Ga.’s back-door voucher program riddled with deception
From its inception, Georgia’s tax-funded private-school “scholarship” program has been shrouded in deception and guile. Its champions have misled the public and state legislators about the purpose of the program, how it would function and who it would benefit, and they continue to mislead today.
Yet with state money tight and public schools struggling just to stay open the traditional 180 days, defenders of the scholarship program want to double the size of the program to $100 million a year.
I have a better idea: If the program can’t be made open and accountable, with demonstrable evidence that it is serving those it was created to help, it ought to be abolished altogether.
Let’s take a minute to review how the program works: As a Georgia taxpayer or corporation, when you contribute a dollar to a private-school scholarship program, an offsetting dollar is deducted directly from your state tax bill. For example, if you have a state tax bill of $2,500 and donate $2,500 for a scholarship, your tax bill falls to zero. Since 2008, the program has diverted more than $170 million of state tax revenue to private schools.
According to its supporters, the program was supposed to help finance private-school scholarships for poor children stuck in underperforming public schools. Oddly, though, the law contained no means-testing for recipients, and it quickly became obvious why. The program was a scam. Once it was passed, supporters started openly pitching the program as a means for affluent parents of children already in private school to arrange a state tax subsidy.
“You can take this chunk of money and be able to say, “No, I want this money to go to education, and not just education, I want it to go to the school of my choice, and maybe even more detailed, (to) the student of my choice,” one legislator told parents.
The question of accountability is also critical. Public schools face increasing and understandable demands to be accountable for their use of tax money and their effectiveness. Students face required standardized testing; teacher evaluations are mandated; school districts are losing autonomy to the state. State officials may even strip members of DeKalb County School Board from office for failing to do their jobs properly.
So what accountability is being required from private schools accepting tax money? None. As in literally, none. We have no idea what kind of education our $170 million in tax money has provided. We have no idea who is getting the scholarships. In fact, in 2011 legislators passed a law making it a crime to release any information about the inner workings of the program.
It makes no sense: Why require increasingly minute oversight of public school dollars, while at the same time mandating willful, total blindness to how taxpayer dollars are being spent in a private setting?
In addition, much of the money is being used to subsidize schools that freely acknowledge that they discriminate against students and parents on the basis of religion. Taxpayer money should not be used in that fashion. As the Southern Education Foundation recently pointed out, those state tax dollars are also being used to subsidize schools that refuse to serve gay students or in some cases even bar students who dare to support gay rights for others.
At Providence Christian Academy near Lilburn, for example, students can be expelled or barred for “promoting, supporting, or condoning … homosexual activity or bisexual activity,” a policy that presumably would also bar the children of gay parents from attending or receiving a scholarship.
As a private institution, the folks at Providence Christian and other schools have every right to maintain that policy. Having such policies subsidized by the taxpayer is another matter entirely. If such discrimination wouldn’t be tolerated in a public school financed with taxpayer money, why should it be tolerated in a private school that is also financed with taxpayer money?
On Monday, SEF officials submitted a complaint to the state Department of Revenue that documents in great detail multiple, widespread, blatant and continuing violations of state law regarding the scholarship program. (The full complaint is available here; it makes convincing reading.) It will be interesting to see what, if anything, comes of it.
– Jay Bookman
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507 comments Add your comment
DannyX
January 30th, 2013
11:09 am
“Shouldn’t tax payers have a say so where their child should go to school? Shouldn’t they have a say so in where their tax money is spent.”
They have a choice, public schools. Private schools are called “private” for a reason!
Again, this isn’t a tax deduction this is a tax credit. And NO, individuals don’t get to pick and choose where their tax money is spent! I can’t opt out of the local police department to fund “private” security. I don’t get a $2,500 tax credit to pay for my security team.
Jay
January 30th, 2013
11:10 am
“Jay, you seem to complain about the law, the LAW supports what you want, complain to the schools.”
Actually, when someone breaks state law, you complain to the state and expect the state to enforce that law, correct?
