Unions, school boards, and the atmosphere (set by the previous), heck yeah, they're greedy as all get out. They care about students about as much as they care about ants on the ground. It's just power and money to them. The teachers are completely different. I've known a few that are in it to fast-track to management (that'd be where the money is) or just burned out and don't care anymore, but they're the exceptions. I've also known more than a few teachers who admit they just vote for whoever promises the biggest raise, but every one of that sort I got the chance to talk with about it admitted that they simply don't believe the system will ever get better, no matter who gets in charge.

They do their best in the classrooms to help students learn and get ahead, but they look out for themselves and their families when they're voting because they don't think their votes can actually help the students either way. To them, no matter who is in charge, they still have to deal with idiotic policies, insensible regulations, irrational quotas, and lobby-chosen textbooks and course material, so the only thing they can actually affect is how close to reasonable their salary gets. The rarity might truly be greedy (and will not be a teacher any longer than necessary), but even most of those who do vote for tax hikes to raise their own salaries are just trying to look out for themselves in a system that shows no signs of caring about the teachers or students. I think a lot of them would readily vote against pay raises if it gave them the freedom to teach the way they need to.

www.rhjunior.com Great comics with a hefty dose of Christian and anti-nutjob goodness.

"With your mind as high as Mt. Fuji you can see all things clearly. And you can see all the forces that shape events; not just the things near to you." -Miyamoto Musashi

Is dangerous. Why couldn't they get any bank to make that loan if it's such a good idea? It leads to high level executive risk taking with no responsibility taken by the executives and 100% by the taxpayers.

I have a similar "good idea" for American taxpayers: Pay sarcasmo's way into the World Series of Poker this year. It's only $10 grand plus Vegas-airfare/hotel, and there's a small chance I'd make it into the money -- and an even smaller one that "we" might make the final table and a lot of money. I'd split it with "us" equitably, too. What's the difference, morally, with the Chrysler bailout? (Let's assume I will make it into the money, for argument's sake, so the taxpayers would actually make out ok if the government was this stupid.) For me, there's no moral difference at all, and $11K or so is cheap.
JMR

The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.

"And the leftist movement here is antithetical to the principles this nation was founded upon, the principles which made us stand apart as the greatest nation on earth."

The truly sad thing about the lefist movement in this country is that it is led by people who will never feel the sting if the country does eventually move further left.  In fact part of their motivation has to be an intent to profit from that move.  Just look at the Goracle.

Anyone think Jane Fonda's kids or grandkids will ever be on a waiting list for health care?  Teddy's?  Russert's?  Alec Baldwin's?   

"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last."  - Sir Winston Churchill

I'd have to agree that just because one says they are Muslim (as they fly a plane into a building) doesn't mean they are Muslim, yes...

I understand exactly where you're coming from. Government people don't invest their own money into their projects and don't create any independent wealth. All of the government's income is directly taken from the taxpayers and used to control their monopolies on certain products. That's what you mean about the government not creating anything.

Governments provide or produce a sevice.  I suppose you like to have the electricity in your home when you need it, thank the government and nice roads are good to have, thank the government.  The government is involved in your life and you want them to be whether you agree or not.  In the City of Dallas we produce the water for the citizens and surrounding cities.

Before teh city was involved a private company serviced the city and it went sour because teh private company was out to make money and the yskimped om maintainence.  So many parts of the city burned down because the fire hydrants had no pressure.

You fell into a trap of repeating a lie/mantra and it is repeated so often it is believed as truth.  The lie is teh government is good for nothing.

But if your roads are pothole ridden and the water is dirty and the electricity stops, blame the government.

Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.