Gideon MacLeish

Reply to You Can't Balance the Budget By Increasing Social Spending in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]Look at paying baseball players $200 Million. That has NOTHING to do with productivity. [/quote] Wrong. High paid ballplayers are paid their salaries because of the value they bring to the team. That value includes extra butts in the seats, extra TV revenue, and extra merchandise sales from crazed fans who purchase everything with the player's number on it. Yeah, it sucks that Alex Rodriguez makes $25 million a year and I don't, but then I don't bring a horde of paparazz

Reply to I see through people... in Blogging JoeUser Forums

[quote]The worst is those who brag, brag, brag (of course, they make it seem as though they are simply talking logistics or mentioning it because they are "excited" to do something so "wonderful" for the recipient) and NEVER FOLLOW THROUGH.[/quote] I have to admit, this is one of my biggest failings. I don't mean to brag when I say something, and I almost always have those best of intentions with which the road to hell is paved, but somewhere along the way I get sidetracked. No good exc

Reply to Oh Man, I Was Gonna Buy That Book! in Movies & TV & Books JoeUser Forums

Also, the nut doesn't fall far from the tree, does it? I was going to make a list of celebrity Christmas gifts, and put a haircut kit on the list for Jamie Lynn. She's on the fast track to enjoying big sis flip outs, Vegas weddings, and wrecked marriages with backup dancers!

Reply to Oh Man, I Was Gonna Buy That Book! in Movies & TV & Books JoeUser Forums

What made me laugh about the article I read (linked from yahoo!) is that Lynne Spears talked about how her daughter has been dating this guy "for years...since she was in high school". Uhh, earth to Mrs. Spears...your daughter still IS in high school! And if she were still around the ol' homestead, they wouldn't be talking about it in teen princess gossip rags, that's for sure.

Reply to Something made a nest/cocoon in my car door in Misc JoeUser Forums

A wasp's nest inside your car door would not be unusual. You may not have been swarmed because it may have been vacated before you got it, or it could have been a nonaggressive species of wasp that didn't attack because it was never threatened. Glad you got it out of there, though!

Reply to Where your tax dollar goes in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]I will concede all but the pharmaceuticals. I have seen too many go belly up over civil suits.[/quote] Merck has enjoyed massive corporate welfare, Dr. Guy. Can't speak to the others, but holding a monopoly on several vaccine patents allows Merck to profit massively off of the one form of socialized medicine we DO have: childhod vaccinations. That was part of the problem with Rick Perry's attempted HPV vaccine edict. Merck stood to make billions off of a vaccine that had

Reply to President George W. Scrooge in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]Relative to their income middle income taxpayers pay a significant amount in taxes! [/quote] (sigh) Do you know what a percentage IS, Col? I'm betting NOT!

Reply to Where your tax dollar goes in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]Yes, I asked for facts, no I am not spinning. You still have yet to show me where the federal government has PAID the companies in excess of their taxes for staying in Business. I know of one instance, and I am sure there are a couple more (Chrysler), but they are always done by enacting legislation and are sunset quickly.[/quote] Actually, I believe the government has paid farmers to stay in business, as well as wind energy, ethanol (which, btw, is why so many plants are popping

Reply to The Myth of the College Degree in Current Events JoeUser Forums

Anyway, as is often the case, my point was largely lost. You don't NEED a degree to be educated, nor does a degree guarantee that you ARE educated. A degree simply means you've passed the coursework. You can get a pretty good education from your local library and the Internet. There's no excuse not to be educated. EDUCATE THYSELF!

Reply to Why Republicans can't be trusted with power in Democrat JoeUser Forums

I avoided this from the title, but I'm glad I came in here, because you really do make an excellent point. Both sides of the fence, of course, are pretty hypocritical, and this particular story does illustrate the hypocrisy of many on the right. As offensive and objectionable as I find the actions of this group, I agree. What they do on their property, behind their closed doors, is their business. As long as it involves consenting adults, that is.

