lovemyboys
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Posts posted by lovemyboys
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It is my understanding, at least what I have heard over the years without actually researching it that Washington is not supposed to have a role in education. It is a 10th amendment issue. Is that incorrect?
I think central control and planning have a negative affect on change and innovation and individualizing anything. I don't like the way things went after NCLB and the focus on teaching to the test and don't see how this could be better.
I also am concerned about who sets and enforces the standards and who they apply to. I read that there was input from all different groups but I think in the end groups like teacher's unions and curriculum standards councils will end up having the strongest say and I don't think they have proven themselves so far.
That's a good point. Hard to remember but the DOE is just 31 years old.
Others have weighed in on the fact that politics and various ideologies would be hard to balance. Who would be the final arbiter?
I say, No Way. It would be one more bureaucracy and somehow they would want to quantify it, so more teaching to the test, more straitened circumstances for the schools to comply with, less flexibility and creativity in kids' school days.
If they get their foot in the door with national standards/curriculum, it wouldn't be much of a leap to try to standardize homeschooling. Thinking about the variety of kids/families that we know who homeschool that would be horrendous.
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Not me, but a friend's grandma. She was visiting in the Netherlands, fell, and broke her hip. Needed a hip replacement. The hospital treated her, no problem, but told her they would not do the replacement because she was too old. They told her they would care for her in the hospital. She was on a floor filled with older people who couldn't walk due to hip issues, but they were all too old for a hip replacement as per their treatment procedures. She was well cared for, but said most these people could have lived at home had they received the hip replacement. Instead they told her they had to stay at the hospital because of the medical rationing. Those were the words they used, according to her. Her family had to arrange for a medical flight home to the U.S. where she received her hip replacement. She went back to full activity. That was maybe 8 years ago, and she is still active. Certainly not too old for a hip replacement to be successful and worthwhile. So bottom line, she received the basic care she needed, but not the treatment that would solve the problem.
Or give her any quality of life.
It would be interesting to figure out the cost of the replacement vs. the cost of medical care, nursing home stay, etc. for those past 8 (+ more ahead) years.
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Not in my experience, if you're meaning creationist to the exclusion of all other considerations.
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that is not the only thing making me mad.
It is the expectation of me paying for somebody else's insurance!!! I have paid for my own insurance for many years!! I have fought insurance companies over denied claims because I educated myself in insurance legalese. I am also mad that this plan will drive us into depression era that is worse than the great depression and then collapse our country. I am mad for a lot of reasons. I grieve for my children's future!! sigh!
Vent over! Sorry I will ignore all healthcare bill post. I am just upset tonight.
Holly
Dmil told me that not only is the Congress exempt but also their staff is exempted. Say what?
I'll have to check into that, but for heaven's sake, that's just outrageous if that's the case.
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I don't understand (and I believe the failure is mine, not yours, don't get me wrong). Most of the amnesty advocates recognize that this is an issue. The illegals are *currently* stuck in this under-class. If they had a way to work toward citizenship without being deported, that would not be the case. I have seen very few who want to wave a wand over them and *poof*, make them citizens. Most people believe work needs to be involved.
And there's the conundrum, isn't it? You reward the behavior you want to see repeated as a parent. How do you get the message to folks that there's a process for immigration if *everyone else* just comes here as they wish and stays until the gov't grants an amnesty. I know that's simplistic, but the alternative is this under-class that we currently have. It breaks my heart to see the countless abuses and problems with this status.
The previous amnesty didn't eliminate the problem, probably just exacerbated it. Perhaps some of the confusion (?) is which amnesty advocates, I was referring to amnesty advocates more anecdotally, the ones I know working in the neighborhoods and churches. That's heartbreaking too, we get to know individuals and hear their stories and care, how could we (the US) send someone away, what's so wrong with letting them stay?
But that's not the way a country can operate and even hope to stay fiscally and legally sound. What about the people who live in the Sudan or Malaysia or Yemen who have just as much or more horrendous conditions that they want to leave behind? For want of a land connection, they're *denied* an amnesty? Someone mentioned the money involved in becoming a citizen, but how many fall victim to the traffickers who charge exorbitant rates to ship people in containers from China or ......
Ack. The whole situation is just heartbreaking but the illegal underpinnings that we legitimize with amnesties and other end-runs around our immigration laws will only worsen the status of the underclass.
Sorry to post and run.
