thoughts on education cuts? (Pittsburgh, Scranton: new house, to buy, construction)

[Sideblinded]

Originally Posted by hempfield mania

And I WELCOME THEM with open arms!

As they are currently run and structured, PUBLIC sector unions have outlived their usefulness in the U.S. It is unsustainable.

Though I don't agree with their methods or many of their policies, private sector unions are fighting over company PROFITS, not taxpayers money (in most cases), so live and let live would be my policy there.

But, in the public sector, it seems much easier for public "servants" to divy up taxpayers dollars by raising taxes willy nilly every year....

I am glad for your fortune of being a millionaire. The rest of the population will suffer. Look at Michigan & Wisconsin, this is about 100% privatization, coorporate owned state. The only thing in their way are collective bargaining rights. This will effect all of the middle class, elderly, poor and children.

Read Shock and Awe.

[Sideblinded]

This should terrify everyone. Is this America?

Senate votes to give emergency financial managers more power | Detroit Free Press | freep.com (http://www.freep.com/article/20110309/NEWS15/110309030/0/SPORTS05/Senate-votes-give-emergency-financial-managers-more-power?odyssey=nav%7Chead - broken link)

[SlurmsMcKenzie]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

I apologize. I just get irked because I love this city, and it's thanks to places like Shaler, O'Hara, McCandless, Ross, Fox Chapel, Cranberry, Upper St. Clair, etc. that the city continues its population nosedive.

You can't blame a Fox Chapel or Shaler because a city resident wants to move there for things the city can't offer like a larger home/lot, lower crime, better schools. I love the city, been here for almost 15 years. I'll be moving out (to an inner ring suburb) as soon as my daughter is school aged.

[hornet67]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

I apologize. I just get irked because I love this city, and it's thanks to places like Shaler, O'Hara, McCandless, Ross, Fox Chapel, Cranberry, Upper St. Clair, etc. that the city continues its population nosedive.

You "urban sophisticates" ( in your own minds, at least) kill me with your disparaging, condescending comments about the suburbs. I live in Upper St. Clair ( quelle horreur!), and I'm very happy where I have resided for 25 years, despite our glaring lack of sidewalks.
I want the county and city to prosper, but continuing to elect the same type of Political hacks as Mayor Lukey, and those of his ilk ain't the answer.
For me, I refuse to be governed by career politicians who couldn't hold down a job in the private sector, a' la the boy mayor and the nitwits on city council.
Also, teachers in this metro area are, for the most part, overpaid if earning close to, or above six figures, thanks to the roll over and play dead school boards around here.

[hempfield mania]

Originally Posted by Sideblinded

I am glad for your fortune of being a millionaire. The rest of the population will suffer. Look at Michigan & Wisconsin, this is about 100% privatization, coorporate owned state. The only thing in their way are collective bargaining rights. This will effect all of the middle class, elderly, poor and children.

Read Shock and Awe.

Not even close to being that but, I am investing a substantial portion of my take home pay in my 401(k) so that I will some day be able to retire. But hey, public sector unions don't need to deposit nearly the amount I need to and they will most likely have more money in retirement than me.

The unions killed Wisconsin and Michigan, esp. Get the labor force back to "realistic" wages and those states will rebound.

[Sideblinded]

http://blogs.forbes.com/rickungar/20...oyee-pensions/

Please research before stating misinformation.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

I don't get the idea of, "there's a portion of the middle class that may or may not be a little bit more well off than my portion of the middle class, if I have to screw myself over just to screw them over then so be it!"

[gg]

Originally Posted by Sideblinded

Koch Brothers love PA. Keep your eye on the midwest. We are next.

Union-busting brothers heading our way | Philadelphia Daily News | 02/28/2011

I think Pittsburgh would be the last place union busting would happen, but we can all hope it does at some point. Unions are outdated and are out of control. Would be nice to be competitive again someday in manufacturing, but that will never happen with these huge powerful unions.

[squarian]

Originally Posted by hempfield mania

Yes, property taxes may need to increase some for homeowners but localizing it more lets the local districts decide on what their priorities are. Maybe districts will chose curriculums and technology rather than new, state of the art work out facilities, gyms and stadiums. Instead of bldg. brand new school bldgs, maybe renovations and expansions of existing facilities will make more financial sense (not in all cases, though).

Maybe out in Hempfield the choices are gyms and new tech labs. Where I live the choices are likely to be a little more rudimentary, and the property taxes are not going to increase "some", but a whole hell of a lot. What you see depends on where you stand, nicht wahr, kamerad? Maybe vouchers will pass and my local totally-dysfunctional school district will simply fold up and all the students can take their vouchers to a new private boarding school out in, say, Hempfield Township.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

Brian just from reading a little, I would guess that average salary in the US is about $47K give or take and the average in Allegheny County is in the low $60's.

I think those numbers are off, and Allegheny County isn't the whole Metro of course.

If true, teachers in this area are overpaid.

I would suggest that on average, teachers in the U.S. are underpaid. Generally, we shouldn't be racing to the bottom on education.

I am all for a fair wage, but teachers DON'T work a full year. They have an amazing schedule and not near the stress as many other jobs, depending of course what school you are working.

Teachers work more hours than just instructional hours, but anyway, even prorating their wages you don't get something outside the range of white-collar professionals.

To give teachers $100K+, is really too much. This is Pittsburgh, not NYC.

100K is just a number, and you seem to have abandoned your idea of looking at what other people in the area actually make. Look at peak compensation for people with similar educational attainment and let me know what you find.