Reply to Student Sues Teacher For Anti-Christian Remarks in Current Events JoeUser Forums

[quote]I'm sure that young teacher in our district learned his lesson. [/quote] Don't be too sure. We've had a few young teachers here who've had a spotty employment record, yet somehow everyone but them is to blame. I have little doubt this teacher felt the same way. [quote]Are you sure that's not the same thing as going to court? [/quote] Quite different, jythier. Utilizing a teacher's chain of command is the proper way of dealing with things. Suing is nothing but co

Reply to The Myth of the College Degree in Current Events JoeUser Forums

[quote]you also usually have to know about the ways out of the mud before you can use them. [/quote] You have to LOOK for a way out. In our community, the community college sits literally 300 feet across a field from the low income apartments. EVERY welfare referral has to go through Texas Workforce which works hard to place students in the college. Believe me, danielost, if you don't know about these opportunities, you frankly don't WANT to know. The enrollment counse

Reply to The Myth of the College Degree in Current Events JoeUser Forums

[quote]what i have proposed would lift some of the people who are laying in the mud.[/quote] And I'm telling you that we already HAVE a system in place to lift people out of the mud. You're proposing universal college (which, by the way, would almost certainly become MANDATORY if the government funded it at the level of K12 education), when we already HAVE opportunities for those who need it. [quote]That's what I thought you were talking about with danielost in this aspect

Reply to The Myth of the College Degree in Current Events JoeUser Forums

And Arty, I'm kind of disappointed you didn't weigh in on my "Microsocialism vs. Macrosocialism" thread!

Reply to The Myth of the College Degree in Current Events JoeUser Forums

No, you stated you wanted to pull people out of the mud. I said there are already ways to do that. Basically, if people are still wallowing in the mud, in America, at least, it is because they choose to be there. As for your personal case, danielost, stop making excuses. If you are that miserable, change things!

Reply to The Myth of the College Degree in Current Events JoeUser Forums

[quote]what i have proposed would lift some of the people who are laying in the mud.[/quote] You can't force anyone out of the mud, danielost. People who don't WANT to change can just go on laying there. Sound callous? Yup, but frankly, my job is not to hold your hand! Not everyone is capable of earning a college degree, not everyone should HAVE a college degree. Frankly, the students who want to learn shouldn't have to suffer waiting for the students who don't. We have plenty

Reply to The Myth of the College Degree in Current Events JoeUser Forums

[quote]A necessity. [/quote] Hmm, I could be wrong, but I think BlueDev's working on a GRADUATE degree, which falls in a different category. Not every student needs a graduate degree. I can assure you, student loans are not a necessity for MOST people at the undergrad level and are certainly a luxury.

Reply to The Myth of the College Degree in Current Events JoeUser Forums

[quote]To say that this is because all of them are lazy or stupid is a non-starter in my opinion. It's an indication that there's something very wrong with the system. [/quote] I really think there are other issues at play. Remember, I support a household of eight, work a full time and a part time job, AND have been going to school full time. My total debt from THIS go around, the last year and a half, is $2550. Not exactly "crushing" debt. I do intend to take out a loan n

Reply to The Myth of the College Degree in Current Events JoeUser Forums

[quote]i could be wrong but i think graduate doctors put in 12 hours a day or more in class and working in a hospital without pay[/quote] Yeah. A freshman college student equates to a resident intern. You forget, danielost, I've SEEN firsthand how a lot of these students squander their loan money.

Reply to The Myth of the College Degree in Current Events JoeUser Forums

[quote] I would also propose subsidizing nurses and doctors (because society needs them and that need exists outside market forces). [/quote] Possibly. But there would be plenty of public service opportunities for them to "pay back" their college. I would have no problem waiving the "four year" rule for doctors or nurses. There are also plenty of public service opportunites we don't think of. It wouldn't be too difficult to bring up good opportunities for students who need to g

Reply to Mitt Romney is a Flip-Flopper in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote] Under out Constitution it is Congress that has the final choice on the budget.[/quote] I'm not disputing the Constitutional authority for Congress to do it, Col! I am, however saying that their priorities, and yours, are misguided. And unless I'm sorely mistaken, we do still have the right to ELECT Congress, and don't simply have to accept their way of doing things just because they say so!

Reply to The Myth of the College Degree in Current Events JoeUser Forums

[quote]My problem is however that the vast majority of students who go to post-secondary (and do so out of genuine motivation and intent to better themselves and get a career) end up graduating with tens of thousands of dollars of debt![/quote] Do you know the reason for that, arty? Not because the money isn't there, but because most students would rather max out student loans and live off of them than get a real job. I believe financial aid personnel at the colleges have a lot

Reply to The Myth of the College Degree in Current Events JoeUser Forums

[quote]if you live in the right counties nor does it covor class prices if any[/quote] TUITION is "class prices" danielost. Try again!

Reply to Mitt Romney is a Flip-Flopper in Politics JoeUser Forums

[quote]Congress HAS agreed on what they want to spend.[/quote] But I don't agree with their spending priorities. Just because they agree doesn't mean it's necessary!

Reply to The Myth of the College Degree in Current Events JoeUser Forums

Full time tuition at the college you listed EASILY falls under the Pell max, danielost.