WE are in the wrong line of work
Printed From: MiddletownUSA.com
Category: Middletown City Schools
Forum Name: Other School Issues
Forum Description: Discuss other issues such as school security, student activities, etc.
URL: http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5273
Printed Date: Nov 24 2024 at 7:37am
Topic: WE are in the wrong line of work
Posted By: VietVet
Subject: WE are in the wrong line of work
Date Posted: May 22 2013 at 6:44am
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Journal story.... District approves new hire for hybrid position School board also accepts $1.6M in donations and staff reductions MIDDLETOWN — An outside hire will fill a new position to manage human resources and instructional leadership in Middletown City Schools. The school board on Monday approved hiring Eric Gearhart — current principal at Tecumseh High School in New Carlisle, Ohio — to fill the role of senior director of leadership and human resources, effective July 1 and contingent on certification and background check. A two-year contract for Gearhart includes an annual salary of $105,459 and 25 days off work each year, according to documents. The school board also approved a daily rate of $468 for transition pay. After the resignation of Lisa Lowery as human resources director in September 2012, the district hired Stephen Bartalo in a part-time, interim role, according to Sam Ison, Middletown’s incoming superintendent. Bartalo’s contract — for about $1,125 per week or $450 per day — expires June 30. ARE YOU KIDDING ME! LOOK AT THOSE SALARIES! MERCY! AND $468 PER DAY "TRANSITION PAY". AND PRAY TELL, WHAT IS "TRANSITION PAY"? HAS ANYONE EVER HEARD OF THIS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR? AND HOW ABOUT BARTOLO'S CONTRACT OF $450 PER DAY? FOR A HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR ON AN INTERIM BASIS? PAY'S A TAD BIT HIGH FOR THIS JOB, ISN'T IT? YOU FOLKS WORKING OUTSIDE THE PUBLIC SECTOR MAKE $450 BUCKS A DAY? HELL, MANY PEOPLE DON'T MAKE THAT IN A WEEK. AND WHEN DO YOU WANT US TO APPROVE YOUR OPERATING LEVY AGAIN SCHOOL BOARD? WITH SALARIES LIKE THIS AND NEGOTIATED CONTRACTS LIKE THIS. IT'S NO WONDER THEY'RE ALWAYS IN OUR WALLETS. REMEMBER THIS WHEN YOU GO TO THE POLLS NEXT TIME FOLKS. THE PUBLIC SECTOR IS IN A FAR DIFFERENT WORLD THAN THE REST OF US. SO....WE'RE LOOKING AT "CUTTING COSTS" WHILE WE'RE ADDING ANOTHER JOB WITH A MEGA SALARY? HOW'S THAT WORK? Reduction in force A new reduction in force was approved by board members on Monday, including three music teacher positions, one art teacher, two special education teachers and data manager. The school board also approved to recall four women into different jobs after their previous positions were eliminated in late April. Those recalled are Kathleen Jones and Kathleen Jonas as academic support specialists, Cora Kash as high school secretary and Stephanie Thompson as administrative finance clerk BEING RECALLED AFTER BEING DOWNSIZED USUALLY DOESN'T HAPPEN IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR EITHER. ONCE YOU'RE GONE, YOU'RE GONE. ARE THESE FOUR WOMAN QUALIFIED FOR THESE DIFFERENT POSITIONS OR ARE THEY BEING "FORCE-FITTED" INTO THEM? ANOTHER QUESTION....WHAT DOES AN "ACADEMIC SUPPORT SPECIALIST" DO TO EARN THEIR MONEY? ALOT OF LAYERS OF PEOPLE, ALL DOING EXACTLY WHAT? ------------- I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over. |
Replies:
Posted By: lrisner
Date Posted: May 22 2013 at 8:01am
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Jesus Viet, give it a break!. The pay rates are not unreasonable.The $450/day reference is not based on a weeks work, it is about special situation where one normally wouldn' t be on the payroll. Kinda like working a day when you are on Vacation for an emergency. Also, 105k is not too much given the education and training needed. Hell, factored for inflation AK hourly should be making more than that. That is why i defend City workers so much. The arbitrator system, which was originally put in place to SUPPRESS wages, has protected those covered by the system from the "attack" on wages that most people have suffered. Your constant bitching about it is like someone wanting their neighbors house to burn down because their house burnt down. Wha...it's not fair, their house didn't burn down. The need for better wages is essential to saving the American Dream for common Americans. You think things are bad now, if we don't stop the partisan bickering, we are doomed to a third World life style. We will be living like those in the Communist block during the 80's. Sadly, people like yourself who are whipped up into a frenzy are serving the purposes of those wishing to move us to the oligarchical structure and you don't realize it. |
