Start the Rick Scott Recall
I get it we don’t like taxes. We think they are to high and the government lights cigars with hundred dollar bills. I get it. The thing is, taxes allow us to do collectively what we can’t do individually and unless you live in a cabin deep in the woods you are part of collectively, part of society and taxes are necessary.
I think taxes are to high for most of us but there are a few who do light cigars with hundred dollar bills that are unaffected by them. These are the people that governor claims we can’t over burden because they create Florida’s jobs. Well friends in case you missed it, where are the jobs, they don’t seem to be creating too many. If it is for this elite class that we give tax loopholes that cost our state billions, then I say we are not getting a very good return on our investment.
What good is it to have low taxes if our children aren’t protected and can’t be properly educated, what good are low taxes if our elderly aren’t taken care of and our rivers become polluted? What good is it to have low taxes, if our parks are closed and our quality of life is eroded? What good is it to have low taxes if our society crumbles down around us? Low taxes I might add that don’t benefit the vast majority of the states citizens. How is your bank account, mine was wiped out two weeks ago when I had to get new tires. I had to make the choice get new tires or get my tooth fixed; do you sometimes have to make similar choices?
Rick Scott through his budget proposal has shown us that the elderly, our children, the disabled, our schools parks and rivers don’t mater much to him. They matter a lot to me and I hope they matter a lot to you too.
The governor won the election after spending 79 million of his own dollars and now he wants the working middle class, our state workers, and our teachers to take a five percent pay cut. I remind you these people are not responsible for where the state finds itself. They show up work hard and educate our children or provide services and Scott wants them not the bankers and fat cats that reap billions in tax breaks through loopholes, to pay for our recovery. Furthermore is this the right time to pull billions of dollars out of the economy with these defacto pay cuts. Most economists would say empathically no.
His solution to the budget seems to be cutting jobs, teacher jobs, park worker jobs, and child welfare jobs among others. He says that through cutting these jobs more jobs will come to Florida. Friends Florida already has one of the lowest tax bases in the whole nation and no personal income tax. If jobs aren’t rushing to Florida now, then diminishing the quality of our education system, harming the environment through deregulation and gutting government services isn’t going to some how miraculously work.
Our low tax rate has been a double-edged sword too. Because our taxes have been so low Florida has been able to keep salaries stagnant, which means as costs rise, the middle class is harder hit here than in other states. How long are we going to sit back and just take it, or be tricked by talking pints or into believing that one day we to might be rich and when that happens why should we pay more taxes. Somebody making a million dollars is not going to suddenly quit, outraged, and take a job in a book store because the government takes half and they now only take home five hundred k.
I know that some of you that voted for Scott did so because it was like voting against Obama. I’ll be honest, I voted for Obama but don’t think, aha you got me and I am just spouting the lefts talking points because I am not a cool aide drinker. I don’t care who comes up with the good ideas as long as they are good ideas and Scott’s budget isn’t just a bad idea it’s a disastrous idea. Jacksonville’s public schools already cut to the bone are about to lose 91 million dollars.
But back to Obama, I am very frustrated and disappointed with him. But that doesn’t mean I thought Florida should pay the price for his policies. You don’t like Obamacare, all right I don’t like it either, but I don’t think our schools and our state parks, our children, elderly and disabled should pay the price for my dislike of it. This is not a republican verses democrat thing; this is a basic decency regardless of your party type thing.
Then does Rick Scott really represent you? Less than half of those that voted actualy voted for him, which means only about a quarter of all eligible voters did. Do you have a child or an elderly relative? Do you have a disabled family member, do you like to go to parks or live near the river? Do you care about the environment, or are worried that the rich are getting richer while you have trouble paying your rent or mortgage or have to decide between a tooth or tires this week? Are you a teacher or a governemnt work? If you answered yes to any one of these questions then just maybe Rick Scott does not represent you.
We want pension reform, sure, we want smaller government, I understand but don’t we also want a Florida that we can be proud of to be a state where we want to live. Let’s phase in pension reforms and lets find and eliminate waste but lets not throw out grandma and the baby with the bath water, which untreated will flow directly into our rivers. Lets tell Rick Scott he better start representing all of us not just the rich and those on the far right or he won’t be representing any of us much longer.
Showing posts with label Tax Cuts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tax Cuts. Show all posts
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Cutting taxes to fund education?
By Dave Weber, Orlando Sentinel
When the Florida Legislature meets in March and April, Sen. David Simmons is expected to be in the thick of education reforms proposed by new Gov. Rick Scott. The Maitland Republican, 58, who chairs the Senate's budget subcommittee on education for public schools, talked with Orlando Sentinel education reporter Dave Weber about school funding and related issues that are expected to be at the center of debate.
