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I just want to comment on selfish college students who throw away millions of dollars of tax payers money a year on worthless degrees. They do this by majoring in useless subjects like philosophy, religion, history, art and any of the social sciences you can think of and they use Pell Grants to do it too. They then graduate and end up working at a nearby fast food joint for the rest of their lives and never do anything really productive with their lives. Go into hard sciences, engineering or medicine; you know, productive degrees.
ABSURDLY, Missouri leads or is close to the top in leading the nation in the number of governmental entities or bodies it has. The Missouri General Assembly had a chance to do something about this insanity by reducing the number of state congressional districts but did nothing, thus clearly illustrating the principle that the No. 1 priority of a governmental body is, once created, self-perpetuation, regardless of costs to the taxpayers.
I recently found out that my child, who will be attending Central Middle School, will be in a classroom of 29 to 30 children. I would like the powers that be in the school district to answer as to why this is being allowed. I was told that this number of students is within the state guidelines. However, when a school already has discipline issues and is struggling to do well on the map tests, this many students in a class is disgraceful. How can one teacher be expected to deal with that many children, discipline issues and still teach the students? As usual, the bottom line is not what's best for the students but how much money the district can save.
TO all you people coming from the west in the mornings and using the Highway 34 detour. Please put down your cellphones and drive on your side of the road. I travel that route every morning going west and I am crowded off the road at least three times a week. And yes, in Cape Girardeau County we drive on the right side of the road.
UNTIL the rich, big business start paying their fair share of taxes like they did before Bush took office, the economy will never recover. That is just what the Republicans want. They do not care about anybody but themselves. Not even the children. Have mercy on their souls if they even have one.
THIS stretches credulity beyond its limits. Leave it to Paleolithic publisher/columnist Michael Jensen to blame the actions of violent so-called flash mobs on the Obama administration.
IF the party nuisance ordinance is passed in Cape Girardeau, it will transform the city from a quasi-police state into a full fledged one.
THE caller missed an important point when the caller suggested all the people that went to the Iraqi war were volunteers. I remember the controversy around, since it's not so many years ago, around the National Guard being used for this purpose. It was controversial and many of the people were saying the National Guard was to be used defending this country. So, the volunteers, per se, as this person said, many of them were simply taking our National Guard and using them for this purpose. So "all volunteer" means something different apparently to this caller than me since it wasn't like they were enlisting in the regular service to go. It was like they started using our National Guard.
GOOD Samaritans, beware. I observed the fall of a toddler from the front of a grocery cart as he landed full force on his back, hitting his head on the concrete floor of the Perryville, Mo., Walmart. The mother scooped up the child, grabbed her grocery cart and walked away from me. When I suggested she take him to the ER and get him checked out, she raised her voice at me, twice. I hope that mother never really needs help from a stranger. She may not get it. I, on the other hand, will never forget seeing that child's body flip out of that cart and land so hard. I thank God he lived through it and pray he suffered no after effects, despite his mother's attitude.
IT should come to no surprise as to why MoDOT is having financial problems. I wondered why they would install signs at every tenth of a mile along the interstate, which is ridiculous, and these cables they have strung are even more ridiculous. I'm just waiting for a few cars to go through them and bounce back into traffic causing others to lose control and see the lawsuits filed against MoDOT for that.
I am so sad at people's attitude. They say to me, "Oh well, your dad stayed free at the Veterans Home." I said, "He did not. I paid $1,800 every month. That's the maximum. How do you think they can keep that place in operation if people got freebies? No way."
TODAY in Monday's paper, June 6, there is a Speak Out about the President's popularity. I would just like to rebut that. Let's have this Republican remember back when Clinton was President as a Democrat when we had a balanced budget when he left office and when President Bush escalated the budget. It just keeps going. Let's not blame Obama for two years. Let's blame Bush for eight years and who was an idiot and couldn't balance a budget. So let's put the blame where the blame is really due. Let's get the Bush war over with, all of them and get back to the United States of America, in the Democratic power, not Boehner power.
IN regard to watching C-SPAN and someone being so proud that our dear President Obama and his dear Michelle were in Dublin and making speeches to thousands of people and how the band played on and on, kisses as the cameras flashed, it was like a grand old movie, and we, as Americans, should be proud the way thousands greeted our leaders. I would be prouder if he stayed home and did the job that some of you elected him to do as president.
IT was good to see the citizens of Cairo, Ill., having a day of thanksgiving. Their city was saved, thanks to the sacrifice of so many others. However, I'm puzzled by a comment that their mayor made. He said that their attention has turned to question what type of assistance they are going to be receiving. Wait a minute, your homes and city were saved. How about showing your thanks by going over to the Pinhook community to help the people who lost everything.
I'D like to make a comment for the Scott City Kiwanis Club on their hamburger stand they had last weekend at Summerfest. I think they did a fantastic job. I think they had good hamburgers.
Comments
We shall wait for the day when the Obama lovers finally take responsibility. I will not be holding my breath because I know the body only lasts so long without oxygen and they don't appear to want to take responsibility anytime soon..
Veteran's homes and Nursing homes are paid. The person's entire Social Security check or any retirement fund or check goes directly to the nursing home once they are there full time. Then, the nursing home also bills Medicare/Medicaid for additional expenses on top of that. On the flip side, most of those homes really are understaffed and the nurses work really hard and do the best they can to take care of so many patients.
Productive Degrees: I get it. You're being facetious. Phew! You scared me for a minute.
That's a Fact!
My wife's Dad was in a nursing home and what you posted is 100% true. Due to under staffing, the families of the patients needs to visit often and check on their love ones.
Cairo priorities:
If the levee ever needs to be blown again, we need to be standing on it in order to keep it from been blown...let Cairo flood.
Fair share:
Even if you take every dollar of every millionaire and big corporations, you still wouldn't have enough to pay off the yearly deficit. The economy won't recover until we stop spending more than we are taking in and getting the unemployment number down to 4% which is the amount of people in the USA who wouldn't work even if they had a job.
Blame Bush ...Clinton had a surplus because it was left to him from prior administrations ...Bush has been gone for 3 1/2 years , why do people insist on holding him responsible for today's administration's policies ? could it be Mr.Obama is using the same strategies ? we went into Iraq to get Saddam Hussein , mission accomplished , why are we still there ? we went into Afghanistan to find or kill Osama Bin Laden , mission accomplished , why are we still there ? we saved the Lybians from mass slaughter in Benghazi , why are we still there ?...just saying..
our inter-state roads and bridges are crumbling...our major water and sewer lines are caving in...our eletric power grids are 30 years out dated ...the Democrats want to repair these as investments ...the Republicans refuse to negotiate until the spending is cut..can't these politicians use some common sense and reach an agreement that will strengthen our infrastucture and give millions of people jobs ?
Rick: The 787 billion dollar stimulus package the majority of that money was to be used for infrastucture over haul or at least that is what many of us thought it would be used for to put many back to work, but very little went toward actual infrastucture and the majority of the stimulus went toward more increased social programs such as increased food stamp distribution, ten times extended unemployment benefits of 99 weeks, over 21 billion dollars worth of free pell grants and just a flat increase in welfare programs period. Here we are today with a infrastucture that is rock bottom and a 9.1% unemployment rate and flat broke and no more stimulus money left. We put very little back to work on actual infrastucture construction projects with this money. The money was basically wasted by throwing it out the window. The stimulus turned out to be a failed economic package that was not used properly.
The stimulus turned out to be a failed economic package that was not used properly.