Which is exactly what SEF has done.
Thulsa Doom
January 30th, 2013
11:10 am
“You can just sense the desperation coming from the other side.
They know they are losing.”
Lay off the heavy drugs dude. Its obviously dulling your senses.
Doggone/GA
January 30th, 2013
11:11 am
“dollar-for-dollar deduction”
Except it isn’t a deduction. It’s an offset. They aren’t at all the same thing. Essentially, they are getting up to $2500 of their child’s education fees for free
AmericaShrugged
January 30th, 2013
11:11 am
Why isn’t today’s piece about the sweeping ethics reform proposed by the Georgia
Speaker? Because Republicans are the ethical party, Dems are the party of spin and misdirection.
TBS
January 30th, 2013
11:11 am
“well not the faux Christians anyway…If you ever meet a real one you might think otherwise”
Not sure how one would define “real one”, however that can be said for Buddhists, Muslims, etc, etc………. as well as Christians
I prefer to define it by a someone being genuine and trustworthy not necessarily by their religious or spiritual beliefs, although that can play a significant variable.
Morality?
January 30th, 2013
11:11 am
FROG – “homosexual schools” – Will they have Planned Parenthood?
GT
January 30th, 2013
11:11 am
PROOF is this flat tire we call a state. Tee off on Obama but this state wakes up ,and has for hundreds of years before Obama was born, broke, illiterate and every thing else that goes in the bad column.
Now you say the Democrats were in office for most of that time. I say the same type people have been in office, call em whatever you want. I say one other thing too; Sanders, Busby, Carter and a few more were a lot better than anything the modern day definition of Georgia Republicans has come out with. Get you nose out of Obama’s kitchen and clean your own joint up.
DannyX
January 30th, 2013
11:12 am
“I WOULD like to see Jay reference another one of the institutions that reviews these projects, PERHAPS there is a more balanced view”
alex, part of the argument is this program is so secretive that you can’t get the information needed to assess it.
Common Sense isn't very Common
January 30th, 2013
11:12 am
Jay
Don’t beat on kayaker if he doesn’t respond immediately, from what I gathered a while back he may be dealing with a few things that require IMMEDIATE attention.
Doggone/GA
January 30th, 2013
11:12 am
“Why isn’t today’s piece about the sweeping ethics reform”
Might it be because this is Jay’s blog, not YOURS? blogspot.com is ready when you are
Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten
January 30th, 2013
11:12 am
Because Republicans are the ethical party, Dems are the party of spin and misdirection.
LOL. I almost fell out of my chair.
Hilarious.
AmericaShrugged
January 30th, 2013
11:13 am
Dems are the party of ignore laws they don’t like.
TBS
January 30th, 2013
11:14 am
Thulsa
Good point and I didn’t deny it didn’t occur. I was wanting to see the list or partial list of those receiving tax payer money as asserted. Just merely pointing out that Scout’s assertion and lack of evidence was shady at best.
Morality?
January 30th, 2013
11:14 am
JAY – WHEN you see someone break the Fed law you complain to the Fed Gub’ment (Obama) and he will turn a blind eye to you if he does not agree with the laws on the books he swore under oath to uphold. What’s good for the Fed is good for the state – right?
Erwin's cat
January 30th, 2013
11:15 am
TBS – I prefer to define it by a someone being genuine and trustworthy not necessarily by their religious or spiritual beliefs, although that can play a significant variable.
agreed…no doubt, integrity and sincerity play large in my definitions of individuals regardless of religious persuasion
Common Sense isn't very Common
January 30th, 2013
11:16 am
Admit it
You want to defund PUBLIC education so that all THEM people have substandard educations and you 1%ers can hire them BELOW minimum wage
Erwin's cat
January 30th, 2013
11:17 am
Morality FROG – “homosexual schools” – Will they have Planned Parenthood?
Ha!
St Simons
January 30th, 2013
11:18 am
One of my jobs is to identify revenue stream opportunities for clients.
