Excelle

McKaren says ...

Where's the mass transit?

I don't believe there are any easy answers -- we have left the kettle unattended for so long - and in my mind, we need to start somewhere.

It's easy enough to point out the problems - coming up with working solutions takes more effort. 

I think you might be surprised how many people you think you disagree with you actually agree with you. I agree the school system needs to be fixed. But I think too many Unions are ruining choices for parents. Obama choice has very good ideas for trying to make it work. Including measuring teachers preformances and vouchers. But it is hard to see what they are really doing. They say they want to give Partents choices and improve schools. But in Washington DC they just shut down their voucher programs. It has left alot of kids that were getting a second chance from a private system that they were not getting from the public system. So i think you can see how some people turn and questions the intentions that are going on. Are they trying to help the students or appease the Unions? As a parent I think we need more choices. If you wanna send your kid to a private school,then you should either get a voucher or not have to pay taxes and just pay the scholl. If that is what is best for your child. Also,I don't know about anybody else but my older son is DYING with all the standardized testing. The teachers have to prove they are doing their jobs I get that but I feel it is costing our children in the form of a real education.

And the foreign oil thing. we all feel the same way too. But feel that we need that independence now,instead of waiting for energy technology to catch up. Like the only energy saving cars we have right now most of them use huge batteries. and once those are no longer useable what you do with em?How will those be disposed of? How will those effect the enviroment? Ithink sometimes we get to excited about the tech before really resloving the issue. Like ethanol. Swedish scienctist just released a report saying that the effects of growing more corn to supplement enough ethanol to substitue oil consumation is more harmful to the enviroment and the world food supply then using fossil fuels. so again,yes everyone agrees that something should be done,but we need to truly do our homework on the tech first.

Oh yeah i really don't watch CNN too much, but I have seen the polls too,and on MSNBC.

The only real way us as Americans to solve issues in my opinion is to rely less on politicans to solve those issues for us and for people on both sides to try to understand one another on the issues. Like what we are doing here. You give info on other media outlets and tell you why I stand where I stand and follow it up with fact. We all have the same goals. Maybe different routes, but the same goals.

McKaren says ...

I agree - diaglogue is important.

I read that article about the negative impact of using corn - biofuels in general really.  It's beside the point now -- but we've had access to the technology for a long long time - inexpensive car - great gas mileage - and other great ideas - mostly tabled 'cause they don't bring int the profits that some people want.

I don't support vouchers - we should be able to send our kids to public school for a great education - this is America for pete's sake.  I agree - the poor teachers are so overwhelmed with the reqs the states put on them there's little time for them to actually teach. In my county, with the budget distress (like so many others) the first - the very first thing they cut - was money for education - that's backwards -- I'd pay a lot in taxes if you could promise me - health care for the young and elderly, education - I mean, come on --- it's the teachers, policemen, firemen -- they're the ones who should be making the big bucks -- not baseball players.

Hey check out  Michelle Rhee the super over Washington DC schools she has really changed things around there. I read about her in Time mag. Great article. And she really cares about what happens to the kids. That is my ONLY problem with public school system is Unions.(Besides the testing) Unions I think play too big a part in the system. And corrupt it. It no longer becomes about the kids but about the teachers. I want to have a good public school system.One that helps kids learn in a safe enviroment. And a system that doesnot cater to just one why of learning. That is why I support vouchers and options for parents. If the school your child goes to,at that very moment,is riddle with violence and is a filing school,how else do you help yoour child get the education they deserve? Average cost to the tax payer for a child in public school is about 13,000 a yr. Through a voucher program the tax payer pays about 7,000  in DC. (Those numbers might not be exact buut they close).

We can disagree slightly but I think we all want the same thing.So check her out she has a real grasp of the problem and solving it. At least that is my opinion.

Let me know what you think.

Have a good nite!

jespinoza1978 says ...

lifecoach says ...

Congress now is an old boys school, I beleive it was William Pain that said (but I could be wrong) That "In a democracy the goverment should fear the people not the people fear the government."  this is one way of saying the government works for us folks we should not be working for them.

It is Thomas Paine book "Common Sense" Awesome Book! At must read for a political library.

You know he was a liberal right and not religious?

I 'm not an American so forgive me for not following all Obamas' policies.  I would just like to answer the original question  about '"are you a racist if you disagree with him "   Maybe I am an idealist, but why on earth should these two things even be linked?  If people have differing opinions on political solutions, isn't that what democracy is all about ? If you can't say what you believe for fear of being deemed a racist,     or a white hater. then it is extremely sad. 

I personally feel that Obama is a very intelligent, caring , and knowing person, and as one person pointed out he is still very "new " at the job, and under so much scrutiny.  I think he will prove to be a very  capable President.

Again - please tone this down -- several notches. This has become too personal and has become an unhealthy one-on-one discussion, not a place where everyone is contributing. Please only continue to post if you have something constructive to say that's respectful and not hateful.

We're all allowed to have different view points, and we're also not all expected to agree with them.

If any more hateful comments are discussed, here or in any other forum thread, you will unfortunately be blacklisted. Posts from any user that exhibited a personal attack will be and have been deleted.

If you disagree and do not want to participate, please select other more appropriate discussions in which you can healthily participate.

Please take a deep breath and think about what you're saying before you say it. For any further questions about Excelle's forum rules, you may peruse them here.

I was really hoping that Obama would have appointed her the Education Guru. I think she's fantastic.

I don't think it's racist at all. An opinion is an opinion and everyone is entitled to have one whether you agree or not. The issue is really whether you take someone's opinion personally. If you internalize I find the opinion becomes something a lot deeper.

You know I just want to say thank you to all ladies here that participated in this post.

Thank you.

jespinoza1978 says ...

AngelaK says ...

I don't think it's racist at all. An opinion is an opinion and everyone is entitled to have on whether you agree or not. The issue is really whether you take someone's opinion personally. If you internalize I find the opinion becomes something a lot deeper.

 

That is an awesome statement.

but I want to ask how do you deal when evertime 9okay so not everytime,but almost evertime) you turn on the news or read it. This is what the media is saying about someone who stands where you stand?

Many Democrats and liberals felt this same way when BUsh was in office and they were called terrorist for being against the war.

Oh yes. I can't tell you how many times I was called anti this or anti that and that I hated my country and all this other crap. Of course most of that was on the internet but sometimes things still can hurt.   Doing simple protesting and exercising your first amendment right is very American  but when you go and shoot three cops that's where the line is drawn. Even just being a communist makes me anti-American according to some people. *sigh*

I'm gonna get this wrong - so - I'm saying this is the gist of the speech.  In one of my favorite movies "The American President", Michael Douglas makes a speech towards the end of the movie where he describes what democracy really is -- "...listening to someone yell at the top of their lungs something which you would fight against with every fiber of your being"; we have that right. 

I don't know really when it happened but over the last 10 years or so - it's become nearly impossible to have discussions on opposing views - like - impossible - somewhere along the road we've forgotten as friends, it's okay to agree to disagree and - move on - still friends.

I agree with the comment we should all keep in mind the burdens Obama is carrying and share in them.

McKaren says ...

I'm gonna get this wrong - so - I'm saying this is the gist of the speech.  In one of my favorite movies "The American President", Michael Douglas makes a speech towards the end of the movie where he describes what democracy really is -- "...listening to someone yell at the top of their lungs something which you would fight against with every fiber of your being"; we have that right. 

I don't know really when it happened but over the last 10 years or so - it's become nearly impossible to have discussions on opposing views - like - impossible - somewhere along the road we've forgotten as friends, it's okay to agree to disagree and - move on - still friends.

I agree with the comment we should all keep in mind the burdens Obama is carrying and share in them.

And another beauty is we can turn it off if we want to on either side.  :) 

SheilaG says ...

It doesn't matter what the former presidents did with regard to the debt/deficit. In economic terms two things matter:

1. Percentage of deficit to GDP

2. Number 1 relative to all other countries that might rival the US in a flight to safety.

All that being said, everytime we have a switch in Parties, we simply get the same thing. One side protests and the other side calls them names and mocks them.  To be honest, protests are good. They are a sign of a healthy political system, and good for your health too.