-- Posted by swampeastmissouri on Sun, Jun 12, 2011, at 10:54 AM
Accomplished by politiicians with a get re-elected agenda rather than the interest of the country at heart. Now the question is, if we allow them an even greater amount of money, would it be handled any different.
swampeastmissouri
yes , sadly you are correct ....we need the private sector working in unison with Government to insure "stimulus" is exactly that , a means to rebuild our aging transportation roads , water/sewer , and electrical grids .
i think Government only controlled "stimulus" leads to corruption , favoritisms , and politicians lining their pockets from false promises .
allowing the private sector to be involved would be a good watch dog of these funds , eliminating people from hand outs to productive jobs , strengthing our economy , and reducing Entitlement programs .
partisian politics , which is the method of Government today , has split our nation into a society of finger-pointing blame ...the private sector would provide the jobs , using Government standards for continuity and safety , without caring if their workers were Democrat or Republican .
Why did Clinton have a surplus? 1.Welfare reform.
2. A republican congress forcing him to govern more from the right. 3. Let us not forget Clinton selling government assets such as the Elk hills oil fields and other government assets.
Why are broke today? Illegals, anchor babies, and expanded welfare programs. For example:
More than 44 million Americans -- 14 percent of the population -- now rely on the federal government's food stamps program, an all-time high.
The number of recipients is up 11 percent from one year ago and more than 60 percent from just four years ago.
Nearly 21 million households are now reliant on the Department of Agriculture's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The program cost taxpayers over $68 billion last year, twice as much as in 2007, and accounts for 67 percent of the USDA's total budget, compared to 26 percent in 1980.
The 2012 appropriations bill includes $71 billion for food stamps, a 9 percent increase from 2011 but $2 billion less than what President Obama requested.
Critics complain that SNAP hasn't put a dent in poverty or hunger while taking away funds from other efforts that should be the main focus of the USDA, specifically agricultural programs, according to ABC News.
The food stamp program is also vulnerable to abuse. A Menominee, Mich., man was arrested recently and charged with food stamp trafficking. He allegedly used a food stamps card to buy $141 worth of lobster, steak and soft drinks and resold the items for 50 cents on the dollar.
The Republicans' 2012 budget plan seeks to change SNAP from an entitlement to a block-grant program that would be tailored for each state. The proposal would make aid contingent on work or job training and limit funding for the program.
The economic 787 billion stimulus bill allocated funds as follows:
*$288 billion in tax cuts.(90% done as of 6/3/11)
*$224 billion in extended unemployment benefits, education and health care. (82% done as of 6/3/11)
*$275 billion for job creation using federal contracts, grants and loans. (75% done as of 6/3/11)
Still 69 billion left for job creation, will it be used wisely?
Fair share--You are drunk on Obama-aid. You have no clue as to what a fair share is: If ignorance was a disability, you would qualify for a full pension.
50% of wage earners pay no income tax and/or get earned income tax credit which is more government welfare. I support Herman Cains 23% consumption tax. Every citizen, even you, would pay your fair share.
This would eliminate class warfare and bring us back from socialism more to a free and open Republic.
Rick: You still don't get it. Bush has been out for less than 29 months, not 3 1/2 years as you keep saying. Now that is one figure that can be verified. It's the fault of the people who elcted Bush. Millionaires receiving a tax reduction they didn't even ask for. That has contributed to a lot of our debt. No doubt there are people who abuse entitlements. There are also a lot who would probably be on the other side of the grass if it weren't for them. Hard to distinguish which is which sometimes.
AS I am on vacation, traveling in our RV to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary,I thought it would be good to visit here and see what is happening. As I depart again, I will pass along the following words. I am not the author but he/she has it pegged.
"And it came to pass in the Age of Insanity that the people of the land
Called America , having lost their morals, their initiative, and their
Will to defend their liberties, chose as their Supreme Leader that
Person known as "The One."