We have to pray that sensible and selfless people will be involved in the solutions and leave the political manuevering and the jockeying for additional constituents in the dust, for the good of our whole country and all its future citizens.
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Immigration, historically, has nothing to do with the current law-breaking immigrant population that is being considered for amnesty.
After the government was well-established, when waves of immigrants came through Ellis Island and other port, they were duly processed, legal, and granted the right to live here through whatever laws were in place at the time. It changed throughout the years.
Half of my family is from Oklahoma, and the part that I know anything about is half Cherokee and half Scots, which supposedly came to America from pre-dating the revolution. The other half my parentage came straight off two boats from Norway in the late 1880s. They completed their paperwork (my grandmother still had her documentation from when she was six), jumped through all the legal hoops, learned English *on purpose* because my great-grandfathers planted the two families in an Italian neighborhood so they couldn't rely on their Norwegian friends or relatives, and they became legal citizens. Their work ethic was such that the children all grew up to be professionals: in the clergy, musicians, and professors. 6 children on one side, 8 on the others; not a one did not complete college, girls included, and that long before federal aid!
No, America is not about amnesty; it is about legal immigration, about people making their dreams come true through hard work and law-abiding actions.
:thumbup1: Excellent post.
What do I say to my Iranian, German and Ukrainian friends who have all recently become citizens after years of waiting and paperwork, quizzes, learning our history, etc.? They waited in line, followed the rules and are now citizens. I've heard it said that the disregard of immigration laws may lead to disregard of our laws in a larger sense.
The current path is unsustainable, just look at California.
There's a reason there's a process involved in becoming a citizen, like the butterfly whose struggle to emerge from the chrysalis enables its wings to become strong and viable. The process enables immigrants wanting to become US citizens to learn and prepare so that they are able to take full advantage of what this country has to offer.
The bottom line, for me though, is that it is just not what America is about to have this whole "under-class" of people who are here illegally. They are robbed of the ability to participate fully in life here in countless ways. It's a tragedy that many amnesty/immigrant advocates don't like to admit.
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Even with making that argument in relating to the infant mortality rate, it doesn't account for the maternal mortality rate.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20100313/hl_time/08599197163300
Without doing some research, I wonder if it has to do with the at-risk pregnancies here and the overall higher birthrates here compared to much of Europe......
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Remember the several threads I've started about my periodic bouts with hypertension? Well I've been in the midst of another one; I took my bp this morning and it was 131/108 so I quickly made my way to the er. I almost passed out in the waiting room, but after several tests (blood tests, EKG) they discovered that everything is normal. The dr has diagnosed it a panick attack, and said even the attack I had in Saudi where I was woken up in the middle of the night was probably a panick attack. Point being, it could very well be that I don't have a particular trigger (although there are triggers), but that I should follow up specifically to get my thyroid checked. They gave me a dose of Xanax and sent me on my way -- I'm still feeling pretty woozy from that.
So does anyone have experience with this kind of occasional thing? I seem to be having them once every 2-3 months, where my blood pressure starts going up and I get migraines and overall weakness. I haven't had any shortness of breath or hyperventilating, just feeling difficulty in breathing like a heavy weight is sitting on my chest, kwim? This time it started almost two weeks ago...
My dsil has had these issues. She found that hers was on the migraine spectrum. She made significant dietary changes that have helped.
The other thought (affected dsil too) is perimenopause. This can cause hypertension and wildly swinging hormone levels that seem to be worse in people that got motion-sick or car-sick as kids. I've had friends go through menopause anywhere from mid-30s to mid-50s and perimenopause leading up to it can last for several years or more.
Just thought I'd throw these out there for your consideration.
Hope you figure it out soon. :grouphug:
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The first myth that I feel should be exploded is that you receive health care when you visit an ER as an indigent person. From anecdotal evidence and from statistical studies you do not. On occasion you might get decent care but on a whole it is not good preventative medicine. I believe it was 1985 when they passed the law that required ER's to "Stabilize" anyone that showed up at there doorstep that was sick or if a woman was in labor to help her deliver. That law has a two fold affect; it denies preventative care but when the person is at end stage the hospital is obligated to perform all the expensive heroic procedures. That's real expensive and we all end up paying for that one way or another.
One other major problem that this bill address's are all the private contractors out there who can't get group coverage rates or if they have a prior condition can't get coverage at all. That adds money to the overall insurance pool when they are brought into the tribe.
