then I believe we need to clamp down so we don't double down on the problem.

f. I believe we need to invest billions into the inner cities of LA, Chicago, NY/NJ, Atlanta etc..... NOT welfare but economic development and community development. We can't expect a 14 year old making 300k a year gang banging to quit the gang to flip burgers at McDonald's (even IF the minimum wage is increased). But we can give him hope that there is a career path for him that doesn't involve him being shot at daily. And we can pay for the education to see that he gets on the right path......which leads me to:

g. I think Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton want to keep the inner cities as their "kept N's" to further their agenda and continue to raise money. They must be stopped and the people of the inner cities need to be educated that they, with the government help, can rise up out of the mess and make huge strides, and

g. I think the education in every state needs upgraded and I think government should pay for it and I believe my taxes should go up to pay for it. I don't believe school choice is a magic bullet. I think quality education, does however, require allowing discipline back in the schools. And Parents need held accountable.

h. I believe we need to provide HUGE incentives financially for Dad's in inner cities to be part of their children's lives. Yes another social program I'll gladly pay for if we can move the needle even a little in terms of fatherly involvement

So....I am a very weird combination of conservative and liberal. And i DON'T THINK I'M UNIQUE.

SO HERE'S THE QUESTION:

If a Blog (worst case) or National Network (best case) were started where it is literally billed as Center Left/Center Right.....and the sole purpose were to spend every week lambasting the far left and far right equally.....while pointing out rationally a middle ground where, at least I believe, most of us already are.....

Would you subscribe? Would you switch from FOX/CNN/MSNBC to see what this center is all about?

If another party formed up in the center would you join?

Sorry for the length I value your opinions

 

[CowboyJD]

Yes.

http://action.modernwhig.org/

 

[Pancreek1]

Thanks Jimmy. That's ONE

We only need a few million more LOL

 

[Pancreek1]

I don't want to name names, but I'd like to hear from the people on this forum who are died in the wool Dem's and died in the wool Rep's

Hearing from people that agree with me is nice, but a little boring. LOL

 

[CSCOTTOSUPOKES]

Yes.

http://action.modernwhig.org/

I read the platform...

How do you objectively pay teachers on merit?

 

[Pancreek1]

I read the platform...

How do you objectively pay teachers on merit?

After all of your vitriol over the past week, that is all you have? My post is obviously pro-education funding. Did you read it?

 

[CSCOTTOSUPOKES]

After all of your vitriol over the past week, that is all you have? My post is obviously pro-education funding. Did you read it?

I didn’t reply to you. My question has to do with the Modern Whig Party platform on the site he posted, which supports a meritocracy. Did you read it?


So, again, if you want to answer...how do you objectively pay teachers on merit?

 

[Pancreek1]

I don't know how old you are, but I am 60. I was raised by Teachers. Merit was never a problem when it would be OBVIOUS when a Teacher wasn't performing. The parents were involved. The other teachers were involved. The Administration was involved. And it was only a 1 in 1,000 case where a Teacher was fired without cause.

Today, a teacher in one classroom can have most of her kids with nuclear families and the next classroom over zero nuclear families. Deciding Merit (IN A VACUUM) is impossible. So I'll ask you......Did you read the rest of the Platform? Or did you Cherry Pick?

Don't reply to a post unless you've read 100% of the previous post. That goes for mine and Cowboy JD's response.

It is Very obvious you are a very young ideologue that refuses to engage in rational debate because that rational debate would require you to actually spend some time studying the opposite side before engaging.

Honest question. How old are you? How long have you been on your own. Truly on your own?

You don't have to answer because those are obviously personal questions. But your answer might help others understand you.

 

[CSCOTTOSUPOKES]

I don't know how old you are, but I am 60. I was raised by Teachers. Merit was never a problem when it would be OBVIOUS when a Teacher wasn't performing. The parents were involved. The other teachers were involved. The Administration was involved. And it was only a 1 in 1,000 case where a Teacher was fired without cause.