Question: Gov. Scott wants to reduce school property taxes, federal subsidies are running out and state economists predict a $3.5 billion budget shortfall for next year. Are schools in for more budget cuts?
Answer: There are certain things that need to be prioritized and one of them is education. To the extent we can, I hope we will be able to hold education funding harmless — keep it stable. But there still needs to be a significant reallocation of resources within the education budget.
Q: School officials complain that the costs of the state's Class Size Amendment are unbearable. What changes do you propose to reduce the need for hiring teachers and building classrooms to meet requirements?
A: We need to really define the core classes subject to the amendment. Why would Advanced Placement classes be considered core classes and you are capped at 25 students when you have a class full of over achievers? And we don't need to be measuring the class caps every second of every day. That was never intended.
Q: Gov. Scott is considering asking the Legislature to approve a voucher program that would let all parents send their children to private schools at state expense, or even reimburse them for home schooling expenses. Are you on board?
A: I am a firm believer in choice and the right to reasonable choice. But I am cautious about such a proposal. I am going to look at what is proposed and look at the details. And any kind of voucher plan or anything that looks like a voucher plan must meet constitutional muster.
Q: Former Gov. Jeb Bush and his conservative Foundation for Florida's Future have heavily influenced Gov. Scott's education reform plans. Should the Legislature be attentive?
A: Some of Bush's ideas are very good ideas and they are worth listening too. His foundation has no more influence than many other reputable think tanks.
Q: You have suggested that Florida students have a longer school day — a costly proposal. What's the benefit?
A: We have been trying to shove 25 pounds of sugar in a 10-pound sack. When you have children with so much to learn and not enough time to learn it, you won't succeed. If you want to see the most dramatic improvement in education in Florida, then add one hour to the school day at schools that have Cs, Ds or Fs for state grades.
Q: Republicans say they like less government interference or control, yet the Republican-led Legislature is putting more and more controls on public education. Why?
A: I don't believe Republicans are putting what you would call more regulations on the schools. We are refining the existing rules and changing the existing rules.
Q: In Seminole County, which you represent, annual surveys of parents indicate widespread satisfaction with public schools. Why should high performing districts such as Seminole have to meet state mandates designed to improve student achievement in poorly performing schools?
A: This year we hope to further relax control over districts such as Seminole. But it is obvious that Seminole is thriving under the state requirements. If you don't measure, you don't care. We are measuring and we are getting excellent results.
Q: Another teacher merit-pay and tenure proposal is in the works. Last year's failed legislation was considered too harsh by many. What do you favor?
A: I suggest we have performance pay in an equitable fashion and I suggest that we have a mechanism that will provide stability to teachers so they feel they have a job — but at the same time provide a mechanism for those who don't belong in the teaching profession to move on. Obviously the tenure system we have does not work.
Q: Many Florida teachers feel like they have become punching bags for critics of public education. Are teachers to blame for shortcomings of public schools — and is it fair?
A: Most teachers — 90 percent or more — dedicate their lives to changing the lives of our children. To the extent that they have been wrongly castigated by some people, I can only say that is unfortunate. But I suspect that 10 percent of teachers are causing 50 percent of our problems and need to be given the opportunity to find something else to do.
Q: Some say constant criticism of public schools by lawmakers is doing more harm than good. What's your opinion?
A: If someone is complaining about lawmakers demanding excellence, those complaints are not justified. Our lawmakers are nothing but a reflection of the beliefs and aspirations of our citizens.
Dave Weber can be reached at dweber@orlandosentinel.com or 407-883-7885.
From the Orland Sentinel:http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/education/os-simmons-education-qa-20110103,0,7120539.story
When the Florida Legislature meets in March and April, Sen. David Simmons is expected to be in the thick of education reforms proposed by new Gov. Rick Scott. The Maitland Republican, 58, who chairs the Senate's budget subcommittee on education for public schools, talked with Orlando Sentinel education reporter Dave Weber about school funding and related issues that are expected to be at the center of debate.
Question: Gov. Scott wants to reduce school property taxes, federal subsidies are running out and state economists predict a $3.5 billion budget shortfall for next year. Are schools in for more budget cuts?
Answer: There are certain things that need to be prioritized and one of them is education. To the extent we can, I hope we will be able to hold education funding harmless — keep it stable. But there still needs to be a significant reallocation of resources within the education budget.
Q: School officials complain that the costs of the state's Class Size Amendment are unbearable. What changes do you propose to reduce the need for hiring teachers and building classrooms to meet requirements?
A: We need to really define the core classes subject to the amendment. Why would Advanced Placement classes be considered core classes and you are capped at 25 students when you have a class full of over achievers? And we don't need to be measuring the class caps every second of every day. That was never intended.
