Rants
This post is the collection point for rants, suggestions, ideas or for readers to simply vent. There are no limits on the subject matter, the only stipulation is that the blog rules be followed. To rant, just add a comment.
The comments will be reviewed as suggestions for topics for posting.
Comments
By Unus on December 3rd, 2008 at 8:08 am
For a state with a $1 billion dollar shortfall, NJ still doesn’t get it. That state has mandated state-funded pre-K for “at risk” children by 2013/14. Districts are bound to comply, without consideration of how the state plans to fully fund the mandate.
By cumbersome on December 3rd, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Yes, New Jersey mandate requires municipalities to provide free full-day pre-K program for the
unwealthy. Lets call it what it really is- free daycare for the resoure challenged. Wasn’t it just a few years ago that full-day kindergarten came into being? When will pre-pre-K start. Now I will take my kid out of private pre-K, they will lay-off employees, thus creating more needy people who will become dependant on government for their well-being.
By cumbersome on December 3rd, 2008 at 10:27 pm
New Jersey recently became the 3rd state to enact a family leave insurance bill for workers caring for sick family members, newborn and newly-adopted children. This will be funded entirely (for now) by employee contributions (.09%) for ‘09, and .12% in ‘10.
Between paid vacation time, paid sick days, paid personal days, paid holidays, and now disability payments for family leave, you may never go to work. This becomes quite a burden for employers, but hey, they have all the money, don’t they. Stick it to the man!
It will be interesting to see how this pans-out. Between this new employee tax and tax-funded, free pre-K for the unwealthy, and a host of other social programs, the state increases the tax burden on those its trying to help. My next “rant” will be on re-defining “poverty” , and living below that infamous “line”.
By cardenal08 on December 8th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Having had one child start his education career in NJ in full day pre-K and K and one child start his education in Yarmouth with no pre-K and half day K – it is clear from our limited sample that NJ prepares its youth better than Maine. If you do not supplement at home in Maine, your child will be ill prepared for the workforce. Lets invest in education instead of propping up of poorly run companies like Citi, AIG and the big three
By Prometheus on December 8th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Maine Ranks 50th (!) in SAT scores by state, NJ 36th. But looking at states with a high level of SAT participation (>70%), NJ is 4th, Maine 9th. Not that this is the only measure, but it is one measure which looks objectively at all states.
Supporting your point is the fact that Per-pupil expenditures (PPE), adjusted for regional cost differences is about $1.800 greater for NJ versus ME.
Before any money is spent (unlike the practice in the government these days) we would like to see a discussion if the issue is simply more money. The Heritage Foundation answers this question, in part.
Good discussion – Cogito seeks facts and reason before conclusions.
By cumbersome on December 15th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
New book by Robert Levy, of the Institute for Justice. (www.i.j.org)
The Dirty Dozen: 12 supreme court cases that radically expanded government and eroded freedom.