Posted By: ktf1179
Date Posted: May 22 2013 at 8:43am
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It is always easier to spend other people’s money, when
it is not your own. This is a major problem with not only schools and city governments,
but on a national level. We as a society have gone complacent and has allowed
our government to go uncheck when it comes to spending. In their eyes, the tax
payers are a never ending supply of money, and all they got to do is ask for
more, and if you don't comply YOU WILL SUFFER!!! Look at Cincinnati and the Streetcar, and the Police and
Firefighters getting laid off because the city didn't get their way. Look at the US Federal Government and how Tax hikes that
Obama wanted didn't happen, now the Government is punishing the Tax payers by
cutting off programs and events people enjoy, instead of cutting back on their
own salaries and expenses. And now you criticize Vet, because he is questioning the
pay salary of a school official. I personally applaud Vet for raising these
questions and giving a voice to the rest of the tax payers, and making sure
that OUR tax dollars are not wasted. Because we all now in a few years the
schools will be asking for more Tax dollars from an Operating Levy because of
the excess pay they are giving to this individual, and other employees. I agree with Irisner that yes companies should be paying their
employees more, but in this current climate of constant change, it is not
possible. Given that WHY should PUBLIC employees be paid more than
other people in the similar fields??? And yes we are doomed to 3rd world life style because
all the government spending is going to bankrupt the Middle Class. |
Posted By: TonyB
Date Posted: May 22 2013 at 8:48am
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You have to be kidding me!!! You cut four teaching positions to hire four administrators? And you wonder why the quality of education is declining? |
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: May 22 2013 at 9:15am
FOR THE SAKE OF GETTING INTO A FULL BLOWN PISS--- MATCH IRISNER, WE WILL AGREE TO DISAGREE. ------------- I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over. |
lrisner wrote:Posted By: itsamee
Date Posted: May 22 2013 at 10:18am
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Sorry, while I often support the schools, these 6 figure salaries are a little crazy. I bet you could find people to take the positions for $75,000 that would still do a good job. shoot, I bet there are teachers who would do it for the pay bump and you would still have enough left over to get or keep a teacher. ------------- Itsa me, mario! |
Posted By: processor
Date Posted: May 22 2013 at 10:54am
| If I'm looking at the correctly it appears that the school board actually reduced one administrtive position by combining the instructional leadership position with the HR Manager position. When Sam Ison moves to the Supt' position this will leave the instructional leadership position open. When the interim HR manager leaves this will leave this position open. They will fill two postions with one person. Looks like a good use of funds to me as this is actually a reduction in admin staff and not an increase. |
Posted By: lrisner
Date Posted: May 22 2013 at 12:08pm
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All you "we are going broke" people are right, but
your logic is flawed. A race to the bottom does nothing to solve the issues you
all are so concerned about. It just further impoverishes our Nation. Guess
what? If the economy picked up and wages went up, what else would go up? Tax
Revenues!!. That is the solution, not cutting us to bone. I also get infuriated
when so many of your "Saviors" (Boneman is a perfect example)
bitch about spending but will always be for a program that puts money in the
pocket of the 1%. My favorite sound bite of Mittman was the "if you have
to borrow to pay for it, we don't need it'. Well, I would have respected that
if he really believed it, but he didn't. That litmus test only pertained to
domestic spending. He would borrow the World for some project that put cash in
the bank for the 1%. Military spending is a perfect example. The biggest Hawks
are also the most "fiscally conservative". Ridiculous isn't it? How
can you be a Fiscal conservative AND borrow hundreds of billons to pay for a defense
program that spends more than the rest of the World combined? You can't! They
are just a bunch of greedy phonies. I personally think Rand Paul has Alzheimer’s,
but at least he is honest in his beliefs. He is the only one, by the way.
