Miscellaneous Trump (3 Viewers)

[Huntn]

Anxiety surges as Donald Trump may be indicted soon: Why 2024 is 'the final battle' and 'the big one'​

Anxiety surges as Donald Trump may be indicted soon: Why 2024 is 'the final battle' and 'the big one'

Donald Trump's many legal problems – and calls for protests – have generated new fears of political violence and anxiety about the 2024 election.

www.yahoo.com

WASHINGTON – It looks like American politics is entering a new age of anxiety, triggered by an unprecedented legal development: The potential indictment of a former president and current presidential candidate.

Donald Trump's many legal problems – and calls for protests by his followers – have generated new fears of political violence and anxiety about the unknowable impact all this will have on the already-tense 2024 presidential election

I’ll reframe this is a more accurate way, Are Presidents above the law? This new age was spurred into existence when home grown dummies elected a corrupt, mentally ill, anti-democratic, would be dictator as President and don’t bother to hold him responsible for his crimes, don’t want to because in the ensuing mayhem and destruction, they think they will be better off. The man is actually advocating violence (not the first time). And btw, screw democracy too. If this feeling spreads, we are In deep shirt.

This goes beyond one treasonous Peice of work and out to all his minions. This is on you or should we be sympathetic to the idea of they can’t help being selfish suckers to the Nation’s detriment? Donald Trump is the single largest individual threat to our democracy and it‘s all going to boil down to will the majority of the GOP return to his embrace and start slinging his excrement to support him?

 

[TampaJoe]

Being a school teacher is often a low-paid job that comes with significant risks and personal expenses.

Why are teachers expected to pay for school materials out of their own pockets?

Why do teachers have to fear losing their jobs—or even facing harassment—if a parent disagrees with the curriculum?

Why do so many talented educators ultimately leave the profession?

Additionally, after-school programs, which could help ease the burden, often come with high costs, making them inaccessible to many families.

The United States also has some of the longest working hours in the western world, leaving many parents with little time or energy to assist their children with homework.

These challenges disproportionately affect children from lower-income families, exacerbating existing inequalities in education and opportunity.

I agree with much of what you say. Some of those things can’t be changed legislatively. Some can.

I am personally willing to pay more for better results. I am not inclined to continue funding or increase funding an effort that isn’t producing results. That makes no sense to me. I don’t believe it should take 4 decades to figure out a better way to educate.

I don’t care if the solution is public or private. It should involve both parents and students and it should be merit based and results oriented. I would not mind seeing a “Manhattan Project” sized effort on education. IMO, the future depends upon it and it’s essential if we are going to achieve a more equitable society.

 

[TampaJoe]

Who controls that state and has for the whole time you've lived there? Who decides how much money the school district gets? Who controls the educational standards for the school districts in your state? That's who you should be pissed at.

There have been both Republican and Democrat governors in my lifetime. The last Dem was Phil Bredesen and that was probably 20 years ago. The last two or three Govs have been Republican.

More to the point. Schools in Memphis were managed by the City and about 10 years ago merged with the County. The City is and has been Controlled by Democrats for the last 30 years. The City Council has been controlled by Democrats for the last 30 years. The school board has been controlled by Democrats for the last 30 years and the school superintendents have been democrats for the last 30 years. Those are the folks who control and manage public education in Memphis.

 

[TampaJoe]

Education isn't any one thing all across the board. Most schools are just fine. Some are problematic. Painting with a broad brush is just stupid.

Again, its people with no clue. Likely haven't had kids in school for years trying to exercise an opinion devoid of facts or first hand knowledge. And they're the loudest voices.

I agree that education isn’t any one thing all across the board. We shouldn’t run it like that.

 

[UncleTrvlingJim]

I agree with much of what you say. Some of those things can’t be changed legislatively. Some can.

I am personally willing to pay more for better results. I am not inclined to continue funding or increase funding an effort that isn’t producing results. That makes no sense to me. I don’t believe it should take 4 decades to figure out a better way to educate.

