Left In Lowell

Working-On-Stuff Open Thread

15 Responses to “Working-On-Stuff Open Thread”

1. K-R-S Says:
   February 27th, 2008 at 4:37 pm

   I’ll start off!
   Anyone see the debates last evening? I searched for it and could not find it televised. I’m curious as to the finer points of the debate and whom you felt “won” the debate?

2. kpem Says:
   February 27th, 2008 at 6:29 pm

   KRS,
   I also did not see the debate but read it was some what of a draw last night. I honestly do not care which one wins as I feel they are both excellent candidates and both will make a great president (and history). I just wonder which one people see as a better choice to beat McCain.( I liked Edwards and am now leaning to Obama)

3. Slightly Useful Says:
   February 27th, 2008 at 7:36 pm

   It was on CNBC. I haven’t found it in its entirety anywhere but a lot of people have uploaded the whole thing in 10 min. increments on YouTube.

4. joe Says:
   February 27th, 2008 at 9:03 pm

   KRS,

   It was on MSNBC.

   Obama won. Hillary started out by whining about always getting the first question and then tried to be hip by joking about Saturday Night Live. Thud.

   He showed her up a couple of times, dancing gracefully out of her grasp and leaving her fuming.

   It was close - they always are, she’s a very good debater - but it was Nixon/Kennedy all over again.

5. Lynne Says:
   February 27th, 2008 at 10:38 pm

   kpem: right now, Obama is clearly the winner for the general election McCain matchup in every poll I’ve seen, nationwide and state-to-state. With the caveat that it’s early yet, for us to rely on these polls, but it’s clear Clinton would have to struggle.

   I think it has to do with two things… 1) the right-wing polarization of the Clintons, which isn’t fair but it’s there…Clinton hatred was pretty mainstream back in the day and it lingers, and 2) McCain (incorrectly) is still considered “independent,” “anti-establishment,” or a “maverick” and next to Clinton, seems the choice for independent voters who dislike business as usual. Of course, McCain IS business as usual…but next to Obama, McCain seems much more establishment and not as clearly the “change” candidate.

   That’s my take on it anyway. Personally, even with the polls showing Clinton and McCain neck and neck in the general, I still like our chances, because McCain’s not a great candidate and right wing hate him almost as much as they hate Clinton!

6. K-R-S Says:
   February 28th, 2008 at 8:00 am

   I heard snippets of the debate and other responses from O (turban, NAFTA, etc..) and it seems that no matter what H threw at him, he managed to respond gracefully and move on in a more positive manner. I like that.

7. kpem Says:
   February 28th, 2008 at 9:26 am

   I too heard snipits of the debate and would agree with KRS that Obama always responds with grace (never putting down Hillary) and I really like the positive campaign and that is why I have been leaning towards him. I know that just being an elegant speaker may not be the main criteria for a president but the civility in which he speaks with people certainly won’t hurt. He is very uplifting.

8. Peter Says:
   February 28th, 2008 at 2:13 pm

   I feel like the guy in the antacid adds. “I can’t believe I watched the whole thing.” I’m certainly not sexist, most things men and women can do similarly, there are a few things things that women tend to be better at and a few things that men tend to be better at and humor is one of them. Hillary needs to leave the jokes alone. Even if she was funny, I’m not sure that’s what people are looking for.

9. waittilnextyr Says:
   February 28th, 2008 at 4:04 pm

   Obama certainly showed some class when he complimented Hillary on her sense of humor when they showed the clip of her mocking him.

   He also was able to highlight a critical issue after she challenged him about voting similarly on Iraq after he was in the Senate, when he made the analogy there were only a few ways to get the bus out of the ditch, and the important issue, where he differed from her, was not enabling Bush to drive the bus into the ditch in the first place. It was a killing point he made, but he did it without acting mean to her.

10. kpem Says:
    March 1st, 2008 at 10:59 pm

    Ok unrelated but this is an open thread.. Why do we pay for private school bussing in Lowell? (Please do not respond that it costs us less to send them there as that was your private choice for your private reasons). Why do we bus to private schools outside of public school students required zones?

11. K-R-S Says:
    March 1st, 2008 at 11:04 pm

    Kpem, I’m still working on differant components of this issue and will get back shortly. I haven’t forgotten about this!

12. K-R-S Says:
    March 1st, 2008 at 11:16 pm

    Just intially, and as stated previously, bussing in the City of Lowell is related to central enrollment. As I understand it, school bussing is paid for w/ State and Federal dollars. And because, Lowell has centralized enrollment, the parochial schools may opt in to this system.

    Being a parent, that pays $7K per year to send my kids to SJA, on top of my approx. $4K in property taxes and the 20% in payroll taxes that I pay each year, my conscience is clear, when it come to tapping this resource.

    Truly, if you are dissatisfied with this component of state and federal funding allocation, I might suggest contacting our US Seantors, Congresswoman, State Reps and State Senator w/ your concerns, because, truly we cannot do anything about that issue at this level.
    Perhaps, the question you should be asking is why people choose to send their children to schools outside of the Public School System ( a system we, as a society have funded so very well.)?

13. kpem Says:
    March 1st, 2008 at 11:45 pm

    Krs,
    I also paid my $3600 to SJA, My $4000 to property taxes, and my payroll taxes and still wonder why we take money out of the public schools for busing. Orientation day at SJA was quite the shock when they said you get busing from anywhere in the city (public school students cant go anywhere in the city and I think there is a suit there waiting to happen) More importantly I do not think we should be busing from Belvediere over to SJA or St Margerets when public schools have zones. Private schools as you and I chose, do not have to provide any special ed services (Maybe if your second child needed these services as mine does you would hesitate on taking public money for private services) I would assume you have your reasons for sending your child to SJA (religious, extended day, structure) whatever it may be, it was your choice and you should pay 100% (including busing) and my second child gets no choice but Lowell Public. (Heck the tuition at SJA costs less then I pay for daycare so I don’t want to rob a handicapped child) I have been writing to everyone I can on this issue.

14. kpem Says:
    March 1st, 2008 at 11:58 pm

    One more thing:
    “Perhaps, the question you should be asking is why people choose to send their children to schools outside of the Public School System ( a system we, as a society have funded so very well.)?”

    You are aware that private schools get to pick and choose their students and that special ed services cost the system a fortune. If private schools want public funds they should offer these services also.

15. kpem Says:
    March 2nd, 2008 at 8:01 pm

    I see no difference in saying that the public schools are funded very well but still underperforming and my lack of trust for a single payer health program. If you decide the health program does not work well enough for your child do you get to find some way to suck funds out into the private market? Another analogy is that I find that we do a horrible job with homeless services so can I take my private money and pay for hotel rooms for the homeless and expect the government pay me back? We choose to have the system that works for the greater good and if they do not suit your needs you need to pay the additional $$.

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