Sorry to beat you up Buddy, but in my opinion you have been victimized by very smart people who have led you astray. Keep in mind, Hitler had Thousands at a time cheering him and swallowing all that he said. The real truth is usually the the truth that we would rather not see. Ronald Reagan is a perfect example. I think Ronnie was a very good man and had the best of intentions, but he let greedy people get us started down the wrong path. I will admit, I let my admiration of him let me be brain washed too for a while. Thankfully it was only for a little while. I mean, really people, don’t you all know that the wealth distribution in the United States now is very similar to a lot of other Counties….like Mexico or a many other 3rd World nations? I can’t imagine that even a few on this site would see themselves as being part of the 1% and thus, not mind the idea of that.
On a more local example let’s talk about AK’s Dick Wardrop. The “mean little red head” walked away with about 100mil for the ten years he was here. Now, some may say he “saved” AK. Well, he did not. I was not a friend, but did know him in a somewhat personal way. I actually liked the man as he was “real’ as apposed to the phony “Miss G" types that usually sit in the CEO chair. He drank Beer, smoked very stinky Cigars, and flirted with the Ladies. A real man, but he didn’t deserve 100mil. He actually did more damage overall then good. So why did he get that much? Because our culture right now simple puts that kind of money in peoples pocket ONCE you join their Cub. It is not right and is all about greed and preserving the access to the cash for the greedy. Mr. Friedman was wrong when he said “greed is good”. There is nothing wrong with a little monetary motivation, but when we get to point that we think greed is good, then we are all screwed. |
Posted By: Stanky
Date Posted: May 22 2013 at 12:14pm
| itsamee, you obviously do not have a professional job or a higher education. You don't just elevate a teacher to a position they may not be qualified for just because they might work cheaper. What about the idea that they may not have the training or education to do the job in the first place? This isn't some job at a factory where any person could do a task. |
Posted By: itsamee
Date Posted: May 22 2013 at 12:26pm
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Wow, Way to go with the personal slam. First off, I have a bachelors degree and do have a "professional" job (which I have been working in for the last 10 years). So, now that I have my qualifications out of the way, let me dive further into my thoughts: Many teachers have administration certificates, principal licensers, etc. issued by the state. You may be surprised at the levels of certifications many of the teachers in most districts have. Many of the current administrators also hold multiple certificates and licensers which allow them the ability to cross multiple lines with multiple skills. As someone who has done A LOT of contract work with MULTIPLE school districts, I do know how they operate and how many of the teachers are able to move and get promoted to administrator level positions, etc. So, please, watch your tone and be considerate when addressing others in a forum. You know less information about me than I know about many of the teachers in the SW Ohio area. Thanks. ------------- Itsa me, mario! |
Posted By: Marcia Andrew
Date Posted: May 22 2013 at 1:04pm
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Eric Gearhardt has been hired to do 2 administrative jobs (director of instructional leadership and director of Human Resources) for less than the salary of 1 (the current director of instructional leadership, Sam Ison, who has been promoted to superintendent starting July 1). The separate HR position was eliminated. And yes, the job and the person are worth 105,000 per year. Similar positions in the private sector would pay more, not less. Gearhardt and Ison are both examples of administrators who have worked their way up from teaching positions, principal positions, to central administration, through advanced degrees and experience. We are lucky to have them on our team. The RIF's and recalls from Monday nights meeting are part of a larger set of cost cutting measures made necessary due to losing 1.2 million in federal funds due to sequestration. Many administrative positions paid for out of those federal grants have been cut. Others we felt were too important to cut have been moved to the general fund, but that requires a corresponding savings as the board directed the district to bring a balanced budget and not ask the voters for additional general operating funds through a levy. We asked the voters for a small increase in operating levy in 2010 and when it was rejected, we have since made do by making additional cuts every year to the budget. This year, we have cut administrators, support staff, and a few teachers (music, art, middle school) but are also adding 8 new K-3 teachers to address larger numbers of students in those grades and to respond to Governor Kasich's third grade reading guarantee. We are balancing the budget despite reduction in federal funds, while adding teachers to focus on early literacy. Funny how no one commented on the great news in this article that we have secured commitments for $1.6 million from just 4 companies to start the upgrade work on Barnitz Stadium (Middletown Community Foundation $500,000; Atrium Medical Center $750,000; Sodexho $300,000; Cohen Brothers $50,000). No public money will be used on this project, which will benefit the whole community. I am very thankful of this support.