Today, a teacher in one classroom can have most of her kids with nuclear families and the next classroom over zero nuclear families. Deciding Merit (IN A VACUUM) is impossible. So I'll ask you......Did you read the rest of the Platform? Or did you Cherry Pick?

Don't reply to a post unless you've read 100% of the previous post. That goes for mine and Cowboy JD's response.

It is Very obvious you are a very young ideologue that refuses to engage in rational debate because that rational debate would require you to actually spend some time studying the opposite side before engaging.

Honest question. How old are you? How long have you been on your own. Truly on your own?

You don't have to answer because those are obviously personal questions. But your answer might help others understand you.

I have several issues with the platform as it reads. That was a noticeable issue, and relevant to recent board discussion. Again, I wasn’t responding to your post, I was responding to his.

The platform is very Democratic.

As for your personal questions...I’m 34, and the rest is none of your business. It’s obviously easier for you and others to assume I’ve been home and unemployed since I graduated 10 years ago lol.

 

[Orange Jennyslipper]

Pancreek, I don’t see anything in your post I’d strongly disagree with, in part because I would add an i) and a j) with your permission:

i) compromise is not a dirty word and is a concept the whole nation has somehow forgotten. I’m a couple of years older than you but I bet you also had a Civics class in junior high and again in high school (and of course in college) in which the importance of compromise was stressed from day one;

j) I have nothing against anyone’s religion as long as it’s kept well clear of the secular government that was set up and amended in the Eighteenth Century.

I checked out the site jd suggested and I hope the Whigs catch on. I’ll spend more time checking them out. There are several items there that I don’t have time to read tonight.

The strongest issue I have with your original post, and I doubt you meant it exactly as it came out, was your suggestion to leave all other news sources behind and only listen to a centrist source in the future. I believe it’s imperative to collect info from a variety of print, broadcast, online and cable sources.

 

[davidallen]

To me it perfectly mirror images the US.

People on the Left won't budge. People on the Right won't budge.

I find myself constantly, whether it is here or watching TV or in everyday life conversations feeling:

1. The left doesn't represent me.

2. The right doesn't represent me

3. The Libertarians don't get me either.

On things fiscal and economic I am conservative that believes there must be restraint.

On things social I am a complete mixed bag as follows:

a. I think if someone receives a welfare check and they are able bodied, they should work, even if it is an Depression type WPA infrastructure program or the military or any other legion of ways to serve our country. Want the check? Go to work. Don't want to work? Don't get the check.

b. But at the same time, I believe there MUST be a safety net for people that are NOT able bodied and CAN'T work, or are disabled or are not of sound mind. FULL STOP. 100% protection, inclusive of everyone on the street that isn't of sound mind or body. If they are on the street but can work, make em work. If they can't, take care of them. And if they are proven to be frauds using the system? Felony with minimum 10 years.

c. The conservatives hate this one. I believe health care is, in fact, a RIGHT, not a privilege. In the early days of our country, we determined that basic utilities (gas and electric) were a Right.....not a privilege. Those utilities are capital extensive....so we set up public utility commissions to regulate their returns (think .5M surgeries and 6 figure drug bills) and make them affordable to all citizens. I'd like someone on the Right to tell me how someone deserves electricity but not basic healthcare. I don't propose socialized medicine. I propose 100% mandatory participation (all young people in the system to pay for the old people) with it being a felony and deportation for not being covered. And with that price controls on procedures and drugs to put them in line with the rest of the world. Yes.....all very liberal ideas EXCEPT not allowing single payer socialized medicine. Switzerland model works fantastic and if you are curious look it up. I know. I LIVED THERE>

d. On the other side of the equation, I believe we should only pay to support 2 kids, 3 max. And we need to pay for day care for those 2-3 kids so MOM can work instead of be on the public dole. If she continues to have kids, tough s*&t.

d. On the other hand, I believe anyone found scamming the system, whether it is food stamps/food or cash subsistence or any other program, the full force of the equivalent of the IRS should come down on them.

e. I believe all immigrants, legal or illegal, who are not criminals, should be given a path to a green card and ultimately citizenship. Yes, all umpteen million of them. On the other hand, I believe if they are criminals and bad cops, they need to be deported. AND, then I believe we need to clamp down so we don't double down on the problem.

f. I believe we need to invest billions into the inner cities of LA, Chicago, NY/NJ, Atlanta etc..... NOT welfare but economic development and community development. We can't expect a 14 year old making 300k a year gang banging to quit the gang to flip burgers at McDonald's (even IF the minimum wage is increased). But we can give him hope that there is a career path for him that doesn't involve him being shot at daily. And we can pay for the education to see that he gets on the right path......which leads me to:

g. I think Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton want to keep the inner cities as their "kept N's" to further their agenda and continue to raise money. They must be stopped and the people of the inner cities need to be educated that they, with the government help, can rise up out of the mess and make huge strides, and

g. I think the education in every state needs upgraded and I think government should pay for it and I believe my taxes should go up to pay for it. I don't believe school choice is a magic bullet. I think quality education, does however, require allowing discipline back in the schools. And Parents need held accountable.

h. I believe we need to provide HUGE incentives financially for Dad's in inner cities to be part of their children's lives. Yes another social program I'll gladly pay for if we can move the needle even a little in terms of fatherly involvement

So....I am a very weird combination of conservative and liberal. And i DON'T THINK I'M UNIQUE.

SO HERE'S THE QUESTION:

If a Blog (worst case) or National Network (best case) were started where it is literally billed as Center Left/Center Right.....and the sole purpose were to spend every week lambasting the far left and far right equally.....while pointing out rationally a middle ground where, at least I believe, most of us already are.....

Would you subscribe? Would you switch from FOX/CNN/MSNBC to see what this center is all about?

If another party formed up in the center would you join?

Sorry for the length I value your opinions

Yes. I call it the NYTimes.

 

[Ponca Dan]

Oh my, that’s quite a platform! I had to read it twice to try and take in the full brunt of what you are proposing. I would say the only thing I agree with you 100% is Libertarians don’t get you. I was trying to think of a name your group could be called. First I thought you could call yourselves “Centrists For Big Government.” But I thought no, that doesn’t quite capture the sentiment. Maybe “Centrists For Authoritarian Government.” No, that didn’t do you justice. You’re not really a centrist, are you? You basically are advocating the extreme elements of both the left and the right. That couldn’t be called centrist. And then I hit upon the perfect name: you should call yourselves “Collectivists For An Authoritarian State.” About the only issues you failed to mention, items that could be added, are gun confiscation and a mandatory military draft. That would make your platform complete.

 

[long-duc-dong]

To me it perfectly mirror images the US.

People on the Left won't budge. People on the Right won't budge.

I find myself constantly, whether it is here or watching TV or in everyday life conversations feeling:

1. The left doesn't represent me.

2. The right doesn't represent me

3. The Libertarians don't get me either.

On things fiscal and economic I am conservative that believes there must be restraint.

On things social I am a complete mixed bag as follows:

a. I think if someone receives a welfare check and they are able bodied, they should work, even if it is an Depression type WPA infrastructure program or the military or any other legion of ways to serve our country. Want the check? Go to work. Don't want to work? Don't get the check.

b. But at the same time, I believe there MUST be a safety net for people that are NOT able bodied and CAN'T work, or are disabled or are not of sound mind. FULL STOP. 100% protection, inclusive of everyone on the street that isn't of sound mind or body. If they are on the street but can work, make em work. If they can't, take care of them. And if they are proven to be frauds using the system? Felony with minimum 10 years.

c. The conservatives hate this one. I believe health care is, in fact, a RIGHT, not a privilege. In the early days of our country, we determined that basic utilities (gas and electric) were a Right.....not a privilege. Those utilities are capital extensive....so we set up public utility commissions to regulate their returns (think .5M surgeries and 6 figure drug bills) and make them affordable to all citizens. I'd like someone on the Right to tell me how someone deserves electricity but not basic healthcare. I don't propose socialized medicine. I propose 100% mandatory participation (all young people in the system to pay for the old people) with it being a felony and deportation for not being covered. And with that price controls on procedures and drugs to put them in line with the rest of the world. Yes.....all very liberal ideas EXCEPT not allowing single payer socialized medicine. Switzerland model works fantastic and if you are curious look it up. I know. I LIVED THERE>

d. On the other side of the equation, I believe we should only pay to support 2 kids, 3 max. And we need to pay for day care for those 2-3 kids so MOM can work instead of be on the public dole. If she continues to have kids, tough s*&t.

d. On the other hand, I believe anyone found scamming the system, whether it is food stamps/food or cash subsistence or any other program, the full force of the equivalent of the IRS should come down on them.

e. I believe all immigrants, legal or illegal, who are not criminals, should be given a path to a green card and ultimately citizenship. Yes, all umpteen million of them. On the other hand, I believe if they are criminals and bad cops, they need to be deported. AND, then I believe we need to clamp down so we don't double down on the problem.

f. I believe we need to invest billions into the inner cities of LA, Chicago, NY/NJ, Atlanta etc..... NOT welfare but economic development and community development. We can't expect a 14 year old making 300k a year gang banging to quit the gang to flip burgers at McDonald's (even IF the minimum wage is increased). But we can give him hope that there is a career path for him that doesn't involve him being shot at daily. And we can pay for the education to see that he gets on the right path......which leads me to:

g. I think Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton want to keep the inner cities as their "kept N's" to further their agenda and continue to raise money. They must be stopped and the people of the inner cities need to be educated that they, with the government help, can rise up out of the mess and make huge strides, and

g. I think the education in every state needs upgraded and I think government should pay for it and I believe my taxes should go up to pay for it. I don't believe school choice is a magic bullet. I think quality education, does however, require allowing discipline back in the schools. And Parents need held accountable.

h. I believe we need to provide HUGE incentives financially for Dad's in inner cities to be part of their children's lives. Yes another social program I'll gladly pay for if we can move the needle even a little in terms of fatherly involvement

So....I am a very weird combination of conservative and liberal. And i DON'T THINK I'M UNIQUE.

SO HERE'S THE QUESTION:

If a Blog (worst case) or National Network (best case) were started where it is literally billed as Center Left/Center Right.....and the sole purpose were to spend every week lambasting the far left and far right equally.....while pointing out rationally a middle ground where, at least I believe, most of us already are.....

Would you subscribe? Would you switch from FOX/CNN/MSNBC to see what this center is all about?

If another party formed up in the center would you join?

Sorry for the length I value your opinions

On the other hand...

You’re more left than right. Just my humble opinion reading your post.

 

[CowboyJD]

I read the platform...

How do you objectively pay teachers on merit?

Hard pass on “sparring” with you right now, potato.

Teacher pay was discussed extensively in another thread.

 

[poke2001]

I read the platform...

How do you objectively pay teachers on merit?

Most private industry is paid based on merit but I do agree paying teachers on merit isn’t the same and can be quite difficult. That doesn’t mean a method isnt out there.

How about some combination of fixed increases annually and variable compensation (I.e. bonus) for performance. It could be set up like my bonus plan which isn’t 100% tied to my performance, but I can affect it.

My bonus is split into several pieces each which has a metric tied to it. The metric has a sliding scale so I can 50% of the piece up to double. You could do the same thing. Have 25% of the bonus tied to the overall school performance somehow, have 25% tied to that teachers performance. Come up with the other 50% in different categories.

It really isn’t that difficult.

 

[CowboyJD]

Most private industry is paid based on merit but I do agree paying teachers on merit isn’t the same and can be quite difficult. That doesn’t mean a method isnt out there.

How about some combination of fixed increases annually and variable compensation (I.e. bonus) for performance. It could be set up like my bonus plan which isn’t 100% tied to my performance, but I can affect it.

My bonus is split into several pieces each which has a metric tied to it. The metric has a sliding scale so I can 50% of the piece up to double. You could do the same thing. Have 25% of the bonus tied to the overall school performance somehow, have 25% tied to that teachers performance. Come up with the other 50% in different categories.

It really isn’t that difficult.

Good post.

Private industry engages in merit based pay all the time. I don’t see anything in the career of teaching that makes it the sole industry impossible to pay employees based at least in part upon merit rather than solely upon non-merit factors such as seniority.

Oklahoma teachers have the right to collectively bargain with their employers right now (70 OS 509.1 et seq.) though they are prohibited from striking or engaging in work stoppages. (70 OS 509.8)

 

[aix_xpert]

One of the biggest gaps with the teacher analogy vs. the business world is that teachers don't really have managers or direct leadership. My bonus is determined by my boss who analyzes the work I've done all year and determines whether I've performed to the stated goals. Who does this for teachers? The principal has dozens of teachers in a school. There is no way he/she is monitoring each of their performance. Do they have section heads whose job it is to do this? This feels like a gap.

 

[cableok]

One of the biggest gaps with the teacher analogy vs. the business world is that teachers don't really have managers or direct leadership. My bonus is determined by my boss who analyzes the work I've done all year and determines whether I've performed to the stated goals. Who does this for teachers? The principal has dozens of teachers in a school. There is no way he/she is monitoring each of their performance. Do they have section heads whose job it is to do this? This feels like a gap.

I don’t understand why a principal cannot analyze work done all year and determine whether teacher performed to stated goals.
Principals can have skip level meetings with teachers. Just like my boss does with my direct reports.
Principals can have meetings with department and/or grade level chairs. They can provide principal with additional information on performance to stated goal.

 

[07pilt]

d. On the other side of the equation, I believe we should only pay to support 2 kids, 3 max. And we need to pay for day care for those 2-3 kids so MOM can work instead of be on the public dole. If she continues to have kids, tough s*&t.

d. On the other hand, I believe anyone found scamming the system, whether it is food stamps/food or cash subsistence or any other program, the full force of the equivalent of the IRS should come down on them.

e. I believe all immigrants, legal or illegal, who are not criminals, should be given a path to a green card and ultimately citizenship. Yes, all umpteen million of them. On the other hand, I believe if they are criminals and bad cops, they need to be deported. AND, then I believe we need to clamp down so we don't double down on the problem.

f. I believe we need to invest billions into the inner cities of LA, Chicago, NY/NJ, Atlanta etc..... NOT welfare but economic development and community development. We can't expect a 14 year old making 300k a year gang banging to quit the gang to flip burgers at McDonald's (even IF the minimum wage is increased). But we can give him hope that there is a career path for him that doesn't involve him being shot at daily. And we can pay for the education to see that he gets on the right path......which leads me to:

g. I think Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton want to keep the inner cities as their "kept N's" to further their agenda and continue to raise money. They must be stopped and the people of the inner cities need to be educated that they, with the government help, can rise up out of the mess and make huge strides, and

g. I think the education in every state needs upgraded and I think government should pay for it and I believe my taxes should go up to pay for it. I don't believe school choice is a magic bullet. I think quality education, does however, require allowing discipline back in the schools. And Parents need held accountable.

h. I believe we need to provide HUGE incentives financially for Dad's in inner cities to be part of their children's lives. Yes another social program I'll gladly pay for if we can move the needle even a little in terms of fatherly involvement

So....I am a very weird combination of conservative and liberal. And i DON'T THINK I'M UNIQUE.

SO HERE'S THE QUESTION:

If a Blog (worst case) or National Network (best case) were started where it is literally billed as Center Left/Center Right.....and the sole purpose were to spend every week lambasting the far left and far right equally.....while pointing out rationally a middle ground where, at least I believe, most of us already are.....

Would you subscribe? Would you switch from FOX/CNN/MSNBC to see what this center is all about?

If another party formed up in the center would you join?

Sorry for the length I value your opinions

So you advocate for a jobs guarantee, full support of the physically and mentally handicapped, and extreme version of the individual mandate, price controls, free daycare, amnesty, a Marshall Plan for inner cities, tax and spend on education, and payment for fatherhood... but CNN is too far to the left for you?

