May 5, 2008
Higher Education Is a Hot Topic for Some N.C. Voters
In North Carolina’s Research Triangle, many voters are carefully weighing the fine print of the presidential candidates’ higher-education policies ahead of the state’s primary contest tomorrow, according to The News & Observer, in Raleigh.
The article details the plans that Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama have offered to make college affordable for more prospective students. The Democrats have offered largely similar proposals, including those that would expand tax credits for higher education and increase the value of federal Pell Grants.
College affordability, the newspaper said, is a “particularly sensitive” topic in North Carolina because the state constitution guarantees citizens a free university education “as far as practicable.”
And the inability of the value of Pell Grants to keep up with rising costs of college is also especially relevant in the state, according to the article, which noted that North Carolina has an especially high concentration of historically black colleges, which tend to serve large proportions of financially needy students.
Sara Hebel | Posted on Monday May 5, 2008 | PermalinkComments
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Since neither Clinton nor Obama has experience with pushing through difficult legislation — and getting it successfully implemented by Federal agencies (an essential but often-forgotten part) — while simultaneously being assaulted by the media and the opposition and having to deal with a million other trivial and profound issues, what difference can their policies make?
We have no reason to believe that any of their pet ideas will actually reach the successful-implementation stage, especially ideas about higher education, which generally interests the nation much less than war and the economy and the current status of Paula Abdul and which, to a neophyte president, therefore, wouldn’t be worth the political effort, especially if da yoot turnout in the election is as small as always, despite current hype and hormones.
— S. Britchky May 5, 03:25 PM #
MY FELLOW “BITTER”, STUPID, WORKING CLASS PEOPLE :-)
If you think like Barack Obama, that WORKING CLASS PEOPLE are just a bunch of “BITTER”!, STUPID, PEASANTS, Cash COWS!, and CANNON FODDER. :-(
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think Barack Obama with little or no experience would be better than Hillary Clinton with 35 years experience.
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that Obama with no experience can fix an economy on the verge of collapse better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) led the greatest economic expansion, and prosperity in American history.
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that Obama with no experience fighting for universal health care can get it for you better than Hillary Clinton. Who anticipated this current health care crisis back in 1993, and fought a pitched battle against overwhelming odds to get universal health care for all the American people.
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that Obama with no experience can manage, and get us out of two wars better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) went to war only when he was convinced that he absolutely had to. Then completed the mission in record time against a nuclear power. AND DID NOT LOSE THE LIFE OF A SINGLE AMERICAN SOLDIER. NOT ONE!
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that Obama with no experience saving the environment is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) left office with the greatest amount of environmental cleanup, and protections in American history.
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that Obama with little or no education experience is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) made higher education affordable for every American. And created higher job demand and starting salary’s than they had ever been before or since.
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that Obama with no experience will be better than Hillary Clinton who spent 8 years at the right hand of President Bill Clinton. Who is already on record as one of the greatest Presidents in American history.
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that you can change the way Washington works with pretty speeches from Obama, rather than with the experience, and political expertise of two master politicians ON YOUR SIDE like Hillary and Bill Clinton..
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think all those Republicans voting for Obama in the Democratic primaries, and caucuses are doing so because they think he is a stronger Democratic candidate than Hillary Clinton. :-)
Best regards
jacksmith… Working Class :-)
p.s. You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you don’t know that the huge amounts of money funding the Obama campaign to try and defeat Hillary Clinton is coming in from the insurance, and medical industry, that has been ripping you off, and killing you and your children. And denying you, and your loved ones the life saving medical care you needed. All just so they can make more huge immoral profits for them-selves off of your suffering…
You see, back in 1993 Hillary Clinton had the audacity, and nerve to try and get quality, affordable universal health care for everyone to prevent the suffering and needless deaths of hundreds of thousands of you each year. :-)
Approx. 100,000 of you die each year from medical accidents from a rush to profit by the insurance, and medical industry. Another 120,000 of you die each year from treatable illness that people in other developed countries don’t die from. And I could go on, and on…
OBAMA AIDE: “WORKING-CLASS VOTERS NOT KEY FOR DEMOCRATS” :o
— jacksmith May 5, 05:44 PM #
Why would anyone use this post as a tree against which to do its thing against Barack Obama?
JackSmith’s screed is allowable certainly under the first amendment but it is full of untruths and biases that have no basis in reality.
— sdf May 5, 09:58 PM #
S. Britchky (#1) raises interesting points and provides some sound points grounded in the realities of the current times —- and, furthermore, given the economic state of affairs, there is a practical dilemma facing any new president to undertake any meaningful changes without major radical steps.
Apropos, the first and foremost critical steps in my opine involve financial reengineering —- a comprehensive redesign of the fiscal and monetary systems —- in order to restore fairness and generate the essential revenues necessary to meaningful actions. To do so involves exhaustive analysis of the numerous facets directing the financial flows —- let me present a few initials thoughts which the numerous brains out there can research analyze and comment on.