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Posted By: Marcia Andrew
Date Posted: May 22 2013 at 1:09pm
| Correction--we last asked for an increase in operating levy in 2007. The renewal part passed but the small increase was rejected. Since then, we have not asked for any new operating levies. We did pass a renewal in 2010 that renewed and combined, but did not increase, 2 temporary levies. The last new operating levy actually passed by the voters was in 2005. Through all of our cost cutting, we hope to keep pushing out for a few more years the need to ask for any new operating money. However, we don't control state and federal budgets. |
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: May 22 2013 at 3:05pm
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Ms.Andrew: "And yes, the job and the person are worth 105,000 per year. Similar positions in the private sector would pay more, not less" MS. ANDREW, I HAVE WORKED FOR 8 PRIVATE COMPANIES FROM MEGA CORPORATIONS LIKE P&G TO INTERNATIONAL PAPER TO SMALLER COMPANIES LIKE MOBAY CHEMICAL AND CRANE PLASTICS, AND IN 45 YEARS, HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP. FURTHERMORE, UNLESS THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES WORKS FOR A VERY LARGE CORPORATION, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO PULL IN 105 GRAND IN SALARY PLUS THE OTHER PAYOUTS MENTIONED IN THE STORY. I WOULD THINK 105 GRAND FOR A HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR IS EXTREMELY RARE. MS. ANDREW: "Gearhardt and Ison are both examples of administrators who have worked their way up from teaching positions, principal positions, to central administration, through advanced degrees" DOES THE "ADVANCED DEGREE" GET YOU THE HIGH SALARY, OR DOES HIGH PERFORMANCE/RESULTS BASED CRITERIA ALONG THE WAY MEAN MORE IN THE ACADEMIC FIELD? IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE ACADEMIC PEOPLE ARE REWARDED MORE FOR GETTING MORE SCHOOLING THAN THEY ARE IN THEIR PERFORMANCE IN THE CLASSROOM OR AS AN ADMIN. MORE SCHOOLING DOESN'T NECESSARILY TRANSLATE TO BETTER PERFORMANCE. MS. ANDREW: "We are lucky to have them on our team" MIGHT BE TRUE ABOUT ISON, BUT GEARHARDT HASN'T STARTED YET. HOW DO YOU KNOW HOW HE WILL PERFORM? MS. ANDREW: The RIF's and recalls from Monday nights meeting are part of a larger set of cost cutting measures made necessary due to losing 1.2 million in federal funds due to sequestration. Many administrative positions paid for out of those federal grants have been cut. Others we felt were too important to cut have been moved to the general fund, but that requires a corresponding savings as the board directed the district to bring a balanced budget and not ask the voters for additional general operating funds through a levy. We asked the voters for a small increase in operating levy in 2010 and when it was rejected, we have since made do by making additional cuts every year to the budget. This year, we have cut administrators, support staff, and a few teachers (music, art, middle school) but are also adding 8 new K-3 teachers to address larger numbers of students in those grades and to respond to Governor Kasich's third grade reading guarantee. We are balancing the budget despite reduction in federal funds, while adding teachers to focus on early literacy. WHY IS IT JUST TAKEN FOR GRANTED (NO BIG DEAL) WHEN CORPORATIONS DOWNSIZE AND SHED POSITIONS (HAPPENS ALL THE TIME), BUT IT IS SUCH A "TRAVESTY" WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT THE SCHOOLS OR THE PUBLIC SECTOR SHEDDING JOBS? CONTRARY TO POPULAR OPINION, THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND THE SCHOOL PEOPLE ARE NOT OFF LIMITS WHEN CUTS ARE NEEDED. MS. ANDREW: "We are balancing the budget despite reduction in federal funds"... MS. ANDREW, EVERY COMPANY MUST "BALANCE THE BUDGET" AND TAKES A HIT DURING A PERIOD OF TIME AND MUST WORK WITH WHAT THEY HAVE FROM REDUCED PROFIT MARGINS. THAT MEANS CUTS ARE MADE