http://www.bnet.com/5799-19760-0.html?type=18 Blog Recent Discussion Activity http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/state-unemployment-rates-a-small-victory-for-little-rhody/948/#18980_91942 You do have a hidden point that I don't know if you even realized..Every State in the union is important and has importance. But if it were me I would consolidate smaller States who adjoin each other to create a new State, do you know if this was accomplished...how it would change things dramatically! I think it would propel us in a great new direction and usher a new era of consolidations. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:38:47 GMT http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/state-unemployment-rates-a-small-victory-for-little-rhody/948/#18980_91942 2009-11-22T07:38:47Z http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/nyt-about-your-401-k-missing-the-point-on-retirement-reform/624/#15860_91919 >Change the curriculum and the teachers. <br>Jill, its tough to do when teachers' unions control the government when it comes to education. Eliminating public education is a no-brainer. While it works for middle class and wealthy communities where high-performing parents have the ability to be involved with the school, the model we have today entrenches the worst of the worst for poor communities. Some of the most rotten public education systems - DC, Trenton NJ - have the highest per-capita spends and the worst-performing systems. (In fact, DC spends as much per pupil as the most expensive private school in our capital - Sidwell Friends, where Obama sends his daughters.) Public education permits no competition between delivery models, such as the KIPP schools which have shown success in the most blighted communities. Democratic African-American leaders are finally waking up to the fact that their support for public education has been destroying their communities and are now coming out in favor or charter schools and alternatives to public administration.<br><br>In the course of reading about this topic, I came across this interesting article: <a href="http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/017/127uwtrg.asp?pg=1" target="_blank">http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/017/127uwtrg.asp?pg=1</a><br><br>Extracts:<br>President Obama isn't taking kindly to a television ad that criticizes his opposition to a popular scholarship program for poor children, and his administration wants the ad pulled.<br><br>Former D.C. Councilmember Kevin Chavous of D.C. Children First said October 16 that U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder had recently approached him and told him to kill the ad.<br><br>The 30-second ad, which has been airing on FOX News, CNN, MSNBC, and News Channel 8 to viewers in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, urges the president to reauthorize the federally-funded D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program that provides vouchers of up to $7,500 for D.C. students to attend private schools.<br><br>The nation's first black president has come under intense criticism for<br>failing to support the program that is helping poor African-American students escape some of the nation's most dangerous and worst-performing public schools. After embracing the teachers unions' anti-voucher stance, the president now finds himself in the uncomfortable and awkward position of denying students access to a program that has strong bipartisan, local support, and that multiple studies say is helping poor African-American children succeed.<br><br>Little wonder then that the president and powerful allies like Holder--many of whom have benefited from school choice and are currently sending their children to expensive private schools--want the ad to go away.<br><br>But in a revealing 2006 comment to the Washington Post, Washington Teachers Union President George Parker (whose parent union is the AFT) explained what really worries the teachers unions, and why children must not be allowed to leave D.C.'s troubled public schools.<br><br>"The landscape has changed. Our parents are voting with their feet," Parker said. "As kids continue leaving the system, we will lose teachers. Our very survival depends on having kids in D.C. schools so we'll have teachers to represent."<br><br>More candid teachers' union moments came this summer when the NEA's former General Counsel Bob Chanin addressed the group's national convention. "Desp<br>"Despite what some among us would like to believe it is not because of our creative ideas; it is not because of the merit of our positions; it is not because we care about children; and it is not because we have a vision of a great public school for every child," Chanin proclaimed. "[The] NEA and its affiliates are effective advocates because we have power. And we have power because there are more than 3.2 million people who are willing to pay us hundreds of millions of dollars in dues each year." To which Chanin received a standing ovation.<br><br>Chanin also told delegates that anti-union sentiment was "the price we pay for success."<br><br>The price the teacher's unions and their members were willing to pay to ensure their presidential candidate's success was steep. In August of 2008 the NEA announced a $50 million election campaign plan to elect Obama by targeting swing states.<br><br>According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Obama received $22.9 million from individuals affiliated with the "Education Industry" during the 2008 election cycle alone. That's a whopping $21.1 million more than Sen. John McCain received from the same industry. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:53:02 GMT http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/nyt-about-your-401-k-missing-the-point-on-retirement-reform/624/#15860_91919 2009-11-22T03:53:02Z http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/ask-the-experts-focus-on-housing/944/#18953_91897 okay,,I actually thought about that too..I never did catch the end of that vidio..do you know I sat for hours last night just to get the first 16 min. of it..I wanted to see the end too! how are you? don't answer that..smiles Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:45:21 GMT http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/ask-the-experts-focus-on-housing/944/#18953_91897 2009-11-21T18:45:21Z http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/ask-the-experts-focus-on-housing/944/#18953_91878 Thanks for the comments--feel free to send questions too! Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:38:37 GMT http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/ask-the-experts-focus-on-housing/944/#18953_91878 2009-11-21T13:38:37Z http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/ask-the-experts-focus-on-housing/944/#18953_91869 Second entry, I'm on dial up..so this really takes time, however..I understood everything perfectly. First off I really liked this segment. Second, it gave me much more to go on as to incorporate in other areas of our situation and the heading. Thank Alison for me. She was very versed and forthcoming. Your show is noteworthy and I plan on attendance each week. I cannot go into opionion at this point and at this page but you can be assured that it will meld appropriately in future comments. I look forward to much more and as always my support..jim Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:12:21 GMT http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/ask-the-experts-focus-on-housing/944/#18953_91869 2009-11-21T10:12:21Z http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/ask-the-experts-focus-on-housing/944/#18953_91829 I want to watch this each week! (here) and have the e..thumbs UP. It is my only shot at seeing you right now. (I'm impressed) Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:07:11 GMT http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/ask-the-experts-focus-on-housing/944/#18953_91829 2009-11-21T06:07:11Z http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/stimulus-spending-what-americans-did-with-600/940/#18868_91802 as with all the other progams too Jill..Agreed Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:05:23 GMT http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/stimulus-spending-what-americans-did-with-600/940/#18868_91802 2009-11-20T22:05:23Z http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/stimulus-spending-what-americans-did-with-600/940/#18868_91767 Let me be clear: the former financial planner in me wants everyone to pay down outstanding consumer debt before spending! My only point in presenting this graph is to make sure that if the nation embarks on further stimulus, that it's actually stimulative... Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:57:44 GMT http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/stimulus-spending-what-americans-did-with-600/940/#18868_91767 2009-11-20T19:57:44Z http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/nyt-about-your-401-k-missing-the-point-on-retirement-reform/624/#15860_91742 I just revisited this post and the comments after some time and keep thinking that if "education just doesn't work" then we need to change the curriculum and the teachers. Investing is not rocket science--why should we continue to perpetuate the myth that it is? Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:55:54 GMT http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/nyt-about-your-401-k-missing-the-point-on-retirement-reform/624/#15860_91742 2009-11-20T16:55:54Z http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/ask-the-experts-episode-deux/884/#18399_91550 Jill, <br><br>I was offline for a few weeks, so I just caught your ?Ask the <br>Experts? #2, and was excited to hear you ask my question <br>about other investing options other than a 2-3% CD. Ray <br>wanted more detail, so here it is. <br><br>I?m thinking of long term. I have a 401K that I watch fairly <br>closely and have done ok. But I have maxed out my matching <br>percentage at work, and was thinking of something that I <br>don?t need to worry about as much. Somewhere I can put <br>money for my kids for a house (or possibly college if need <br>be), and not have to worry about the daily shifts of the <br>Market. Is there anything in a 5-7% range? <br><br><br>Keep up the great work.<br><br>Jeff<br>JCSandvik<br> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:00:35 GMT http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/ask-the-experts-episode-deux/884/#18399_91550 2009-11-19T22:00:35Z http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/stimulus-spending-what-americans-did-with-600/940/#18868_91539 It all appears to me as a failed experiment that added to the national debt. I wouldn't ever count on seeing it happen again. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:24:19 GMT http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/stimulus-spending-what-americans-did-with-600/940/#18868_91539 2009-11-19T20:24:19Z http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/stimulus-spending-what-americans-did-with-600/940/#18868_91485 Jill, <br><br>I agree that the whole execution was poor, but the idea is <br>worthy. The intent was to spend, to in turn employ, but we <br>are talking about $600 or $1200, all spent in a period of a few <br>months. What can we buy that will have direct impact in the <br>US economy? What items are made in the US for that amount <br>of money? Most people would spend that on electronics not <br>made in the US, and be spent so quickly that it had no effect <br>on retail employment. <br><br>I think that reduction of debt is a better return. It could be a <br>balance reduction or an interest rate reduction/elimination. <br>Give people a chance to send a few hundred less to the CC <br>companies EACH MONTH and spend that in the grocery store <br>or the mall would have a bigger impact on the overall <br>economy. <br><br>I?d like to see how your numbers match with people in <br>substantial debt vs those that are not. My guess is they <br>match.<br> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:51:41 GMT http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/stimulus-spending-what-americans-did-with-600/940/#18868_91485 2009-11-19T16:51:41Z http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/stimulus-spending-what-americans-did-with-600/940/#18868_91481 i suspect that the spending category is over stated. I doubt it did any of that (maybe 5%). or maybe it was the 3%. or less. i suspect the vast majority just hunkered down and only spent on what they absolutely had to. just about like now Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:58:02 GMT http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/stimulus-spending-what-americans-did-with-600/940/#18868_91481 2009-11-19T15:58:02Z http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/tarp-audit-finds-geithner-gave-away-the-farm/926/#18820_91428 EVERYTHING!... I have my ways of making my point..smiles Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:56:39 GMT http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/tarp-audit-finds-geithner-gave-away-the-farm/926/#18820_91428 2009-11-19T06:56:39Z http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/tarp-audit-finds-geithner-gave-away-the-farm/926/#18820_91427 Trying to keep this short. I kept saying years back things like $10 loaves of bread, Gasoline 5 dollars a gallon etc. That was an extreem jest. However we always cycle every decade or so. Prices on all goods and services reach new sustained and acceptable highs as a part of an expanding system. Nothing new there. We are at the tail end and the beginning of cycles right now coupled with complete structure change. This is our question/s at hand. Throw in new leadership that does not fully realize this and of own agendas,(power play,godhood things) on top of an existing war...gives us much to work out. I can see the points of the rich and of poor as well as those caught center. All of this combined with an over taxed people leaves little room for error. Our leaders?..could not have picked a worse time to make major changes. Totally ignoring issues that should recieve top priority. Back the the all in all again..(what a mess)!! to answer you now...Expect the "rich" to pay the piper, at least for my forgiving 36 months+ and expect the next cycle of goods and serivices to reach "in allot of cases" overpriced highs, thus making it to whereas we are all going to pay for the greed, ineptitude, arrogance, over indugence, laziness..shall I continue? I have been saying for months to my friends to expect EVERTHING to go up. Judging from the way the President and his followers perceive..this is going to be our future and it is just around the corner. The taxation will hit us all Jill, and very hard in every aspect of life and living..you know what the repercussions are going to be...right? but that is another write.....<br><br> I could delve deeper.. but you would have to get me some coffee...(It hasn't reached this point yet though) This is my train of thought..jim Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:55:19 GMT http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/tarp-audit-finds-geithner-gave-away-the-farm/926/#18820_91427 2009-11-19T06:55:19Z http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/stimulus-spending-what-americans-did-with-600/940/#18868_91432 If you have debt, pay it off and save on the interest. If not, <br>then invest it in the stock market using timing signals to know <br>when to get in and when to get out.<br><br>That is a recipe for making the bailout dollars work. It will be <br>handy the next time a stimulus check comes in.<br><br>time111<br><a href="http://invetrics.com" target="_blank">http://invetrics.com</a> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:44:09 GMT http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/stimulus-spending-what-americans-did-with-600/940/#18868_91432 2009-11-19T05:44:09Z http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/tarp-audit-finds-geithner-gave-away-the-farm/926/#18820_91420 I think there are plenty of rich people to tax, the question is how much are they willing to set the bar, and how much the rich folks will put up with, before we face the fury of the angry well-to-do.<br><br> Its funny, when the little guy is mad and angry, they do the "there, there, it will be ok" with a pat on the head song and dance. But lordy, lets not upset the rich!<br><br>Its not like they will not be able to put that extra dough in their UBS accounts over seas and avoid taxes all together lol (I am sure there is still loop holes to be had there.) Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:37:48 GMT http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/financial-decoder/tarp-audit-finds-geithner-gave-away-the-farm/926/#18820_91420 2009-11-19T03:37:48Z