That's true. I posted elsewhere in this thread that some urban hospitals have started separate clinics nearby the ER that funnels off the indigent, uninsured, frequent fliers and other chronic ER visitors that don't present with emergencies. They keep the ER clear for true emergencies and are able to give care and social intervention to those who need it -- getting people to shelters, rehab, etc., while developing relationships with them and giving treatment. It's a great solution and didn't require a federal bureaucracy to implement.
I fully support having "pre-existing conditions" covered. The problem with the way the gov't is structuring the insurance coverage now with this bill is that it will be unsustainable. It's not truly insurance, it becomes a health care payment system. I'm also frustrated with the wide range of mandates that have been mentioned in coverage that you and I may each have to purchase regardless of whether I would ever want these things -- including elective surgery and procedures, alternative therapies, etc. Making me purchase health care coverage is one thing, making me buy a whole package of things that I have no use for just so other people can use them seems to really infringe on me. kwim?
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The facts just line up: 17% of GDP spent on health care, more then anybody in the world, 37th best health care system in the world, infant mortality triple the developed world, outcome on major operations usually in the teens, life expectancy 67th or so, 45,000 people die every year from not having health coverage, 900,000 people file bankruptcy because of medical bills, pay gaps among doctors, DRG's bought and paid for by loby persons etc. This would be the easy part.
..........
The reality of course is that there are only a few socialized medicine systems in the world. The biggest are right here, the VA system and the American Indian System, Cuba might be the only country that comes to mine.
An actual well-formed debate might've been nice to see on this important issue.
A couple of points on your stats: we're not comparing apples-to-apples here. For instance, the infant mortality rate for the US is based on actual births including the earliest of the preemies (26-27 weeks old) vs. full-term live births reported for most countries. When you adjust for those stats, the US stats are much more in line with developed nations.
In addition, when you take into consideration that the US medical community is much more likely to deliver preemies in the first place, then bring those babies to full health and development within their first year, it puts those statistics in a vastly different light.
I have come to be very skeptical of statistics such as those that portray the US health care as being significantly less than many other developed countries.
Medicare turns down a higher percentage of cases than any of the private insurers which causes doctors to adjust their reimbursements. It also causes doctors to limit the number of M. patients they'll see.
Also, I'm not sure that I would hold up the VA and Indian health care systems as being models of socialized medicine that most Americans would be content with. In the past year, about 100 men had the wrong operation performed and in another case, dozens were exposed when contaminated needles were used for vaccinations. I wish this were not the case, our vets deserve better. Much better.
Good to have a healthy discussion on these issues.
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All right. So, I have a question. Is this correct?
Under $75K per year, one is eligible for this new gov't healthcare.
If one seeks a job over $75k, the employer will be responsible for offering healthcare coverage?
And if so, what if the job provider is a small business owner?
How will they afford to meet the new standards and requirements for what business owners will be required to pay?
I'm afraid if my assessment is correct, the small business owner (and all of his employees) who depend on work from the larger business owners will be out of business, as the larger business owners will take thier business over seas to get around spending more money than they have allotted for healthcare (which means all of the large business owners will be out of work, too). Resulting in a whole lot more people out of work.
And, if we make over $280k, we will be taxed wickedly. So, where is the challenge to earn more than $75K in the first place?
:confused1: :sad: Who knows what's all going on and how far it will go now that it's started, like the taxes. The door is opened and it will just expand.
People making up to $88K will get subsidized health insurance. This will not be good for small businesses, one way or another.
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We are actually having a healthy DISCUSSION.
I think your comment is the kind that get the whole thread deleted.
Both parties SUCK for the record. So it's not because I am a democrat that I say this to you.
Just for the record, there was bi-partisanship on this bill, but it was opposition.
And you're right, this is a healthy reasonable discussion. It's refreshing.
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I had issue with people who chose not to have health care and used the ER like it was a Drs office. Then they would turn around and pay $5 per month just so they didn't get sued. Thanks. That's what makes paying patients pay more and puts hospitals out of business! I like that they are making people get health insurance for that reason. I also really like that my kids can stay on our policy until they are 26. That helps promote further education in my opinion. Other than that I really don't know how it will be effect my family directly so I won't complain until I get all the facts.
I saw a great report recently about urban hospitals dealing with this. Some have created clinics right near the ER so that when these folks show up at the ER for treatment, they are sent next door to the urgent care clinic vs. the Emergency Room. Win-win, they get seen, get medication, get treatment at a fraction of ER $ and ER stays available for true emergencies.
And for those "frequent fliers" who use the ER for a child's fever or their own aches and pains, the staff is trained to help get to the root of the issues with social workers -- they can get homeless individuals to shelter, addicts to treatment, etc., and establish relationships.
This is the most recent of a series of stories I've read about or seen on tv -- hospitals, communities and individuals are finding innovative ways to address the needs of people without insurance and/or those who use the ER as a clinic. It's really refreshing, these are truly grassroots, sensible solutions, and best of all, they financially viable -- they aren't costing exorbitant amounts.
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Yes, this. I hope, that as the details get hammered out, more issues will be addressed. However, I am realistic enough to know that there is going to be one big cluster for a really long time. I am making plans to be able to leave my current profession, as I will not continue to do what I do for a lesser wage. It is just not worth it to me, and I don't really see how they will be able to institute something on this large of a scale without it affecting those of us who are working in health care to a large extent.
One of my doctors said the same thing a couple months ago....he will figure some other way to practice or just retire. He's a surgeon/practioner probably in his early 50s with two teenage dc -- not what you'd say is retiring age.
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:iagree: 100%. Especially with the bolded part. I believe that it is our moral responsiblity to take care of each other. I do belive in "sharing the wealth". The young and strong should take care of the old and weak and the rich should help take care of the poor.
I have absolutely no problems with being "forced" to pay my part so that others can have affordable, obtainable healthcare.
But that is the point for me. I am NOT being FORCED!! I just don't look at it that way. I see it as my moral responsibility to help take care of others that for WHATEVER reasons are weaker or poorer than me.
But that's just it. We do pay for people now, for the elderly with medicare and the poor with medicaid, for veterans with VA. There are problems and fraud with those (not so much fraud with VA). Why are these issues ignored? The homeless and illegal immigrants aren't turned away when they show up at ERs and clinics for care. Why weren't any of these issues targetted for reform in a way that will be economically feasible and take less than 5 years?
Because this isn't really about health care insurance reform at all. It's about a sweeping transformation to bring in larger government and greater control of all of our lives in the form of "care" for us.
Soon we will all be forced to buy health insurance or pay steep fines or risk jail. There's nothing free or constitutional about that. You'd better believe that when these things take effect there will be lots more legislation trying to regulate what we eat/drink/do/watch/etc. in ways we would find unimaginable today.
With the economic situation the way it is, is this really the answer to devastate our economy even more? How much will we the middle class (not to mention rich) be able to help everyone out then?
And weren't these last couple months supposed to be all about jobs anyway?
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Look forward to Immigration reform ala amnesty....they'll need the extra votes.
Exactly. Recent speeches have included comments on immigration and education, so we know what they're headed for next. That and census-based redistricting to maximize the votes of all those "new" citizens.
:cursing: :banghead: :cursing:
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Just a note: If you get a chance to go see the Terracotta Warriors that are currently touring the US that would be a great visual for him. They are/were in DC recently. It also gives a different perspective on the attitude and treatment of previous rulers burial grounds and tombs as compared with Egypt and others.
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We got the letter telling us that it will be coming soon. :huh:
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I didn't get that from her post at all. Did I miss something? :confused:
I thought the OP's mother had no blood ties whatsoever to this woman and her new husband and 1 year old child--which is why I found it odd.
The OP's stepdaughters are teens. Why would their step-grandmother (the OP's mom) need to help them have a relationship with their mom and baby sister?
I think you've got it right. That's what struck me too.
OP's mom has been the step-grandma to her son-in-law's girls for the time that OP&dh have been married. (Several years?)
Now that those girls have a new baby step-sister, OP's mom wants to jump in to forge a relationship for these teens with an infant? Most teen girls I've known enjoy playing with a baby -- at least for the sweet fun parts.
Do you and dh have kids together, OP? Does she just want to be around a baby again?
It does seem like a stretch, and it's unfortunate that you're hurt in the process. I think I would be too. It's different than if they're just in the same bowling league, your mom is going out of her way to make this happen.
If it were my case, I think I would say something.....:grouphug:
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The chart wasn't accurate for me, comparing my SAT scores (at 14, that's the only time I took it) and my early childhood IQ tests. It was over 20 points off. I wonder if it was because I took the SAT at a relatively young age though.
Same thing for me. I had the IQ a couple times at different ages and as an adult once, very consistent -- but those scores don't match up with the SAT. But I was terrified of the SAT, so maybe that was part of it.