WITH MANPOWER AND POSITIONS ELIMINATED, AND PERHAPS, ASKING LESS FOR THEIR PRODUCTS. THEY DON'T GET THE ADDED EXTRAS LIKE FEDERAL FUNDS. THE MONEY COMES FROM PROFITS MADE......SINK OR SWIM/ON YOUR OWN EACH YEAR. AGAIN, WHY ARE WE PRESENTING A PICTURE ABOUT HOW ROUGH THE SCHOOLS HAVE IT? ALL ARE WORKING WITH REDUCED FUNDS. MS. ANDREW: "Funny how no one commented on the great news in this article that we have secured commitments for $1.6 million from just 4 companies to start the upgrade work on Barnitz Stadium (Middletown Community Foundation $500,000; Atrium Medical Center $750,000; Sodexho $300,000; Cohen Brothers $50,000). No public money will be used on this project, which will benefit the whole community. I am very thankful of this support" THE FOUR REVENUE SOURCES FREELY AND WILLFULLY VOLUNTEERED THE MONEY FOR THIS PROJECT. IT WAS NOT A FORCED MONEY COMITTAL IN THE FORM OF NEW TAXES ON THE PEOPLE. THEREFORE, NO COMMENT WAS NECESSARY AS IT DIDN'T AFFECT OUR WALLETS AS YOUR LEVIES DO AT TIMES. BY THE WAY, FOR CLARITY, THE STORY STATED COHEN DONATED 30 GRAND, NOT 50 GRAND. ------------- I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over. |
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: May 22 2013 at 3:20pm
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MS. ANDREW: "Correction--we last asked for an increase in operating levy in 2007. The renewal part passed but the small increase was rejected. Since then, we have not asked for any new operating levies" BUT YOU HAVE ASKED FOR MORE MONEY FROM THE PEOPLE IN THE FORM OF NON-OPERATIONAL LEVIES, HAVEN'T YOU? MS. ANDREW: "We did pass a renewal in 2010 that renewed and combined, but did not increase, 2 temporary levies" BUT IT WAS A TEMPORARY LEVY AT ONE TIME THAT BECAME A RENEWAL LEVY IN 2010 AND, YES IT DID INCREASE SOMETHING........THE LENGTH OF TIME WE WOULD PAY AS IT WAS A RENEWAL. SO, IN ESSENCE, WE DID PAY MORE ON IT FOR IF WE HAD VOTED NO TO RENEW, IT WOULD HAVE EXPIRED, RIGHT? MS. ANDREW: "However, we don't control state and federal budgets." THAT'S RIGHT MS. ANDREW,YOU DON'T, AND WE DON'T CONTROL HOW MUCH OUR EMPLOYER PUTS IN OUR PAYCHECK TO AFFORD YOUR CONSTANT LEVIES EITHER. DO THE SCHOOL PEOPLE HAVE ANY EMPATHY FOR OUR VIEWPOINT? ------------- I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over. |
Posted By: Libertarian
Date Posted: May 22 2013 at 3:40pm
| How predictable that IRISNER would now bad-mouth Viet Vet. He appears to be saturated with vitriolic feelings toward many of us Middletonians. Please find it in your heart to disagree without condemning those with opinions not consistent with yours. Like the late '60's song, "try a little tenderness." |
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: May 22 2013 at 3:45pm
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IRISNER: "Just because it feels good emotionally to bitch and blame others, the real truth is that the very people you all worship are the ones that have destroyed our way of life" IF YOU ARE REFERRING TO THE LEADERS OF THIS COUNTRY, I DOUBT THAT WE ARE IN THE "WORSHIPPING" MODE. MORE LIKE A "HANGING UNTIL DEAD" MODE. IRISNER: "How can anyone NOT be for higher Wages when our historical prosperity came from an economy that was 70% consumer spending?" ALL WORKING PEOPLE ARE FOR HIGHER WAGES. HOWEVER, SOMETIMES (AS IN THE CASE OF SOME PRIVATE, PUBLIC AND IN THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY) WE SEE SALARIES THAT ARE JUDGED TO BE EXCESSIVE AS IN THIS DISCUSSION. WE ALL PUT A PRICE ON THINGS.....IE, HOW MUCH WE WOULD PAY FOR AN ITEM, HOW MUCH A POSITION SHOULD BE PAID IN RELATION TO WHAT WE THINK THE JOB ENTAILS. IN THIS CASE, JUST THINK THAT A HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR IN A SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT THAT CLAIMS IT IS HURTING FOR MONEY SHOULDN'T BE PAID 105 GRAND, THAT'S ALL. IRISNER: "How can people like Vet be for the race to the bottom and ignore the fact that all the good