We can't afford health care but somehow we can afford this?!?

[ohhwanderlust]

Originally Posted by Steve40th

Dead wrong. Home schooled kids can surf the net. Drop outs can too. Foreigners. You assume the US department of education is the only way to become educated.. Very Naive.

Not at all. I'm talking about an education system in general, whether here or abroad. Not only surfing the net, but having the net exist in the first place. Not all parents are fit to homeschool (mine sure wouldn't be), and a public education (in the US or elsewhere) provides the best chance for more people to be literate and have the skills needed to create the many amenities we enjoy today.

However, I do think the US should examine unnecessary spending in the education budget. The US public school system spends more per pupil than other developed countries that academically rival the US.

[mwruckman]

Originally Posted by workingclasshero

yep all FAILED GOVERNMENT

just like this STUPID health INSURANCE bill, that will NOT save the PEOPLE money, but will cost them more, tax them higher, cause bussinesses to drop coverage, and does NOTHING to lower the ACTUAL cost of health CARE

insurance is not care

Taking the burden of employee health insurance off the backs of business is one of if not the best things we could do to improve the balance sheets of American business. It dwarfs any possible probusiness tax cut. Employee health insurance was one of the largest factor in driving GM into bankruptcy and transferring it to te UAW was one of the major actions returning it to business viability.

[thedwightguy]

I just returned from the States and recontacting old school friends. You have cheap credit and can buy any vehicle and/or house (or plane) for half of what we pay, and get to deduct the higher interest in the front of the loan, which Canada doesn't allow. You'd think they'd do the same for higher end Health packages, like the one my parents have, that the USA doesn't even sell anymore as we're disgusting the actuaries by living too long.

The military comparison debate has gone on since Ike and Doug won zu var and warned us about the MIC!!!

[Tyster]

Originally Posted by PurpleLove08

You Have No Say About Your Military | Mother Jones

(Emphasis mine)


I hope to see the Tea Party crow talking about this deficit spending!!

Looks like the Mother Jones article is wildly inaccurate.

The most recently contracted unit costs for Low Rate Initial Production lot 7 (not including the engine) are:

F-35A: $98 million
F-35B: $104 million
F-35C: $116 million

An F-35A purchased in 2018 and delivered in 2020 will be $85 million, which is the equivalent of $75 million in today’s dollars.

https://www.f35.com/about/fast-facts/cost

Further details:

https://www.f35.com/news/detail/prin...-35-contracts/

That is still a lot of money, but this aircraft is designed to have a 55 year lifecycle, which is very long for a fighter.

Further, the federal government is constitutionally responsible for defending it's citizens,. I'd rather spend extra money and get the best.

If you want to complain about spending you should have a look at the Dept of Education or HUD. Total boondoggles that we can live without.

[HappyTexan]

Originally Posted by ohhwanderlust

Not at all. I'm talking about an education system in general, whether here or abroad. Not only surfing the net, but having the net exist in the first place. Not all parents are fit to homeschool (mine sure wouldn't be), and a public education (in the US or elsewhere) provides the best chance for more people to be literate and have the skills needed to create the many amenities we enjoy today.

However, I do think the US should examine unnecessary spending in the education budget. The US public school system spends more per pupil than other developed countries that academically rival the US.

Most of that money is going to salaries of "specialists" that don't teach.

Here's an example of one chain.

Math. You have the Math teacher. We all know about this position.
Then you have Math Coach, Math interventionist, Master Math Mentor..they don't teach.
And even with all them when failing kids need help they hire Math tutors (which is what I do).
Then you have a state curriculum that the teachers use to teach by yet you also have Curriculum Specialist, Curriculum Directors who don't teach and even with a state defined curriculum have desk jobs.

The sheer number of middle layer jobs is eating up all your education money.

I've only listed Math because that's the area where I work.