Q: Gov. Scott is considering asking the Legislature to approve a voucher program that would let all parents send their children to private schools at state expense, or even reimburse them for home schooling expenses. Are you on board?
A: I am a firm believer in choice and the right to reasonable choice. But I am cautious about such a proposal. I am going to look at what is proposed and look at the details. And any kind of voucher plan or anything that looks like a voucher plan must meet constitutional muster.
Q: Former Gov. Jeb Bush and his conservative Foundation for Florida's Future have heavily influenced Gov. Scott's education reform plans. Should the Legislature be attentive?
A: Some of Bush's ideas are very good ideas and they are worth listening too. His foundation has no more influence than many other reputable think tanks.
Q: You have suggested that Florida students have a longer school day — a costly proposal. What's the benefit?
A: We have been trying to shove 25 pounds of sugar in a 10-pound sack. When you have children with so much to learn and not enough time to learn it, you won't succeed. If you want to see the most dramatic improvement in education in Florida, then add one hour to the school day at schools that have Cs, Ds or Fs for state grades.
Q: Republicans say they like less government interference or control, yet the Republican-led Legislature is putting more and more controls on public education. Why?
A: I don't believe Republicans are putting what you would call more regulations on the schools. We are refining the existing rules and changing the existing rules.
Q: In Seminole County, which you represent, annual surveys of parents indicate widespread satisfaction with public schools. Why should high performing districts such as Seminole have to meet state mandates designed to improve student achievement in poorly performing schools?
A: This year we hope to further relax control over districts such as Seminole. But it is obvious that Seminole is thriving under the state requirements. If you don't measure, you don't care. We are measuring and we are getting excellent results.
Q: Another teacher merit-pay and tenure proposal is in the works. Last year's failed legislation was considered too harsh by many. What do you favor?
A: I suggest we have performance pay in an equitable fashion and I suggest that we have a mechanism that will provide stability to teachers so they feel they have a job — but at the same time provide a mechanism for those who don't belong in the teaching profession to move on. Obviously the tenure system we have does not work.
Q: Many Florida teachers feel like they have become punching bags for critics of public education. Are teachers to blame for shortcomings of public schools — and is it fair?
A: Most teachers — 90 percent or more — dedicate their lives to changing the lives of our children. To the extent that they have been wrongly castigated by some people, I can only say that is unfortunate. But I suspect that 10 percent of teachers are causing 50 percent of our problems and need to be given the opportunity to find something else to do.
Q: Some say constant criticism of public schools by lawmakers is doing more harm than good. What's your opinion?
A: If someone is complaining about lawmakers demanding excellence, those complaints are not justified. Our lawmakers are nothing but a reflection of the beliefs and aspirations of our citizens.
Dave Weber can be reached at dweber@orlandosentinel.com or 407-883-7885.
From the Orland Sentinel:http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/education/os-simmons-education-qa-20110103,0,7120539.story
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Slashing Education is Good for America
From the blog Modern Teacher
Public education always has and continues to be a means of social control, one with the specific function of perpetuating a status quo in which a tiny minority rules over the overwhelming majority in order to sequester increasing amounts of wealth. The hysteria over the deplorable state of our schools is a deliberate deception, as schools never really got worse at this function. They still reproduce a well-educated elite minority and vast numbers of poorly educated, compliant workers with just enough training to run their machines and offices and purchase their goods.
One goal of this deception is to convince the public that it is in their best interests to relinquish local control, and allow private companies to take over and turn a profit. Bill Gates, Arne Duncan, Michael Bloomberg, Broad, Walton, and others promulgate this trickery by repeatedly reminding us about terrible test scores and graduation rates, blaming it on recalcitrant and selfish unions, and promising us perfection if only more charter schools and corporate management were allowed. What’s good for Bill Gates is good for America.
Divide and Conquer
However, the deception is not just about privatization. As more and more tax dollars get diverted to wars, tax cuts and corporate bailouts, there is less available for social services, like education, and there needs to be a scapegoat other than Halliburton, Goldman Sachs and Citigroup. As children become more impoverished and consequently do poorer in school, and as schools lose funding and consequently provide fewer services, the schools and teachers (and occasionally the parents) get the blame for low student achievement, rather than the ruling elite who are the real culprits. It is classic divide and conquer: the public continues to support their bosses and the wealthy, some dreaming of joining their ranks, while attacking members of their own class, like teachers and other government workers, under the mistaken perception that they are the ones responsible for their misery. What’s good for Wall Street is good for America.
Downsizing and Streamlining
A more immediate goal of slashing education budgets is to obtain the same productivity from educators for less money, thus freeing up tax dollars for more important needs (like bailouts and tax cuts for the wealthy). The same numbers of children must still be taught. The same delusional outcomes are still required, such as 100% proficiency on NCLB exams by 2014. Yet all this must occur with fewer teachers, custodians, nurses, librarians and money. Worse, those who are lucky enough to still have their jobs are expected to do more despite this reduction in funding. They must do their own jobs, plus those of their former colleagues who were fired, furloughed or not replaced. Additionally, they must work harder and longer to create and implement new programs that are supposed to raise test scores. What’s good for the boss, is good for America.
Business as Usual
The transfer of wealth from the public to the ruling elite (through tax cuts, subsidies and bailouts, all financed by cutting programs that help the poor and working class) should be seen as evidence of the true nature of our economy and the political system that serves it. The interests of banks, speculators and the war machine are far more urgent and necessary than the needs of regular people, especially teachers and students. After all, both parties have supported continued military funding, corporate bailouts and tax cuts for the rich, while allowing or promoting cuts to education, Medicare, food stamps, and social security. The notion of political expediency, the “stalemate” in D.C., the “necessary” compromises that must occur as a “natural” part of our political system, are all cover-ups: the corporate rulers run the show and make the decisions. Politicians who even consider not playing by their rules not only lose their office, they lose all hope of a cushy corporate job after being termed out. Their interests are the same as corporate interests.
http://modeducation.blogspot.com/2010/12/slashing-education-is-good-for-america.html?spref=fb
Public education always has and continues to be a means of social control, one with the specific function of perpetuating a status quo in which a tiny minority rules over the overwhelming majority in order to sequester increasing amounts of wealth. The hysteria over the deplorable state of our schools is a deliberate deception, as schools never really got worse at this function. They still reproduce a well-educated elite minority and vast numbers of poorly educated, compliant workers with just enough training to run their machines and offices and purchase their goods.
One goal of this deception is to convince the public that it is in their best interests to relinquish local control, and allow private companies to take over and turn a profit. Bill Gates, Arne Duncan, Michael Bloomberg, Broad, Walton, and others promulgate this trickery by repeatedly reminding us about terrible test scores and graduation rates, blaming it on recalcitrant and selfish unions, and promising us perfection if only more charter schools and corporate management were allowed. What’s good for Bill Gates is good for America.
Divide and Conquer
However, the deception is not just about privatization. As more and more tax dollars get diverted to wars, tax cuts and corporate bailouts, there is less available for social services, like education, and there needs to be a scapegoat other than Halliburton, Goldman Sachs and Citigroup. As children become more impoverished and consequently do poorer in school, and as schools lose funding and consequently provide fewer services, the schools and teachers (and occasionally the parents) get the blame for low student achievement, rather than the ruling elite who are the real culprits. It is classic divide and conquer: the public continues to support their bosses and the wealthy, some dreaming of joining their ranks, while attacking members of their own class, like teachers and other government workers, under the mistaken perception that they are the ones responsible for their misery. What’s good for Wall Street is good for America.
Downsizing and Streamlining
A more immediate goal of slashing education budgets is to obtain the same productivity from educators for less money, thus freeing up tax dollars for more important needs (like bailouts and tax cuts for the wealthy). The same numbers of children must still be taught. The same delusional outcomes are still required, such as 100% proficiency on NCLB exams by 2014. Yet all this must occur with fewer teachers, custodians, nurses, librarians and money. Worse, those who are lucky enough to still have their jobs are expected to do more despite this reduction in funding. They must do their own jobs, plus those of their former colleagues who were fired, furloughed or not replaced. Additionally, they must work harder and longer to create and implement new programs that are supposed to raise test scores. What’s good for the boss, is good for America.
Business as Usual
The transfer of wealth from the public to the ruling elite (through tax cuts, subsidies and bailouts, all financed by cutting programs that help the poor and working class) should be seen as evidence of the true nature of our economy and the political system that serves it. The interests of banks, speculators and the war machine are far more urgent and necessary than the needs of regular people, especially teachers and students. After all, both parties have supported continued military funding, corporate bailouts and tax cuts for the rich, while allowing or promoting cuts to education, Medicare, food stamps, and social security. The notion of political expediency, the “stalemate” in D.C., the “necessary” compromises that must occur as a “natural” part of our political system, are all cover-ups: the corporate rulers run the show and make the decisions. Politicians who even consider not playing by their rules not only lose their office, they lose all hope of a cushy corporate job after being termed out. Their interests are the same as corporate interests.
http://modeducation.blogspot.com/2010/12/slashing-education-is-good-for-america.html?spref=fb
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