I am very concerned that young people may be sitting out this mid-term election because of all the noise in the media. I hope they don't.
The official platforms (what they say they will do) of the Republican and Democratic parties, available easily on the Internet, are radically different.
The Republican platform scares me. It supports drilling for oil in the Gulf of Maine and eliminating things such as Social Security and Medicare. The platform supports less money for schools, police and fire departments.
It also seems like Republicans want to go back to the 1950s, before civil rights, mouthy women, embarrassing gays and inconvenient science.
I am horrified by their platform.
After reading both platforms themselves, I hope readers of all ages will agree with me and vote Democratic.
Carolyn Davis, Lisbon Falls

Carolyn Davis is a retired
Carolyn Davis is a retired administrator for Catholic Charities. Enough said.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedAgree (3)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Barb, you just devastated
Barb, you just devastated all the posts here. It is astonishing to me that the very Liberals or conservatives these people are supporting will eventually put the helpless, those who count on SS and medicare....... on the streets. There is NO more MONEY. There is NO endless sea of cash the government can regulate or tax for. Oh, excuse me, it's not taxes it's fees now. There are no more games available, no more funny accounting tricks. LOOK at Eurpope. "Austerity Measures" are putting the pensioners on the streets rioting. I pay alot of taxes in this city and yet have no children (that I know of) in this system. No one has EVER thanked me for putting their kids through school, especially on these message boards. The schools have turned into bizarre social experiments. If I had my drothers, I would not want to pay for, or associate myself with ANY public school system. I would send all my property taxes to St Dom's, who concentrate on scholastics.
But....I think that is the most tragic part.....we learned two years ago.....or twenty years ago for that matter.......that voting for politicians who pander is deadly. We need to vote for the people who tell the truth and more importantly make us uncomfortable.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (2)
Agree (4)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.There is money.
Simply return to the pre-Reagan tax rates.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (2)
Agree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.This has got to be
one of the top ten stupidest letters ever printed by the SJ, if not the top 5. Carolyn lives in a world of make believe where she believes everything she is told by CNN and Jon Stewart. Who on the right has ever mentioned stopping Social Security or Medicare? Does the SJ just print anything? Do they not recognize the rantings of an idiot like Carolyn before they print it?
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (3)
Agree (3)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.What?
Lou Dobbs before he was fired gave us Anchor Babies and another rhetoric to add to the racist jargon. You can ridicule others or you can write a letter just like everyone else Gill. Newt Gingrich mentioned stopping social society in his reconstruction of America in written materials. If you always bring a mouth along why not write something instead of being a large mouthed blow hard whose brain is a pound and a half of chicken hawk pride.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (4)
Agree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Lou Dobbs' In-Laws have "Anchor Daughter"
He married a Mexican and brought her parents over....... And he has the gall to be the "Poster Boy for Anglo-America!"
What a Hypocrit!!!!
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Joe do you remember these I wont retype them just paste
Mac antSaior at 7:15 am on Sep 09, 2010
Good thing I'm a Pagan, Joe because this is gonna hurt: Why don't you take a stroll mid day and count the number of stroller being pushed around by baby mommas and shirtless knobs. Here's another term for you: welfare baby. Yep, there's tons of them around here and they're made for even less of a reason; either carelessness or someone's daddy didn't love them enough..or hell, just more sweet taxpayer money. What's worse is for every doorknob strolling about, that's more tax dollars to throw at the kid once they're in the "special school", Long Creek, getting a behavioral med cocktail via Maincare, or arrested for knocking over headstones. Yes, Mexican or homegrown, they're all our little bundles of joy to take care of.
I don't know where you were raised
Ed McCaffrey (not verified) at 9:07 am on Sep 09, 2010
but it obviously wasn't in this country. Here we have what is called TANF, which is supposed to be Temporary (stress that word) Aid to Needy Families. It's anything but temporary. I know people who have been on the state dole for the better part of thirty years, getting free health care, food, and reduced rents while my tax dollars subsidize it. If you're naive enough to think that illegals won't have babies in this country just to get the free money when our own citizens do, you need to take a closer look at the world.
CALL IT LIKE IT IS
salemgirl1 at 11:55 am on Sep 09, 2010
ANCHOR BABIES ..... that is what they are, really these women know exactly what they are doing. I am sick and tired of our hard earned money going to all these social services. ENOUGH I applaud the Gov of Az I only wish more states would do the same
Sorry Joe, I have to go with Mac
candiceanne at 12:04 pm on Sep 09, 2010
Having fostered four children and had two others in my home under "other" arrangements, I have to go with Mac on this. Joe, to deny that illegal immigrant mothers or parents are having babies in this country with the express and only purpose of staying in this country is nothing more than lying to your self. To say we should not repeat the acknowledge this truth does not make it any less the truth or change the future for these children anymore than denying that many children in this country are conceived for a paycheck or increased paycheck only. Rewarding women for having children they have no desire for other than cash is how I and many like me end up with great kids who have been put through hell by lousy parents. Rewarding illegal immigrants for "anchor babies" is no better for those babies. If those parents are sincere about wanting their children to be American they will allow them to be adopted into good American homes and leave the country and only return legally. If they aren't "anchor babies" they will take them back to their home countries with them. Sticking your head in the sand and asking others to do the same does not change the facts and will endanger these precious children.
