Facebook is dead

You heard it here first. Facebook used to be easy, fun and innocent. Now it's difficult, a pain in the ass and dangerous. Zukerberg rolls out changes too fast and furious without consideration for how the changes affect millions of users.

It's time to move on. I only wish I was smart enough (or dumb enough) to stumble on the next thing to capture the imagination of the masses.

Facebook is about to start its downward spiral. Remember, you heard it here first.

I hate it when......

Someone just posted a link on Facebook for "Tell Congress: Support the Buffett Rule". It simply says: "As part of his deficit reduction plan, President Obama proposed a new tax on incomes over one million dollars that would prevent millionaires and billionaires from paying a lower tax rate than the middle class. Tell your member of Congress to make the super-wealthy pay their fair share!".

When you follow the link, you simply fill in your address and create an e-mail to your congress person urging him to support the "Buffett Rule". There is nothing that gives any statistics, nothing that provides any rationale. It's just populist bullshit and it creates such a flood of e-mail to senators and representatives that they ignore it all. Oh, yeah, the Buffett Rule, cool.... I'm for it. What is it and what effect does it really have?

Do the research before pushing the EASY button.

Just wondering......

Do some middle class working families that take deductions for a mortgage, healthcare expenses and dependent children pay less taxes than some of the "poor" people? Just wondering.

Holding Teachers Accountable

With the start of a new school year, we once again hear cries that we must hold our teachers accountable. Our educational system is in shambles, hold the teachers accountable. Our kids are falling behind those of other countries, hold our teachers accountable. Test them, fire them, make them stand up to the challenge.

Hang on a minute. When are we going to start making parents and students accountable? Why do we always have to blame it on someone else. Where is the "test" for parents? Do you read to your small children EVERY day? Do you read with your young children EVERY day. Is the home atmosphere conducive to doing homework? Are your children taught manners and values at HOME? Are the parents (or parent) there to offer help and support with homework?

I don't think the quality of teachers has gone down as much as the quality of the educational environment at home has gone down. It used to be that parents were INVOLVED with the education of their children both at home and in school. Teachers were held accountable by parents via interaction with them and the administration if necessary.

Unfortunately, many parents who want to be involved in their children's education send them to private schools or home school them. Again, this is taking the easy way out, rather than facing the problem and doing something about it. Again, the problem is NOT exclusively (if at all) the teachers. The problem is the parents who want to leave 100% of the responsibility for educating their children (socially, intellectually, morally, etc) to the teachers.

Test the teachers all you want. Fire the ones that don't make the grade. None of it will do any good unless we re-establish the home as the primary educator. Get your kids back in public school. Use your private school money to get a less demanding job. Get INVOLVED with the teachers and administrators of your school. Know what your children are studying and be aware of any difficulties they are having. Support them, help them, get help for them. Don't leave it up to someone else. Hold yourself accountable, as a parent, for the education of your children and the success of the educational system in your community.

Where Are The Candidates That Represent Most Americans?

It is a foregone conclusion that Barack Obama will be the Democratic nominee for President in 2012. Like him or not, the opposition is a bunch of bible thumping right wing ideologues that pander to the money of several key groups and represent an ideology that says god and business rule.

I'm sorry my friends, god only exists in whatever ideology people make up and business is only interested in turning a profit. Neither act in the best interest of the general population.

Where are the politicians who represent the mainstream "middle earth" people who just want a peaceful, prosperous society where we seek some middle ground between the extremes of liberal and conservative.

I think it's time for an INDEPENDENT to emerge that will strike a chord with the majority of Americans regardless of political affiliation. If that person can overcome the enormous disadvantage of election financing (also known as buying the outcome), we might find ourselves on the road to recovery. In the meantime, prepare for absolute gridlock for the next year and a half.

I'm confused (again)

So; last year, we cut the payroll tax by 2%, just because it seemed like a cool thing to do. This year, we nearly defaulted on our debt because we couldn't agree on a plan to cut spending (including social security, which the payroll tax funds). Heading into 2012, if we let the payroll tax reduction expire, it will be a tax INCREASE, that the Republicans will use to cut Obama's head off. But, least we feel sorry for our president, his jobs program will likely include a tax CUT. So, in order to get the debt under control, our president proposed a BALANCED plan of tax increases and spending reductions. Now, in order to stimulate job creation, we're going to cut taxes. And not only that, we're going to continue an ill advised tax cut that funds one of the favorite GOP targets. Is this insane or what?????

Oh, Come On!!!!!!!!

Don't these Washington idiots understand what the word "compromise" means? The Democrats want $1B more in taxes, the Republicans should offer $500M. The Republicans want $1B in Social Security cuts, the Democrats should offer $500M. Both sides have to give something. Compromise: "a settlement of differences by mutual concessions". Fucking Idiots!!!!!!