He emerged from the vapors with a message that had no meaning; but He
Hypnotized the people telling them, "I am sent to save you." My lack
Of experience, my questionable ethics, my monstrous ego, and my
Association with evil doers are of no consequence. I shall save you
With Hope and Change. Go, therefore, and proclaim throughout the
Land that he who proceeded me is evil, that he has defiled the nation,
And that all he has built must be destroyed. And the people rejoiced,
For even though they knew not what "The One" would do, he had promised
That it was good; and they believed. And "The One" said " We live in
The greatest country in the world. Help me change everything about it!"
And the people said, "Hallelujah! Change is good!"
Then He said, "We are going to tax the rich fat-cats." And the
People said "Sock it to them!" "And redistribute their wealth." And
The people said, "Show us the money!" And the he said, "
Redistribution of wealth is good for everybody.."
And Joe the plumber asked, " Are you kidding me? You're going to
Steal my money and give it to the deadbeats??" And "The One"
Ridiculed and taunted him, and Joe's personal records were hacked and publicized.
One lone reporter asked, "Isn't that Marxist policy?" And she was
Banished from the Kingdom's press corps ".
Then a citizen asked, "With no foreign relations experience and
Having zero military experience or knowledge, how will you deal with
Radical terrorists?" And "The One" said, "Simple. I shall sit with
Them and talk with them and show them how nice we really are; and they
Will forget that they ever wanted to kill us all!" And the people
Said, "Hallelujah!! We are safe at last, and we can beat our weapons
Into free cars for the people!"
Then "The One" said "I shall give 95% of you lower taxes." And one,
lone voice said, "But 40% of us don't pay ANY taxes." So "The One"
said, "Then I shall give you some of the taxes the fat-cats pay!"
And the people said, "Hallelujah! Show us the money!"
Then "The One" said, "I shall tax your Capital Gains when you sell
your homes!" And the people yawned and the slumping housing market
collapsed. And He said. "I shall mandate employer-funded health care
for every worker and raise the minimum wage. And I shall give every
person unlimited healthcare and medicine and transportation to the
clinics." And the people said, "Give me some of that!"
Then he said, "I shall penalize employers who ship jobs overseas."
And the people said, "Where's my rebate check?"
Then "The One" said, "I shall bankrupt the coal industry and
electricity rates will skyrocket!" And the people said, "Coal is
dirty, coal is evil, no more coal! But we don't care for that part
about higher electric rates." So "The One" said, Not to worry. If
your rebate isn't enough to cover your expenses, we shall bail you out.
Just sign up with the ACORN and you troubles are over!"
Then He said, "Illegal immigrants feel scorned and slighted. Let's
grant them amnesty, Social Security, free education, free lunches,
free medical care, bi-lingual signs and guaranteed housing..." And
the people said, "Hallelujah!" and they made him king!
And so it came to pass that employers, facing spiraling costs and
ever-higher taxes, raised their prices and laid off workers. Others
simply gave up and went out of business and the economy sank like unto
a rock dropped from a cliff.
The banking industry was destroyed. Manufacturing slowed to a
crawl. And more of the people were without a means of support.
Then "The One" said, "I am the "the Chosen One"- The Messiah - and I'm here
to save you! We shall just print more money so everyone will have
enough!" But our foreign trading partners said unto Him. "Wait a
minute. Your dollar is not worth a pile of camel dung! You will have
to pay more... And "The One" said, "Wait a minute. That is
not fair!!"
And the world said, "Neither are these other idiotic
programs you have embraced. Lo, you have become a Socialist state and
a second-rate power. Now you shall play by our rules!"
And the people cried out, "Alas, alas!! What have we done?" But yea
verily, it was too late. The people set upon The One and spat upon
him and stoned him, and his name was dung. And the once mighty nation
was no more; and the once proud people were without sustenance or
shelter or hope. And the Change "The One" had given them was as like
unto a poison that had destroyed them and like a whirlwind that
consumed all that they had built.
And the people beat their chests in despair and cried out in anguish,
"give us back our nation and our pride and our hope!!" But it was too
late, and their homeland was no more.
You may think this a fairy tale, but it's not.
It's happening RIGHT NOW."
