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DEL.ICIO.USLegislature: Less is more
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The AJC today offers a recap of legislation that survived or failed to make it from one chamber to the other by the deadline legislators have imposed on themselves. Among bills that failed to make it across was the governor’s tax exemption for retirees, a return of payday lending in Georgia, Sunday booze sales, apologies, and the full-lobbyist employment legislation that would have revised the way the state regulates hospitals and their competitors.
A number of influential legislators were quick to say that the Legislature’s only real mandate is passing a budget. “The biggest thing we do over here is spend $36 billion worth of state and federal money…” said Senate Majority Leader Tommie Williams (R-Lyons). “But at the end of the day we’re going to get that done, and I think in a very — I hope — appropriate way.” His counterpart in the House, State Rep. Jerry Keen (R-St. Simons Island) said essentially the same thing. “Our focus this year was more on the budget and really less is more.”
I, too, am of the less-is-more school. The General Assembly needed to get control of PeachCare spending and the indigent defense system, which has come up short of cash, in part because of the Brian Nichols case in Fulton County. Legislators took steps to deal with those, with the House tightening future eligibility for PeachCare and limiting defendants in capital punishment cases to two taxpayer-provided lawyers. The Senate passed a proposed constitutional amendment to limit future spending, and it approved school reform — charter school districts and special education vouchers.
The session has another 9 working days to go, but I’d be satisfied just with the budget and the major bills that crossed over. Could anybody want anything more out of this General Assembly?
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Mid-South Philosopher
March 29, 2007 8:23 AM | Link to this
Good morning, Jim,
The reactionary dominated Georgia General Assembly seems to be moving toward allowing class sizes in Georgia high schools to rise to at least 32 as opposed to the 28 limit previously planned, but rarely realized.
Representative Brooks Coleman (R-Duluth), chairman of the House Education Committee and a former school principal and assistant school superintendent has reflected that size is not as important in high school as in the earlier grades.
What a brilliant move.
In an era when we, by the Eternal, are going to hold teachers accountable for making sure that ALL (bar none except the idiots…you know future Georgia General Assembly members) perform at college bound levels in science and math, not to mention language arts and social studies, it only makes sense that we should add to the challenge by increasing the size of the classes.
Likely Coleman hasn’t been in a high school class as a teacher in years. Oh, he may have made a guest appearance or two, but I doubt he has had the responsibility of guiding students through a course on a daily basis in decades. He suffers from the classic post-teacher, now that I am administrator, I know it all syndrome.
The more I watch 21st century politicians work the more certain I am that this country will be a 3rd world nation by the end of this century.
By Boomtown Rats
March 29, 2007 8:32 AM | Link to this
The fewer bills they pass, the better. Get them in, get them out fast and the people are better off.
Returning to Jekyll island for a minute, is it any wonder the politicians want to screw up nature? After all, they look at streams and don’t see water, but revenue.
By noodle
March 29, 2007 8:46 AM | Link to this
I couldn’t help but notice that infidel Castro made a comment on biofuels that the lefty libbies are all googoo gaga about. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17850102/ Billions are going to starve to death trying to save the planet and get off our addiction of Big Oil. One would ponder that if America gives up Big Oil, the rest of the world would as well, no? The pontificating point here is what would former president Jimmy Carter say? Ditch our addiction of Big Oil and cause billions of people to starve to death, or continue with our gluttonous ways of feasting on international oil imports? Can we get the lib fawning media to ask Jimmy which side he’ll take, that of his adopted step-brother in Cane Country or that of Big Oil? Can we get the fawning media to question Ms. Sheehan and her highly intellectual thoughts on the matter as well? Would that be choice or what.
By Mark
March 29, 2007 8:46 AM | Link to this
Georgia is already a 3rd world nation or haven’t you noticed? That’s what happens when a bunch of bigoted, nativist bubbas get voted in by a bunch of talibaptists and wingwacks. We are rapidly becomming the most regressive state in the union.