I don’t care if the solution is public or private. It should involve both parents and students and it should be merit based and results oriented. I would not mind seeing a “Manhattan Project” sized effort on education. IMO, the future depends upon it and it’s essential if we are going to achieve a more equitable society.

I want to break this down a bit - because I agree that money should be applied effectively. But the way you phrase I believe is not the right way to look at it....

If a thing is underfunded, you would expect performance to be poor right? But the way you phrase it you would say I'm not going to put more money into a poorly peforming program because it's performing poorly, even though the reason it's performing poorly is that it's underfunded. This is what a lot of liberals say is the goal of Republicans, to strip funding for something, making it perform worse and then say "See! We shouldn't do this thing b/c it's performing poorly"

I think the data is mixed -- the US spends about 30% more than the OECD average... but it also performs better than OECD average in science, but worse in math. The US also graduates students at a much higher rate than the OECD average. Overall the US does perform better than the average developed country, however we spend the second most and we aren't the second best in education. This suggest there is some issue with the way we're spending money vs the amount of money we spend.

 

[cuddlemonkey]

Donald Trump has tasked the attorney general in two executive orders to conduct far-reaching investigations into the previous administration, using the weight of the justice department to pursue what are effectively politically charged reviews into his personal grievances.

The orders the president signed on Monday to end the “weaponization of the federal government” and the “government censorship of speech” in the Biden administration directed the attorney general to review actions over the last four years and prepare a final report.…….

Trump enlists attorney general to investigate Biden administration

President has thrown weight of justice department behind two politically charged reviews into his personal grievances

www.theguardian.com

Dammit, I need to buy a new Irony Meter. Mine just exploded.

 

[Dragon]

There have been both Republican and Democrat governors in my lifetime. The last Dem was Phil Bredesen and that was probably 20 years ago. The last two or three Govs have been Republican.

More to the point. Schools in Memphis were managed by the City and about 10 years ago merged with the County. The City is and has been Controlled by Democrats for the last 30 years. The City Council has been controlled by Democrats for the last 30 years. The school board has been controlled by Democrats for the last 30 years and the school superintendents have been democrats for the last 30 years. Those are the folks who control and manage public education in Memphis.

Well this was from the Tennesean

Federal education funding emerged as a major Republican talking point last fall, when legislative leaders like House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, vowed Tennessee could forego federal education dollars, and the accompanying federal standards and oversight, and fill the budget gap with state money. Though Lee at the time decried federal "overreach" in education issues, he and Sexton, among others, struggled to identify major federal oversight issues affecting Tennessee besides testing they felt was unnecessary.

And this

On Thursday, Lee said he believes Tennessee's federal allocation should come in something like a block grant, similar to a Medicaid waiver Tennessee negotiated with Trump's first administration.

https://eu.tennessean.com/story/new...ing-federal-education-department/76267975007/

What’s really happening—something that has been repeatedly discussed across several Tennessee news outlets—is that the state’s leadership is pushing for a block grant system. This would allow them to redirect federal education funds toward their school voucher program, rather than using the money as it is currently allocated.

Right now, these funds primarily support low-income students, students with disabilities, and school lunch programs—groups that are often not accepted or adequately supported by most private schools. This shift in funding priorities raises serious concerns about equity and the long-term impact on Tennessee’s most vulnerable students.

 

[TampaJoe]

I want to break this down a bit - because I agree that money should be applied effectively. But the way you phrase I believe is not the right way to look at it....

If a thing is underfunded, you would expect performance to be poor right? But the way you phrase it you would say I'm not going to put more money into a poorly peforming program because it's performing poorly, even though the reason it's performing poorly is that it's underfunded. This is what a lot of liberals say is the goal of Republicans, to strip funding for something, making it perform worse and then say "See! We shouldn't do this thing b/c it's performing poorly"

I think the data is mixed -- the US spends about 30% more than the OECD average... but it also performs better than OECD average in science, but worse in math. The US also graduates students at a much higher rate than the OECD average. Overall the US does perform better than the average developed country, however we spend the second most and we aren't the second best in education. This suggest there is some issue with the way we're spending money vs the amount of money we spend.

In Memphis, it hasn’t been a matter of finding. They have gotten funding. We funded new schools all over the city. So I’m not interested in increased funding for a system that isn’t improving outcomes. That was my point.

If you ask for money to solve a problem and you get that money but don’t solve the problem, what do you expect? More money? We’ve been down that road several times with no change in results. It’s time to ask why and consider alternatives to the current model.

The GAP between high performers and low performers is quite large. I don’t worry as much about wealthy kids in private schools. I worry about the thousands of kids in inner city schools that can’t think or reason for themselves without a smart phone. They can’t do basic math. They do not read or speak well. They can’t interview or fill out a job application. What happens to those kids who drop out and think a GED will get them thru the rest of their lives. These are the taxpayers of the future. You comfortable with that?

 

[TampaJoe]

Well this was from the Tennesean



And this



https://eu.tennessean.com/story/new...ing-federal-education-department/76267975007/

What’s really happening—something that has been repeatedly discussed across several Tennessee news outlets—is that the state’s leadership is pushing for a block grant system. This would allow them to redirect federal education funds toward their school voucher program, rather than using the money as it is currently allocated.

Right now, these funds primarily support low-income students, students with disabilities, and school lunch programs—groups that are often not accepted or adequately supported by most private schools. This shift in funding priorities raises serious concerns about equity and the long-term impact on Tennessee’s most vulnerable students.

I understand your point. But the current system in inner city schools isn’t working. I am not opposed to some form of school choice esp in districts that are failing or have show little to no improvement.

Those vulnerable kids have always been vulnerable and will continue to be vulnerable under the current model that isn’t working in many inner city school districts.

 

[SteveSBrickNJ]

What is clear to me however is that the GOP in many states wants to dismantle public education. Which will help create a permanent underclass, imo, which seems to be the intent. Only those who can afford it will get an adequate education.

"Dismantle"?
No.
The majority of rank and file GOP members (of which I am NOT one...I'm and independent)
....the majority of rank and file GOP members do not wish to dismantle public education.
Yet many of them DO wish to give some money to other educational institutions.

 

[Dragon]

I understand your point. But the current system in inner city schools isn’t working. I am not opposed to some form of school choice esp in districts that are failing or have show little to no improvement.

Those vulnerable kids have always been vulnerable and will continue to be vulnerable under the current model that isn’t working in many inner city school districts.

So because the system are failing the most vulnerable kids, you support a solution that would make their situation worse ?
Who gets left behind in a school voucher system? Those kids who needs support the most - that's who. Private schools do not want them because they require too many ressources and even if they did, they have no free breakfast and lunch programs. How do you expect children to learn on an empty stomach ?

 

[cuddlemonkey]

There have been both Republican and Democrat governors in my lifetime. The last Dem was Phil Bredesen and that was probably 20 years ago. The last two or three Govs have been Republican.

More to the point. Schools in Memphis were managed by the City and about 10 years ago merged with the County. The City is and has been Controlled by Democrats for the last 30 years. The City Council has been controlled by Democrats for the last 30 years. The school board has been controlled by Democrats for the last 30 years and the school superintendents have been democrats for the last 30 years. Those are the folks who control and manage public education in Memphis.

Academic standards for public schools in Tennessee are set by the state, not the local school boards. If you believe those standards are lacking, you should take that up with the state, which you say has been run by Republicans for the last 20 years...

 

[gummbo]

Maybe. Maybe not. That’s why you ask questions and have hearings and debates. If the DoE adds value then it should easily be able to justify the cost.