Calling some large group of protestors racists isn't helpful. It's like Godwins Law:

Godwin's Law (also known as Godwin's Rule of Nazi Analogies)^[1] is an informal adage created by Mike Godwin in 1990. The adage states: "As a Usenet discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1."^[2][3]

This has also been used in this fashion: proposed a corollary to Godwin's law that as the time a liberal candidate is believed to be winning an election or argument increases, the probability that they will be labeled communist or socialist approaches 1.

I would add that "as the time a conservative is believed to be winning an election or argument increases, the probability that they will be labeled racist or "for the rich" approaches 1.

There are always racists and loons in every crowd, but there isn't any reason to label a group in that fashion unless they are the KKK or something like that.

As far as spending goes, this is the history. 

As I said earlier it's only racist if the people protesting bring race into it when it has nothing to do with anything.  The fact we have an African-American president shouldn't mean  a dang thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-M1ptoYgG04&feature=related

Here's a guy who has a sign talking about white slavery.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8500HxYv-FE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdyGhE7zH6U&feature=related

I can get more if you'd like.

Personally, I think he needs more time to show where he can take our country.  He has some sound plans for environmental issues and green projects that I hope get off the ground.  My interest is in the green technology and the tram system like they have overseas to promote travel between our cities.  My son lives in China and travels to Japan and everywhere.  He is a teacher in China and former military.  I had to ask him about the tram system as I really didn't understand it as I have never been overseas.  He explained to me that the track of this passenger train is above the ground and the trains kind of wraps around the track.  It is suppose to be more effecient, more economic and envorionmentally friendly plus it will create jobs to create this system in our country.  My husband is a trucker and the green jobs are starting to effect the trucking industry as jobs are being created now to haul the new electric grid transformers, lumber and other materials needed to be put into use in Iowa and other states.  I do not like the bailout for our coporate rats who take the money and give themselves bonuses while their company is still laying off the American worker but that was not what the bailout was for and the corporations took advantage of the situation and should be made to pay for the misuse.  I like the fact that they are trying to save Americans from losing their homes but you notice that the ones who had already lost everything...well they were just out of luck and their credit destored beyond repair...no help for them.  President Obama will have his every move dissected as never before for one reason or another.  I may not agree with everything but I am with holding my opinion on the man and his run as President until he has been in office only a short time.  In regards to his choice of cabinet, I can not stand Hilary Clinton...she just rubs me the wrong way and you can get hate mail for showing dislike of her to.  I can't really say what it is about her but I just don't like her, trust her  and she was a surprize for me as one of his chosen cabinet.  Politcal reasons no doubt as she had a huge standing with voters to.

DaisyS says ...

Folks, stop watching FOX NEWS, it's hateful and destructive; it represents 20% of America.  All my republicans friends are now Independents and also wish Obama much success.

 

 

I hear alot of people say the same things over and over again about "Where you guys during Bush admin?". And the answer is always the same. The insanity that Bush started in the bailouts did not start until this past year. and all Obama and his adminstartion had to do was put a stop to the outrageous spending. I am a second generation American of Mexican descent and couple of generations Irish descent. I never agreed with anything Bush did. Mainly things like the "Patriot Act". (  A true weapon against Americans,in my opinion) And many Liberals and Democrats rallied against it. You ask 'Where were we?"  and I ask 'Where are you now?" that Obama has decided to keep such bills even though he has delcred and end to the war on Terror. I am no middle class anything.I am a no body to everybody.But what I see is the same politics. The same tatics to terrroize and demonize all that disagree with the government.I have seen it happen in Latin American countries and it is happening here. People for the Tea Parties are the "Independents" we take no party line. and ALL politicans are up for judgement. To me and others there has been no power change. The Republican party is truly on it's last leg and such is the price of misusing the People's trust. And the Democrats are just making sure that they squash any opppoent against them. As littlepinky corrected me early the Dems have had power for 6 out of the 8 years that Bush was in office and the biggest offenders of this ecoonmic mess like Dodd and Barney frank will never see jail time or even a court of law for defrauding the American people. Has anybody wondered why that is that we see these little displays of trials with no real intent to perscute? No really convictions or investigations about how we got that why/. Just print money we do not have and loan it to ourselves.

And I will say it again I am bi-racial and a very proud woman. And I hated Foxsnews without even watchinmg it cuz I heard all this stuff about it. I got convinced to watch and I can tell honestly,I have never seen any hate,any sexism,and it is seriously unbiased. They blame Bush just as much for the mess as the blame Obama and his admin. for continuing it.

I have freinds from places like Veneszulan and Guatamalia ( I hope Ispelled that right) who say that our government is become just like what they have there. Something they thought they had left behind.They are scared about what is happening here. This is not about two parties anymore to us. This is about the people against the government. And I can do nothing but wait it out. But I will voice my opinion about some of the things that truly distrub me. Just like under Bush.Enron,the Patriot Act,etc...

But I and anyone thinks like me should not be labeled as domestic terrorist and a racist or that I have a mental disorder because I disagree.I appreciate all the discussion here it is nice to see people so interested in the subject.

Oh yeah one more thing. Gardertigress says she is seeing the affects of the "smart Grid" creating jobs. I think some of this might need to be a different post.The topics that are sprouted I tell yeah =)

But anyways. I am glad that the jobs are coming from it. I am .But I disagree with the Smart Grid. Just because as I understand it,the grid will control how much power each citizens uses. In order to prevent power brown outs and black outs from wasteful usage. I worked at 24hour fitness for about a year. They had something very similiar for their AC system. All the clubs around the country were tied into a computer system that was controlled by the Corporation. I live in Katy,which is in Southeast Texas. and it does not just get hot here,it is extremely humid as well. During the summer we had to open doors because Corp. had the temps set at a certain temp. and would REFUSE to turn it up or down. Their response to our managers pleas to "Please make it cooler or clients are passing out" was "We see the temp at such and such temp and we are not going to change it.". We really did have people,especial older people would pass out or have to leave it so hot.

I think that ultimately that this will be the same with the smart Grid. People and places like hospitals ,retirement homes, schools, and daycares will have no control over the temperatures in their buildings. We will not have the control in our homes. People need to make simple decisions for themselves like AC or Heat. We know better in Texas the heat and humidty here then someone in california. Or people in Minnesota know better the cold the someone in Texas.It is just common sense.

We say about "Abortion' rights "I want the governemnt out of my busniess" but yet in these cases we allow it.Once you let them in,no matter the area of your life they control, their control will bleed into other areas.It is not a matter of opinion in this case it is a matter of history. Russia,China,Cuba,Veneszula,etc.....the list just keeps going.

If we had voted in McCain,whether you guys belive it or not,if he was doing the same things those that oppose Obama and his adminstration and policies would still be speaking out against him as well. It is no longer a party issue.This is about the rights of the people.

But anyways I am babbling. Everybody "Happy Mother's Day" and I hope you ladies have a good one.

jespinoza1978 says ...

DaisyS says ...

Folks, stop watching FOX NEWS, it's hateful and destructive; it represents 20% of America.  All my republicans friends are now Independents and also wish Obama much success.

 

 

I hear alot of people say the same things over and over again about "Where you guys during Bush admin?". And the answer is always the same. The insanity that Bush started in the bailouts did not start until this past year. and all Obama and his adminstartion had to do was put a stop to the outrageous spending. I am a second generation American of Mexican descent and couple of generations Irish descent. I never agreed with anything Bush did. Mainly things like the "Patriot Act". (  A true weapon against Americans,in my opinion) And many Liberals and Democrats rallied against it. You ask 'Where were we?"  and I ask 'Where are you now?" that Obama has decided to keep such bills even though he has delcred and end to the war on Terror. I am no middle class anything.I am a no body to everybody.But what I see is the same politics. The same tatics to terrroize and demonize all that disagree with the government.I have seen it happen in Latin American countries and it is happening here. People for the Tea Parties are the "Independents" we take no party line. and ALL politicans are up for judgement. To me and others there has been no power change. The Republican party is truly on it's last leg and such is the price of misusing the People's trust. And the Democrats are just making sure that they squash any opppoent against them. As littlepinky corrected me early the Dems have had power for 6 out of the 8 years that Bush was in office and the biggest offenders of this ecoonmic mess like Dodd and Barney frank will never see jail time or even a court of law for defrauding the American people. Has anybody wondered why that is that we see these little displays of trials with no real intent to perscute? No really convictions or investigations about how we got that why/. Just print money we do not have and loan it to ourselves.

And I will say it again I am bi-racial and a very proud woman. And I hated Foxsnews without even watchinmg it cuz I heard all this stuff about it. I got convinced to watch and I can tell honestly,I have never seen any hate,any sexism,and it is seriously unbiased. They blame Bush just as much for the mess as the blame Obama and his admin. for continuing it.

I have freinds from places like Veneszulan and Guatamalia ( I hope Ispelled that right) who say that our government is become just like what they have there. Something they thought they had left behind.They are scared about what is happening here. This is not about two parties anymore to us. This is about the people against the government. And I can do nothing but wait it out. But I will voice my opinion about some of the things that truly distrub me. Just like under Bush.Enron,the Patriot Act,etc...

But I and anyone thinks like me should not be labeled as domestic terrorist and a racist or that I have a mental disorder because I disagree.I appreciate all the discussion here it is nice to see people so interested in the subject.

 

Oh yeah one more thing. Gardertigress says she is seeing the affects of the "smart Grid" creating jobs. I think some of this might need to be a different post.The topics that are sprouted I tell yeah =)

But anyways. I am glad that the jobs are coming from it. I am .But I disagree with the Smart Grid. Just because as I understand it,the grid will control how much power each citizens uses. In order to prevent power brown outs and black outs from wasteful usage. I worked at 24hour fitness for about a year. They had something very similiar for their AC system. All the clubs around the country were tied into a computer system that was controlled by the Corporation. I live in Katy,which is in Southeast Texas. and it does not just get hot here,it is extremely humid as well. During the summer we had to open doors because Corp. had the temps set at a certain temp. and would REFUSE to turn it up or down. Their response to our managers pleas to "Please make it cooler or clients are passing out" was "We see the temp at such and such temp and we are not going to change it.". We really did have people,especial older people would pass out or have to leave it so hot.

I think that ultimately that this will be the same with the smart Grid. People and places like hospitals ,retirement homes, schools, and daycares will have no control over the temperatures in their buildings. We will not have the control in our homes. People need to make simple decisions for themselves like AC or Heat. We know better in Texas the heat and humidty here then someone in california. Or people in Minnesota know better the cold the someone in Texas.It is just common sense.

We say about "Abortion' rights "I want the governemnt out of my busniess" but yet in these cases we allow it.Once you let them in,no matter the area of your life they control, their control will bleed into other areas.It is not a matter of opinion in this case it is a matter of history. Russia,China,Cuba,Veneszula,etc.....the list just keeps going.

If we had voted in McCain,whether you guys belive it or not,if he was doing the same things those that oppose Obama and his adminstration and policies would still be speaking out against him as well. It is no longer a party issue.This is about the rights of the people.

 

But anyways I am babbling. Everybody "Happy Mother's Day" and I hope you ladies have a good one.

The insanity started with Bush and his "tax cuts" during a time of two wars.  Not even Nixon was that dumb during Vietnam.  Heck he actually helped people with the food stamp program. 

The bailout thing going on now Bush actually started before he left D.C.  And when people ask where you were during his terms I know for myself I am asking about all the wild spending and taking a surplus and turning it into this God awful defecit that we're all paying for for years. 

Who has Obama demonized?  Do you mean that Homeland Security report?  Psst Bush did that before he left too.  It was his department who did.  And why shouldn't Obama be worried with all the racism?  Do you know the history of the KKK and the Neo-Nazi's with violence and racism?  Making threats against the president is illegal no matter who it is.  Were you out there protesting and screaming when anti-war groups like the Quakers were being spied upon and infilterated?  What about when us Commies are?  We always have to worry about that with our meetings.  Nobody seems to care about that.

What does Russia, China and Venezeula have to do with the law of Roe v Wade?  The issue isn't about abortion.  It's about whether or not women have the privacy over their own bodies and medical history.  Do we or do we not have the control over our own medical bodies?  Why do you want to control someone's life with which you know nothing about?  Would you like me to say you must do this or that and I don't know a damn thing about your life?  Of course not.  I wish people would understand the law before talking about it.

Somehow I fail to believe you'd still be out there protesting if this was McCain.