State of the Union address.

[bobjustbob]

STDiva, be real. If we give up on these kids what do we have?

 

[STDiva]

Okay, you don't want bad kids in your schools. When do you kick them out and what do you do with them? Funkpiman knows of a good kid that has a carrear. What about the rest of them? Is it better for them to be in a classroom or out on your cornor or sitting on your front stoop?

Funkipman also said keeping him in school would be a waste of time.

STDiva, be real. If we give up on these kids what do we have?

A bleak future. But what is forcing them to stay really going to do? Is something going to click in their head? "whoa, I better get my act together since I have to be here anyway." Wishful thinking. If a kid can't get his act together in high school, he better he a charismatic fellow, or else he'll be flipping burgers his entire life.

You can't force a kid to learn. Especially a kid stubborn enough to think he's got it all figured out at 18.

 

[bobjustbob]

So when do we decide when these kids know what is best for themselvel and let them make their own decisions?

 

[STDiva]

So when do we decide that these kids know what is best for them or let them make their own decisions?

The current age of 16 is alright with me. If a kid wants to go work at Burger King instead of ace his exams, be my guest. That's what adult education centres are for.

 

[bobjustbob]

If that is what you decide for your own kid than God bless him and I hope that he moves onto own his own shop. Do you really think that so many others would do the same?

 

[STDiva]

Same what?

 

[meesterperfect]

Its all bullshit from this guy.
Diversions.
Ok, so keep kids in school, don't let them quit.
So if they stop going what will the GOV do?
Don't give them a drivers license?
Send the truant officer after them?
And one reason why,( like that school last year where one out of every 4 girls were pregnant) , they won't/don't stay in school is that golden parachute that I believe only the USA offers:
Free money, food, drugs, and medical ect for life for getting pregnant.
Why would a kid, especially a poor kid stay in school and try to do it on their own when the GOV offers such a nice package?
The reason why other countries are kicking our ass now is because they don't have that crap there.

Its all BS, nothing more. A diversion from the main issue, the economy in the gutter.

 

[Rivers]

Its all bullshit from this guy.
Diversions.
Ok, so keep kids in school, don't let them quit.
So if they stop going what will the GOV do?
Don't give them a drivers license?
Send the truant officer after them?
And one reason why,( like that school last year where one out of every 4 girls were pregnant) , they won't/don't stay in school is that golden parachute that I believe only the USA offers:
Free money, food, drugs, and medical ect for life for getting pregnant.
Why would a kid, especially a poor kid stay in school and try to do it on their own when the GOV offers such a nice package?
The reason why other countries are kicking our ass now is because they don't have that crap there.

Its all BS, nothing more. A diversion from the main issue, the economy in the gutter.

Truth. The welfare system badly needs to be reformed. Getting rid of birthright citizenship would help.

 

[pete rose]

I didn't watch. Did he say a bunch of words that mean nothing?

 

[Sam Fisher]

I didn't watch. Did he say a bunch of words that mean nothing?

Nor did I. How many standing ovations did he get?

 

[ShikokuKichiguy]

Truth. The welfare system badly needs to be reformed. Getting rid of birthright citizenship would help.

Can't argue with that, especially when you look at the insanely high percentage of money stolen from the working class & freely given to 'individuals' like Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, etc....

Fuck socialism!

 

[Sam Fisher]

Its all bullshit from this guy.
Diversions.
Ok, so keep kids in school, don't let them quit.
So if they stop going what will the GOV do?
Don't give them a drivers license?
Send the truant officer after them?
And one reason why,( like that school last year where one out of every 4 girls were pregnant) , they won't/don't stay in school is that golden parachute that I believe only the USA offers:
Free money, food, drugs, and medical ect for life for getting pregnant.
Why would a kid, especially a poor kid stay in school and try to do it on their own when the GOV offers such a nice package?
The reason why other countries are kicking our ass now is because they don't have that crap there.

Its all BS, nothing more. A diversion from the main issue, the economy in the gutter.

 

[StanScratch]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100...0892781608360.html?mod=WSJ_Home_largeHeadline

-Create a "Buffett rule," that would require households who earn more than $1 million per year to pay a minimum 30% federal income tax and limit deductions.
-Require U.S. companies with foreign operations to pay a minimum tax on overseas profits.
-Bar companies from deducting as a business expense costs associated with shutting U.S. operations to move them abroad.
-Create a new tax credit to cover moving expenses for companies that close production overseas and bring jobs back to the U.S.
-Reduce tax rates for manufacturers, with extra breaks for high-tech manufacturing.
-Pay for proposed $200 billion spending on roads and bridges with some of the savings from the wind-down of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
-Reduce federal aid to colleges that raise tuition too high.
-Provide funding to help people who have kept up their mortgage payments current to refinance at lower interest rates.
-Double the number of work-study jobs for college students.
-Ban farm subsidies for millionaires.
-Ban insider trading by members of Congress.
-Prohibit lobbyists from bundling campaign donations, and bundlers from lobbying.
-Require the Senate to give certain presidential nominees an up-or-down vote within 90 days.
..And Do Himself

-Create a new trade unit to investigate unfair practices in countries including China.
-Set aside more federal land for natural gas extraction and require companies to disclose the chemicals they use in fracking, a method used to extract the gas.
-Encourage new partnerships between businesses and community colleges to train workers for needed jobs.
-Establish a financial crimes unit at the Justice Department to go after large-scale financial fraud.

For those with empty arguments who did not watch it.

 

[lurkingdirk]

Stan, when are you going to learn that facts have no place in arguments about politics on FreeOnes...

 

[StanScratch]

Stan, when are you going to learn that facts have no place in arguments about politics on FreeOnes...

Yeah, I know. Nor does punctuation, spelling or rationalization.

 

[Rey C.]

Its all BS, nothing more. A diversion from the main issue, the economy in the gutter.

And just what would you say are some of the primary root causes of the economy being in the gutter? Would you say that a lack of educated, qualified, skilled workers might play into that, since there actually are jobs available in the medical, tech and engineering fields right now?

A high school diploma (or GED) is the absolute BARE minimum that is needed today. Outside of fast food or janitorial, I can't think of a line of work or a company that DOESN'T require at least a high school diploma. While there might be an anecdotal story about a kid who invents something or makes $1 million counting cards in Vegas, typically, in order for the kids of this generation to find any kind of success (attain a middle class life), they're going to have to have at least a bachelor's degree or a degree from a technical school.

Keeping an uninterested, unmotivated 17 year old in a regular class is probably a horrible idea. As has been said here, if he's forced to be some place he doesn't want to be, he'll just disrupt the class and make learning more difficult for the kids that do want to be there. Those types of kids would have to be taught in some sort of alternative setting. Will that cost money? Yep. Is it worth it? I think so. I'd rather spend the money on that than I would on more prisons or social programs that are nothing more than band-aids or enablers. But at the same time, I realize that a kid who is determined to be a failure in life will probably get his/her way.

But let's face facts: Americans don't (really) value education as much as we should. IMO, that's why we are falling behind the rest of the developed world in global educational rankings. By the time many Americans realize that having a degree (four year or technical) is necessary in today's global economy, they're probably at an age where they're quite nearly unemployable. Contrary to what many believe, there are lots of jobs available today. The problem is, not enough Americans have the skills or the education necessary to get those jobs. I blame parents who are not very good parents for this. And I blame American society for fostering attitudes that make kids feel good about themselves, even though they probably shouldn't.

I haven't listened to the entire speeh yet. I have heard the part that is being spoken about here though. My criticism of it is this is a long term strategy. And if not done correctly, it could turn into another unfunded federal mandate, that arguably does more harm than good (like W. Bush's No Child Left Behind). But it most definitely IS something that this country better start addressing sooner than later.

 

[Jagger69]

I just love it. Right-wingnuts who didn't watch the speech automatically criticizing it.

It's a noble thought but I'm not in favor of forcing incorrigible and disruptive kids being forced to be in school another 2 years. Let the teachers concentrate on the kids who want to learn.

Otherwise, the speech was excellent as usual. Obama is unquestionably the greatest orator we presently have in government. The message was inclusive and inviting. Republican obstructionists like Mitch McConnell sat there expressionless throughout the speech. Obama's message was one of optimism and hope for the future....the republicans clearly want nothing but abject failure in every way and everything to do with this administration because their aim is NOT to make things better for Americans like you and me. Rather, their entire agenda is to see Obama fail miserably in order that they can defeat him and regain the White House in 2012. They don't give rat's ass about the American people.

 

[Supafly]

I just watched the speech. Is it just me or do a lot of guys here sound like they did not actually listen to the President?

 

[meesterperfect]

I don't have 1:11 minutes to waste.
It's all the same shit with guy every time: Bullshit.

 

[lurkingdirk]

I don't have 1:11 minutes to waste.
It's all the same shit with guy every time: Bullshit.

Don't criticize it if you haven't watched it, then.

:2 cents: