"Achievement Gap"

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by Slig

Yes, forcing kids to be held accountable for their parents' welfare money is a great idea. Watch, I bet domestic child abuse cases skyrocket as a result.

This would also provide even more motivation for kids to cheat in school in order to make the grade as well...

No, it wouldn't be holding the kids responsible for their parent's welfare, it would be holding the PARENTS responsible for their children...what is wrong with giving people incentive to do well in school or see that their children do?

SOMETHING has to be done...but what?

[southernsmoke]

Originally Posted by audadvnc

Now, which welfare programs should we cut? How about bailouts for incompetent banks,

I'd probably be on board with that. Definitely no bailouts for the auto industry. Banks are a different beast, but running $1.4 trillion dollar annual deficits is not OK.

Originally Posted by audadvnc

and zero percent loans from the Fed to its banks?

No. First, the Fed is not loaning to banks at 0%. Even if it was, that is not really a welfare program--and to the extent that it looks like one to you, the Fed doesn't answer to the government with respect to its interest rates anyway.

Originally Posted by audadvnc

Or tax-free transfers of estate wealth?

Well, of course, 2010 was a historical anomaly in having a totally estate-tax-free window. But I don't really consider it a welfare program for the government just to not take all your assets when you die.

Originally Posted by audadvnc

Or farm subsidies for people that sit on fallow land instead of farming (i.e. Michelle Bachman)?

I'm cool with that. Better yet, let's rethink farm subsidies altogether.

Originally Posted by audadvnc

Or mortgage interest tax deductions?

Deal. No mortgage interest deductions.

Originally Posted by audadvnc

Heck, any tax deductions whatsoever?.

Deal. No deductions. Let's simplify. I'll meet you in the middle--no favorable treatment for capital gains if we can agree to a flat tax rate for everybody, with few or no deductions (one that I would be OK with is charitable contributions, but generally I support your idea).

[audadvnc]

Originally Posted by southernsmoke

Let's simplify. I'll meet you in the middle--

They say politics is the "art of the possible". Maybe we can pull our collective butt out of this sling...

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by golfgal

No, it wouldn't be holding the kids responsible for their parent's welfare, it would be holding the PARENTS responsible for their children...what is wrong with giving people incentive to do well in school or see that their children do?

SOMETHING has to be done...but what?

I teach my kids that if you don't kick butt in school, they run the risk of being average. If you live in "Averageville", then your life will be full of financial struggles and hardships.

The problem is, some cultures don't care to kick butt. So statistically, the teachers are powerless unless the culture changes. It seems to me that school funding should be aimed towards parental education and marketing programs that attempt to get into their thick skulls. Market it as it's cool to be smart and if you don't try you won't have a safety net. Spending more money in the classroom (statistically) isn't working. The districts that spend over $12K per kid get terrible results. Simply put, the most important teacher is the parent. You can superglue a text book to underachieving cultures and many families throughout MN will STILL coast. They are wasting their opportunity. Teachers MIGHT be able to get though to Kid's but only if they take on that parenting role. That's not their job.

My marketing plan would be education through tough love. If you don't hit the grades or possess the knowledge, then you off the system for life because you wasted your opportunity. Culturally speaking, there are many groups that have arrived in this great State that have seized the opportunity. Their culture mandates that they kick butt.