This is what my letter will say concerning for-profit-charter-skools:
“If one is totally amoral and has a knack for spitting out bible verses
on cue, one could make a real killing in the education for profit (prophet?)
sector. Pump their little noggins full of the Lord and precious little else
and turn them loose into the world, illiterate and confused, but loving
Jaysus to death and bill the state for a tidy sum for doing so.
Nice opportunity if you have no ethics, morals or humanity.”
Citizen of the World
January 30th, 2013
11:19 am
Thank you, Jay. This is shameful and just another example of “them that’s got shall get.” And yet the Republican continue to cry “class warfare” as if it’s the wealthy who are besieged.
Jay
January 30th, 2013
11:19 am
““Why isn’t today’s piece about the sweeping ethics reform”
Because the proposed bills weren’t available until late last night/this morning, and I had a deadline of 4 p.m. yesterday for today’s AJC column.
the cat
January 30th, 2013
11:19 am
It is hilarious that Thulsa is suddenly worried about the Muslim wimmenfolk when he is one of the biggest misogynistic men blogging here. And all of you wimmen hating republicans going right along with it. Too funny.
Corbin Sharpe. I think, therefore I am...I think.
January 30th, 2013
11:20 am
Erwin’s cat
January 30th, 2013
11:07 am
“well not the faux Christians anyway…If you ever meet a real one you might think otherwise”
No,you would never be able to meet one because the conservative christians of the world would call him a Rino, or Faux Christian and crucify him.
UNCLE SAMANTHA
January 30th, 2013
11:20 am
danny x and his poor cognitive skills……………… NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND……………. APS excusers blamed NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND…………. BUSH BUSH BUSH……………..hello MCFLY
danny x is to malcom x
as
jeff spicoli is to albert einstein
DannyX
January 30th, 2013
11:21 am
“Because Republicans are the ethical party, Dems are the party of spin and misdirection.”
Sure they are. Glenn Richardson is very ethical, having an affair with a lobbyist is just fine. Nathan Deal protecting his no bid government contract is just fine too. Tom and Chip did a miraculous job getting that no collateral, “We could never pay it back” signature loan for the Roach Motel. Hey, all roads lead to Sonny! Nice face lift Linda. Great expense reports Don Balfour. Hope you had fun on that hunting trip Mr Oxendine. Did you have a great family vacation Mr Speaker. How are those gambling casinos doing Ralph?
Btw, are there any $150,000 a year job openings at GPB?
Common Sense isn't very Common
January 30th, 2013
11:23 am
St Simons
Take a few spellin lessins from josef before you send out the next letter
DannyX
January 30th, 2013
11:27 am
“APS excusers blamed NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND”
Again, no one I know blamed that scandal on anyone but the system. I surely don’t remember any comments by Jay that blamed it on Bush. There is no way to shift the blame or deflect from the APS cheaters. I can’t remember one person on the ajc blogs defending any of the cheaters.
But hey, bob, weave and deflect all you want, Uncle Samantha.
skipper
January 30th, 2013
11:28 am
The cluster that is APS/Dekalb (and Jay, I’m pretty sure your daughters did not go to one of the “sho-nuff” bad schools, which many are) has caused folks to do what they gotta do……..it may be wrong in the eyes of many, but for the state or any other entity that calls itself remotely interested in education to say that this cluster will improve is doing the citizens and society in general a huge disfavor. Folks want what is best for their kids, and instead of being mad that they use every loophole possible folks should direct their anger at the proper place; the buffoons and incompetents that are running these clusters and calling them education facilities. Oh wait;.that would rile up the political-correctos…..
The entire system needs to be started over some way.The “feel-good” b.s. “remedies that everybody claims is the latest mouse trap is not working. And, as long as the incompetents are in charge, so shall it be. As an independent, I do agree that neither Bush’s NCLB act or any other feel-good deal has cut the mustard for sure. However, you could have a magic act wave a wand, and with the current structure and personal the nepotism and in general crap would even screw that up unless the wacks are kicked out and it starts over. Everyone has the right to vote. the idiots that voted for some of these nuts (and it is their right to do so) have demonstrated that competency is not a prerequisite.
UNCLE SAMANTHA
January 30th, 2013
11:28 am
welcome to the occupation
what is really sad is that both parties fight over CONTROL instead of providing the best education.
the simple truth is that there are SUCCESSFUL schools in all districts………… and instead of fighting for power and control…………….. if we studied the schools that perform in certain areas/demographics/socioeconomic etc………….. then we have the blue prints for improving education for all
for example Wisconsin has great schools but the are homogeneous in income/race/etc……. their schools would benefit school systems that are SIMILAR
just like there are successful schools in City of Atlanta, Chicago and NYC should be the model for improving schools in cities SIMILAR since those have been proven to work in those demographics.
but who wants to impove education…….. its far better to gain and maintain power
Class of '98
January 30th, 2013
11:31 am
Jay, back to David Brooks.
Don’t you think it’s coincidental that you tend to agree with him on so many issues?
I read his column yesterday before I visited your blog, but I was 100% certain that you would be shouting about it from the rooftops, and you didn’t disappoint.
You and I seldom agree, and I respect that. But I refuse to “defend” columns by the “conservative” David Brooks because I reject the basic premise that he is conservative.
And frankly, I would respect you more if you weren’t so predictable in your dishonest portrayal of him as a leading conservative thinker. You are preying on the ignorance of people who don’t regularly read him, and it’s outright deceptive on your part.
the cat
January 30th, 2013
11:32 am
morality-did I miss your evidence of Planned Parenthood in schools?
Corbin Sharpe. I think, therefore I am...I think.
January 30th, 2013
11:33 am
Off topic, but Seen this yet?
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/30/16771949-girl-who-performed-at-obamas-inauguration-shot-dead-in-chicago?lite
UNCLE SAMANTHA
January 30th, 2013
11:33 am
TALK ABOUT DEFLECT OH DANNY BOY
i didn’t say that anyone defended the cheaters………..liberals blamed it on that horrible NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND…….. you know it ………. you just don’t want to admit it
you are like the cheating husband who accuses his wife of cheating
its just deflection for you
DannyX
January 30th, 2013
11:34 am
“The cluster that is APS/Dekalb (and Jay, I’m pretty sure your daughters did not go to one of the “sho-nuff” bad schools, which many are) has caused folks to do what they gotta do…”
skipper, this program is so secretive that nobody knows how many students in DeKalb and Atlanta are benefiting from this program. All the recruiting it seems is being done in the affluent good public school suburbs.
You can’t answer this question, “How many students that live in areas that have bad schools are benefiting from this program.”
St Simons
January 30th, 2013
11:35 am
Common – hey man, yes it could use some josef-isms & character.
you’re purty funny yourself too, mon.
the cat
January 30th, 2013
11:35 am
60% approval rating for our President. And non that is not a made up pulled from my rear end, statistic.
Welcome to the Occupation
January 30th, 2013
11:37 am
“homosexual schools”
Like Plato’s Academy?
getalife
January 30th, 2013
11:38 am
“U.S. Economy Shrinks For The First Time Since The Recession Ended” AP
Thanks to the cuts but the rest of the numbers are looking good.
Fred ™
January 30th, 2013
11:38 am
Because Republicans are the ethical party, Dems are the party of spin and misdirection.
Wow. You mean like Chip Rogers and Don Balfour?
Welcome to the Occupation
January 30th, 2013
11:40 am
Too darn good not to pass on.
What is “American Exceptionalism”?
This: https://twitter.com/iRevolt/status/296644140475744257/photo/1
GT
January 30th, 2013
11:40 am
You know what I thought was rich was the governor going after some guy because the guy call the governor unethical and the Republican rolled loaded dice to prove Deal wasn’t. Then to add insult to injury Deal sues the guy for the legal expenses for him having to defend himself. Now a show of hands on who thinks we have a ethical governor and if no hands why someone can’t go after this crooked governor without being intimidated by his henchmen. Put that in the same batch of skullduggery we have in this secrecy of private school information and you start getting a picture of retribution.
