Romney At It Again

[klunderbunker]

It still stuns me that people stubbornly cling to the idea that Obama is not an American.

The reason you can tell it's purely racial (among other things):

1. McCain was born in Panama. Yeah it was a military base, but it wasn't in American. Obama lived in another country and he's clearly not allowed to be President.

2. People freak out because Obama isn't a Christian, despite him saying he is. Romney is a faithful Mormon, and that's completely accepted by the GOP. You know, because he's white and all that.

 

[AndThat'sTheBottomLine]

It still stuns me that people stubbornly cling to the idea that Obama is not an American.

Then there's the rumor that his Social Security number is faked too.

 

[Moon Knight]

Oh, trust me, I hate it. We dun goofed with this one.

It's somewhat comforting to know the Empire is probably in its dying days, though.

How is that comforting?

 

[George Steele's Barber]

Then there's the rumor that his Social Security number is faked too.

Until he shows me his social security number I can't just accept that it is real.

 

[Moon Knight]

1. McCain was born in Panama. Yeah it was a military base, but it wasn't in American. Obama lived in another country and he's clearly not allowed to be President.

American embassies and military bases are considered US soil. If you are born on one you are considered a US citizen at birth. I assume you know that.

 

[Slyfox696]

2. People freak out because Obama isn't a Christian, despite him saying he is. Romney is a faithful Mormon, and that's completely accepted by the GOP. You know, because he's white and all that.

Yes, I love this one too. People will vote for Romney because Obama isn't a Christian (even though he is), and they want a man of God to be President (even though Romney isn't a Christian).

It's no wonder Republicans want to get rid of the public educational system. The more dumb people there are, the bigger their voting base becomes.

 

[klunderbunker]

American embassies and military bases are considered US soil. If you are born on one you are considered a US citizen at birth. I assume you know that.

Yeah, but it's still not in America. That's ok though, because McCain is white. Obama is from one of those freaky island places so clearly he isn't eligible.

 

[klunderbunker]

Yes, I love this one too. People will vote for Romney because Obama isn't a Christian (even though he is), and they want a man of God to be President (even though Romney isn't a Christian).

It's no wonder Republicans want to get rid of the public educational system. The more dumb people there are, the bigger their voting base becomes.

I've been meaning to ask you this: thoughts on the Chicago teachers' strike?

 

[Slyfox696]

I've been meaning to ask you this: thoughts on the Chicago teachers' strike?

I'm never a fan of teacher strikes, but so many of the comments I have read about it from ignorant people piss me off.

Apparently, according to the people who post on CNN comment sections, public teachers should be willing to take less money, sacrifice all job security to the results of evaluations they don't even get to take, and do this with nothing but the poor and misbehaving students who aren't allowed in private and charter schools. Oh and the best part is that looking out for one's own family should be second to looking out for the children of someone else.

From what I've read, the strike is no longer about money, but rather fair job evaluations and proper teaching materials. And people have the gall to criticize teachers for wanting to be evaluated fairly and have current materials to teach kids with. And the worst part is people in Chicago are outraged at how much money teachers make...and they tell us this while they are sitting at US Cellular Field watching Adam Dunn and his $14 million salary get a hit 20% of the time he bats which, as the designated hitter, is the only thing that he does.

Bunch of hypocrites. What I started doing was for anyone complaining about teachers striking for money (because those children NEED that education), was to offer a Pay Pal account they could donate 10% of their yearly earnings after taxes to in order to help fund their local school district. Strangely enough, not ONE person was even remotely interested and most gave excuses for why they shouldn't have to sacrifice monetarily for the good of the children, despite their demands that others do so.


How was that for an answer?

 

[JGlass]

All the conspiracy theories about Obama are slightly unnerving, especially because they are clearly all invented because he's black.

Then I remember that we have a black president. Holy shit, we have a black president. A century ago black people couldn't even go to the same school as white people, and now we have a black president. Wow!

I know it's old news, but I still think it's cool!

 

[Slyfox696]

I hope the country does well in Obama's second term (assuming he gets elected) and Hilary runs for President. I'd love to see a woman be President after a black man, to finally open the floodgates for any politician, and end the idea that only old white men can run a country.

 

[FlexAmerican Dynamite]

Coming from a person who's in Chicago right now I can say the teacher strikes to me at least one of the most interesting things to happen to city in maybe the last couple of years. I think regardless of what the teachers settle on in the future they fully intended to take this week off. The sad part in all this is that kids are the ones who are losing in this battle. I think the mayor said it best "if you've got a problem with me don't take it on the children who need education".

Downtown has been very hectic with protesters, police, and students just watching it all from the sidelines. Never seen anything like it.

 

[klunderbunker]

I'm never a fan of teacher strikes, but so many of the comments I have read about it from ignorant people piss me off.

Apparently, according to the people who post on CNN comment sections, public teachers should be willing to take less money, sacrifice all job security to the results of evaluations they don't even get to take, and do this with nothing but the poor and misbehaving students who aren't allowed in private and charter schools. Oh and the best part is that looking out for one's own family should be second to looking out for the children of someone else.

From what I've read, the strike is no longer about money, but rather fair job evaluations and proper teaching materials. And people have the gall to criticize teachers for wanting to be evaluated fairly and have current materials to teach kids with. And the worst part is people in Chicago are outraged at how much money teachers make...and they tell us this while they are sitting at US Cellular Field watching Adam Dunn and his $14 million salary get a hit 20% of the time he bats which, as the designated hitter, is the only thing that he does.

Bunch of hypocrites. What I started doing was for anyone complaining about teachers striking for money (because those children NEED that education), was to offer a Pay Pal account they could donate 10% of their yearly earnings after taxes to in order to help fund their local school district. Strangely enough, not ONE person was even remotely interested and most gave excuses for why they shouldn't have to sacrifice monetarily for the good of the children, despite their demands that others do so.


How was that for an answer?

About what I expected.

I know this much: my aunt is one of the nicest, sweetest people you'll ever meet. She's a grandmother, a Sunday School teacher, a great cook, and almost a second grandmother to me. I've heard her get angry twice in my life.

The first time was when someone insulted her older brother who took care of her as a kid. The second was when someone said that she as a teacher only worked 9 months a year. My aunt taught for well over 30 years and I've never heard of her being around much in the summer due to getting ready for the next school year.

Pay the teachers and get the kids back in school where they belong.

Also, thoughts on charter schools if you don't mind?

All the conspiracy theories about Obama are slightly unnerving, especially because they are clearly all invented because he's black.

Then I remember that we have a black president. Holy shit, we have a black president. A century ago black people couldn't even go to the same school as white people, and now we have a black president. Wow!

I know it's old news, but I still think it's cool!

That's because it is.

 

[JGlass]

I hope the country does well in Obama's second term (assuming he gets elected) and Hilary runs for President. I'd love to see a woman be President after a black man, to finally open the floodgates for any politician, and end the idea that only old white men can run a country.

That would be awesome, but do you really think Hillary would have a presidential run in her after another 4 years? She'll be 69 by the election, and if age is something that can hold a male candidate back, imagine what it would do to a female candidate.

 

[Slyfox696]

Also, thoughts on charter schools if you don't mind?

I am firmly against ANYTHING which can lead to exclusion of students in education. The absolute WORST thing that could ever happen in this country is the destruction of public education.

There are things which need to be re-worked in public education, no doubt about it. But anything which actively works to destroy public education would be the undoing of so much of what makes America great.

 

[AndThat'sTheBottomLine]

Actually Mormon is a branch of Christianity. A far out there branch yes. But a branch it is. Still voting Obama.

 

[Slyfox696]

Actually Mormon is a branch of Christianity. A far out there branch yes. But a branch it is. Still voting Obama.

It depends on who you ask and how you define Christianity. But for the majority of people who consider Obama a Muslim, I would seriously doubt they would define Mormonism as Christian.

 

[AndThat'sTheBottomLine]

Wait. Doesn't he attend a Christian church? Ah ha! Another conspiracy! Lol people are stupid and even when they get proven wrong they still argue the same stupid points because they're just stupid.

 

[klunderbunker]

I am firmly against ANYTHING which can lead to exclusion of students in education. The absolute WORST thing that could ever happen in this country is the destruction of public education.

There are things which need to be re-worked in public education, no doubt about it. But anything which actively works to destroy public education would be the undoing of so much of what makes America great.

I'm the same. Public education was going along pretty well until Bush decided he had a better idea and then it all started crumbling. I don't get the appeal of charter schools on a national level at all.

 

[Bernkastel]

I am firmly against ANYTHING which can lead to exclusion of students in education. The absolute WORST thing that could ever happen in this country is the destruction of public education.

There are things which need to be re-worked in public education, no doubt about it. But anything which actively works to destroy public education would be the undoing of so much of what makes America great.

Are your thoughts on boarding schools the same?

 

[Slyfox696]

I'm the same. Public education was going along pretty well until Bush decided he had a better idea and then it all started crumbling. I don't get the appeal of charter schools on a national level at all.

There are a lot of other problems with education. NCLB was terrible, no doubt, but it had plenty of problems before then too.

Honestly, the best way to improve education is improve the attitude about education. Until all Americans recognize the value of an education AND promote education/educators are important pieces in our social machine, we will never get the results we want. Instead of vilifying our teachers (which is one of the biggest problems I have with Obama), we should be holding them in the same regard we hold doctors and psychiatrists. If the cultural attitudes on education were to shift in a much more positive direction, the gains in education would be phenomenal.

 

[Slyfox696]

Are your thoughts on boarding schools the same?

How do boarding schools, from an educational standpoint, differ from a private school?

 

[klunderbunker]

Along with having families actually do stuff to help their kids. My dad and I don't get along on a lot, but he made sure to read something with me every single night when I lived with him. I got a lot out of that and I never had any major issues in school because of it.

 

[Slyfox696]

Along with having families actually do stuff to help their kids. My dad and I don't get along on a lot, but he made sure to read something with me every single night when I lived with him. I got a lot out of that and I never had any major issues in school because of it.

I would consider that part of changing the educational culture.

 

[klunderbunker]

Makes sense. I don't get why parents wouldn't be able to find time to do something like that.