marathonman, other than suggesting we go back to religion, what suggestions do you really have? You said "we have spent to much, our government is to big and we do not need a nationalized anything." These are blanket statements we keep hearing from the Tea Party. Below are some of the things the Oboma administration has done in the last two years in regard to health insurance reform. Let's have a discussion.
Cut prescription drug cost for medicare recipients by 50%.
Signed the Children's Health Insurance Re authorization Act, which provides health care to 11 million kids -- 4 million of whom were previously uninsured.
Health Care Reform Bill, preventing insurance companies from denying insurance because of a pre-existing condition.
Health Care Reform Bill, allowing children to remain covered by their parents' insurance until the age of 26.
Tax credits for up to 29 million individuals to help pay for health insurance.
Tax credits for up to 29 million individuals to help pay for health insurance.
Expansion of Medicaid to all individuals under age 65 with incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level.
Flactem that's exactly my point. Now everyone is going to have to work together and those who don't participate will be left behind. I think everyone is sick and tired of what's been going on from both parties.
This is probably the best outcome we could expect. Now the Republicans will have to work with the Democrats to get anything done. No more sitting around just trying to block everything out of spite.
"Apparently, there is no state test to measure handwriting. And, if it cannot be tested it will not be taught."
This is the problem, "if it can't be tested then it isn't taught." I mentor a senior from Pinecrest and in working together we needed to know the circumference of something. I asked her in fun do you remember how to calculate this? Her response was "oh no, we learned that in 9th grade and I don't remember it any more." She obviously just memorized it for the test and then discarded it. This isn't learning, she has no curiosity, no apparent interest in learning but just goes through the motions. Every week I ask her what she has learned and she just giggles and says "oh, I don't know." She knows I'm going to ask her the same question every week and is never able to answer. I finally gave her a talk about her lack of interest and gave her a specific assignment for next week. Whether she shows up or not is going to be the question and if she actually has a question I will be thrilled.
This is the third senior I have mentored and every one of them has been in a hurry to get the stuff they need to finish the project without any curiosity or a willingness to go beyond the basics.
My biggest concern is that we are raising students to just answer the expected questions, are not encouraged to be free thinkers and will be willing to just follow the herd and go in the direction they are told. This is a very scary possibility. I can't imagine what our future culture will be like.
"Fear comes the lack of information." Is this really what you meant?"
Of course its what I meant. How many times have you judged someone based on how they look only to realize later they weren't anything like you expected? The more exposed people are to the diversity of the world the less they are apt to jump to conclusions. It's the people who cluster together with the same thinking that become afraid and huddle in fear.
Fear comes the lack of information. My dog is fearful when I bring something odd or unusual into the house and she doesn't recognize it. She barks and takes tentative steps toward it, pulls back, finally gets brave enough to actually check it out. She is getting more information about the thing she fears and finally understand it. We all have knee-jerk reactions to things but thankfully we are thinking and curious people and are able to overcome our fears with more information. Based on these comments here, fear also comes when people express alternative opinions and no one is willing to explore the thoughts with curiosity. Let's just all hide our heads in the sand and let someone else tell us what to think.
Polk Dillon said:"When I hear someone mention NPR or CBS, I fear that this country is going to the devil, and I’m not sure I can muster up an alternative sense."
That is a scary statement. I fear this country will be led by ignorant small minded frightened people who haven't the ability or interest to look beyond their fear and educate themselves in things they don't know anything about. Fear IS ignorance.
I'd like someone to explain to me why we have to pay for the hook-up and is connecting to the water line optional. If it's not optional is it possible to keep our wells to use for irrigation? What exactly are the rules around this and why is the hook-up fee so expensive?
Wow, I really like the comparisons you outlined between game shows and their influence on us. I never thought about it but I think you're right about the comment : "reality TV has trained us to view situations where voting occurs to be like a cage match." We have become divided like a contest and I didn't even realize it. Thank you.
Now the question is how do we debate without the need to win or loose?
Sally244 2 years, 6 months ago
A Long Road Back to Civil Discourse
Is it possible to have a conversation without putting party or religion into it?
Sally244 2 years, 6 months ago
A Long Road Back to Civil Discourse
marathonman, other than suggesting we go back to religion, what suggestions do you really have? You said "we have spent to much, our government is to big and we do not need a nationalized anything." These are blanket statements we keep hearing from the Tea Party. Below are some of the things the Oboma administration has done in the last two years in regard to health insurance reform. Let's have a discussion.
Cut prescription drug cost for medicare recipients by 50%.
Signed the Children's Health Insurance Re authorization Act, which provides health care to 11 million kids -- 4 million of whom were previously uninsured.
Health Care Reform Bill, preventing insurance companies from denying insurance because of a pre-existing condition.
Health Care Reform Bill, allowing children to remain covered by their parents' insurance until the age of 26.
Tax credits for up to 29 million individuals to help pay for health insurance.
Tax credits for up to 29 million individuals to help pay for health insurance.
Expansion of Medicaid to all individuals under age 65 with incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level.
Sally244 2 years, 6 months ago
A Big Night for GOP
Flactem that's exactly my point. Now everyone is going to have to work together and those who don't participate will be left behind. I think everyone is sick and tired of what's been going on from both parties.
Sally244 2 years, 6 months ago
A Big Night for GOP
This is probably the best outcome we could expect. Now the Republicans will have to work with the Democrats to get anything done. No more sitting around just trying to block everything out of spite.
Sally244 2 years, 6 months ago
Why Can’t Our Kids Read Writin’ These Days?
"Apparently, there is no state test to measure handwriting. And, if it cannot be tested it will not be taught."
This is the problem, "if it can't be tested then it isn't taught." I mentor a senior from Pinecrest and in working together we needed to know the circumference of something. I asked her in fun do you remember how to calculate this? Her response was "oh no, we learned that in 9th grade and I don't remember it any more." She obviously just memorized it for the test and then discarded it. This isn't learning, she has no curiosity, no apparent interest in learning but just goes through the motions. Every week I ask her what she has learned and she just giggles and says "oh, I don't know." She knows I'm going to ask her the same question every week and is never able to answer. I finally gave her a talk about her lack of interest and gave her a specific assignment for next week. Whether she shows up or not is going to be the question and if she actually has a question I will be thrilled.
This is the third senior I have mentored and every one of them has been in a hurry to get the stuff they need to finish the project without any curiosity or a willingness to go beyond the basics.
My biggest concern is that we are raising students to just answer the expected questions, are not encouraged to be free thinkers and will be willing to just follow the herd and go in the direction they are told. This is a very scary possibility. I can't imagine what our future culture will be like.
Sally244 2 years, 6 months ago
Fear Isn’t Always A Case of Bigotry
"Fear comes the lack of information." Is this really what you meant?"
Of course its what I meant. How many times have you judged someone based on how they look only to realize later they weren't anything like you expected? The more exposed people are to the diversity of the world the less they are apt to jump to conclusions. It's the people who cluster together with the same thinking that become afraid and huddle in fear.
Sally244 2 years, 6 months ago
Fear Isn’t Always A Case of Bigotry
Fear comes the lack of information. My dog is fearful when I bring something odd or unusual into the house and she doesn't recognize it. She barks and takes tentative steps toward it, pulls back, finally gets brave enough to actually check it out. She is getting more information about the thing she fears and finally understand it. We all have knee-jerk reactions to things but thankfully we are thinking and curious people and are able to overcome our fears with more information. Based on these comments here, fear also comes when people express alternative opinions and no one is willing to explore the thoughts with curiosity. Let's just all hide our heads in the sand and let someone else tell us what to think.
Sally244 2 years, 6 months ago
Fear Isn’t Always A Case of Bigotry
Polk Dillon said:"When I hear someone mention NPR or CBS, I fear that this country is going to the devil, and I’m not sure I can muster up an alternative sense."
That is a scary statement. I fear this country will be led by ignorant small minded frightened people who haven't the ability or interest to look beyond their fear and educate themselves in things they don't know anything about. Fear IS ignorance.
Sally244 2 years, 7 months ago
Reduced Tap Fees for Early Sign-Up in East Moore Water District
I'd like someone to explain to me why we have to pay for the hook-up and is connecting to the water line optional. If it's not optional is it possible to keep our wells to use for irrigation? What exactly are the rules around this and why is the hook-up fee so expensive?
Sally244 2 years, 7 months ago
Real-Life Voting in America Is Not a Reality TV Program
Wow, I really like the comparisons you outlined between game shows and their influence on us. I never thought about it but I think you're right about the comment : "reality TV has trained us to view situations where voting occurs to be like a cage match." We have become divided like a contest and I didn't even realize it. Thank you.
Now the question is how do we debate without the need to win or loose?