I has been suggested by another poster that the DoE doesn’t control the curriculum but rather supports and provides funds to disadvantaged districts.

My question would be how are those districts performing? Do we need another layer of bureaucracy to fund those districts. Why not just block grant the states that need funding.

I spent 35 years in Memphis. A Democrat controlled city, mayor and city council, school superintendents, etc. I have listened year after year to these folks talk about their plans to improve inner city schools. And yet little has changed in 35 years. Lack of education is one factor that traps people in poverty. Many of those trapped in those schools want better for themselves and their children and they deserve choices; alternatives to remaining in a failing school.

I as a taxpayer funded that for decades. How many more decades do we need to wait on change because another 35 years of the same ole thing isn’t the answer. Time for something different.

In one of your post, you stated that you would prefer to leave the power in the hands of the individual states, I don’t totally disagree with that statement. The problem lies in the local government, and there’s plenty proof that shows the blue states are better at managing their educational dollar then red state. I find it funny that you would throw out generalize statement about the whole educational system in the United States and still not realize that it really is a question of money and greed. You mentioned that you didn’t care whether it was public or privatized educational system, and someone pointed out to you that privatizing schools would only hurt the lower income neighborhoods. this is a bit of a long read, but this is the educational system in a blue state where I live. Titled Irvine, a great place to learn. The Irvine unified school district (IUSD) consistently ranked among the finest educational systems in the nation. Irvine schools are for innovative, educational programs, Open/styles classrooms, team, teaching, some schools with year-round terms, an excellent community involvement. IUSD Educate a diverse student population numbering over 36,000 (TK-12), in 24 elementary schools, when early childhood learning center, for K through eight schools, six middle schools, five, comprehensive high school, and one alternative high school.
IUSD Is supported by its nonprofit partner, Irvine, public schools foundation(IPSF) , which provide financial support and enrichment programs for all students. Irvine student consistently lead Orange County in SAT test scores, and more than 90% of their high school graduate attend college. IUSD Has nationally recognized schools, students perform well above state and nation comparisons and comprehensive programs in academics the arts and athletics since becoming a unified district in 1972, Irvine Show neighborhood schools have been a clear reflection of the neighborhood they serve. The contributions of creative site-based management teams, talented and caring teachers, involved parents, and supported businesses and community leaders have, Together made a difference to a district where student achievement is a priority.

 

[Optimus Prime]

in the first admin Trump told over 30K verifiable lies ranging from exaggerations to shameless pants on fire whoppers

Are we going over or under 30K this time around?

 

[cuddlemonkey]

What did I say that wasn’t true? Hasn’t education been a problem for decades across multiple congressional sessions and administrations managed by both parties?

Your comment seemed to suggest that this is all Republicans. And it isn’t. I certainly didn’t say that nor did I imply that. I didn’t mention the Department of Education. You did. I never brought it up. So you misrepresented what I said.

So who is being dishonest now? Perhaps you should live by your own standards.

I'm not being dishonest. You are just too ignorant to follow the discussion. Let me see if I can make it easier for you to understand.

In post #2425, you said that you are worried about the US "being in the basement in education when compared to other industrialized nations".

In post #2427, I responded by pointing out that the religious right and the GOP are playing a major role in that, including an effort to dismantle the Department of Education.

In post #2428, you said "Education has been a problem for decades and across administrations and across congresses". This was a criticism of the US Department of Education in response to a conversation about failing educational standards.

In post #2432, I asked you to highlight how the Department of Education has had a detrimental impact on curriculum.

In post #2433, you reiterated that "our education system ranks at the bottom of industrialized nations. So whatever the DOE and the administrations have been doing hasn’t worked". What you did not do was answer my question from post #2432.

In post #2436, I pointed out your failure to answer based on your lack of knowledge.

In post #2438, you tripled down on the notion that "We rank at the bottom of industrialized nations in education. So if DOE is adding value, it isn’t evident."

