Comments on: Masochistic Republicans Anonymous: Yes, We Watch MSNBC

By: JB

JB — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 17:32:20 +0000

“2008 Department of Education budget: about $220 per year per American. California spent about $8500 per student that same year.”

From 2006:
“On average, the federal government contributed $974 per student enrolled in public school systems. Federal contributions ranged from $2,181 per student in Alaska to $627 in Nevada”
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/011747.html

Also, its a poor comparison. “$220 per American” vs “$8500 per stundent.” You compare Federal spending per American with CA spending per student. Not every American is a student.

Secondly, the Federal govt is not the main source of education dollars. According to the Dept of Edu:
“The U.S. Constitution leaves the responsibility for public K-12 education with the states.”

“Therefore, the federal government, through the legislative process, provides assistance to the states and schools in an effort to supplement, not supplant, state support.”
http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/fed/10facts/index.html#chart1

Overall per pupil spending and overall spending has been increaesing quite steadidly over the last 25 years at the local, state, and federal level.
http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/fed/10facts/edlite-chart.html#2

While the quality of public education is certainly in need of improvement, the notion that education is “funds-starved” simply isn’t true.

One would expect state

The U.S. Constitution leaves the responsibility for public K-12 education with the states.
http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/fed/10facts/index.html#chart1

By: Stephen Kling

Stephen Kling — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:30:24 +0000

Ah, a numbers man.
1984 Department of Education budget: $56 per person per year.

That year, California, to choose one state as an example, spent about $7,000 per year per student.

2008 Department of Education budget: about $220 per year per American. California spent about $8500 per student that same year.

Yes, we are DROWNING in Federal dollars for education, apparently. I feel for your outraged howls. But another aircraft carrier group, now that’s PATRIOTIC.

Maybe you’d be happiest if our country became like Mexico, where we’d all have to hide behind razor-wire-topped walls from an ignorant, starving and heavily-armed peasantry. That would be freedom…to purchase whatever Kevlar clothing looks best, and damn the cost.

By: JB

JB — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 05:59:50 +0000

“not the funds-starved one you Righties have given us these last twenty-five years”

(in thousands of dollars)
1984 Total, Department of Education 13,319,888

2008 Total, Department of Education 68,574,592

http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/history/edhistory.pdf

By: Stephen Kling

Stephen Kling — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 03:52:15 +0000

Nathan:
You call your blog “Moore Thoughts” but the thoughts are few and far between. One would hope that they taught you critical thinking in school; but your conclusions, based on available evidence, indicates educational malpractice on the part of your teachers. Perhaps if they benefited from the support of an enlightened government, not the funds-starved one you Righties have given us these last twenty-five years, you’d be a sharper intellect. We can only mourn.

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:16:37 +0000

Sure must be nice to be a member of the let and get away with crap like this: MSNBC screws up, reacts to Bobby Jindal by saying, Oh God

By: Nathan Moore

Nathan Moore — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:21:42 +0000

I must repent. I will make my own sequin covered Barack Obama sweatshirt – then my skills will be complete, and I will be worthy. I hope.

By: Lee

Lee — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:08:29 +0000

Nathan, how dare you have a life!

By: Nathan Moore

Nathan Moore — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:55:43 +0000

So I cannot call myself a political blogger if I miss the live shots of a smattering of partisan standing ovations? Besides, I’ve watched it by now, so you can relax. I do hope my credibility with those who buy into Obama’s awful policies can be restored!

Plus, there was a conflict – I actually wanted to watch the Predators play the Blackhawks. I asked them to delay the hockey game for me, but they said no, so I made the call and went to an event that celebrates competition instead of watching a man who derides it on principle.

By: really?

really? — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:30:00 +0000

How can you consider yourself a political blogger when you don’t even watch the state of the union ( or whatever they want to call it). I sat down and watched every one of Bush’s states of the union, because I was interested in where the country would go in the next year, regardless of whether or not I agreed with it.

By: Rick

Rick — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:16:55 +0000

With their ratings, or lack thereof, these ,( I’m searching for the right word, never mind), three people seem to be in a fantasyland all of their own. How can a sponsor with any business sense sponsor this “bafoonery”?, (if it is not a word, it should be)….. Well, the leaders of the auto industry and the banks come to mind, I guess there are those without much business sense out there,……never mind….