Anybody check out the BET interview with Barack Obama

[sjonathan02]

Bruh, not only am I NOT offended, but, I COSIGN!!! what you've said; especially concerning education. It's high time that we in the educational field were compensated for all that we are asked to do.

Or, at the very least, STOP making it so hard for us to do our job(s).

But, alas, I don't see ANY politician really taking a critical look at that or the issues you've mentioned. *sigh*

If you don't see any politicians taking a critical look at it, it could be because you're not watching the debates or not attending candidate events.  They discuss it, critically, quite frequently, it just doesn't get a lot of media attention.

HOWEVER, I will concede that there are still some serious problems in our nation's education system, and some lack in the attention that the media is giving to the issue.  The best candidate for teachers is no longer in the race, unfortunately. 

But, you might want to give Obama's education platform a look.  It's a fairly easy read, if you're interested.  Hilary and John also have similar plans, for the record.

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/education/

In the interest of fairness, my statement goes far beyond this or any election; which is why I said 'politician' and not 'candidate'.

For me, it's not just about getting the job, it's about doing the job.

My bad for the confusion.

[LaylaMonroe]

In the interest of fairness, my statement goes far beyond this or any election; which is why I said 'politician' and not 'candidate'.

For me, it's not just about getting the job, it's about doing the job.

My bad for the confusion.

I see.  Yeah, I misunderstood that.

But, for the record, there really isn't much that elected officials (or politicians) can do RIGHT NOW to change things.  NCLB was GWB's baby, so even if the Senate and the House passed different legislation, GWB wouldn't sign it.

The only hope is that a new president will keep his/her word.

And like I said, the best candidate for educators is no longer in the race.

[rochelle33]

Bruh, not only am I NOT offended, but, I COSIGN!!! what you've said; especially concerning education. It's high time that we in the educational field were compensated for all that we are asked to do.

Or, at the very least, STOP making it so hard for us to do our job(s).

Ok, maybe I should've already known this....sjon, you're a school teacher?  If you don't mind me asking, what do you teach and what grade?  Also, what has been your experience/opinions of Bush's "No Child Left Behind", as well as the 504 Plan for students?  I'm asking on a personal level, from personal experience.  In your opinion, does your school recognize these 2 things satisfactorily?  Any problems/complaints from parents that you know of?  Maybe I should've asked this through a personal message to you, maybe others don't care and I don't want to hijack the thread...LOL......<sorry>   

[sjonathan02]

Ok, maybe I should've already known this....sjon, you're a school teacher?  If you don't mind me asking, what do you teach and what grade?  Also, what has been your experience/opinions of Bush's "No Child Left Behind", as well as the 504 Plan for students?  I'm asking on a personal level, from personal experience.  In your opinion, does your school recognize these 2 things satisfactorily?  Any problems/complaints from parents that you know of?  Maybe I should've asked this through a personal message to you, maybe others don't care and I don't want to hijack the thread...LOL......<sorry>   

See me in the PM

I see.  Yeah, I misunderstood that.

But, for the record, there really isn't much that elected officials (or politicians) can do RIGHT NOW to change things.  NCLB was GWB's baby, so even if the Senate and the House passed different legislation, GWB wouldn't sign it.

The only hope is that a new president will keep his/her word.

And like I said, the best candidate for educators is no longer in the race.

And that, is but a mere illustration of my point. Any and everything starts with an education.


*walks away singing, "Nobody knows the troubles I seen"*

[Furious Styles]

Barack will be an excellent president. He is the right person for the job at time when America is at its greatest crossroads. Education has always been an eye sore among poor urban and rural communities. One of the biggest travesties happening in America is how most of the middle class is being bambozled into private school education. Public schools are getting less support and more of rhetorical philsophy that doesn't work. NCLB was joke when it was started and its a joke at its present state. Barack for all of his good speeches and rhetoric will not fix a problem that hinges on the disenfranchisement of poor children.

If poverty is eliminated then that means the rich has company. Barack will have to play to the corrupt constituents that elects him. That may sound cynical but it is the nature of the beast regarding the presidency. I am a supporter of OBAMA... I will vote for him. I just know that there is to much mind control (witchcraft) that is going on which blinds the American public from the truth.. FOR the record Michelle Obama may be bright but she ain't that pretty.. I'm jus sayin' tho...

[LaylaMonroe]

You know... I was just asking myself a question "What do you think the country would be like if John McCain were to become president?"  And that question led me to this thought (hope I can convey it clearly)...

We often express skepticism about a candidate's potential or ability to change the direction of our country.  I've had PM and public conversations with LGMers (and I've had offline conversations with non-LGMers) who don't believe it makes a difference who is in office, or don't believe that anything will be any different if Barack is in or if Joe Blow is in.

But, at the same time, we'll make comments like "we need to get those Republicans out!" or "as long as we get rid of the Bushes..."  So I wonder why we can believe that things are worse if we have a certain person (or group of people) in office, but we don't believe things will be BETTER if we have a different person in office?  In other words, why is it that a majority of Americans can agree that this country is worse off today than it was 7 years ago, or that GWB made a mess, but those same people are still hopeless that things could improve with the right people in office?