Well Joe, I am a Christian, and you are dead wrong
fatandhappy at 2:30 pm on Sep 09, 2010
Here are the reasons you are wrong.
1. The parents are breaking the law by coming here to have the baby. No Christian should ever condone law-breaking unless keeping the law is biblically wrong. And in this case, there is no biblical reason for supporting illegal immigration or condoning illegal births used to get a foot in the door here.
2. People have lived and thrived in Mexico for hundreds of years. It's not like the Mexican people should be allowed to come here at will, as if they need from to escape from the pits of hell. Coming here may be their preference but it is not a neccessity. Those babies would be just fine beinf raised in Mexico, just like their parents were.
3. The Christian thing for us to do for these people is to first close the border tighter than a drum. If we remove the drug trade along the border, these dangerous drug lords would move on to greener pastures, and make it safer for the Mexicans that live along the border.
4. The second Christian thing that we could is to remove the lure to come here illegally by placing severe fines on companys that hire them. Not the measley $,2000 to $10,000 they pay now. I'm saying we need fines of $100,000 per illegal. And if they can't pay it, or won't pay it, then their business should be auctioned off to pay.
5. And lastly, we need to deny all public aid to anyone here illegally. If they go to DHHS for help, then we should give them safe passage back to Mexico without the fear of being arrested or seperated from their families.
As a Christian, these are the things I would do if I had the authority.
Nothing has changed and there are a lot more sound arguments just like these after the Sept 9 letter. To read them simply type Anchor Babies in the search on this page.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Agree (4)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond."People have lived and thrived in Mexico for hundreds of years"
Then the United States Army invaded and conquored Mexican land which is now California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Colorado, Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Wyoming. We also guaranteed other land seized from Mexico called "Texas" which was a Republic.
Now at some point in time it might occur to someone that the original owners might tend to return, a la the Jews and Israel, not neccessarily that these areas are the "Promised Land" because I sure the hell wouldn't want to live there. But in the general scheme of history, five hundred years is a relatively short time, and land passes back and forth. - Especially when Mexicans tend to have much larger and closer families than Gringos do, and also have a keen work ethic which our ancestors had at one time.
Se habla Espanol??? We'de better!!!!
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (2)
Agree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Mexican land?
You act like Mexicans have been here since the dawn of time... In reality, they were Spaniards that wiped out the Mayans. Then we took from them what they took from others. Original owners, my ass, we did those states a favor.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (2)
Agree (2)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.The University of Mexico was founded in 1551
The University of Mexico was founded in 1551 - http://www.topuniversities.com/university/426/universidad-nacional-aut-n...
When was it that we had any insitutions of higher learning in North America???
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Awww.... you quoted
Awww.... you quoted me..*blush*
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Agree (2)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Veritas, the government does
Veritas, the government does not create jobs. What they need to do, is get out of the way of the private sector, so the private sector can create jobs.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Agree (3)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Private Sector is Sitting on $$$$$ but won't create Jobs!
Right now the Private Sector is sitting on about $1.6 Trillion but is refusing to invest it in hiring for fear the American consumers won't buy.
No shit. The American Workers have been jacked around by Big Business to the point we're they're either broke or sitting on what money they have.
So that leaves Govt. It can either create jobs or relieve Private Sector of some of the 'Nest Egg' they are hoarding.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (3)
Agree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.private sector
Now that's just plain silly. Government is not standing in the way of the private sector creating jobs. Lack of demand is.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (4)
Agree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Yes it does
What has private sector done other then having hiring freezes? No regulations; does that mean a return to the Bush administration and more collapses such as Enron? All while millions and millions are lost in deregulation; which Nixon and Meese had both agreed upon with both Bush administrations creating a more universal Capitalist welfare reform program for the next administration to inherit? Whether it be Democratic or Republican who came into office the fact of the matter is that Nixon and Edwin Meese has both proven true and that now we have no true conservatives other then the Bible bashers who have created a Cossack regime.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (4)
Agree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.So, what do you do for a
So, what do you do for a living? Just wondering since you have expressed such an opinion about the working class.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Agree (2)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Illegal Immigration
Yeah the plank of the Republican's is to turn a blind eye to human suffering and create a second class serfdom which makes me suspect that Jason Levesque and his entourage of chicken hawk's need a wake up call to the people that they enact racist their racism upon. I do not really care for a former drill instructor who places his unrestrained racist antics on trail. I think if they wanted to call me crazy they may enjoy reading some of those illegal immigrants that they lied about and called a myth as they struggle in a world of corruption. I forgot though that as a future Neo-Nazi leader have of those on here wanted real chicken hawk leadership and sadly to say it flatly they got what they deserved in printed fact. Those are the lengths which the cartels go to in keeping the mouths shut and keeping corruption running high. I love the expression of work ethic as well, that "work ethic" of thier's which they cherish so much in their family lives, that is a behavior of Operant conditioning, and part of their family cultural experience as it evolved; sadly so is isolationist tendencies. Now for those who called it a myth and called me hair-brained that is where their own little ODESSA file ends for ignorance and denying the truth. Along with the outlines of American's being murdered simply for ritualistic practices. Let them settle the border issues when there is more corruption and they turned a blind eye a perfectly inbred sense of racism.
http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers/weird/constanzo/1.html
http://www.francesfarmersrevenge.com/stuff/serialkillers/constanzo.htm
http://irs-agency.us/chinese_triads.htm
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/chinese-triads-recruit-young-british-t...
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (4)
Agree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Joe I see it as exactly the opposite
A day or two ago I wrote that I would like to see the truly disabled receive 10 times what they receive now. I find it morally reprehensible that we treat our disabled the way we do and expect them to live like animals on a very small fraction of the poverty level. Our truly diabled are also the poorest of the poor, the weakest of the weak and most helpless and vulnerable are further abused by the circumstances they are put in because we do not provide for them in anything remotely resembling an adequate existance. In my mind it is a national disgrace.
I said in that same post to get the truly disabled where they should be we have to get 9 slackers of the rolls, I should have said 9 slackers and illegals. Without the illegals sucking up taxpayer money in public housing, schools, health care and on and on ad nausium we could provide for truly disabled at 10 times what they currently receive. The Republican pland does not turn a blind eye to human suffering and creart second hand serfdom, it looks squarely in the eye the needs of truly disabled United States Citizens who are impoverished and helpless to do anything about it for themselves. These people are the "ghosts" of our society that the Republicans want to bring into the light and richness of what this country should be for its legal citizens.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Agree (3)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Veritas, Growing up in Maine
Veritas, Growing up in Maine for me was great. I was free to play with friends and siblings for most of the day without my parents fearing for my safety. Liee was simple and my mother stayed at home. My father held down a full time job and provided for the family. We respected our parents, teachers and others. Although we were not rich we were assured a stable home life with two parents. We grew up with a work ethic and respect for others. You need to get a grip Vertais as you lived though the fifties yourself.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (2)
Agree (8)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.We had 'Air Raid Drills' in Chicago.....
The Nuns would chase us into the cloak room, we'de bend over, stick our head between our knees, and kiss our azz Good-by!!
Even living in 'Da Soud Side" of Chicago in the early 50's I didn't have anything to fear. Except the following: "Funny Men" My mother always told me to watch out for "Funny Men" - but she really didn't go into any details. For all I know, the Clown on TV (which was a brand new 10" B&W) qualified. Also watch out for the Godless Communists. They were going to come over in big massive bombers with hordes of Mongolian troops, rape the Nuns, murder my parents if I didn't reject Christianity, and violate my sister (so they did have one redeeming social value). I spent a lot of time on our apartment's roof with my dad's binoculars looking for Russian bombers. My mother had to work as they were saving "For a House." When I got off school I walked home through traffic then played with the rest of the kids in the aparetment house. Some mother or another would yell at us sometimes. My older sister thought she was hot shit.
When I was on the streetcar I shouldn't look at the "Ni**erz." They all had switchblade knives and would slit my throat if I made a face at them or asked them if it washed off. They did that all the time. Funny that the streetcar floor wasn't awash in blood. The Car-Man must have cleaned it every night. He smelled a lot like my girl-friend's father who drank a lot at night.
I would have posted this much earlier - but had to pick my wife up, who'se been on vacation all week.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (3)
Agree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Thanks pirate. The scariest
Thanks pirate. The scariest thing about the democrat party is that Nancy Pelosi thinks that unemployment benefits and food stamps stimulate the economy and bring the best "bang for the buck". Wouldn't jobs be better?
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Agree (8)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Corporate Welfare hasn't brought the Jobs -
Only more Jets, Luxury Homes, Tax havens, and Golden parachutes.
So unless Govt creates the jobs - which I wish it would similar to the depression era programs, social welfare is what's left.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (8)
Agree (2)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Republicans
Republicans do not want social welfare but they also do not want the depression era programs. They want golden parachutes for their "friends" and for know one else. All the while despising the fact that an African-American is President. Anyone who questions them is given the cold shoulder but I enjoy it enough to tear them apart on several issues.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (5)
Agree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Carolyn, Gee, were you alive
Carolyn, Gee, were you alive in the 1950's? "If you were alive at that time you would know that the housing market was booming. 90% of children grew up with married parents. Divorce rates were low,marriage rates were high.Unemployment rates were low. Consumer spending doubled,there was no crack epidemic,discipline problems in school were minor,the US had the best educational system in the world at the time,only 4% of babies were born out of wedlock compared to 40% today. Families were able to live on one income,Americans viewed home and family as the most important thing in society. No secular movement in 1954 that opposed "under God" in the pledge of allegiance" Facts taken from City Data Now we have the me generation. Today right and wrong are not clearly defined. Now we have the dumbing down, brainwashing of our children and a poor public school system that has no accountability. Cheating, bringing guns to school, disrespecting teachers,parents and law enforcement officials are a big problem and the status quo of our society. Parents that work sometimes have to hold down two jobs to make ends meet,children are left alone to fend for themselves and parents sometimes don't teach kids the basics and that is left to school officials. Schools are taking over the role of the parent for some children. Today kids are taught that the government owes you a living. Democrats have had their feet on the necks of the poor, doing the best they can to keep them down on the government dole. Entitlements are the carrots the liberals dangle in the faces of the poor all for the vote. I know that the fifties weren't perfect and we have made a lot of gains in technology,medical breakthroughs etc but it's to bad we had to suffer the moral decline of our society along the way.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Agree (10)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.The Big R of the 1950s
From 1953-1961 Dwight D. Eisenhauer a REPUBLICAN was President of these United States. We also got lucky and had both Houses of Congress controlled by the Republicans leading into the 1950s from 1947-1949 Senate 45 Democrats, and 51 Republicans; House 188 Democrats, 246 Republicans and 1 Other. The Republicans controlled BOTH Houses again from 1953-1955 Senate 46 Democrates, 48 Republicans, 2 Other; House 213 Democrates, 221 Republicans and 1 Other. http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0774721.html
In Maine Republics led the state in the 1950s as follows: 1949-1952 Fredrick G. Payne, 1952-1953 Burton m. Cross, 1953 nathaniel M. Haskell, 1959 Robert Haskell, and 1959-1967 John Reed. http://www.maine.gov/legis/lawlib/people.htm This was the end of the Republican era and the beginning of the long slide that continues to this day under Democrat leadership.
Throughout the entire 1950s the Republican Party held a resounding majority in both the Maine Legislative Houses. 1949-1950 Senate 25-R and 5-D; House 126 R and 25-D. 1951-1952 Senate 31-R and 2-D; House 126-R 24-D, and 1 other. 1953-1954 Senate 31-R and 2-D; house 127-R and 24-D. 1955-1956 Senate 27-R and 6-D; House 117-R and 34-D. 1957-1958 Senate 25-R and 8-D; House 100-R and 51-D. 1959-1960 Senate 30-R and 3-D; House 112-R and 39-D. http://www.maine.gov/legis/lawlib/people.htm Is it anyone the 1950s where so good for Maine people and the Maine economy. Just look what the 1960s and the takeover by the Democrats has brought.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Agree (3)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Assuming they all vote "Paty Line"
You can guarantee that.....
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedAgree (1)
Disagree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.taxes
Can you tell me what the personal income tax rates were in the 50's? Income disparity?
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Agree (2)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.That was on "Leave it to Beaver" - How about reality??
There was no accurate count then of children born out of wedlock as unwed mothers were ostracized by their families. The housing market was booming because of the GI Bill and World War II veterans, there was no crack epidemic but alcohol and tobacco use was endemic, sexual abuse of women and children was an untold secret; abortions, illegal, were often carried out by unskilled practioners resulting in the death or serious injury to the mother. Racial predjudice was the norm - and WAS clearly defined. Polio struck down thousands of children. Teachers, both religious and public, terrorized students with fear - and sex. We were all scared shitless of the 'Bomb' Yes, it was a wonderful time to grow up in.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (8)
Agree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Missed one
What is different now from the 1950s "teachers, both religious and public, terrorized students with fear-and sex?" Have you read SJ or other papers lately this goes on all the time.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Agree (3)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.If you have to ask what is different -
- Then you absolutely have no clue.
How extensive was parochial education in the 50's? - How extensive is it today?
You haven't noticed???