By Redneck Convert
March 29, 2007 8:55 AM | Link to this
Well, I’m glad them people down at the capital raised the classroom size. We spend too much money on schooling anyway. We ought to make the schools run like WalMart. Just pack them in and hire as few people as we can to run them. And if the people don’t do a good job we fire them and bring in new people that get payed less. Anyway, schooling in GA ain’t that important. I never made it out of the 5th grade and it never hurt me none. And it don’t look like Sonny spent a lot of time hitting the books and he’s running the whole state. Besides, schooling kids too much turns them into libruls. I would rather see us turn out good conservative dummies than produce a bunch of libruls. Conservatives don’t think too hard and they take the view that what worked long ago will work today. That’s how GA is going to keep its good life style. Who cares what other states are doing?
I hope they pass a bill that gets rid of Peachcare and paying lawyers for people that has been arrested. We shouldn’t be spending tax money on trash like that. This is GA, not Vermont. As I say in my campaign flyers they are guilty or else they wouldn’t of been arrested. And all Peachcare does is pay Those People to have more kids that turn out to be libruls. If we just let them die out they won’t be as many libruls trying to change our good life in this state and driving our taxes up.
Well, I got a beer run to make. If you agree with my thinking like all good conservatives do send your money to Campaign to Elect Redneck Convert for President, c/o Simpsons Trailer Park, Dawsonville, GA. The death penalty for everybody that gets arrested. Drafting all illegals into the army and winning the war that way and kicking some butt in Iran and in other countrys. And big tax cuts for everybody. Except maybe libruls. Thanking you for your support.
By Snark
March 29, 2007 8:56 AM | Link to this
Mark, this backwards state is one of the most moved to in the nation, and we’re not just talking about the metro ATL. The southeast grows and the northeast and midwest dwindles. You progressive democrat yahoos keep your economically regressive taxation policies out of our backyards. Go back up nawth!
By Rod
March 29, 2007 9:13 AM | Link to this
Yeah, Jim - you’re sooooo right. The Republicans have decided that they only have one job to do - a budget. To he11 with everything else. Who cares if our kids get dumber with less teacher attention. Who cares if we’re one of only 3 states that forbid drinking on the Lord’s day. Who cares if hospitals spiral out of control.
This is what we get with Republicans - nothing. Bring back the Democrats who actually care about their constituents.
By the way, Bush is still murdering US Soldiers every day over in Iraq.
By JP
March 29, 2007 9:42 AM | Link to this
Mark: Georgia is home to the “fixed earth” idiot, the textbook stickers, Harry Potter ban advocates.. this place already IS the most regressive. WHERE ELSE would you find all that in one place?
Snark - I’m with Mark. But what makes you so sure Mark came from the north? I am from the Gulf South, and I think the radical right here in Georgia is absolutely out of control. Should I go back to the south?!
By ron
March 29, 2007 9:53 AM | Link to this
Georgia is smart not to allow Sunday sales of liquor.Bootleggers have to make a living too.Wonder how many sales are interrupted while Bubba attends church?
By Dennis
March 29, 2007 9:57 AM | Link to this
Jim Wooten said, “The legislature… approved school reform — charter school districts and special education vouchers.”
What DOES it take to get it across to Mr. Wooten that this is NOT the way to improve public education?
Come on, Mr. Wooten, I/we still want you to show where public education has ever been over funded or for that matter even adequately funded.
When are you critics going to go into the schools and show the “sorry teachers” how to deal with unruly aand unmotivated students - not all of whom, by the way, come from financially poor homes where both parents work to try and feed their kids?
Teachers can probably wait till hell freezes over before that occurs. And even longer before education is even adequately funded, forget over funded.
As for health care, all good neocon know that if you can’t pay for it, you’re not entitled to it - until some catastrophe hits them and then it’s “who’s going to help me?”
You don’t have to be a blind conservative not to see it, just an ignorant one to deny it.
By Snark
March 29, 2007 9:59 AM | Link to this
JP, if you can come up with some statistics on just how many Georgians really and truly believe that the universe revolves around the earth, please do so. Until then, don’t be so assinine and mental to capitulate that all Georgians or even Southerners think like that. You sound like that moron bedwetter on another blog who said all homeless people were either Vietnam Veterans or children. Anyway JP, you sound like you would be much happier up nawth, that’s all. Just do it and don’t forget to write.
By JohnD(the actual)
March 29, 2007 10:11 AM | Link to this
The City of Atlanta spends 2-3 times the amount per student compared to other cities the same size. Sounds more like Dennis and his friends in education are being over paid for the level of quality delivered.
The drum beat from the Left has always been the same - more money for education - as long as the money comes from others.
There are many quality schools in the Atlanta area and the quality comes from a willingness of the educators to do their job and from parents who emphasize the need for education. The government has little to do with the process.
By time for the truth
March 29, 2007 10:13 AM | Link to this
JP’s far left “sillybillyness” knows no bounds. Mindlessly asserting that Hannity is on the hard/radical right is utterly absurd. Hannity is the archetypal bland mainstream GOP type. The ultimate in unwavering Bush loyalists on virtually every issue (except the ever growing illegal mexican type infestation). .
This is the usual crazed far leftist bollocks though - anyone even slightly to the right of a smug ‘sleeper’ pinko like Joey LIEberman is some jackbooted goose stepping nazi or a John Birch Society racist thug.
Nice to see snivelling MoRoN rod has finally got bail and has hilariously been at the Bush derangement syndrome kool aid so early. A superb early morning laugh from ya moron rod … cheers for posting the usual witless turdbrained bollocks!!
Hateful snotty yankkkee wankers like the lobotomised nutter markkk should just fook off back up north and sniff their hate America Fair Trade cocaine in a socially inadequate cess pit like Nuu Yawwwwk City!!
By noodle
March 29, 2007 10:15 AM | Link to this
Let’s think positive here. The radical rightwing bible toters have their imminent doomsday scenario and conspiracies with stationary earth and the 2nd coming. The radical leftwing have their imminent doomsday scenario and conspiracies with man caused global warming. Let’s bring these two cults of nuts together under one big tent and pour the cool aid.
By time for the truth
March 29, 2007 10:28 AM | Link to this
JP
that nutty deranged religious zealout mini-van driving hag with some poxy stupid metal fishy symbol on the back who tried to ban Harry Potter - (which incidentally was thinly veiled anti-British racism) - was hammered by every single local/state committee she went to. Watch the intellectual honesty bubba!!!
Any more bollocks like that and I’ll get Harry to wave his wand and turn you into a proud right wing SECULAR conservative like me!!
And yes you should bugger off back to the gulf coast and await the next liberal vanquishing Katrina!! It was just the will of Allaaargh!!!
By time for the truth
March 29, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this
BRILLIANT POST noodle
let’s also include the NBA, hippety hop, kuntry and western musak, NASCAR, the NAACP, the NFL and the senate and house demoNcrats in that glorious must watch on Fox News apocalypse!!!
By Dennis
March 29, 2007 10:45 AM | Link to this
By JohnD(the actual) March 29, 2007 10:11 AM |”The City of Atlanta spends 2-3 times the amount per student compared to other cities the same size. Sounds more like Dennis and his friends in education are being over paid for the level of quality delivered.
“The drum beat from the Left has always been the same - more money for education - as long as the money comes from others.
“There are many quality schools in the Atlanta area and the quality comes from a willingness of the educators to do their job and from parents who emphasize the need for education. The government has little to do with the process.”
JohnD(the actual) has replied in a manner that is not the usual name calling, for which it is appreciated.
It is easy to say that I and other supporters of public education are willing to spend the money of others.
And that the schools that produce good students is only because of teachers who are willing to do their jobs.
JohnD, I also pay tax - maybe less than you pay, maybe more.
However “the “money of others” is “common money” spent by our elected representatives, who, over the years of public education have not valued education enough to adequately fund it.
What amount do you suppose we/you/me should spend on a student that is “adequate”?
Honestly, I don’t know. I can tell you that no one, especially the critics, have ever tried to find out. They don’t want to know. It’s easier to criticize.
Regarding point two, most teachers are good at what they do, but I will admit that there are also a few sluggards as there are in every profession.
We have a school, in fact two, in my town where they are trying “year around schools” where most of the kids come from lower income and poverty stricken homes. And the teachers are handpicked. But it’s not making that much difference in the kids that I know of.
