M
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
shesulsa said:It's also very interesting to note that in my area, executives and wealthy individuals are contributing large amounts to the RNC and Bush Campaign, while self-employed persons, teachers, laborers are contributing small amounts to Democratic candidates and the DNC.
How accurate do you feel this is? Not being American, I was unable to really test the engine there. How close do you think it gets? How recent is the info?Lastly, our summaries of the FEC databases are NOT perfect.
They are a total mess and we have done our best.
Feisty Mouse said:That's...creepy. I don't want people to be able to get my address so easily, although I know it's possible on other websites as well. I'm just waiting for the day a deranged former student shows up at my door....
Interesting - esp. to see so many small Kerry contributions, and then every once in a while a big Bush contribution.
This is getting really tiresome. Here's the reality: Ten years ago, when the average price of gasoline was $1.01/gallon, John Kerry supported the idea of a 50 cent tax on gasoline. John Kerry has not espoused this idea in recent years.Kerry? He's a guy who votes for every damn tax increase and tried to put a 50 cent a gallon tax on gas.
Phoenix44 said:Maybe if there was universal health insurance, we wouldn't need unions, huh? QUOTE]
Universal health care sounds great. I admit, where anyone could walk into a hospital and get quality health care right away. However, you need to realize, that somebody has to pay for it. Who will pay for it in this case? The government. Now where does the government get their money? Your taxes. Which means as malpractice insurance rates continue to skyrocket, who's going to have to pay the doctor's salary? That's right, the typical taxpayer.
If you really want to get into healthcare, Kerry himself was out campaigning the day that a cap on medical lawsuits was brought into the senate. He could have worked to pass a vote that could have retarded the increase in health care costs. This went through the senate, and Clinton vetoed on it. Edwards made his money on several medical lawsuits claiming that by not doing a c-section, babies had cerebral palsy. Now, after that rash of lawsuits, women are having to try to find obstetricians like mad. Obstetricians are closing their doors because they can't afford to pay malpractice insurance. There has been a 500% increase in the instances of c-sections. Have the instances of cerebral palsy gone down? No.
These are the people you want to trust with health care?
As for the gas tax looking to be a great way to fund economic growth, history has always shown that fewer taxes result in economic growth. When businesses, (yes, even the big ones), pay less taxes, they grow, they have the ability to hire more people and expand. The people hired, in turn, have money which they spend. Take a look now. The economy is growing, and there have been tax cuts. There are alot more jobs out there now because of economic policies that have been instituted.
Now do I think that public school teachers don't work hard? That's like saying do you think the guy at the 7/11 doesn't work hard. He may, he may not. If a school has hardworking teachers, and the students are learning, well, they get funding. However, if the teachers aren't up to snuff, it would be detrimental to the children to leave them there. I've known several teachers in my past who work hard for kids. Those teachers are to be commended. However, I know alot of teachers who pretty much sat around, expecting the kids to teach themselves. It's because of accountability that the teachers like that now have to put in their fair share.
My mother works in a nursing home. She met a CNA who also worked as a teacher during the day. My mother asked "How do find the time to make lesson plans?", and the woman stared at her blankly. Those are the kind of teachers who lose funding.
My state, Wisconsin, had a voucher pilot program going in Milwaukee. At the time, the Milwaukee Public School system was a crock. Then the vouchers started. Kids learned more. The voucher schools ended up sending money BACK to the state, because they were spending less money per student, and getting better results. Because of this competition, MPS shaped up, and it's slowly increasing quality of education WITHOUT extra money.
As for unions, well, I do think that they have their purpose. However, some unions can take things to far. I currently work in a dietary department in a nursing home. There was this lady who constantly seemed to get sick. She was out for 3 months because of 2 stitches. She tripped on a small hill, and "broke her back" for 6 months. Because of her, the dietary department constantly worked on a short staff. The union would not let us hire a replacement, or fire her. Now, you wanna try feeding a nursing home of over 200 people shortstaffed? The union seemed to think it was no big deal.
On the other hand, the union did make sure we have somewhat decent benefits, and a somewhat decent wage. For that, I am grateful. Soon, I will have to pay their dues, regardless of whether I joing them or not. However, I'm only part-time. I will still have to pay full time dues, and I don't get a vote in any union decisions. However, they're more than happy to take the full time benefits out of my paycheck.
Sorry for getting off topic. I have the propensity to rant. :waah: