General Political Thread

[Guest Jules]

I stand with Scott Walker!

[Guest Don Draper]

Jules apparently shares my opinion about the Battle Hymn of the Republic.

[Guest Jules]

Yes. And those poor kids should be outside playing.

[Beltmann]

My wife and I are public school teachers in Wisconsin, so we were hit double by Act 10.  Whenever I see a "Stand With Walker" bumper sticker, I think, "There's a person who proudly stands with scapegoating and demonization."

 

Fair?  Surely not.  But it's hard to think well of those who thought it appropriate to deprive my (already low) family finances of $12,000 per year--and write it into law that my salary, forevermore, cannot keep up with inflation--just so they could save, on average, $30 on their state taxes.  Thanks, neighbors.

[caliber66]

I think it was Skeletor.

That's Romney.

[Mr. Heartbreak]

That's Romney.

Do an image search for Rick Scott and you'll see why.

[Hixter]

If you see him, please feel free to tell him that at least one of his constituents consider him the shittiest governor in Florida history. 

I'll pass, but I'll let Jeb Bush (another family acquaintance) know that you think he was a better governor than Rick Scott.

 

I'm saying it could be a bit contagious having a sleazeball dirtbag like Rick Scott for a family friend, and I certainly wouldn't brag about it.

I'm quite certain that no bragging took place.

[Guest Don Draper]

My wife and I are public school teachers in Wisconsin, so we were hit double by Act 10. Whenever I see a "Stand With Walker" bumper sticker, I think, "There's a person who proudly stands with scapegoating and demonization."

 

Fair? Surely not. But it's hard to think well of those who thought it appropriate to deprive my (already low) family finances of $12,000 per year--and write it into law that my salary, forevermore, cannot keep up with inflation--just so they could save, on average, $30 on their state taxes. Thanks, neighbors.

My wisecracks aside, what's happening/happened in Wisconsin is reprehensible. What a fine example of misinformation and fear-mongering overtaking a culture - one with so many blue collar union families, to boot. I lived in New Berlin for a while; my uncle and my cousins worked for some kind of HVAC company. Union men all of them, all of them standing with Walker. Shit.

 

On the other hand, this is what governments/governors do. There has been so much progressive legislation around the country that I can't think that this is indicative of a larger sea change, but christ, what an asshole. That almost makes it worse.

 

I'm sorry for you and your family.

[LouieB]

I am also part of a family that  has a public school teacher as part of it; if you don't know a teacher (just like if you don't know a gay person) it is easy to deny them rights and demonize them.  It is ridiculous.  Teaching is one of the hardest and least remunerated job on earth. People who dump on teachers are scum bags.

 

LouieB

[Guest Don Draper]

The easiest way for voters (most of whom are parents) to understand the financial situation of teachers would be to take a look at the faculty parking lots of their kids' schools. And I'm not even a parent. The idea that they are overpaid or entitled is ridiculous.

 

I do think that pensions will eventually be a thing of the past, but you can't rip the rug out from under people in the system. And the inflation thing is a no-brainer. Well. In Walker's case he took that literally.

 

And I'm surprised there isn't a blog or Tumblr or newfangled thing where teachers submit an anonymous paystub along with a list of monthly expenses, to illustrate quality of life.

[Guest Don Draper]

And LouieB, let's be real: not only are some gay people patently obvious, but I've got a few friends who cannot shake "teacher voice." I have a friend who raises her hand and goes "Shhhhhhh!" when someone is having trouble talking over a group.

[Hixter]

And I'm surprised there isn't a blog or Tumblr or newfangled thing where teachers submit an anonymous paystub along with a list of monthly expenses, to illustrate quality of life.

I know several teachers and none of them are wealthy, but their quality of life seems fine to me. In my district the starting salary for a new teacher with no experience is $47,000 for a 10-month work year; there are additional stipends for advanced degrees. That's well above the median income for the city. A pair of young teachers would pull in about $100,000 and that would enable them to live very comfortably here.