You’re right about emphasis of education in the home. But that too, is no guarantee that the kids will be successful in school.
Last, if schools had enough money, we would never have the need for “bake sales” for supplies.
There isn’t enough money for public education and there will be even less as there are magnet schools and vouchers used for “special interests” only.
These are only going to make the public education situation worse, not better. The problem in this case is those who control the purse strings - government.
You don’t have to be a blind conservative not to see it, just an ignorant one to deny it.
By JK
March 29, 2007 10:47 AM | Link to this
Could anybody want anything more out of this General Assembly?
Yes. They should have saved the life of that kid doing 10 years hard time for having a consenual one-on-one with a 15-year-old when he was 17. That the life of this kid means nothing to them says a lot; none of it good. Kids should be discouraged from that sort of thing, but to criminalize this non-crime just validates the idea what we’d rather incarcerate a kid at 10 times the cost of directing him toward a positive future. What a waste of money, potential, and life.
By DebbieDoRight
March 29, 2007 10:52 AM | Link to this
The City of Atlanta spends 2-3 times the amount per student compared to other cities the same size. Sounds more like Dennis and his friends in education are being over paid for the level of quality delivered
Interesting statistic. Can you prove what you say?
By DebbieDoRight
March 29, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this
Yes. They should have saved the life of that kid doing 10 years hard time for having a consenual one-on-one with a 15-year-old when he was 17. That the life of this kid means nothing to them says a lot; none of it good
This actually says a LOT about politics and attitudes in Georgia. When that kid gets out, I wouldn’t want to be around — they’d take a good kid with a bright future, put him alongside hardened criminals for TEN YEARS add probably throw in a few prison “rapes” into the picture; and guess what’s going to come out?; another Georgia made hardened criminal with hate in his heart and nothing to loose. Great going Georgia!!
By LivingRight
March 29, 2007 11:18 AM | Link to this
So, first the Brits cut and run from Basra and now they’re letting Iran make them look like the sissies they apparently are. Maybe our problem in Iraq has been an over estimation of the ‘help’ we thought we were getting from the Tony Blair bunch?
By Uppity Liberal
March 29, 2007 11:25 AM | Link to this
That’s what they call me. You see, I am smarter than all you idiot Cons. I read every book that’s on the NYT bestseller list, especially if it’s written by Father Gore or Brother Franken. I attend arts festivals. So what if said art couldn’t be given away for free in a NYC studio? It’s the thought that counts. I attend plays where naked people hang from trees to emulate nature and save the planet. It enlightens me. I am, therefore you don’t think.
It makes no difference what the real world is like because in my own glass house, I rule, and you will abide by my rules even outside of my glass house. My People know what’s best for you. We know what you should eat. We know what you should drive. We know what size home you should have, except Heavenly Brothers Gore and Edwards. We know what your child should be taught, and more specifically, not taught. If The People’s schools don’t give you your money’s worth, we’ll just pump more and more and more money out of you and into Our System.
We know how much of your hard-earned money you should contribute to Our Communisty..oops typo, I meant Our Community. No, You People don’t really work. If you Cons sit behind a desk and push pencils or fatfinger a keyboard, you aren’t really working. Therefore, myself and my Good Brothers in Washington will do whatever is within our power [and sometimes beyond] to ensure that you contribute to Our Society. The very idea of you sitting your rump behind a PC monitor in an air conditioned corner office all day earning 10x as much as one of Our Parishoners who sweats outside is obscene, and we will sure fix that.
Our People who don’t work are the ones that really contribute to the whole of Our Society. Our People who dig ditches and install water pipes are the real backbone of America. Anyone like you Cons who does less manual labor and more mental labor is worthless to Our Society and we will ensure your ultimate demise. If Our People choose to not work, we will make sure You pay.
So what if My People have a few minor character flaws? So what if Sister Feinstein had to resign the other day from the Military Construction Appropriations subcommittee because of her hubby and billions of dollars of military construction projects? So what if My People add porkfat to a bill that was initiated solely for the military? Don’t you Cons lecture us. We give a whole new meaning to that classic 1970s commercial “I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan, and never ever let you forget your man, because I’m a wooomaaaaan..” Whoops, never mind. That’s Brother Edwards’ Engelie commercial.