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (4)
Agree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.There certainly was an
There certainly was an accurate count of the number of children born out of wedlock. Even in the 50s we had birth certificates and they recorded parentage. We also had other birth records that were submitted to the state that included things like marital status of the mother. Why there was a housing boom, is irrelevant, it was and that is all that matters. no crack epidemic yippy. Alcohol was a problem, no where near to the extent it is now that people can claim it as a "disability." In the 1950s, hell the 1960 and into the 1970s there was not even the "warning cigarette smoking may be hazardous to your health," even fanisized of yet. Now we have a warning on every tobacco product that pretty much says, "use of this product WILL kill you" and we have people buy their tobacco with their TANF before they pay rent, feed their kids or get their medicine most likely to treat what they got from the use and abuse of alcohol and tobacco and illicit drugs. We would still have fewer abortions because we have better birth control methods available, not that many choose to avail themselves of them. Can someone, please, explain to me what leads a girl or a couple who can not pay their rent, feed themselves, clothe themselves, provide for their own medical care to have children that they will also not be able to provide for? Abortion is still if not illegal, impossible to get from a skilled qualified practitioner in much of the country and virtually all of Maine. Polio would not return if we took back the good aspects of the 1950s Jonas Salk saw to that, thank you Jonas, though we do need to watch the borders because the illegals are trying to bring it back and the Obama Democrats are trying to stop immunization of American children putting them at risk.
Veritas, didn't you grow up in the South? I thought the south was class structured more than race. I remember that it would be better to be a working negro than white trash.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Agree (3)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.There you go, candice "Thinking" again.. Bwa-haaa-haaa!!!!
candiceanne writes:
" I thought the south was class structured more than race. I remember that it would be better to be a working negro than white trash."
And lilacs grew on Mulberry trees, candice....
One poor white trash had more votes than a hundred working negroes...... They also had to get off the sidewalk for him. Whatever that negro could do to PWT was done to any white.
I lived in the North, and vacationed in the South as a young boy in the 50's. The major difference being that racism was both de facto and de jure in the South.
candice also writes: Can someone, please, explain to me what leads a girl or a couple who can not pay their rent, feed themselves, clothe themselves, provide for their own medical care to have children that they will also not be able to provide for?
- You haven't figured that one out, candice? Freakin' raging hormones - that same inate biological drive that makes green grass bust through white snow. No other species on earth heard of Ronald Reagan, but they all reproduce whether they have the means to support their offsping or not.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (3)
Agree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Raging hormones would lead
Raging hormones would lead them to have sex, that doesn't mean they have to have babies!
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Agree (3)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.You don't get out much, do you.......
You don't get out much, do you.......
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (3)
Agree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.You sure nailed this one,
You sure nailed this one, Barb...great job.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Agree (4)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Don't be foolish veritas.
Don't be foolish veritas. Home schooling has no party lines. D's, R's, and U's alike home school their children. Public schools today, are nothing more than a dumping ground for parents who do not want to spend time with their children. I applaud parents who are involved in their childs life. Homeschooling takes a lot of committment and dedication. Plus, seeing how the D's refuse to allow vouchers, homeschoolers are of no tax burden to your sorry a$$, if you pay taxes at all!
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (3)
Agree (11)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond."no tax burden to your sorry a$$, if you pay taxes at all!"
Care to explain that insult? Or is it just as foolish as I would expect you to be???
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (3)
Agree (3)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Common Sense my Dear Watson
Since the Democrats in Maine don't see fit to offer vochers to Homeschoolers for parents to use to apply to the cost of the school of their choice, any child who is withdrawn from the public school system and homeschooled or enrolled in a private school at 100% cost to the parents and/or sponsor is a 100% net gain to the taxpayers of the community in which that child resides since the cost to the taxpayer of educating that child is completely elliminated. Homeschooled children also perform community service as a normal part of their homeschooling curriculmn which is an added bonus to the taxpayers. That is only the upfront savings. Since homeschooled children are higher academic achievers, develop a habit of community service, and are self-motivated with excellent work ethic as a result of having been homeschooled, they rarely unemployed, almost always go on to higher education and resulting higher paid employment which means they pay more in taxes throughout their working lives. Big backend dividends for taxpayers.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Agree (3)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.All figures in the preceding post are fiction, made up in the
stagnant mind of a closed mind. I refuse to accept your assumptions, because that's all they are.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (4)
Agree (3)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Where is you proof that the
Where is you proof that the figures are other than what was provided Tron?
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (2)
Agree (5)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Interesting strategy, make up some
very questionable statistics, and when I dismiss them challenge me to disprove them. The anus is on you, back up your make believe facts.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (5)
Agree (2)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.tron, the anus is definitely
tron, the anus is definitely on you, however the onus may be on them.....for a guy who regularly corrects spelling and is the self titled smartest guy here, you're slipping...problem with meds perhaps? (Yeah, sounds liknd of like something you would say right?)
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Agree (5)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.TRON
Proof one. Taxpayers pay based on the number of kids in school. If a kid is not in school the taxpayers are paying zero for that kid. Savings 100% of that kids school expense paid to the school. No vouchers going to children removed from the school leaving taxpayers with another zero. Savings still 100%. I will let you argue with that if you can.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (2)
Agree (4)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.School budgets not directly proportional to student population
You should attend school committee meetings during budget sessions.
Take several "Home-schooled" children out of the classroom and the budget would go down very little, and certainly not directly proportional to the decrease in the student body.
Same number of teacher/administrator/support staff salaries, medical, retirement. Grounds maintenance, heating, debt retirement. Same extra-curricular activities.
So if you have a normal student body of 300 students, and 15 leave for 'home schooling' - you will not see a 5% drop in the school budget.
So tell me how many school committee meetings you've attended where you live???
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (3)
Agree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Ah but it isn't just one student is it veritas?
Add up all the kids taken out of the public schools in your district and put in private schools paid for by their parents and home schooled and stuff them back in the school system and what do you get? A F*** system needing more buildings, lots more teachers, more books, desks, computers, administrators, kitchens and staff, libraries and staff, more buses, nurses, and on and on. It isn't just 1 kid we are talking about it is a cummulative effect. So you have to take the cost divided by the number of kids to get the savings for each kid. If you have a normal student body and you lose 15 kids that is 1 teacher, 15 desks, 15 sets of books, 15 nurse's student services for the year, 15 breakfasts and lunches every day of the school year, 15 less sets of records to be maintained, 15 less disciplinary and other matters for the prinicipal, 5% less wear and tear on building and equipment, 15 fewer computers. . . Do I need to go on? Now multiply that by every building in your district say a small district like RSU10 that has 10 buildings and you are down 150 students and that is some serious jack.
As one of the founders of HomeStart in Rumford 30 years ago and also a former finance committee member in Rumford, I attended a lot of school committee meetings before and since. I think education is key to a healthy society. An educated citizenry is a working citizenry, a citizenry that is not educated sees 70% of it's population collecting welfare.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Agree (3)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.But not a proportional effect.
And that is where your Voo-Doo Mathematics runs smack dab into the face of reality. You will most likely still need your ten buildings and quite near a full staff.
And it's actually a citizenry in poverty that collects welfare; poverty caused by Reaganomics et al.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (2)
Agree (2)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Check your RSU
Wrong answer, not listening. WE in RSU 10 are running more buildings now than we need. We only need 1 high school, Mountain Valley was designed for 850 and there are fewer than 850 students combined in the three high schools. We only need1 middle school, Mountain Valley Middle which at one time was the high school for SAD #43 is will easily accomodate all of the middle school students in the current 3 middle schools we are supporting. We are running 4 elementary schools when we should have 2 Meroby and Dirigo based on the number of students and design capacity of the schools. But that is beside the point.
Before the merger forming RSU10 it was regularly discussed among school board members, at school board meetings, by the Superintendent that if Holy Savior School closed, SAD #43 would have a problem accomodating those students. Should all the students at Holy Savior and the other private schools such as New Pennacook and the homeschoolers suddenly sent their kids to school we would really be in trouble because we did not have the facilities to accomodate them within SAD #43. At the high school we would be all set, at the middle school we would be all right with our very much oversized buildings; we would be in a world of hurt for teachers, administrators, desks, books, supplies, and all the other things that go into teaching and running a school. We would have had a problem at the elementary school level at that time not only with all the things we would have trouble with in the high school and middle school but also space and we would be looking for a building FAST.
Veritas, I don't know where you live or what connections you may have in your RSU. Call the superintendent, get a list of all the buildings in your Unit and the capacity of each building. Ask him what the enrollment is at each building and for your peace of mind ask for projections over the next five years for enrollment at each building. These are all numbers that should be at the fingertips of every superintendent. Then ask him if he has a count of students who have been withdrawn and registered in private schools or are homeschooling. He may or may not keep track even though the state sends him the list. If he doesn't know, contact the state department of education and ask them, they will know. Parents are required to notify the state of their intent to homeschool, thereby removing their child from the public school rolls. Private schools notify the DOE of the students who have enrolled at their school and therefore will not be attending the public school. Once you have collected this information add up all the high schoolers, all the middle schoolers, and all the elementary schoolers and compare who have been removed and see how that number compares with the available space, unused capacity, of your existing schools. If you are like RSU 10 you will find you may well have a problem if all those kids all at once walked back through the public school doors.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedAgree (2)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.You're presenting an entirely different argument here.
I was listening. You changed from an argument based upon "Attrition of Homeschoolers" to an argument based upon "Present Building Utilization."
You've undergone consolidation where SAD 43 is now part of RSU 10; where you previously had one high school - Shazamm! Now you have three. But is such really the case?? They are closer together as lines on a piece of paper, but not physically. In such cases the biggest issues are normally 'Turf Issues' - once aggrieved personalities are assuaged, logistics can normally be worked out. 'Local Control' is an extremely important matter; not always essential, but always sensitive.
I moved to the Boothbay Peninsula from Lewiston. Though I did not have children in the schools, I attended Committee meetings for several years due to some concerns. Some were budgetary concerns regarding employee contracts, and another over the lack of Marine Industrial Instruction (i.e. - 'Shop') as the local boatyards were hiring workers from out of state. No private schools in the area, and no indication that the BB schools would be inudated with 'Homeschoolers' - so don't have the concern you have. Lot of us 'Geezers' in BB who are no longer having kids - but paying the property taxes for those who do send theirs to school. Superintendent and I are quite familiar with one another. She at least knows where her budget is; The previous one had not a clue in how much he was spending on health insurance - and I publically embarrassed him to the tune of $400,000 at the yearly meeting a number of years ago. (He was spreading it out in too many line items and not totalling.)
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (2)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.They "Want their Country Back"
Perhaps to the time before women had the vote, Carolyn......
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (6)
Agree (3)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.That wouldn't be that
That wouldn't be that bad...guys like Clinton and oBAMa might've had a much tougher time getting elected.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (2)
Agree (5)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Do some research xyz. Check
Do some research xyz. Check out the statistics on home schooled children versus publik skooled children. Publik skool is all about union thugs, while home schooling is all about the child.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Agree (11)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Public schools continue to
Public schools continue to graduate kids who have no basic math skills and far too many can't even read their own diplomas.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Agree (7)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.You can't keep them around till they're forty-seven....
Think what our property taxes would shoot up to then!!!!!
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Agree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.They won't be competing with you in the job market
Nor kicking your Parrot's butt on the forum here...... ;)
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedAgree (2)
Disagree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Republicans like it that way, now they have
mindless simpletons like you to fill up with their garbage and regurgitate it on cue.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (5)
Agree (3)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.and you democrocks simply
and you democrocks simply give away the farm and keep your voting base by promising more and more entitlements to people....yeah like we need more of that....
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Agree (3)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.and you democrocks simply
and you democrocks simply give away the farm and keep your voting base by promising more and more entitlements to people....yeah like we need more of that....
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Agree (2)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.and you democrocks simply
and you democrocks simply give away the farm and keep your voting base by promising more and more entitlements to people....yeah like we need more of that....
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (2)
Agree (3)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Reminder
To all who are sick of Tron's name calling, insults, and various inappropriate conduct, there is a report inappropriate comment button, please use it. Many of us would like this to be a quality forum to express diverse views, opinions, ideas and information; to have this means taking action when participants don't stick to the rules. Some participants are habitual offenders of the code of conduct of the forum and polite society, Tron is one, we do not have to accept it. If you would like to see this forum become a place to express diverse views and opinions and share ideas and information in a mature, intellectual and socially appropriate manner please help make it that by using the "report inappropriate comment" button when you read inappropriate comments. Thank you.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (2)
Agree (3)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.What's the matter Horshack,
What's the matter Horshack, no traffic for you to play in today? Where'd you ever get a word like regurgitate? I didn't realize they taught that in third grade.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedAgree (4)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.dinosaurs
Aren't a lot of home schooled kids taught that man and dinosaur walked the earth at the same time, and Jesus would throw a mean t-rex barbecue every now and then?
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (6)
Agree (2)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Your blasphemy will not go
Your blasphemy will not go unnoticed.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Agree (5)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.a bit much
You're right, it was probably a bit much.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (2)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.You're right. You've gone too
You're right. You've gone too far this time. Jesus would never have grilled a T Rex. It was a time of peace and harmony...when the T Rex would frollic in the meadow beside the mastodon and packs of wild poodles.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Agree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Next they'll want "Home Hospitals" like the home militias....
That will really save on Medicare and Medicaid expenses!!!!
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (8)
Agree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Just who do you think you are
Just who do you think you are kidding Veritas, we already have it. Have you not heard of HOME HEALTH AIDS, HOME HEALTH NURSING, IN HOME PHYSICAL THERAPY, and IN HOME HOSPICE CARE for starters. People are on oxygen in their homes that is "manufactured" by machines at their homes provided by suppliers usually paid for by taxpayers along with various sized tanks as backups in the event of power failures and so they can go to appointments or just to the mailbox. We also have IN HOME SUPPORT for mental health clients where a worker goes in as much as all day, every day to more or less babysit and entertain grown adults living alone or with others who claim mental illness and don't want to cook their own meals maybe even for their families, do their own cleaning or go to work to earn the money to hire someone to do these things for them. The in home support worker takes care of it all, along with doing their shopping taking the "client" along or not, handing them their drugs, and generally playing mommy providing private care that should be taking place in a less costly group facility. You have to figure most of these people are also getting their health care paid, their rent paid, their utilities paid, their food paid and cash besides so we might as well have them in a facility since we pay for it all anyway. So don't kid yourself Veritas we already have Home Hospitals for medical and mental health cases.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (2)
Agree (3)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Apples and Oranges......
If you want to compare these services, you would have to have a certified Educator come around to your residence for "Home Schooling" - This doesn't happen unless the student is enrolled in the local system and is 'Homebound' for health reasons.
So don't try to BS the old BS'er there, candiceanne - living in GeezerVille along the Coast, I'm fully aware of the requirements for the services you mention, ans many of my friends and acquaintances avail themselves of them.
You're full of it as a Chistmas Goose there, Girl.
Who do I think I am?? It's who I know I am. Someone very much better informed, experienced, brighter, tolerant, and perhaps even educated than you. I can even be humble - but no need in the presence of parvenues as you.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (4)
Agree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Whaddaya mean? According to
Whaddaya mean? According to Carolyn, the repubs are gonna do away with Medicare, anyway; there'll be nothing to save.
BTW--How've you been?
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedAgree (4)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.I've been 'Batchin' it for a week.....
The Good Lady has been up in P.E.I. and round about with an old friend of hers.
Today is clean up the house and remove all the evidence before she gets home tonight!!!
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (2)
Agree (2)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Huh, someone disagreed with
Huh, someone disagreed with you. Well, mine's out of town tonight. If I didn't have kid duty, I'd gladly raise a pint with you. Maybe Pirate could come along for a tankard and some birdseed.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Dont forget the empty pizza boxes under the couch, or
empty bottles in the plants.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (2)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Carolyn writes, "The
Carolyn writes, "The Republican platform scares me. ......and eliminating things like Social Security and Medicare".
Where do these people get this stuff? Eliminating Social Security? No politician with a pulse would EVER, read my lips, EVER even suggest eliminating Social Security and Medicare. Far too many votes would be lost in doing that. You should be fearful, Carolyn, of the democrat platform. They're so efficient in running the country that 89,000 people who were either dead or incarcerated received $250 Stimulus checks. Now, that's the kind of government (democrats) stuff that should frighten you.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Agree (18)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Maine GOP
The Maine republican platform is a good exercise in comedy.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (15)
Agree (3)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.And the Maine donkey shows
And the Maine donkey shows platform is one of tragedy.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (2)
Agree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Lil
I was watching Bones last night on the internet, seeing how I have been home sick since the 30th a friend turned me onto internet TV. The case was about Guidos, not sure if I spelled that right. One of the characters also was Lil something and Bones explained that Lil was short for little and how it was pronounced the same as in Lil Abner, Lil Red Riding Hood. Made me wonder, what is little on you that got you the nickname Lil?
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Agree (2)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.my dog
My deceased golden retriever, lil. But haha, I get it. Do you ever get a lil?
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedAgree (2)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Nope, I always got A LOT,
Nope, I always got A LOT, wouldn't settle for anything less.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Agree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.past tense
Past tense?
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedAgree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Past tense, my choice and I
Past tense, my choice and I intend to keep it that way. Been busy running my business, raising my kids, now doing community service and back in school. I don't have time for nor do I want a relationship. Been that ways since 2003.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedAgree (2)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Yeah, but we'll see who's
Yeah, but we'll see who's laughing on November 3rd, Lilly.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (2)
Agree (14)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.I'm scared of the Obama
I'm scared of the Obama administration and his policies which are turning our nation into a third world nation. I'm sick of the Dems running our state down the tubes for the last 30+ years. Caroyln change can be scary sometimes, but dont worry things are about to change for the better. It will be OK, trust me.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (4)
Agree (22)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Too bad most Republicans...
don't seem to be able to read. Maybe it's that home "skooling" they got, or maybe it's "if it ain't of Faux News it ain't worth watching."ROFL...
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (19)
Agree (2)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.guess what?
I'm a Republican and I could read Carolyn's silly letter. (I almost wish I couldn't....) What else ya' got, xyz? On an unrelated note, my boys tell each other to "XYZ" when one forgets to zip up his fly. (eXamine Your Zipper) Cool, huh?
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (2)
Agree (9)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.I hope the parrot doesn't
I hope the parrot doesn't pick up on that. He does enough squawking as it is.( Am I allowed to say squawking?; it has the word "squaw" in it.)
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedAgree (4)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Who are the republicans who
Who are the republicans who CAN read? LMAOROFL...
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (3)
Agree (3)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.