A Major consideration should be the reinstating of President Kennnedy’s Executive Order Number 11110 —- This action could save hundreds of billions in interest payments on the National Debt (Google 11110 —- read/analyze JFK’s actions, which were reversed by Johnson, and then ignored by all Democrats and Republicans alike).
Next the tax code needs to be scrapped, —- and a new simplified and fair one should take it’s place. The new tax code should in my opine encompassing the following concepts:
(a) All income no matter how derived should be treated as the same for tax purposes —- the notion of capital gains is simply put oxymoronic for it ignores inflation —- If I bought a house in 1980 for $50K and sold it in 2008 for $250K —- I do not feel that I have gained capital —- I may have even lost capital —- for the value of the Dollar in terms of its purchasing power is not the same —- ergo based on inflation for that time period, $50K may be worth $300K, so I actually lost money ($50K) or it may be worth $200K, in which case I had a income of $50K —- Additionally, the distortion of the capital gains which heavily favors hedge fund managers, and those lucky enough to be compensated in stocks will be eliminated (stocks income will be based on the value of stock given adjusted for inflation, and subject to taxation as ordinary income).
Individual taxes should be graduated, with no deductions period —- but there also should be no taxation for those at the low-end which could be tied to factors like poverty levels or other meaningful indices —- so for instance arbitarily speaking the zero tax bracket for individuals may be $35K, head of households $42K, (with an addition of $5K per dependent after the first), for married couples $46K (with an addition of $5K per child/dependent).
Social security taxes should be reduced —- lost revenue should be made up by encompassing all income, and removing the upper limit (i.e. tax all income no cap at $200K or so as Obama proposes)
Businesses should be subjected to flat tax on sales revenues (the issue of gross or net sales merits consideration) with deductions limited to compensations paid to U.S. citizens/residents upto a maximum of say 5 times the median wage —- the issue of how a entity runs its business should be left to the business (it chooses to fly people first class or coach has no tax consequences, nor is the individual taxpayer compensating the former via deductions of costs allowed, the same runs the entire gambit —- rent space or own, spend lavishly or frugally on entertainment, advertising, etc. —- none of it is business decision based on taxation consequences (since no deductions are allowed). The aforesaid certainly has no bearing on Health, Safety, Environmental, Or Consumer Protection Laws (which remain applicable).
Additionally taxing of sales rather than profits —- eliminates the shell game of transfer pricing whereby the firm has a profit in say Ireland with a tax holiday, and a loss in the U.S. (Example Widget A is bought in China at $1 by Irish Subsidary which packages it for $0.10, and sell it to the U.S. subsidary for $2.10, the U.S. subsidary then sells packaged Widget A for $1.50 and declares a loss $0.60, for U.S. taxes, and the Irish subsidairy makes a profit of $1.00 while paying no taxes based on agreement with Irish govt.).
The requirements and the rules governing Non-Profit entities also need a complete overhaul (I will however leave that alone for now though).
AND, NOW SOMETHING DIFFERENT …
SDF (#4) Is Right On JackSmith Rant —- Whilst, I agree with SDF that this is not the forum —- nonetheless in the interests of fairness and balance, I feel compelled to provide a response.
Apropos, On the issue of Jacksmith’s comments —- irrespective of what they were meant to be, the following merits some consideration:
Excerpts from Financial Times of London’s Editorial (4/21):
“Mr Obama has fought a brilliant campaign, out-organising his opponent, raising more money, and convincing undecided Democrats as well as the country at large, that he was more likeable, more straightforward and more worthy of trust.
…. He is given to airy exhortations, it is true, but geniunely seeks consensus, and has cross-party appeal.
Mrs Clinton’s campaign, in contrast has been a shambles, She and her team expected to have it all sewn up long ago; they made no plans for the long struggle, ran short of money and had to reorganise on the run.”*
Further excerpt:
“How much the way a campaign is run tells you about a candidate’s fitness to be president is debateable —- but it does tell you something, especially if the candidate with the misfiring strategy is running on a claim of management expertise.
… Mrs Clinton’s hyperactive advisers dressed her in a new personality each day, sometimes several in the course of an interview. They wheeled out Bill Clinton, to remind people of the 1990s, then reeled him back to help them forget.
Too many course corrections, not enough course.”
Now Let Me Add:
On experience/expertise —- Bush’s foreign policy team was considered by many has being one of the best. Consider Cheney (Congress, White House, former Defense Sect.), Rumsfeld (Congress, White House, former Defense Sect.), Powell, (Chief of Staff, National Security Adviser), Rice (Deputy
National Security Adviser), Wolfowitz (…)
And, on the issue of the Clinton years —- one should not overlook the fact that the seeds planted take time to germinate and bear fruit.
Deregulations, Mergers, and the granting of every business desiderata.
Demolishing Bank Resitrictions/Laws created during the depression era to aviod a possible repeat of the conditions that lead to the Great Depression —- could the mortgage/credit crises be it’s fruits?