 

[aix_xpert]

I don’t understand why a principal cannot analyze work done all year and determine whether teacher performed to stated goals.
Principals can have skip level meetings with teachers. Just like my boss does with my direct reports.
Principals can have meetings with department and/or grade level chairs. They can provide principal with additional information on performance to stated goal.

If there are grade level or department chairs that can work as management and have more individualized attention and feedback to the performance of individuals, then yes, the principal can serve that role. If the principal has to manage 50+ teachers individually, then it will fail and be no better a solution than what we have now.

 

[JohnVoight]

NO on giving citizenship to 20mm illegals. That would drive a stake through our country's heart that is currently on life support.

 

[OKSTATE1]

Part of the problem with education is that it is seen as a right and not a privilege, it is why so many parents and students do not see any value in it and uses the educational system as a glorified daycare center.

Education is a privilege, there is no doubt about it. As is sleeping in a nice bed in a nice home, and having loving parents. Every blessing we have is a privilege, nothing is guaranteed to us in this life at birth, nothing. But, many people believe upon birth things are owed to them, they are wrong. I was born in to this world and taught to be thankful for everything you have and to work hard for you want. Today, many are born in to this world explaining how they have been victimized and how can I get someone to pay for what I want.

IF we really valued education for our children, there would be no public schools, none. I knew parents growing up that lived a life of almost poverty to send their kids to private schools.

 

[Pancreek1]

In my version of the individual mandate, it is MUCH more conservative than anything being proposed by Dems or Reps. I believe every person should be required to purchase insurance....out of their own pocket and make it illegal for companies to provide it as part of a benefits package.

It is amazing how well it works in Switzerland. It simply is a cost of living, but when there is 100% participation (and the right public utility style regulations on price gouging), the cost goes through the floor. My coverage here in the US is 1,250.00 per month. My coverage in Switzerland which is MUCH better coverage, from a private insurance company, is $200 per month. Healthcare in Switzerland is equivalent to our healthcare here and in some respects is better. Simple economics. When 100% of the young and healthy are in the pool, the costs go WAY down,.

 

[Pancreek1]

So you advocate for a jobs guarantee, full support of the physically and mentally handicapped, and extreme version of the individual mandate, price controls, free daycare, amnesty, a Marshall Plan for inner cities, tax and spend on education, and payment for fatherhood... but CNN is too far to the left for you?

1. Not a jobs guarantee. Taking people CURRENTLY on welfare and putting their ass to work. Budget Neutral.,
2. Yes, full support for physically and mentally disabled, just like we do now in a wasteful way. Should be Budget Neutral
3. See my post above re: healthcare.....Would reduce the deficit materially
4. I never said free daycare. I said put the momma's to work and provide day care for them as part of the package. Today they are sit-in on their asses and you pay for the privilege. Should be budget neutral or deficit reducing.
5. Yes, law illegals who are employed and otherwise law abiding should have a path toward a "REAL" SSN #: Revenue Positive deficit reducing
6. I said Economic Development in the Inner Cities.....Never said Marshal Plan. With the social costs we pay for now there, any economic development will most definitely be deficit reducing.
7. YES......Tax and Spend on Education. I guess you are against increased OK Taxes to fund education properly? In the long run improved education will be revenue positive/deficit reducing. I admit it is an investment in the next generation and I won't live to see it.
8. Never said payment for fatherhood. I said incentives. And yes, the ROI on that investment would be huge in my opinion. Should be MATERIALLY deficit reducing as each dollar invested will return multiples on that dollar.

Interesting how you rephrased my position and made some radical assumptions. And yes, my problem with CNN is the lack of balance and perspective. My network would give equal billing to all sides of an issue and not try and lead the masses by the nose.

 

[07pilt]

Interesting how you rephrased my position and made some radical assumptions. And yes, my problem with CNN is the lack of balance and perspective. My network would give equal billing to all sides of an issue and not try and lead the masses by the nose.

The reason you don't see your views reflected in the media is because your views are to the left of the media consensus on the issues. I'm sorry, but the right left continuum isn't determined by the budget impact of policies.

 

[CBradSmith]

In my version of the individual mandate, it is MUCH more conservative than anything being proposed by Dems or Reps. I believe every person should be required to purchase insurance....out of their own pocket and make it illegal for companies to provide it as part of a benefits package.

It is amazing how well it works in Switzerland. It simply is a cost of living, but when there is 100% participation (and the right public utility style regulations on price gouging), the cost goes through the floor. My coverage here in the US is 1,250.00 per month. My coverage in Switzerland which is MUCH better coverage, from a private insurance company, is $200 per month. Healthcare in Switzerland is equivalent to our healthcare here and in some respects is better. Simple economics. When 100% of the young and healthy are in the pool, the costs go WAY down,.

I'm fit. I like to stay fit. I work at it.

I don't like helping to balance the equation for the fats.

 

[07pilt]

I'm fit. I like to stay fit. I work at it.

I don't like helping to balance the equation for the fats.

Same, but for cancer.

 

[CBradSmith]

Same, but for cancer.

You're fit?!

Shocker.

 

[Ponca Dan]

1. Not a jobs guarantee. Taking people CURRENTLY on welfare and putting their ass to work. Budget Neutral.,
2. Yes, full support for physically and mentally disabled, just like we do now in a wasteful way. Should be Budget Neutral
3. See my post above re: healthcare.....Would reduce the deficit materially
4. I never said free daycare. I said put the momma's to work and provide day care for them as part of the package. Today they are sit-in on their asses and you pay for the privilege. Should be budget neutral or deficit reducing.
5. Yes, law illegals who are employed and otherwise law abiding should have a path toward a "REAL" SSN #: Revenue Positive deficit reducing
6. I said Economic Development in the Inner Cities.....Never said Marshal Plan. With the social costs we pay for now there, any economic development will most definitely be deficit reducing.
7. YES......Tax and Spend on Education. I guess you are against increased OK Taxes to fund education properly? In the long run improved education will be revenue positive/deficit reducing. I admit it is an investment in the next generation and I won't live to see it.
8. Never said payment for fatherhood. I said incentives. And yes, the ROI on that investment would be huge in my opinion. Should be MATERIALLY deficit reducing as each dollar invested will return multiples on that dollar.

Interesting how you rephrased my position and made some radical assumptions. And yes, my problem with CNN is the lack of balance and perspective. My network would give equal billing to all sides of an issue and not try and lead the masses by the nose.

Well, let’s see. First you say health care is a RIGHT. Like electricity. That’s a new one on me. I didn’t know electricity was considered a right. But health care is a right, but it is a right every man, woman and child in America will be required by law to purchase insurance in order to enjoy the right. And failing to pay for the right will get you thrown into prison and deported. Deported? To where? Deporting American citizens? What section of the Constitution gives the government that power? But you insist it’s not the same thing as socialized medicine. In what fundamental way is it different from socialized medicine? How large a bureaucracy will be needed to enforce the legal requirement that every person in the country has health insurance? Will the inspectors be armed, in case they have to haul off any malefactors? Will these new felons be thrown into cells with murderers and rapists before they are deported? Will both the mother and the father be sent to prison? Will their children go to jail too? Or will the government build childrens’ homes to house them while their felony parents are serving their time? What degree of insurance will the government require we purchase before we can take advantage of our right to health care? Will men be required to have abortion insurance? Will women have insurance to correct erectile dysfunction? What will the prison sentence be for failure to have insurance? Is there any chance - any probability whatsoever - that the government agents might be corrupt and use this new power to deport people in a contrary manner? If the parents are deported do the children have to go as well? Price control on medicine and procedures! Nice touch! That ought to end well. I have about a million more questions, but let’s start with these. Please give complete answers before we move on. Thanking you in advance.