In post #2441, someone educated you on the fact that the US Department of Education has nothing to do with setting curriculum.

In post #2451, you said that you "didn’t blame the Feds", which is directly contradicted by post #2428.

In post #2456, I repeated my question from post #2432. Armed with the information that the Department of Education has nothing to do with setting curriculum, you ignored me instead of admitting that you were mistaken to correlate educational standards with the makeup of recent congresses and White House administrations.

Just in case this is still too hard for you to follow:

I mentioned the GOP assault on various education-related institutions, including the US Department of Education. You then falsely correlated educational standards to the US Department of Education. When pressed, you couldn't actually say why. When told that the Department of Education has nothing to do with any of that, you ignored it and kept going. And as a bonus, you've also failed to support your claim that the US is "in the basement in education when compared to other industrialized nations".

 

[cuddlemonkey]

in the first admin Trump told over 30K verifiable lies ranging from exaggerations to shameless pants on fire whoppers

Are we going over or under 30K this time around?

Over.

 

[fooferdoggie]

in the first admin Trump told over 30K verifiable lies ranging from exaggerations to shameless pants on fire whoppers

Are we going over or under 30K this time around?

less because he won't last that long.

 

[TampaJoe]

So because the system are failing the most vulnerable kids, you support a solution that would make their situation worse ?
Who gets left behind in a school voucher system? Those kids who needs support the most - that's who. Private schools do not want them because they require too many ressources and even if they did, they have no free breakfast and lunch programs. How do you expect children to learn on an empty stomach ?

Certainly I don’t support a system that makes things worse. I also don’t support a system that continues to fail the very kids you appear to be concerned about.

I think we need to examine alternative solutions rather than assuming anything other that the current model is doomed to fail. With that philosophy we would still be sailing in wooden ships and traveling in covered wagons.

 

[TampaJoe]

In one of your post, you stated that you would prefer to leave the power in the hands of the individual states, I don’t totally disagree with that statement. The problem lies in the local government, and there’s plenty proof that shows the blue states are better at managing their educational dollar then red state. I find it funny that you would throw out generalize statement about the whole educational system in the United States and still not realize that it really is a question of money and greed. You mentioned that you didn’t care whether it was public or privatized educational system, and someone pointed out to you that privatizing schools would only hurt the lower income neighborhoods. this is a bit of a long read, but this is the educational system in a blue state where I live. Titled Irvine, a great place to learn. The Irvine unified school district (IUSD) consistently ranked among the finest educational systems in the nation. Irvine schools are for innovative, educational programs, Open/styles classrooms, team, teaching, some schools with year-round terms, an excellent community involvement. IUSD Educate a diverse student population numbering over 36,000 (TK-12), in 24 elementary schools, when early childhood learning center, for K through eight schools, six middle schools, five, comprehensive high school, and one alternative high school.
IUSD Is supported by its nonprofit partner, Irvine, public schools foundation(IPSF) , which provide financial support and enrichment programs for all students. Irvine student consistently lead Orange County in SAT test scores, and more than 90% of their high school graduate attend college. IUSD Has nationally recognized schools, students perform well above state and nation comparisons and comprehensive programs in academics the arts and athletics since becoming a unified district in 1972, Irvine Show neighborhood schools have been a clear reflection of the neighborhood they serve. The contributions of creative site-based management teams, talented and caring teachers, involved parents, and supported businesses and community leaders have, Together made a difference to a district where student achievement is a priority.

You criticized me for a generalization and then you follow that with your own generalization. Ironic isn’t it?

If your public school system works for you. That’s great. Congratulations. Keep up the good work.

But if you live in an area where schools don’t work, be they public, private, charter, you need options. Not promises that don’t come to fruition. So as I said, I don’t care about the delivery mechanism. That isn’t the primary mission of the education system. I care about results. Outcomes. And if the current system isn’t delivering the service and isn’t accomplishing the primary mission, it’s time to consider different models that will.