(This musing has nothing to do with Barack Obama, I just didn't want to start a whole new thread... lol)

[sjonathan02]

You know... I was just asking myself a question "What do you think the country would be like if John McCain were to become president?"  And that question led me to this thought (hope I can convey it clearly)...

We often express skepticism about a candidate's potential or ability to change the direction of our country.  I've had PM and public conversations with LGMers (and I've had offline conversations with non-LGMers) who don't believe it makes a difference who is in office, or don't believe that anything will be any different if Barack is in or if Joe Blow is in.

But, at the same time, we'll make comments like "we need to get those Republicans out!" or "as long as we get rid of the Bushes..."  So I wonder why we can believe that things are worse if we have a certain person (or group of people) in office, but we don't believe things will be BETTER if we have a different person in office?  In other words, why is it that a majority of Americans can agree that this country is worse off today than it was 7 years ago, or that GWB made a mess, but those same people are still hopeless that things could improve with the right people in office?

(This musing has nothing to do with Barack Obama, I just didn't want to start a whole new thread... lol)

a. There's evidence that this country is worse off than it was 7 years ago.

b. Most of the ills of society are attributed, right or wrong, to the leader of the country, at that time. When Clinton was in office, gas was near a buck. Is that he fault? Dunno. But, he gets the credit/blame cause he's the POTUS.


It's how folks think, in general.

[LaylaMonroe]

a. There's evidence that this country is worse off than it was 7 years ago.

b. Most of the ills of society are attributed, right or wrong, to the leader of the country, at that time. When Clinton was in office, gas was near a buck. Is that he fault? Dunno. But, he gets the credit/blame cause he's the POTUS.


It's how folks think, in general.

Re: both "a" and "b," I totally agree. 

Notwithstanding your last sentence, my question is, if we agree that the country IS worse off (which would imply that, at some point, it was better), and if we agree (which most of us do, even if it's just subconsciously) that the country's progress or lack thereof is attributed to the leader, then why can't we hope that another good leader will lead us in the right direction?

[sjonathan02]

Re: both "a" and "b," I totally agree. 

Notwithstanding your last sentence, my question is, if we agree that the country IS worse off (which would imply that, at some point, it was better), and if we agree (which most of us do, even if it's just subconsciously) that the country's progress or lack thereof is attributed to the leader, then why can't we hope that another good leader will lead us in the right direction?

Cynicism, probably. People, in high places, only looking out for their interests, as opposed to, leaders looking out for the interests of the people, more than likely. 

If Obama wins, the nano-second he makes a decision that doesn't bode well for the people he SWORE he's fighting for, folks will immediately lose the hope they had when they elected him.

Now, if Obama becomes the "second coming" of JFK, then there should be a renewed hope. And, you'd think that the American people (if one still believes that we have the voting power we're preceived to have) would continue to vote for someone who resembled Obama for the remainder of this country's existence.

[Fingers!]

Cynicism, probably. People, in high places, only looking out for their interests, as opposed to, leaders looking out for the interests of the people, more than likely. 

If Obama wins, the nano-second he makes a decision that doesn't bode well for the people he SWORE he's fighting for, folks will immediately lose the hope they had when they elected him.

Now, if Obama becomes the "second coming" of JFK, then there should be a renewed hope. And, you'd think that the American people (if one still believes that we have the voting power we're preceived to have) would continue to vote for someone who resembled Obama for the remainder of this country's existence.

Wow.  Now that's the MOST realistic political view I seen on this forum.

[LaylaMonroe]

Wow.  Now that's the MOST realistic political view I seen on this forum.

LOL!  You saying the rest of us have unrealistic views? 
j/k, you're entitled...

Cynicism, probably. People, in high places, only looking out for their interests, as opposed to, leaders looking out for the interests of the people, more than likely. 

If Obama wins, the nano-second he makes a decision that doesn't bode well for the people he SWORE he's fighting for, folks will immediately lose the hope they had when they elected him.

Now, if Obama becomes the "second coming" of JFK, then there should be a renewed hope. And, you'd think that the American people (if one still believes that we have the voting power we're preceived to have) would continue to vote for someone who resembled Obama for the remainder of this country's existence.

Yeah, it's definitely cynicism.  And the more I think about it, the more I understand why the people are so cynical.  Ironic, though.  I tend to be a generally cynical person, yet regarding the direction of our government, I have more hope today than I've ever had.

I think that, overall, we're just afraid to expect the best for fear of disappointment.  Afraid to hope.  We DON'T have the audacity of hope (shameless plug for Obama... lol).

[sjonathan02]

Wow.  Now that's the MOST realistic political view I seen on this forum.

Thank you, sir.

Yeah, it's definitely cynicism.  And the more I think about it, the more I understand why the people are so cynical.  Ironic, though.  I tend to be a generally cynical person, yet regarding the direction of our government, I have more hope today than I've ever had.

I think that, overall, we're just afraid to expect the best for fear of disappointment.  Afraid to hope.  We DON'T have the audacity of hope (shameless plug for Obama... lol).

I'd say that people are probably most hopeful in areas about which they are most passionate.