Balmy:
Have a great vacation and 50th wedding anniversary.
Some of your "fairy tale" is correct and some of it isn't. Wonder how the USA would have been under a McCain / Palin administration.....
howdydoody: I agree to a point but this mess is just not Bush, Clinton, Obama or Congress fault the private sector had a part in this as well. Many living way beyond there means, borrowing and spending both by the government and private sector, the continued unfair tax code, every new administration changing the tax code, heavy government regulations, many wanting a government hand out, shrinking of the working middle class, stagnant wages for the past ten years, lost maufacturing base, three wars going on two of them for ten years, accumilation of debt for the past forty years and over one trillion dollars worth of student loans outstanding on the books which many will not be collectable. I couild go on and on but this mess lies with all of us now it is up to people of this great nation to climb out of this situation which has been building for years.
howdy
..i'm dead wrong...you're right as rain about the 29 months..i guess it just feels like 3 1/2 years
..i'm curious , at what point will it be the fault of the people who elected Obama ?...you do know Mr.Obama signed off on the Millionaires receiving a tax reduction they didn't even ask for , right ?...i wonder if Mr.Obama is a millionaire , i reckon it doesn't matter , really...
i'm wondering why the tax codes aren't changed to get rid of all loopholes so the wealthy can't get billions back and the lazy can't get thousands back...
Swamp,
Regarding your 2:50PM post, it may be up to all of us to crawl out of this hole we have allowed to be dug.... but how do you propose we do it?
Even the mention of reforming any perceived entitlement causes a firestorm of protest. Look at the attempt to work on Social Security, Bush tried it and the Democrats screamed it was sound and did not need reforming. And the latest suggestion at reform had half the country screaming. I am a senior and as proposed it would not even have effected me, but all of the seniors started screaming not even knowing they were not hurt. And how do you propose we deal with welfare, which is an entitlement that is killing us. I have no problem with a safety net for people and certainly no proble with the truly disabled of this country, but that safety net would require sweat equity from those helped if I could mandate it. Giving families food stamps, debit cards and out and out cash would require they do something to earn it. At least they could have a little pride in themselves. But our socialistic government of the past 70 or so years has put more and more people on the take and they do absolutely nothing for it. Fishing and hunting is not productive work either while you draw your government handouts. There should not be a scrap piece of paper left lying along our roads for more than 12 hours if we left these people earn their keep. And there are plenty more jobs that could be done as well.
It wouldn't take too long and you would find these people would get the idea that if they are going to have to work at least 40 hours a week for what they are given, they might just as well look for a better paying job in the private sector. And another producer/taxpayer could be created instead of the current takers that we have.
And the budget should be cut back at minimum to the 2008 level.
At least that would be a start.
Rick: Obama wasn't in the senate when the tax breaks of 2001 & 2003 were enacted. So he had no hand in the initial voting. Yes, I am aware he signed off on the latest round. He had no back bone to stand up to the repubs. See, I will criticize when it's warrented. Next year (2012) will be very interesting when the repubs try to make the Bush tax cuts permanent. Doesn't look to me like the so called job creators, created many jobs in the last 8 years. I believe we can dismiss that myth.
howdy
dunno about the tax cuts..i wonder what the trade off could be...everyone's gonna have to make some sacrifices to get out of this mess .
as i mentioned earlier , return the re-building of the infrastructure to the private sector , create some work outside of "pork" and politics...just a crazy idea..
oh yeah , when's the Obama voters get to take fault..i dis-remember you sayin'...
Wheels:
During the Great Depression, the Works Progress Administration (renamed during 1939 as the Work Projects Administration; WPA) was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects. It fed children and redistributed food, clothing, and housing. Almost every community in the United States had a park, bridge or school constructed by the agency. This is what we need today for those on unemployment and welfare.
Wheels: That is a good question how can we get out of this mess for starters some of this bunch we have been carrying up this hill in the wagon could get out and help us pull but that is not happening and hasn't happen for years. If they want to remain on welfare and unemployment benefits then the ones that are able we should require them to work each day cleaning up the shoulder of the roadways, mowing grass, cleaning parks and if they refuse the check is cut off it would not take them very long they would find a job doing something. I'm all for cutting these social programs back and yes I'm for placing the budget back to the 2008 levels. Also reduction or downsizing the federal government payrolls. Just in the last 26 months 200,000 federal jobs have been added to the payrolls. I have never seen the like of people that continue to go to the welfare office and apply for something "free" as they call it but when you offer one of these people a job they tell you "Oh that will interfere with my unemployment or welfare benefits" it is sickening when they tell you this because here I'm working my butt off each day paying my fair share of taxes and this person is running around with his/her hand out and what does our government do just keep handing out to them. People have just started paying attention to what there government is doing each day it is about time. I told a guy back in 1997 when everybody was just blowing and going borrowing and spending I said to him I dread the day when this invoice comes due well guess what it came due.
Semo471,
Certainly not against that... at least they would be doing something for what they get now for nothing. My Dad told me much about that as did both Grandfathers.
There was also another name for WPA and that was "We Piddle Around", which in some cases was not untrue.
But sure as I am sitting here, someone is going to object to making people work for what they now get for nothing.
Swamp,
Precisely!
All some people are looking for today is for someone else to shoulder their part of the burden.
I had a relatively new employee once who claimed to have hurt his back on the job and wanted disability. The insurance company suspected he was faking it and investigated. He lost his job and his claim when the insurance company showed the video of him playing football with his kids and guests in the back yard at a barbecue.
Balmy, balmy, balmy...
You may be correct that the bottom half of wage earners pay no income taxes (I haven't researched this but it isn't the point), HOWEVER, they do pay sales tax, utility tax, gasoline tax, property tax, telephone tax, etc.
You clearly have a different view of socialism than I...I believe the general idea of socialism is to maximize wealth and opportunity, or to minimize human suffering, through public control of industry and social services.
Is that soooo scary?
I believe the general idea of socialism is to maximize wealth and opportunity, or to minimize human suffering, through public control of industry and social services.
Is that soooo scary?
-- Posted by Theorist on Sun, Jun 12, 2011, at 7:46 PM
It worked really well for the USSR Theorist.... Keep believing in that liberal nonsense.
But for me... it scares the daylights out of me!
IMO - too much emphasis on minimizing human suffering through dispensing of money for nothing.
I Went to a yard sale in Jackson Saturday on Greensfery Road. It said 12 family benifit sale for a couple in Joplin Mo. Who lost everything. They even had a jar with their picture on it. I heard the 2 women talking saying this was a easy way to make money. They had no plans on sending the money to anyone. I wish someone could tell me who to report this to.
Is that soooo scary?
-- Posted by Theorist on Sun, Jun 12, 2011, at 7:46 PM
DUH?
But sure as I am sitting here, someone is going to object to making people work for what they now get for nothing.
-- Posted by Have_Wheels_Will_Travel on Sun, Jun 12, 2011, at 6:45 Pm
You are probably right, the better than thou people would have a fit for actually making people do something for a pay check. They are also the ones that think prisons are cruel and unjust punishment but overlook their victims.
Too much emphasis on minimizing human suffering through dispensing of money for nothing.
-- Posted by fxpwt on Sun, Jun 12, 2011, at 8:45 PM
That should be a rallying cry for overhauling some of our social programs.
You couldn't have the WPA today
The unions wouldn't allow it
They would complain to the Dumbocrats
And withhold the money they give them
Can't have anyone doing a job that the
Union could control
44044,
Well maybe organized labor would like to adopt all of our welfare cases as a civic project if they don't want us putting them to work!
44044 and Wheels:
The new WPA would have to be a right to work law free of any polical interference.
What police? I see no police! Far as I can tell they drive around and eat a lot of donuts.