that he wants to save about our way of life came from Americans having a decent Wage?" I REALIZE THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN SCREWING THE WORKING MAN FOR YEARS. THE RICH HANDING OUT THE MONEY TO THE POOR WORKING MAN GET RICHER...... LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, I HAVE BEEN A "VICTIM" OF THE GAME FOR MANY YEARS. YOU TAKE A JOB AT THE WAGES OFFERED AT YOUR OWN FREE WILL, HOPING TO MAKE IT ON WHAT THEY WANT TO PAY YOU. IRISNER: "Sorry to beat you up Buddy, but in my opinion you have been victimized by very smart people who have led you astray" ONLY GAME IN TOWN UNLESS YOU ARE INDEPENDENTLY WEALTHY. WORK FOR DECADES HOPING YOU'LL MAKE IT TO RETIREMENT AND ENJOY THE LAST 5-10 YEARS OF YOUR LIFE BEFORE YOU DIE. AHH, THE AMERICAN DREAM!  I'VE GOT 5 MORE YEARS BEFORE CALLING IT QUITS. I'LL HAVE 51 YEARS IN THEN. IRISNER: "On a more local example let’s talk about AK’s Dick Wardrop. The “mean little red head” walked away with about 100mil for the ten years he was here" A PRIVATE INDUSTRY CORPORATE TRAVESTY AND REFERRED TO AS THE GOLDEN PARACHUTE. READ ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME WHERE A CHIEF EXEC. RUINS A COMPANY, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FIRES HIM AND HE HITS THE ROAD WITH MILLIONS WHILE THE LITTLE GUY GETS DOWNSIZED AND LEAVES WITH, AT BEST, A FEW WEEKS SALARY IN HIS POCKET. RIDICULOUS. AS LONG AS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS KEEPS OFFERING BUYOUT CONTRACTS TO CEO'S, NO MATTER WHAT THEY DO TO THEIR COMPANY, IT WILL CONTINUE. ------------- I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over. |
Posted By: lrisner
Date Posted: May 22 2013 at 4:38pm
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I see no contradictions to the points I made. As to Mr Lib, I am a bit overbearing and I am usually right. Regardless how fair minded you may see yourself, you are , quite honestly a typical contemporary American. The 60's reference brings to mind that the era is part of the problem in it's self. Dr. Spock's ideas seem to have taken hold as most on here, including you, can not help but to let their emotions and what is best for them to guide their thinking. i have a history, and a upbringing, that seldom let's what is personally best for me to enter the argument. Pure logic and reason is all that matters. the average American today simply votes and argues politics from the position of what is good for them or what makes them feel good even if the comfort they feel is false. Generally, they don't know any better. I caught hell on a number of occasions when my peers berated for voting my mind rather than my pocket book. Personally I think voting one's pocket book is no different than being a con artist or a scum bag in matters of money. What is good for John Doe the individual could very well be terrible for the general good. If John Doe votes for his benefit, then what is he other than a con artist? Do voters have a civic responsibility to use their vote intelligently or is it up for sale? Do you think it should be up for sale? |
Posted By: Libertarian
Date Posted: May 22 2013 at 6:05pm
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Irisner: Dr. Spock was very liberal politically and otherwise. In contrast, I'm a conservative, constitutional mostly Republican voter. I hope that life will be better for you. As was said in another song from the late 60's or early 70's, "you've got to try a little kindness." |
Posted By: itsamee
Date Posted: May 23 2013 at 8:31am