But it's interesting to have dc who are gifted differently -- makes for a challenge -- especially where we're not gifted in what the other is.
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He cried - he has been thinking of nothing but his party since about 3 weeks ago. Now he feels as if he doesn't have any friends again. He has taken the move from NC harder than any of the others.
I knew (from here :D) that people often don't RSVP, so I planned to have more than those who *had* RSVP'd.
Dc went to a party a couple weeks ago. We're in an area that's had lots of snow cancellations, so that might've played into it .... the mother sent a reminder "evite" thing a few days before the party.
At the time I was surprised by it. But I wonder if she's had a similar experience as you just had.
So sorry for your guy. :grouphug: Hope you can find one, two, a few good friends for him before long. Especially since this is a tough move. Prayers for him and for you, hurting for him.
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The problem ISN'T that it's based on the Bible--the problem is that it's NOT, but claims to be. I've seen it compared to the same deceptive techniques satan used against Eve. Use a little, tiny bit of scripture and mix it in with a whole lot of untruth and call it God's word.
Galatians 5:9, "A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough." A little untruth makes it all untrue. I think in matters of God's word, it's better to completely reject teaching that deliberately incorporates untruth than to attempt to sort the wrong from the right, when both is coming from the same mouth.
Exactly. Great points. I wouldn't begin to dig through his/their words trying to find what's worthy or relevant for me knowing what else has come from this same couple. It's all tainted. I hate to think of families being misled by their wrong unBiblical teachings.
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I'm really frustrated and scared that they don't have *thinking* skills..does that make sense?
Please help...(they are both 8 and boys if that helps)
Don't think they're stupid! Have they ever done these before?
One ds here has great thinking skills but doesn't care for those sheets. Another one is excited when he sees them. He doesn't always get them right, but he tackles them with energy.
It doesn't sound like the sheets are a fit with your boys right now -- depending on which you're using, they may be a bit young. They may not feel confident about what they need to do. Perhaps if you worked through a couple together, not just explaining but actually working the whole problem (talking out loud as you go) it will help them soon do it on their own.
If that doesn't work, it doesn't mean you eliminate thinking skills in your days....you could look at the "problem" and set it up with manipulatives or as a real-world exercise. Or you could do things verbally. Granted it's not as easy for you. If you scan through the book, you could find things you can do as a conversation while you're driving or making dinner. As you discuss books, ask them for details that involve problem solving (when you see them) --you'll see your boys making the connections. And you're helping them develop those skills!
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If that's the kind of welcome that you're getting from that group of Christians, well, I'd move on. It's really shameful, IMHO.
.......
It's unfortunate that some people wrap their whole lives up in a church and cannot see what's outside, or even inside, but new.
I agree. But I think this happens in all kinds of groups that become too insular.
We experienced this with some homeschoolers when we moved to a new area. There was a lot of "talk" about how open and welcoming the group was for newcomers, but the children made little effort to include new kids and my dc are pretty outgoing. Especially surprising with boys.
The "core" moms would talk but would often sit all together at one picnic table or in a small group. The rest of the newcomers were left to kind of bounce around and make small talk, maybe hit on a connection. The "core" moms just didn't bother to say much beyond a brief introduction. The next week, you were on your own.
It was really odd and off-putting. The funniest part of it -- I'm sure they didn't see themselves like this.
For OP, are there any activities that you're in outside of your church groups that might have friend opportunities? I would quit banging my head against the wall with this group (led by the pastor/family) who are not making any moves on your behalf. Other homeschoolers, sports team members, activities that you can start making some contacts with? Since you're Christian, any awanas or BSF programs or homeschool groups in area churches?
:grouphug: This is tough to always be the one reaching out in an area where others have family, old friendships, and long associations to keep busy with. Hope you'll see some areas soon that will offer some friend potential.
:001_smile:
Is this true about the healthcare bill?
in General Education Discussion Board
Posted
You and me both. Now anyone who disagrees or goes to a rally is a domestic terrorist. Give me a break.
All one has to do is google various phrases and there's plenty of evidence of the vilification of Bush and other conservatives. A couple years ago, I remember seeing a series of posters and images that were vile.
Most of the people on either side are not extreme, violent or ugly. But it goes both ways, there are whack-os on both sides. To ignore that is just ... well, it would be just like being a member of the mainstream media! :lol: