Friday, December 14, 2007
The Election and Education
I have not made up my mind about who to vote for in the upcoming election. I really like what Giuliani has to say about the need for "real" choice in education and he supports vouchers. I also like what Fred Thompson had to say about education in the debate. (watch below) Gathering all the information one can about the candidates is the key to making the best decision. Only time will tell.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Politicians at Their Finest
Back before Thanksgiving, on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 to be exact, I was invited to a public forum that had been initiated by a SC Senate Subcommittee that was being held at 6:30 at Baxter Hood in Rock Hill, SC. This subcommittee was seeking public comment from taxpayers regarding state spending. I had been encouraged by several people interested in state politics to attend. It was my understanding there was a push to get tax payers to be vocal regarding unreasonable spending by our state government. So, being interested in what happens in Columbia, my husband and I attended. More out of an interest in hearing what other tax payers had to say than anything else.
Boy, were we surprised (not pleasantly) after arriving at this hearing and listening to speakers provide comment to this panel of legislators. Everyone who had signed up to speak seemed to be on someone’s payroll that had their hand out for more tax payer dollars. All of them wanted to make darn sure that spending was not curtailed; in fact, many wanted to make sure that spending was increased. My husband and I sat there in amazement and wondered; where are the taxpayers?
What really got my goat was listening to Walter Brown, a long time RH School Board member and a Clover School Board member, stand before that committee and talk about how the school district can no longer generate local tax dollars to fund their schools. All their money now comes from Columbia and how they need the SC General Assembly to continue shoveling money their direction. By their account, and countless others from the City of Rock Hill and other government recipients of tax dollars, now is not the time to curtail spending.
So what’s a mother and father of three who both work extremely hard and pay a gracious plenty in tax to do? You shove those hands looking for a hand out, out of the way and speak on behalf of hard working South Carolinians who are tired of the state taking $ out of their pockets.
This is where things get interesting. Little ole me, gets up there to address the subcommittee dressed very casually because I had had no previous intentions of speaking. I was merely going to sit in the back and listen quietly. Well, I told the committee how utterly disappointed I was that this forum had become a forum for other entities, both private and public, to ask for more spending, rather than a forum for tax payers. I provided them with an example of how well some of these entities, like the RH School District, spend their money. They use their $ (which SURPLUS $) to the tune of almost 2 million dollars on a Jumbotron and astro turf for a football stadium. Mind you, this stadium has been in existence for 20+ years without the benefit of astro turf or a jumbotron. The decision was made against public outcry not to spend this $ in this fashion. I went on to explain that “public money” is my money and your money. It should be used wisely and only on things necessary. It is not an endless pot and it is unfair to continue to place the burden of excessive spending on taxpayers.
Well, Senator Page from Charleston challenged my comments. He talked about growth in our area and how great our schools are in York County. Our schools are not all great in York County which I pointed out and that parent’s needed choice when it came to their child’s education. He then stupidly commented on how my children sure would enjoy the astro turf and jumbotron to which I kindly told him that I did not give a rat’s behind if my children enjoyed these luxuries, that this is not something that taxpayers should be required to foot the bill for. Senator Page chuckled and said, well, you do know Mam that you are talking to a “tax and spend liberal”. I let a moment pass for that to sink in with everyone…….and responded “clearly”.
These are the kind of people we have serving in the State House. People who publicly state, without hesitation, embarrassment, or shame that they are “tax and spend liberals”. We have others on the public dole, who without hesitation, beg these big spenders for more money and do so without shame. This is my money. This is every honest working person’s money. I file my taxes every year and pay a gracious plenty in taxes. And to be honest, I don’t mind paying my share of taxes. What I do mind is my tax dollars not being spent wisely. I want representatives in Columbia to be good stewards of my money and they are NOT! I don’t want to pay for a Jumbotron. I don’t want to funnel massive quantities into public education when we are getting no band for our buck. Corporate American doesn’t infuse massive amounts of money into failing companies. They have to turn a profit or they close. We should be seeing a “profit” in our public education system and we are NOT! We have been told for 40 years, “we need more money and the education system will improve”. It has NOT. Are we stupid? Do you continue to pour money into something that is not working? I don’t, I can’t because I don’t have an endless supply of money and we should let our government know THEY DON’T EITHER.
Boy, were we surprised (not pleasantly) after arriving at this hearing and listening to speakers provide comment to this panel of legislators. Everyone who had signed up to speak seemed to be on someone’s payroll that had their hand out for more tax payer dollars. All of them wanted to make darn sure that spending was not curtailed; in fact, many wanted to make sure that spending was increased. My husband and I sat there in amazement and wondered; where are the taxpayers?
What really got my goat was listening to Walter Brown, a long time RH School Board member and a Clover School Board member, stand before that committee and talk about how the school district can no longer generate local tax dollars to fund their schools. All their money now comes from Columbia and how they need the SC General Assembly to continue shoveling money their direction. By their account, and countless others from the City of Rock Hill and other government recipients of tax dollars, now is not the time to curtail spending.
So what’s a mother and father of three who both work extremely hard and pay a gracious plenty in tax to do? You shove those hands looking for a hand out, out of the way and speak on behalf of hard working South Carolinians who are tired of the state taking $ out of their pockets.
This is where things get interesting. Little ole me, gets up there to address the subcommittee dressed very casually because I had had no previous intentions of speaking. I was merely going to sit in the back and listen quietly. Well, I told the committee how utterly disappointed I was that this forum had become a forum for other entities, both private and public, to ask for more spending, rather than a forum for tax payers. I provided them with an example of how well some of these entities, like the RH School District, spend their money. They use their $ (which SURPLUS $) to the tune of almost 2 million dollars on a Jumbotron and astro turf for a football stadium. Mind you, this stadium has been in existence for 20+ years without the benefit of astro turf or a jumbotron. The decision was made against public outcry not to spend this $ in this fashion. I went on to explain that “public money” is my money and your money. It should be used wisely and only on things necessary. It is not an endless pot and it is unfair to continue to place the burden of excessive spending on taxpayers.
Well, Senator Page from Charleston challenged my comments. He talked about growth in our area and how great our schools are in York County. Our schools are not all great in York County which I pointed out and that parent’s needed choice when it came to their child’s education. He then stupidly commented on how my children sure would enjoy the astro turf and jumbotron to which I kindly told him that I did not give a rat’s behind if my children enjoyed these luxuries, that this is not something that taxpayers should be required to foot the bill for. Senator Page chuckled and said, well, you do know Mam that you are talking to a “tax and spend liberal”. I let a moment pass for that to sink in with everyone…….and responded “clearly”.
These are the kind of people we have serving in the State House. People who publicly state, without hesitation, embarrassment, or shame that they are “tax and spend liberals”. We have others on the public dole, who without hesitation, beg these big spenders for more money and do so without shame. This is my money. This is every honest working person’s money. I file my taxes every year and pay a gracious plenty in taxes. And to be honest, I don’t mind paying my share of taxes. What I do mind is my tax dollars not being spent wisely. I want representatives in Columbia to be good stewards of my money and they are NOT! I don’t want to pay for a Jumbotron. I don’t want to funnel massive quantities into public education when we are getting no band for our buck. Corporate American doesn’t infuse massive amounts of money into failing companies. They have to turn a profit or they close. We should be seeing a “profit” in our public education system and we are NOT! We have been told for 40 years, “we need more money and the education system will improve”. It has NOT. Are we stupid? Do you continue to pour money into something that is not working? I don’t, I can’t because I don’t have an endless supply of money and we should let our government know THEY DON’T EITHER.
Friday, December 7, 2007
Miss Teen USA 2007 - South Carolina answers a question
She graduated from Lexington High School in South Carolina. One of the "good" schools in SC. Do we need educational reform in South Carolina?
Teacher sues because racist black kids
The SC General Assembly does not want to see drastic change in SC Public Schools. They like the status quo. I think we need change in both places, don't you?
Maria Goodloe, the former District Superintendent for Charleston County Schools fought the lawsuit and made the argument that the behavior should be accepted because that is their “culture”. Some loser also knocked her up out of wedlock while she was Superintendent and they got married afterwards under pressure and she became Maria Goodloe-Johnson. She also said that her out of wedlock pregnancy did not set a bad example for the students.
For her excellent record the Seattle School District doubled her salary to lure her away from Charleston and when they hired her they said she made Charleston County Schools a model for the rest of the country.
Maria Goodloe, the former District Superintendent for Charleston County Schools fought the lawsuit and made the argument that the behavior should be accepted because that is their “culture”. Some loser also knocked her up out of wedlock while she was Superintendent and they got married afterwards under pressure and she became Maria Goodloe-Johnson. She also said that her out of wedlock pregnancy did not set a bad example for the students.
For her excellent record the Seattle School District doubled her salary to lure her away from Charleston and when they hired her they said she made Charleston County Schools a model for the rest of the country.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
The World
I don't know about you, but the older I become, the crazier the world seem to be and the more outlandish peoples' behavior becomes. The story of the 19 year old who mowed down holiday shoppers in a mall yesterday is astonishing. How does a 19 year old boy come up with the idea, much less to insanity to follow through with killing innocent people in a shopping mall? I have heard he has ADHD. So what? So does half of the American population. My friend Sherry told me while we were exercizing this morning that she heard on the news that the woman with whom this kid was staying reported that he was a good kids who just like to get stoned and play video games. As if this was benign behavior. What adult in thier right mind thinks it is okay for a 19 years old to sit around getting stoned and play videos? How does someone make this "okay" actviity in thier minds?
I am a Christian. The foundation of my belief system is based on the Bible. I do believe it is the Holy inspired word of God. Becuase of this belief system, I have to wonder if we as a nation are spinnging into a pit that we may never climb out of. Pretty gloomy I suppose. But I live in a world where God has been challenged in every arena in our country. Where being Christian is looked upon with disdain. Where secular socieity is becoming more and more vile. All the while, we slip perilously deeper into the pit. How do we as Christians make a dent? How do I do my part in the WORLD on behalf of the Baby sent from heaven to save little ole me? I know God is in control. I do however wonder sometimes what He is thinking when I read and hear the reports of this 19 year old mad man.
I am a Christian. The foundation of my belief system is based on the Bible. I do believe it is the Holy inspired word of God. Becuase of this belief system, I have to wonder if we as a nation are spinnging into a pit that we may never climb out of. Pretty gloomy I suppose. But I live in a world where God has been challenged in every arena in our country. Where being Christian is looked upon with disdain. Where secular socieity is becoming more and more vile. All the while, we slip perilously deeper into the pit. How do we as Christians make a dent? How do I do my part in the WORLD on behalf of the Baby sent from heaven to save little ole me? I know God is in control. I do however wonder sometimes what He is thinking when I read and hear the reports of this 19 year old mad man.
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