Introducing the Rendition Program —- Could the torture, and the loss of the America’s Global Gold Standards on Morality/Ethics be its fruits?
Redefining Inflation, Creating Arbitary Figures, and thereby Widening Income Gap Disparties/Decline of the Middle Class: Adjusting Inflation numbers by adjusting the basket and weights attached to the items in the Inflation calculcation basket resulted in low inflation figures —- which in turn lowered Social Security cost of living increases, Pension increases, etc. —- and, depressed wages to boot. Employer’s could say “Good job Joe/Sally I am giving you a 6% increase”, sounds nice when inflation is declared at 3%. Contrast aforesaid with “Good job Joe/Sally I am giving you a 6% increase”, when inflation is declared at 12% —- Could the fruits of this also been rooted in the fact that inflation is still at 3%-4%; when all it components, housing, healthcare, education, food, energy, insurance, etc are all galoping along at 12%-15% —- this redefinition of inflation also has several other econmic ramifications —- inclusive of, the lowering of Govt. outlays and easing budget deficits. —- i.e.; the fruits are now being borne.
Permitting Creation of Virtual Monopolies —- Exxon-Mobile, Banking Acquisitions —- 5 Banks controlling 85% of all Credit Cards —- thereby permitting legal agreements that permit the Banks to make any changes they so desire even without any rhyme or reason (read the legal mailer inserts)
Seeds of Iraq War —- bombing Iraq to distract attention from other issues —- Monica, etc. —- See Wag the Dog.
Global Warming —- Rio, Agreeing with the world, but not only not submitting the agreement for Senate ratification, but also failing to act on anything to which you agreed, then Kyoto, not doing anything other than lobbing the ball to the next administration.
The list of actions and the fruits borne is exhaustive, —- Education (see Pell grant figures 1992-2000), Trade, Welfare Reform, etc., etc., —- And, of course —- Of course let us not forget the stock market bubbles, which artificially enhanced the govt. coffers with short duration tax revenues.
Trade
*SOUNDS LIKE IRAQ WAR PLANS —- OR, AM I MISSING SOMETHING.
“Experienced Team” with “Expertise,” Predicted Quick Victory, that the war will be over soon —- And, they too had no “Alternate Plans,” they too were reorganizing on the run, they too were predicting “No financial …,” etc., etc.,
The underlying theme common to both —- the nub of the issue in my opine is —- what I would like to call the “Redifferentia Effortology.” —- Redefining “success,” “victory,” etc., —- as you proceed based on what you feel are the “Needs,” in order for you to “Achieve” your desiderata —- winning of popular vote is “victory,” but the count includes FL and MI, but excludes popular votes in caucus states IA, WA, etc.
Isn’t it ironic that the “experience” coupled with all the resource advantages, and a 30% plus polling lead 15 months ago is struggling against the inexperienced who virtually no-one thought had any chances of winning 15 months ago.
Finally, Change —- Want real change, then let us all vote for those who are not in power, not obligated to special interests —- Vote for a libertarian, Vote for a Socialist, Vote for a Greenie, Vote for an Independent, —- Vote for anybody you feel inclined to vote for, —- but don’t Vote for any Republican or Democrat.
Think of how the New Congress, and White House would look like if there were no Republicans or Democrats.
And, Oh! Yes don’t forget the Media and special interests would tell you that voting other than Democrat or Republican is wasting your Vote —- but, think if we all wasted our votes, what would the results be? Think, if there are no Democrats or Republicans in office in Washington, What IOU’s can be cashed, what influence could be exercised by special interest groups.
If everyone acted individually and wasted their Vote —- then all the wasted Votes will clearly result in a Change —- A Change which in the very least is not pledged to special interests.
Maybe the new President will even revive President iKennedy’s Executive Order No. 11110 —- THEREBY, saving Billions if Not Trillions in long-term Interest Payments on the National Debt.
N.B:- Executive Order #11110 was reversed by Johnson, buried by all the President’s and Congress since, and buried by the Media) —-
For, further details on Exec. Order #11110 —- Go to Google, and type in the number 11110. —- LET ME ASSURE YOU THAT THE IMPLICATIONS OF WHAT KENNEDY STARTED UNDER ORDER # 11110 ARE PROFOUND —- AND, DO INDEED BEAR ACTIVE CONSIDERATION. MAYBE, … PLEASE JUST GOOGLE 11110 —- READ, FORMULATE YOUR OWN OPINIONS, THEN WRITE/EXPOUND/ANALYZE —— AND, SEEK PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANTS VIEWS/POSITIONS ON THE SAME.
Finally, kindly excuse the rant of a different nature than Jacksmith’s —- and of course all typographical/clerical errors, for this is not my forte.
— zahid May 6, 10:43 AM #
Uhhhhhh, excuse me, could you go over that again?
— first marci May 6, 04:48 PM #