[uncool2pillow]

Hitter, not to cast doubt, I know Texas really bumped teacher pay a few years ago, but I would like to see your district's salary schedule. I'm 21 years in, M.A., and am in the low 60s in a suburban Des Moines district. Also, nothing wrong with teachers being comfortable. It's fucking hard and important work. Most of us who have "summers off" either work, study, become stay at home parents or all 3.

[Hixter]

nothing wrong with teachers being comfortable.

I don't think anyone has said otherwise.

 

Here's my district's salary schedule. I looked at a couple of the nearby districts and they were similar.

[uncool2pillow]

Pretty sweet, indeed. And, no, no one on this board said so. Wasn't making any accusations. Sorry if you felt it was implied.

[Guest Don Draper]

I know several teachers and none of them are wealthy, but their quality of life seems fine to me. In my district the starting salary for a new teacher with no experience is $47,000 for a 10-month work year; there are additional stipends for advanced degrees. That's well above the median income for the city. A pair of young teachers would pull in about $100,000 and that would enable them to live very comfortably here.

I live in a metro area to be sure, and I pull In a salary not that much higher than $47k. And still, I would be hesitant to raise children on double that. For two, it's a fantastic salary. For three + diapers (what a cruel mistress) it's pretty grim. I abhor the phrase "in this economy," but even sending my (admittedly nonexistent)!kids to St. Paul or Minneapolis public schooling I would be hard-pressed to say I could give them the quality of life they deserve with that salary.

 

But truth be told, that's why my girlfriend and I haven't had kids yet. We can't crunch the numbers in a way that is reflective of the lifestyle we want out kids to live (which, to be clear, is not extravagant).

 

Edit: Also, that's a 12-month salary. Accounting hours for grading, we ought not expect teachers to pick up a 2 month shift at the Gap each summer.

[Mr. Heartbreak]

My mother taught elementary for 38 years in the public school system, one of many reasons I am a proud progressive and staunchly pro-union. The way that works, by the way, is teachers could either 1) contribute to their future pensions via union dues, or 2) contribute to, and later get, Social Security. So my mom, who is now retired, has a pension but will never get SS.

 

I don't often think about buying a gun, but when I hear someone talk about cutting teachers' pensions...well, that's one of the times I do. Teachers work hard and make a lot of sacrifices, and deserve every dime of their pensions, and then some. They are not "takers."

[LouieB]

No one should be surprised at this point about whatever HIxter says. Teaching is hard hard work. It is thankless and universally criticized.  Teachers work more than 12 months a year if you figure all the overtime they put in on their own.  Teachers are easy to beat up on, particularly if they engage in collective bargaining.  After all most teachers are women.  Too bad they don't know their place anymore.  They should just be happy to have any job. 

 

LouieB

[uncool2pillow]

No one should be surprised at this point about whatever HIxter says. Teaching is hard hard work. It is thankless and universally criticized.  Teachers work more than 12 months a year if you figure all the overtime they put in on their own.  Teachers are easy to beat up on, particularly if they engage in collective bargaining.  After all most teachers are women.  Too bad they don't know their place anymore.  They should just be happy to have any job. 

 

LouieB

At what point did he criticize teachers? I missed it. At most, he said those in his district are fairly compensated.

[Hixter]

At what point did he criticize teachers?

I didn't and I wouldn't.

[Guest Don Draper]

Hmm.  As someone who consistently puts in 50-60 hour weeks, I don't know that I would characterize anyone as working "more than 12 months a year."  I mean, in the spirit of KevinG's assistance that we agree on facts that's a safe one on which we can all agree.

[Atticus]

Why do you hate teachers?

[Guest Don Draper]

They took all the good decals.

[IRememberDBoon]

weren't the righties telling us earlier in this thread that 250K was middle class in many localities and folks would have to struggle to make it on that?

[Hixter]

weren't the righties telling us earlier in this thread that 250K was middle class in many localities and folks would have to struggle to make it on that?

No, I believe it was $100k.