I’ve got to run along now you brain dead Cons. I’ve got to expand my perceptual and intellectual horizons now. There’s a new play out called Mount Me about a school in some Bible thumping backwoods necktown that refuses to join the rest of the nation in teaching 4th graders how to put on condoms. Enlightenment man. Also, there’s a new book out that teaches Our Children how to play with Legos without building a house bigger than someone else’s. I don’t think Brothers Gore and Edwards will be saving that one for their grandchildren however. Toodles all you dumb Cons!
By Bill Kecskes
March 29, 2007 11:31 AM | Link to this
HB 94 - the supplemental mid-year appropriations bill that “crossed-over” to the Senate is laden with pork and waste —- $35,000 to Dooly County to improve the Big Pig Jig site —- $18,000 to Savannah for weightlifting equipment - $100,000 to Warms Springs to improve the FDR Golf Course - $20,000 to South Cobb High School for band uniforms — $70,000 to the City of Rome to design Roman Arches for the Arts Council Building —- Is this government spending less? Clearly not - this is typical more of the same government pork and waste and I pray LtGov Cagle and the Georgia Senate will put an end to this waste of my tax money!
By Amber
March 29, 2007 11:34 AM | Link to this
Thankfully, the tax cut for the over 65 bunch didn’t take this year — although I suspect Republicans are saving it for an election year to increase voter turnout among the greedy. If you continue to earn money, then you should continue to pay your share of taxes — regardless of age (my 68 year-old boss’ boss earns several times more than his employees do). While such a tax cut would be appreciated by my parents (also significantly wealthier than their kids because Daddy worked during a time when layoffs were unheard of, raises exceeded the cost of living and promotions from within were the norm), ultimately, the rest of us will have to make up the difference.
On PeachCare, with the cost of health care rising, reducing eligibility would also cost taxpayers more in the long-run. To save money, we should be expanding children’s health insurance (as many other states are doing), not cutting back. Of course, the “family values” crowd (aka: “not my problem” crowd) is incapable of seeing beyond a couple of months into the future, and will do whatever it takes to save money today – even when it means taking health care away from kids. Shameful.
(Note: Billiant post today from Mid-South Philosopher. I’m sorry to say that I agree with his conclusion, except that I’m afraid we’ll get there long before the end of the century.)
By HAROLD
March 29, 2007 11:44 AM | Link to this
IN KEEPING WITH THE ‘LESS IS MORE’ PHILOSOPHY, HAROLD SAYS LESS SILLY LAWS RESTRICTING SHOPPING HABITS IS MORE BETTER
THOSE DUMMIES SHOULDA SET UP A VOTE TO ALLOW GROCERIES TO JOIN THE SUNDAY SALES CLUB
WHAT BUFFOONS
HAROLD WILL VOTE THEM ALL OUT NEXT TIME
By time for the truth
March 29, 2007 11:45 AM | Link to this
@ stopliving
The Brits are NOT cut and running from Basra but cheers for being a sad dishonest tw at!! Ultimately there will have to be a political solution. As for the criminal war like Iranian hostage taking … what exactly are we supposed to do … unilaterally declare war on the Iranian Hitler??? Have the RAF bomb Tehran?? The lives of the RN folks are more important just now than gesture politics. Doubtless in future such search operations will be backed up by having a much greater force in the very immediate vicinity. The Iranians targeted the RN because they are relatively isolated down there in a very compact (treacherous) waterway, have a relatively small footprint and of course for geopolitical reasons - the nuclear bomb race being front and centre!!
Hopefully some retribution political/military will be exacted after the lads and lass come home!!
I seem to recall that a while back it took the US “sissies” (as YOU put it) some 400+ days to get their folks home from Tehran!!
By time for the truth
March 29, 2007 11:52 AM | Link to this
HAROLD WILL VOTE THEM ALL OUT NEXT TIME
so you’re publicly admitting (in advance) intent/conspiracy to commit massive personal electoral fraud all across the state then harold??
you wont get no alcohol on Sundays in jail harold … not unless its run by corrupt lazy incompetents like say in Clayton/Dekalb/Fulton Counties!!
