I am writing to you to ask you to vote against the President's new "jobs bill." I'm sure you are very much aware that this bill is just a smaller version of previously failed attempts at stimulating the economy. They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. Yet, the United States government continues to rack up massive debts, create new mandates and entitlements, stifle economic growth with oppressive regulation, and enter into unwinnable foreign wars.
I humbly ask you to stand up for Oregonians and oppose further government intervention into the private economy. This stimulus effort will not help unemployed Oregonians, it will only hand over the money of hard-working Americans to the politically well connected. If Congress wants to continue to do the same thing expecting different results, then perhaps the American people will have to try something new themselves. Something like voting out every member of Congress who continues to support these failed policies. Thank you for your time.
-- SmartMuffin - Because anything less would be uncivilized http://img.imgcake.com/gadsdenflaggifda.gif
I didn't read anything out of line. He only "threatened" to vote the congress member out of office, which is something they likely hear on a daily basis.
-- Yoblazer: http://8board.webs.com/ariel.jpg Watch and you'll see... someday I'll be... part of your world!
PartOfYourWorld posted... I didn't read anything out of line. He only "threatened" to vote the congress member out of office, which is something they likely hear on a daily basis.
Oh, there's nothing "out of line," so to speak. It's just also a letter that's going to be ignored because of his passive-aggressive tone, and that it amounts to "Do what I want or I'll vote against you."
-- SEP Nash, Smelling Like the Vault since 1996 Step FOUR! Get Paid! http://img.imgcake.com/stevenashgifpu.gif
But those kind of letters don't mean s*** if they don't get enough of them. Your letter isn't gonna stick out or make any sort of point. If added to a ton of similar letters? Then maybe, but most people are too lazy to write, anyway, even if they did feel that way.
-- SEP Nash, Smelling Like the Vault since 1996 Step FOUR! Get Paid! http://img.imgcake.com/stevenashgifpu.gif
Yeah, I mean I have to word things carefully. My representative is a HUGE progressive who I am almost diametrically opposed to.
However, he's almost so far left and I'm so far right that we end up agreeing on a lot of things. The last time I wrote him was to thank him for not voting for cap and trade (he didn't vote for it because he didn't think it went far enough). He also voted against the phony debt ceiling "compromise" (he voted against it because it didn't include any tax hikes).
-- SmartMuffin - Because anything less would be uncivilized http://img.imgcake.com/gadsdenflaggifda.gif
All I'm saying is that if you think enough people are going to do what you do, then more power to you, I guess. But why not do something more with your letter than hope that it doesn't end up as a napkin? Why just take the easy, yet passive aggressive, way out? I'm sure Congressmen get enough "I don't like this" letters each and every day, without so much as a "Here's an idea."
-- SEP Nash, Smelling Like the Vault since 1996 Step FOUR! Get Paid! http://img.imgcake.com/stevenashgifpu.gif
You might want to try writing to your news station.
I don't know about Oregon, but many News Stations have mail bags or the such, where they read letters written by people. Seems to me the better way to get your voice heard.
I believe $60 billion is going towards Education -- preventing layoffs of teachers, and modernizing schools. And putting money into Education is a big no-no for Republicans.
I believe $60 billion is going towards Education -- preventing layoffs of teachers, and modernizing schools. And putting money into Education is a big no-no for Republicans.
Yes, throwing money away on things that don't work IS in fact a big no-no to Republicans, you are correct.
Anyway, this is really just kind of sticking it to Obama. He's going on TV and begging the people to write their congressmen to demand they vote FOR his crappy plan. I'm trying to balance that out.
-- SmartMuffin - Because anything less would be uncivilized http://img.imgcake.com/gadsdenflaggifda.gif
From: Lucretia Merces | #023 I believe $60 billion is going towards Education -- preventing layoffs of teachers, and modernizing schools. And putting money into Education is a big no-no for Republicans.
60 billion towards education? I'm definitely for it then.
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I long to be a hobbit. I also long to be a penguin. Currently Playing- ?
It is statistically proven that more money does NOT result in better education.
That aside, it is not the role of the federal government to pay for education. The states should be doing that.
THAT aside, what happens next year? Either all those teachers get laid off THEN, or we suddenly have to pass ANOTHER half-trillion dollar plan to "create jobs" by redistributing wealth to areas where there is no demand for jobs.
-- SmartMuffin - Because anything less would be uncivilized http://img.imgcake.com/gadsdenflaggifda.gif
Education is probably one of the most important things in a society. I'd rather our money go towards education than many of the other things we put money into.
I guess it's more important to put money into things like: Maintaining unused Federal Property (There's $25B there) Resanding Beaches ($3B there) Paintings of Government Officials Jets for the Pentagon that they say they don't need and will never use Helping to build private golf courses Paying Farmers NOT to farm their land
And what about all the improper spending on government credit cards?
There's a lot of other areas where spending could be cut, and it'd make nobody unhappy. Except maybe a couple of big businesses and some members of congress.
I'd rather our education system be improved rather than almost anything else we put money into
But throwing money at education will NOT magically improve it. Sure, there are tons of schools that are seriously dilapidated and need renovation... that will improve things a little. Maybe some schools lack a good number of computers, which is pretty critical in this day and age, so that might see some improvement.
Beyond that, money doesn't really do anything for education. Bad teachers will still be bad and immune to being fired, bad curriculums will still be taught and never updated because the board of directors hates change. And therefore most American students will STILL have an overall negative experience in schools, leading to a continuation of the severe lack of interest in education, and thus the lack of quality teachers, etc., and it's a cycle.
The rest of the jobs bill stuff seems cool though, especially the infrastructure thing. Better roads and bridges ftw.
-- _foolmo_ 'You are obviously intelligent and insightful' - Sir Chris about me
Well I mean there's like 2 roads being redone in my current city and at my hometown there were like 5 new bypasses in the past few years. I dunno about the midwest or anything but who cares about the midwest?
-- _foolmo_ 'he says listen to my story this maybe are last chance' - ertyu quoting Tidus
Well I mean there's like 2 roads being redone in my current city and at my hometown there were like 5 new bypasses in the past few years. I dunno about the midwest or anything but who cares about the midwest?
And how do you know that's from federal stimulus money?
Roads have always been redone constantly throughout our entire history. Typically, it comes from local and/or state tax revenue.
-- SmartMuffin - Because anything less would be uncivilized http://img.imgcake.com/gadsdenflaggifda.gif
the money we put towards education is insignificant next to the money we put towards things that are worse and less useful. it's a pretty small portion of our federal budget, and not something we should skimp on.
the money we put towards education is insignificant next to the money we put towards things that are worse and less useful.
Igloo Bob going with the ever popular "two wrongs make a right" logic.
If you want to cut a bunch of other, worse, programs I'm right there with you buddy. But the fact that there's other wasteful spending does not justify increased wasteful spending on education at the federal level.
-- SmartMuffin - Because anything less would be uncivilized http://img.imgcake.com/gadsdenflaggifda.gif
Igloo Bob going with the ever popular "two wrongs make a right" logic.
If you want to cut a bunch of other, worse, programs I'm right there with you buddy. But the fact that there's other wasteful spending does not justify increased wasteful spending on education at the federal level.
I'm saying "you could cut every dollar of our education spending and it would not make a dent in our overall spending issues." Couple that with the fact that the countries with the best education systems are best equipped to matter in the future, it makes sense to spend a lot on education and also figure out how to make our education system better. Throwing money at education won't fix it, but I've never heard that too much money actually makes your education system worse.
Let's take a long look at military spending, social security, and medicare which are by far the three hugest parts of our budget before looking at anything else.
OmarsComin posted... Igloo Bob going with the ever popular "two wrongs make a right" logic.
If you want to cut a bunch of other, worse, programs I'm right there with you buddy. But the fact that there's other wasteful spending does not justify increased wasteful spending on education at the federal level.
I'm saying "you could cut every dollar of our education spending and it would not make a dent in our overall spending issues." Couple that with the fact that the countries with the best education systems are best equipped to matter in the future, it makes sense to spend a lot on education and also figure out how to make our education system better. Throwing money at education won't fix it, but I've never heard that too much money actually makes your education system worse.
Let's take a long look at military spending, social security, and medicare which are by far the three hugest parts of our budget before looking at anything else.
Medicare isn't part of the budget. It's paid for by using imaginary money that hasn't and won't exist.
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"Principally I hate and detest the animal called man, although I heartily love John, Peter, Thomas and so forth" - Jonathan Swift BT with the victory!
smuffin you are seriously on some conspiracy that the stimulus did not actually contain any infrastructure spending? because I have seen many signs indicating "funded by the american recovery and reinvestment act"
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I'm "kind of a big deal". http://img.imgcake.com/cyclo/Cyclopngegpngre.png
Actually I live in Eugene which is even more leftist than Portland.
But it's sort of a microcosm of the state, as the entire rest of the Congressional district is full of rural, red-state areas. In any case, this giant progressive guy has been reelected over and over again since the early 90s so yeah.
-- SmartMuffin - Because anything less would be uncivilized http://img.imgcake.com/gadsdenflaggifda.gif
Based on the fact that it is nearly impossible to find teaching jobs in most states now due to positions being slashed from budged cuts, that money towards education would be stellar.
No, more money != better education, but more teachers = better education, and more money = more teachers.
From: Lucretia Merces | #003 You'll probably get an automated response
Topic over
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Never underestimate the power of stupidity in numbers. ~War13104 Never stoop to the level of idiots. They will drag you down and beat you with experience.
You need both. Better teachers that are overworked will soon stop being better teachers.
SmartMuffin posted... Well I mean there's like 2 roads being redone in my current city and at my hometown there were like 5 new bypasses in the past few years. I dunno about the midwest or anything but who cares about the midwest?
And how do you know that's from federal stimulus money?
Roads have always been redone constantly throughout our entire history. Typically, it comes from local and/or state tax revenue.
They've actually made it known that the major construction projects in my area are being done thanks to federal money. Which is good since all the local money is still going to flood recovery.
-- (Maniac64 at work) [Browncoat] ~Board 570901~ All the proteins, vitamins, and carbs of your grandma's best turkey dinner, plus 15% alcohol.
lol at all government regulation being "oppressive". Muffin, you have a lot to learn if you think we are anywhere close to "too much regulation".
Let me guess, you think we should get rid of the FDA and just "not get sick" from food we buy. And if we do, we just need to find a different place to buy food from.