 

[CBradSmith]

Well, let’s see. First you say health care is a RIGHT. Like electricity. That’s a new one on me. I didn’t know electricity was considered a right. But health care is a right, but it is a right every man, woman and child in America will be required by law to purchase insurance in order to enjoy the right. And failing to pay for the right will get you thrown into prison and deported. Deported? To where? Deporting American citizens? What section of the Constitution gives the government that power? But you insist it’s not the same thing as socialized medicine. In what fundamental way is it different from socialized medicine? How large a bureaucracy will be needed to enforce the legal requirement that every person in the country has health insurance? Will the inspectors be armed, in case they have to haul off any malfactors? Will these new felons be thrown into cells with murderers and rapists before they are deported? Will both the mother and the father be sent to prison? Will their children go to jail too? Or will the government build childrens’ homes to house them while their felony parents are serving their time? What degree of insurance will the government require we purchase before we can take advantage of our right to health care? Will men be required to have abortion insurance? Will women have insurance to correct erectile dysfunction? What will the prison sentence be for failure to have insurance? Is there any chance - any probability whatsoever - that the government agents might be corrupt and use this new power to deport people in a contrary manner? If the parents are deported do the children have to go as well? Price control on medicine and procedures! Nice touch! That ought to end well. I have about a million more questions, but let’s start with these. Please give complete answers before we move on. Thanking you in advance.

Paragraphs are your friend.

 

[Ponca Dan]

Paragraphs are your friend.

Please feel free to edit as you see fit!

 

[CBradSmith]

Please feel free to edit as you see fit!

Do your work for you?

Whatever communist.

 

[Ponca Dan]

Do your work for you?

Whatever communist.

Got me!

 

[HighStickHarry]

Do your work for you?

Whatever communist.

Like like like like like!

Just jokes Ponca Dan but seriously tighten up.

 

[Pancreek1]

Yes, even citizens of Switzerland lose their privileges of citizenship if they fail to abide by the laws. Strange how that works in other places but it seems foreign to us.

 

[CSCOTTOSUPOKES]

Yes, even citizens of Switzerland lose their privileges of citizenship if they fail to abide by the laws. Strange how that works in other places but it seems foreign to us.

If you break the law in this country, you can lose the privilege to vote, to drive, to own guns, to live in certain areas, to work in certain industries, etc.

 

[davidallen]

Most private industry is paid based on merit but I do agree paying teachers on merit isn’t the same and can be quite difficult. That doesn’t mean a method isnt out there.

How about some combination of fixed increases annually and variable compensation (I.e. bonus) for performance. It could be set up like my bonus plan which isn’t 100% tied to my performance, but I can affect it.

My bonus is split into several pieces each which has a metric tied to it. The metric has a sliding scale so I can 50% of the piece up to double. You could do the same thing. Have 25% of the bonus tied to the overall school performance somehow, have 25% tied to that teachers performance. Come up with the other 50% in different categories.

It really isn’t that difficult.

Actually it is.

I spent half a decade on just such a system - absent the pay component - just trying to identify efficacy of methods (think curriculum) and resources (human, instructional, et al) in the classroom.

The advances in machine learning make this more solvable, but just normalizing for student population (i.e. what are the relevant attributes to consider when normalizing) is quite challenging let alone considering "moments in time" that skew results (think school disruptions, life changes, etc).

It really is that difficult.

 

[Ponca Dan]

Pancreek, here’s a simple question that can be answered with a yes or no: if electricity is a right should every citizen in America be required to buy it under penalty of felony conviction and deportation?

 

[poke2001]

Actually it is.

I spent half a decade on just such a system - absent the pay component - just trying to identify efficacy of methods (think curriculum) and resources (human, instructional, et al) in the classroom.

The advances in machine learning make this more solvable, but just normalizing for student population (i.e. what are the relevant attributes to consider when normalizing) is quite challenging let alone considering "moments in time" that skew results (think school disruptions, life changes, etc).

It really is that difficult.

Guess what, life isn’t fair. I missed 20% of my bonus potential because we had a ****up in our facility get hurt doing something stupid. I still got a very nice bonus, but it could have been even better.

I’m saying teachers would have the guaranteed increase + a variable component to reward performance. Some great performers will get screwed and some poor performers will get rewarded, but that is life.

 

[Medic007]

If you break the law in this country, you can lose the privilege to vote, to drive, to own guns, to live in certain areas, to work in certain industries, etc.

And if you break our immigration laws you can gain access to most of the above! Viva Los Democrats!