By huh?
March 29, 2007 11:54 AM | Link to this
The British have turned into a group of cowardly American democratic libs? Since when?
By HAROLD
March 29, 2007 11:55 AM | Link to this
JK you must be joking, you think a state legistlature would get involved to save a single person? well sure maybe if the person were an inanimate vegetable blob who had previously expressed a wish never to be an inanimate vegetable blob, but come on, a perfectly good black kid who would’ve had a bright future? seriously! come on! they are not gonna waste their time on letting a black guy out of prison because they are all certain he’d be right back behind bars in a matter of months anyhow
if only everyone in the legislature who ever got a bloe job from 15 year old could be imprisoned!!!!!! seriously who hasnt (who with a wiener, that is)?? well, the band geeks maybe, but everybody else? yeah, they did the same thing but they are not in prison
By harold
March 29, 2007 11:58 AM | Link to this
harold knows how to use a spreadsheet, so yes harold will “vote” them all out next time by volunteering at the electoral board and sitting at the computer for 5 minutes. as long as the totals add up, the votes can be anything. they aint no way we really electified grinnin’ pumpkinheaded idiot sunni perdoo
By JP
March 29, 2007 12:01 PM | Link to this
TFTT - I’m sure you will dismiss this for any number of reasons, but it’s interesting to consider just how far to the right the “Center” has been moved. It’s very much due to right-wing media spin—and if Hannity is “mainstream GOP,” does that mean that the average Republican lies consistently and regularly?
And I have family affected by Katrina—is joking about over 1,000 dead your definition of ‘Compassionate conservatism’? DROP DEAD, jerk. How DARE you make jokes about that?
And you maniacs wonder why people dislike Republicans.
By getalife
March 29, 2007 12:01 PM | Link to this
lies,
Your homies had a helicopter, a battleship and allowed their troops to be taken hostage.
Why did they not fight?
By Courtney
March 29, 2007 12:03 PM | Link to this
Hey Uppity Dumbazz at 11:25. I’m talking to you, Captain Freedom wannabe.
Good job expanding on that right-wing e-mail that you guys send to each other every day. You know the one with that line about liberals being “tax-hiking, government-expanding, latte-drinking, sushi-eating, Volvo-driving, New York Times-reading, body-piercing, Hollywood-loving, left-wing freak show”.
Adding the gay-bashing (“Mount Me”) was a nice touch. I also liked the part about how “Our People” like to spend other peoples money, because as you know, the 50 plus percent of the population that voted for Democrats in the last election probably don’t work or pay taxes.
I’m sorry Uppity Dumbazz, but you couldn’t carry Captain Freedom’s spit. However, I’m sure if he saw your post, he’d appreciate the fact that you tried.
By getalife
March 29, 2007 1:08 PM | Link to this
We are in the last throes of the wingnut insurgency.
The new Dem majority will be greeted as liberators when they regain the White House.
We must stay the course to defeat the wingnut insurgency to rid our country of these evil doers and axis of evil.
By time for the truth
March 29, 2007 1:33 PM | Link to this
snivelling liar maggot brain
a “battleship” HA HA HA HA … a battle ship is around the size of the Graf Spee or HMS Hood. The RN hasn’t used a battleship since about the time the pardon selling Arkansas rapist was born.
The RN ship was a light cruiser/destroyer type - it was several miles away. The RN chopper was not exactly a Black Hawk gunship … something like a small very lightly armed Lynx. The towel head fascists heavily outumbered the RN chaps with much heavier guns and RPGs etc, they had (if memory serves) SIX boats to our ONE. The RN chaps had only light machine guns. It would have been a blood bath that would have triggered something much worse. Like Kerry in Nam the towel heads even had a video camera - this was well planned ahead of time. The RN Captain stated all this in TV interviews from his bridge.
Tosspot dickweed JP
I was pretty polite to you until now … The chickenhawk cut and run hate America left has gleefully swung almost to Cuban extremes … thus relatively moderate folks like Hannity are percieved as being hard right by far leftist vermin like you. Hannity is STILL BUT an average GOPer. Pat Buchanan and his ilk are the hard right!!
My wife’s cousin and his family, a dentist down in Gulfport MS (also a FL transplant) lost everything.
Go EFF yourself cowardly leftist turdbrain!!!
By Shar
March 29, 2007 1:40 PM | Link to this
Debbie @ 10:52: This article in Atlanta Magazine http://www.atlantamagazine.com/article.php?id=256 compares the spending per pupil between Atlanta, Cobb County and other large metro school systems with high levels of poverty. The national average per pupil spending is just over $8,000; Atlanta spends almost $11,000, which is comparable to the levels in Boston, Minneapolis and Washington, DC.
There is no question that the fewer resources that are available at home the greater the investment has to be by taxpayers through the schools (not to mention social services, hospitals, law enforcement, etc.). Those that choose to live in urban areas accept this as part of the tradeoff for increased urban amenities. The issue is what is bought with these rates of spending. Unfortunately, Atlanta Public Schools fails abysmally to deliver anything like a quality education. It makes the argument for greater spending on public schools very hard to support, whereas if the schools were succeeding in producing functional graduates who were ready for employment or further education, very few would begrudge high levels of spending. It’s not the dollars, it’s the value.
By Shar
March 29, 2007 1:43 PM | Link to this
Debbie @ 10:52: This article in Atlanta Magazine http://www.atlantamagazine.com/article.php?id=256 compares the spending per pupil between Atlanta, Cobb County and other large metro school systems with high levels of poverty. The national average per pupil spending is just over $8,000; Atlanta spends almost $11,000, which is comparable to the levels in Boston, Minneapolis and Washington, DC.
There is no question that the fewer resources that are available at home the greater the investment has to be by taxpayers through the schools (not to mention social services, hospitals, law enforcement, etc.). Those that choose to live in urban areas accept this as part of the tradeoff for increased urban amenities. The issue is what is bought with these rates of spending. Unfortunately, Atlanta Public Schools fails abysmally to deliver anything like a quality education. It makes the argument for greater spending on public schools very hard to support, whereas if the schools were succeeding in producing functional graduates who were ready for employment or further education, very few would begrudge high levels of spending. It’s not the dollars, it’s the value.
By Power of Doom
March 29, 2007 1:57 PM | Link to this
Democrat axis of evil= Abortion,Homosexuality, Child Molestation.
By TW
March 29, 2007 2:19 PM | Link to this
5 Iranians in a canoe taking out 15 from the Royal Navy is about as absurd as a six-foot-eight, cave dwelling Muslim on dialysis being able to elude capture. Is it time to give the tough jobs back to the smart people, yet?
By getalife
March 29, 2007 2:44 PM | Link to this
lies,
Keep swallowing those lies wanker.
Geez.
By HeeHaw
March 29, 2007 2:44 PM | Link to this
And you maniacs wonder why people dislike Republicans.
Because most are greedy, selfish scum?
Just a thought.
By getalife
March 29, 2007 2:52 PM | Link to this
“The decision makers in this case were the attorney general and the counsel to the president,” he told the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Sampson just sealed their fate.
McLiar and other wingnuts should stfu or open the green zone to back up their bs.
Sick of the lies.
By Tyra
March 29, 2007 3:42 PM | Link to this
If you get a minute, read this Washington Post article on voter fraud and how it plays into the latest Bush scandal and Republican efforts to disenfranchise voters:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/28/AR2007032801969.html?hpid=opinionsbox1
By Realist
March 29, 2007 3:42 PM | Link to this
Power of Doom…I think the child molestion part of that axis could be argued out the equation. With all the Homo preachers, priests, and of course southern white males, thats the conservative base. Don’t you watch NBC dateline?
By jbmlaw
March 29, 2007 4:26 PM | Link to this
Good afternoon all. I wish I had written the essay by uppity liberal @ 11:25 - Chairman Ann could not have done it better.
On to the topic, belatedly today, the blog commentary predictably divides between (1) those on my side affirming the sensibility of Jim’s paean to small government, and (2) the shrill fears of the our esteemed adversaries who are convinced that Armageddon arrives in the form of a 1% decrease in government spending.