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Irisner, Many have to "vote their pocket book" when it comes to keeping a roof over their heads, lights on, and food on the table. We cannot ignore the good of our families for the "common good." utopia does not exist this side of heave, sir. My stance is, I suport our schools. I support most school districts, I have only worked for one that was a tad shady in my life. That being said, I do question $105,000 being paid in this line of work. My wife worked for schools and a 501.c3 with a Masters degree. Both times she was told she would not be making as much due to it being public sector and she should "take one for the team." Yeeeeaaa....while she took one for the team, others are making six figures.... Seems fair, right? If all the administrators took pay cuts to even the upper five figures, how much would the school district save? And, how much would the life styles of those who took the cuts change? Would they have to stop eating 3 meals a day? Or would they have to sell the third car or the boat? Would they have to downsize their home? Or stop driving the lexus in favor of a chevy? You know, Irisner, for the greater good. ------------- Itsa me, mario! |
Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: May 23 2013 at 3:26pm
I have an idea, let's send Judy over there for the position. See would'nt have to drive any further and we could get rid of her, then maybe they could find some positions for a few others in the city building. 
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Posted By: lrisner
Date Posted: May 24 2013 at 12:05pm
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Mr Lib, thank you for telling me Dr Spock was a Liberal. Gosh darn, i didn't know that. As to political affiliation, I too am a conservative but I am a conservative with a brain an I am sane.I have been forced to vote a different way than I normally would due to the stupidity of the GOP lately. Mitt Romney was such a lousy candidate that I would have voted for Gorge McGovern over him. John Mc Cain was a good man before running for Prez, but the Nation Organization succeeded in making him smuck too early in "08 in order to get their support. As to "try a little Kindness", I feel like one of the few people not brain washed by partisanship and am fighting a tough battle with many people, like yourself, who are unknowingly helping to destroy this Country. I am trying to save the American Dream, Forgive me for being blunt! itsamee...i think you have me confused with some other poster. I agree with your analysis of pay for such levels of education. Hell, skilled Trades should make that. |
Posted By: spiderjohn
Date Posted: May 24 2013 at 8:03pm
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come on, lrisner if you were really that smart, you wouldn't have to keep telling us how smart you are, and how naive we might be. no one has forced you to vote for anyone or anything with many of the current election day choices, often we don't need to vote at all imo we all wish that everyone made more $$, and also wish that workers were more productive, cared more about where they work, and also were treated better/more fairly both on and off of the job. The responsibility lies everywhere. Where have the long-term local manufacturers gone? Why has AK downsized so much? How do we REALLY turn this around to be fair in providing for the masses while also making everyone a serious contributor to the overall cause? Will Obama care actually give more people quality health care, or will it lead to employment freezes and small employers to drop health care all together? How will SSI Medicare/aid and pension funds/bennies remain stable when the market/economy finally tanks after being taken off fed life support? Do you really feel like one of the few, instead of one of the many? Not really trying to make it personal, however you seem to be steering in that direction
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Posted By: itsamee
Date Posted: May 28 2013 at 1:49pm
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Irisner, Sorry about that, I meant to address Stanky...darn it.... ------------- Itsa me, mario! |
Posted By: lrisner
Date Posted: May 29 2013 at 11:10am
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Spidey, wishing that everyone made more money and trying to be active in educating everyone about the REAL ( not the neo-con reasons) reason we are failing is a big difference. Just wishing may make you feel like a good person but it does noting to move the agenda to where it should be be. The fact is, we create very little wealth in this Country as appose to 50 years ago. Please remember wealth and economic activity are two different things.If Bill Gates and Warren Buffet decided to play big stakes Gin where the hands were worth billions each, they could play for a few months like that and end up breaking even (no gain for either but a huge amount of money moved back and forth) and technically create a large increase in our GDP, yet nothing was accomplished and no real economic good done. That is where we are today. Further, the "rushing" from this Country to the third World of our manufacturing , the real wealth maker, has made our economy a shell of it's former shelf when factored for inflation and population. Towns like Middletown will never recover until the general economy does and when someone with a Public education can make a livable wage. That is not true today. I dare say that a high School grad today has less opportunity than did a High School drop out 50 years ago. Your "serious contributor" comment shows me that you are watching too much FOX NEWS. How can one contribute when there is no chance to contribute. My Children are educated much more that than the average and even they are working for peanuts. My daughter will bump up a lot once she finishes her Master's Degree, but will also have tons of debt when that happens. If you think that is ample opportunity for a healthy society, then you and I differ greatly on where the Nation should be. You know, Milton Friedman included a NIT ( negative income tax) into his Economic theroies which ended up winning him a Noble prize. You know what? even he saw the damage that could be done to the masses with unrestrainted free trade yet when his ideas became the foundation of our economic Policy during the Ronnie years, no one even remembered the negative tax. I personally don't like the negative tax and would rather have people working and that is one of the reasons I beat up on people i think are espousing the nonsense they heard on TV or the Radio without really understanding anything about it. As to being smart or not...I am in the middle which happens to be a place that statically suggest i am right . i will just go with that. You can continue to do what benefits you personally and what makes you fell good if you like. Who knows....if more people had screamed and hollered about how terrible Hitler was in the 30's maybe we never would have had a second world War. |
Posted By: spiderjohn
Date Posted: May 29 2013 at 12:27pm
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ok risner--can't disagree with the above--we are on the same page here I look at my business situation--I don't create nearly the cash flow(wealth?) that I did in the 70s and 80s, though then I was on the low end of the retail pay scale(now I am in the mid/upper retail range--should tell you plenty). And I will never be a larger player again. Look at your old place--how does it compare to where it was in that same time period? And the same for our whole town. How will it ever change for the better? I don't know. Fox news? Watch it some--don't like Hannity--can stomach O Reilly usually--don't take any of them seriously. Damned sure that I can't trust the Obama Administration/spin machine. Was talking with a local judge friend--we agreed that we go through the day trying to figure out who is lying to us the least in most situations. How will Obamacare affect your former corporate/employee health care situation? Read some very surprising union comments on how it will send them backwards. I feel like I have a pretty good handle on what is going on around me, but I surely don't feel smarter than I did a few years ago. Peace bro.....
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