Dear Philosopher @ 8:23, I think I recall sitting in elementary school classes, year after year, of 40+ students - is that what stunted me intellectually?
By JP
March 29, 2007 4:37 PM | Link to this
Your posterboy Rush was just crooning about how giddy he was that the GOP had stopped hearings today using a procedural objection and how that would disappoint Chris Matthews (who cares?) — but of course, the holdup was only momentary.
What a blabbermouth. Just like TFTT.
By JP
March 29, 2007 4:42 PM | Link to this
And As for Buchanan, if he’s “hard right,” that’s good for you—compared to Hannity, he sounds like the 2nd coming of Einstein. You need more people like Pat Buchanan and fewer O’Reillys, Hannitys, COulters, Glen Becks, Savages, Boortzes, etc. People might actually like you then.
I used to think of Buchanan as a nutjob, but in the last 10 years he now looks totally rational and normal. Which, again, shows how the right has moved way off the deep end.
By GRCleft
March 29, 2007 4:44 PM | Link to this
jbmlaw must be quite the dumba$$ to compliment the pre-adolescent post written by the imbecile at 11:25. (Probably a result of not getting the special education he desperately needed in elementary school.) But then, jbmlaw worships the quicksand that Lucifer himself (aka: Ann Coulter) walks on.
By jbmlaw
March 29, 2007 4:53 PM | Link to this
Dear GRC @ 4:44, your fidelity to the personality cultism of the left is noted and previously well documented here. As for those of us who favor freedom, the power of ideas drives all. Thus my respect for the clever 11:25 post - my comments were not directed to inferior minds, so please don’t take offense.
By jm
March 29, 2007 5:00 PM | Link to this
It does not surprise that Mr. Wooten and the nanny state republicans are happy that the Sunday alcohol sale did not come up for a vote. looks like Carry Nation would feel right at home with today’s republican party.
“Less is good” but I will reserve judgement until after the supplemental budget requests for this year are finished up. That is when the true cost (in either taxes raised or services cut) is known.
By rarringt
March 29, 2007 5:00 PM | Link to this
Number of regular posters = about 30
Number of lurkers who post = about 40
Number of people on this blog who know each other personally = (likely) 0
Number of reasons namecalling and questioning patriotism, integrity or any other virtue should trump civil discourse = 0
Jim’s average number of posts 6 months ago = 150 or more
Jim’s average number of posts in the last 2 weeks = 50 or less
Number of snide-masquerading-as-clever insults this post will attract = more than enough to make my point (unfortunately)
By a jbm fan
March 29, 2007 5:04 PM | Link to this
Any regular on this blog knows that jbmlaw does, as he claims, favor freedom: freedom to exploit, freedom to pollute, freedom to cheat, freedom to gouge, freedom to steal.
I can also confirm that jbmlaw believes in the power of ideas. His powerful idea? Eliminate all progress made since Lincoln.
Inferior minds indeed.
By Laurie
March 29, 2007 5:13 PM | Link to this
rarringt,
Over time, you might also have observed that multiple posts by “time for the truth”, Van, Dusty, RW, jbmlaw, Buy Danish, @@, WootenDull, Markus and/or Realist have made up about 70 percent of the 150 posts you refer to. When they take a day off, inevitably, the total goes down.
By jbmlaw
March 29, 2007 5:25 PM | Link to this
Dear ajf @ 5:04, I assume by “progress” you reject all of the post-Friedman progress?
By BFGtime
March 29, 2007 5:26 PM | Link to this
Watching the the left spew their hate venom against anyone that doesn’t share their philosophies is quite entertaining. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear this was a leftie hate blog like Daily Kos. Wow what brilliant hatred.
By Stop Picking on Me
March 29, 2007 5:49 PM | Link to this
BFGtime,
I hear you, sister. We righties are really sweet. Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O’Reilly, Michael Savage and Mark Levin are perfect examples. I don’t understand why are those lefties always so mean to us?
By K-Squared
March 29, 2007 5:54 PM | Link to this
BFGtime,
You reap what you sow.
By jm
March 29, 2007 5:54 PM | Link to this
jbmlaw@5:25 are you sure you don’t mean Hayek?