Fred ™
January 30th, 2013
11:41 am
St Simons: They aren’t even pumping them full of Jaysus. They just pocket the money that they have left after they pay off Nathan and his cronies.
Fred ™
January 30th, 2013
11:42 am
Now a show of hands on who thinks we have a ethical governor
You mean the guy who resigned his seat in Congress so the Congressional Ethics committee couldn’t charge him? THAT Nathan Deal?
getalife
January 30th, 2013
11:43 am
Tornado hit in Ga.
Watch out.
Common Sense isn't very Common
January 30th, 2013
11:43 am
Fred
The pump them full of sumthin.
Just most doesn’t come the better parts of the Bible.
Erwin's cat
January 30th, 2013
11:43 am
get – Thanks to the cuts but the rest of the numbers are looking good.
read an article this AM that specifically blamed it on 22% spending cuts by the DOD
Common Sense isn't very Common
January 30th, 2013
11:45 am
get
Just North of Cartersville, Ga.
Scream for FEMA
Fred ™
January 30th, 2013
11:48 am
Common: They keep getting pounded up there. Them and the Rome area. I think I would move. And I don’t say that jokingly. I would move. Same with northern Mississippi and Northern Alabama. They have been devastated the last few years.
Lookiing at the radar it’s going to hit us (Atlanta) about the time I’m heading out for my eye exam…….
TaxPayer
January 30th, 2013
11:48 am
I see Jay is still trying to get through to the “Jindal” Party.
UNCLE SAMANTHA
January 30th, 2013
11:51 am
dannyx
i apologize for the spicoli comment
that crossed a line and i am sorry
Jay
January 30th, 2013
11:51 am
“And frankly, I would respect you more if you weren’t so predictable in your dishonest portrayal of him as a leading conservative thinker. You are preying on the ignorance of people who don’t regularly read him, and it’s outright deceptive on your part.
Well, let’s see. In previous jobs, Brooks has been an editorial writer for the Washington Times (very conservative) and the Wall Street Journal (very conservative) and an editor at National Review (again, very conservative.) He thinks of himself conservative, and generally supports conservative candidates and causes.
You, on the other hand, do not accept him as conservative. I would argue — and Brooks would agree — that you are judging him by a standard of conservativism that has moved dangerously far to the right in recent years.
By that new standard, Ronald Reagan, that gun-grabbing, abortion-supporting, tax-raising, amnesty-granting, nuke-weapon-abolishing, union-supporting icon of the right, would also not be considered “a leading conservative thinker.”
And if you care to dispute any of those descriptions of Reagan, I have more than enough documentation to back it up.
Common Sense isn't very Common
January 30th, 2013
11:52 am
TP
I wonder if the Charter School students leave APS if the APS IQ level goes up LOL
GT
January 30th, 2013
11:53 am
Yes Fred ™ that N. Deal. By his resume alone all of us should be allowed to accuse him once a month of wrong doings. What protects other politicians from going under this evaluation that Deal seems to suffer from? Maybe they are honest or maybe some campaign fund pays their legal expenses? By Deal suing does that mean he or his crony gets to keep this money. Even that sounds unethical, suing someone for being called unethical and then gaming the system. That Deal is so clever when it comes to his pockets but has nothing for us but intimidation.
St Simons
January 30th, 2013
11:53 am
you’re right fred, i was being diplomatic – git em buddy grrrrr
Common Sense isn't very Common
January 30th, 2013
11:53 am
Jay
Reagan was a RINO and you know it
Common Sense isn't very Common
January 30th, 2013
11:55 am
Everyone drive safe today. That storm system is even headed here to Pittsburgh.
59 today and snow tomorrow.
Jay it’s all your fault LOL
TBone
January 30th, 2013
11:56 am
So begins the “new paradigm” or reality where contracting economic activity is a good thing. Spin, spin, spin away you foolish ones, the rest of us know this is anything but good news.
RB from Gwinnett
January 30th, 2013
11:56 am
DannyX, I answered your question, but don’t see where you answered mine. Did I miss it?
“Now it’s your turn to tell me if you think its ok for you to inflate the AJC’s web site hits from the AJC offices and feed the hit data to prospective advertisers as valid data. Whatcha got?”
Welcome to the Occupation
January 30th, 2013
11:57 am
Jay, class of ‘98: “Well, let’s see. In previous jobs, Brooks has been an editorial writer for the Washington Times (very conservative) and the Wall Street Journal (very conservative) and an editor at National Review (again, very conservative.) He thinks of himself conservative, and generally supports conservative candidates and causes”
Not to mention he was a William F Buckley protege, in getting his National Review gig. Hard to get much more conservative cred than that.
DannyX
January 30th, 2013
11:58 am
“And if you care to dispute any of those descriptions of Reagan, I have more than enough documentation to back it up.”
Jay, you forgot the Earned Income Tax Credit which he called “the best anti-poverty, the best pro-family, the best job creation measure to come out of Congress.”
Republicans can’t stand it now. They think its just a bunch of moochers leeching of the rich who don’t pay taxes and shouldn’t vote.
Christian Conservative
January 30th, 2013
11:59 am
Jay:
Why do you have a problem with folks redirecting “THEIR” tax dollars as they see fit?? Its wonderful.
Towncrier
January 30th, 2013
11:59 am
“As a private institution, the folks at Providence Christian and other schools have every right to maintain that policy. Having such policies subsidized by the taxpayer is another matter entirely. If such discrimination wouldn’t be tolerated in a public school financed with taxpayer money, why should it be tolerated in a private school that is also financed with taxpayer money?”
I agree, Jay. But that is also the same problem I have with Planned Parenthood receiving 45% of its funding from tax dollars and performing nearly 1 million abortions the past three years (I have read close to 60 million have been performed since Roe v. Wade). I am familiar with their claims that none of that money is used for abortions, but it is nothing but a shell game in my view – given that the funds are fungible. Abortions cost roughly 450 dollars. I think PP should not perform abortions at all if they are going to receive federal funding (for other helpful services they do perform), but let some other private organization do it. Giving PP the benefit of doubt, then at the very least, in the interests of preserving appearances (does a married man regularly go out to lunch with a female co-worker and visit her at her home if there is nothing going on?), they ought to not get mixed up with abortions. Or else, go totally private – then no one can cry foul.
Common Sense isn't very Common
January 30th, 2013
12:01 pm
CC
so if I lived in the same area as you I could redirect any money for police and fire protection away from the community?
the cat
January 30th, 2013
12:01 pm
“christian” conservative-I would like to redirect MY tax dollars to a beach house but instead I know MY tax dollars are paying for police and fire officers, roads, etc. Are you really that obtuse?
I think you are just trolling here.
Welcome to the Occupation
January 30th, 2013
12:01 pm
TBone: “So begins the “new paradigm” or reality where contracting economic activity is a good thing”
You’re actually right. In part, that is.
The liberals are going to wake up to the very unpleasant realization that their great leader has led them into an austerity trap. And the numbers are going to show it, over the long term.
Just one problem. The cutting that this president has undertaken in his spending cut rampage along with the Republicans is WHAT YOUR SIDE WANTS TOO.
So you kind of got to sit there and shut your mouth, since your side wants the same cuts that are bringing about the rapid contractions and convulsions in the economy that we’re just beginning to see.
GT
January 30th, 2013
12:02 pm
One of the defects of our thinking is we allow the right to define liberal. Most of us are moderates willing to compromise with reasonable people left or right. Once mislabeled arguments become rubber stamped and no one questions the reasoning. Many a fist fight has been started with a bad set of ears hearing what was never said.
Christian Conservative
January 30th, 2013
12:02 pm
DannyX:
You have still presented no proof of cheating. If your proof is a far left organizations rant then you should relax… This conversion is useless…
Common Sense isn't very Common
January 30th, 2013
12:03 pm
cat
I beat you to a reply to STOOPID post
alex
January 30th, 2013
12:03 pm
Jay –agree,so the law isn’t the problem, it’s the application..why complain about the law? But you are right, complaining to the school was a stupid statement…..
Christian Conservative
January 30th, 2013
12:04 pm
the cat
“christian” conservative-I would like to redirect MY tax dollars to a beach house but instead I know MY tax dollars are paying for police and fire officers, roads, etc. Are you really that obtuse?
I think you are just trolling here.
Just like a misguided lib… I thought we were specifically talking about education here? Nice try fruit… Now wipe that foam off your keyboard and try again….
Welcome to the Occupation
January 30th, 2013
12:05 pm
One more off-topic before I head out to meet with some comrades.
——-
MSNBC is not helping itself here. Assuming of course that it wishes to avoid being dismissed as so much trash news a la Fox, that.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2013/01/30/msnbc-reviewing-newtown-heckled-video/
MSNBC ‘reviewing’ Newtown ‘heckled’ video
MSNBC is reviewing its portrayal of the testimony of Neil Heslin, the father of a Sandy Hook victim, at a legislative hearing in Hartford on Monday. The 33-second video clip in question, embedded above, features a graphics box saying “Mocked and Loaded. Sandy Hook Victim’s Father Heckled by Gun Rights Advocates.”
————-
DannyX
January 30th, 2013
12:05 pm
“Whatcha got?”
I guess I’m busted rb, you got me. I run the AJC Click Room. I’m actually an Indian posting from India. There are 1,500 of us clicking away in a big sweat shop, inflating the data for prospective advertisers. These 10 hour shifts are killer, then I have to to my other job at Comcast manning the Help Desk for 8 more hours.
alex
January 30th, 2013
12:08 pm
@GT, I agree..that is if you are being honest with yourself when you consider your self a moderate ,”bad ears” are also “biased ears”
GT
January 30th, 2013
12:08 pm
Christian Conservative why can’t we redirect our tax dollars where we want them? It is hard enough to get you people to pay for a pave road and you ask a question like that. The KKK would be a government sponsored organization would be one of my answers.
GT
January 30th, 2013
12:10 pm
alex I have in the last 4 years voted for a Republican, have you ever voted for a Democrat?
Towncrier
January 30th, 2013
12:11 pm
“Well, let’s see. In previous jobs, Brooks has been an editorial writer for the Washington Times (very conservative) and the Wall Street Journal (very conservative) and an editor at National Review (again, very conservative.) He thinks of himself conservative, and generally supports conservative candidates and causes.”
He is, in fact, widely known as “the liberals’ favorite conservative”. He was originally a liberal, is pro-choice, is in favor of gay marriage, has been a fan of John McCain and is an admirer of Obama. Probably his most “conservative” characteristic is his seeming “hawkishness” (if that can be called “conservative” – think LBJ).
I think you are being disingenuous, Jay. A Charles Krauthammer he is not – either in ideology or in intellect.
DannyX
January 30th, 2013
12:11 pm
I want all my tax dollars diverted to Abortionplex.
http://www.theonion.com/articles/planned-parenthood-opens-8-billion-abortionplex,20476/?mobile=false
getalife
January 30th, 2013
12:11 pm
cat,
Yup but it needed to be cut.
We have to be careful when cutting or go back to a recession and more massive layoffs.
Don’t expect job growth after cuts.
F. Sinkwich
January 30th, 2013
12:13 pm
“Most of us are moderates…”
On this blog ???
Bwaahahahahahahaha
guy
January 30th, 2013
12:13 pm
the cat obama is your president, and if you ask the right folks, he can show an 80% approval rating.
getalife
January 30th, 2013
12:16 pm
Common,
When I watch the wind gusts hit down here when the storm passes over, there is usually a tornado formed in the East.
The gusts were strong last night.
stands for decibels
January 30th, 2013
12:16 pm
The liberals are going to wake up to the very unpleasant realization that their great leader has led them into an austerity trap.
This liberal has been yelling at Obama to stop likening the American economy to a family budget, and to stop saying stupid crap like “We’ve all got to tighten our belts,” for years.
the cat
January 30th, 2013
12:17 pm
troll-here was your post:
Christian Conservative
January 30th, 2013
11:59 am
Jay:
Why do you have a problem with folks redirecting “THEIR” tax dollars as they see fit?? Its wonderful.
Where do you mention education, troll?
Towncrier
January 30th, 2013
12:18 pm
“MSNBC is not helping itself here. Assuming of course that it wishes to avoid being dismissed as so much trash news a la Fox, that.”
Where have you been the last several years? Are you just now beginning to suspect that MSNBC might not be as objective as you imagined (or perhaps just hoped)? They are easily more biased than FNC. They are only “reviewing” their coverage of the video because they got caught, ONCE AGAIN, editing footage to essentially tell a lie:
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Journalism/2013/01/29/Media-Lies-About-Sandy-Hook-Victim-Being-Heckled
In any case, they appear to be none too smart over there. What? Do they really imagine people are watching what they do – that they can grossly distort the news and no one will notice?
alex
January 30th, 2013
12:19 pm
GT , I don’t know, don’t look at the party affiliation on the ballot.
the cat
January 30th, 2013
12:21 pm
Actually this was taken from the Washington Post so I am sure it is false. Right? Right?
guy
January 30th, 2013
12:13 pm
the cat obama is your president, and if you ask the right folks, he can show an 80% approval rating.
Link Report this comment
stands for decibels
January 30th, 2013
12:22 pm
if you ask the right folks, he can show an 80% approval rating.
hey, I have no idea where he’s getting that “60%” number. Gallup has the rolling average at 52%, pretty familiar ground for Obama.
(Gallup tends to run a little conservative-friendly, mainly due to their sampling methodology, but I wouldn’t adjust that number upward by more than a couple of points.)
Jay
January 30th, 2013
12:23 pm
“Why do you have a problem with folks redirecting “THEIR” tax dollars as they see fit?? Its wonderful.
Well, in this case, they’re “redirecting” those tax dollars right back into their own pockets.
the cat
January 30th, 2013
12:23 pm
http://www.taylormarsh.com/blog/2013/01/obama-hits-three-year-high-in-approval-rating/
stands for decibels
January 30th, 2013
12:24 pm
They are easily more biased than FNC.
setting that claim aside for just a moment–
for the gazillionth time, MSNBC does NOT claim to be “fair and balanced.” They do not say “we report, you decided.” Its viewers know full well that this self-described “place for politics” is going to provide them with opinions, mostly.
They’re dealing honestly with their viewers. FNC does not.
bigbadbob
January 30th, 2013
12:25 pm
Wow, where do I start?! First, Jay, happy for you and your kids, but can you really say that across the board the Atlanta, Clayton, and Dekalb public school systems are doing such a great job that there is no need for anyone to want anything different? (And I am sure none of your connections and influence had ANYTHING to do with getting them into college.) Second, do you idiots really think that schools like Westminster and Marist are crippling their students with backwards science educations…I guess all those highly-ranked colleges that accept so many grads from those schools must not know what all of you seem to know. Third, regardless of whether some people abuse the system, just about any intelligent kid with concerned and involved partenting who gets pulled from an under-performing public school to a good private school will end up getting more from their education. Fourth, this money is coming from the general tax fund, NOT from the state education funds, so this is NOT money that would otherwise automatically be in school budgets (which come from the counties, if you guys care to be informed). Finally, while all you puclic school apologists love to whine and complain about private schools, think about this: if all those thousands of kids who are currenlty in private schools suddenly showed up at your public schools, you would not have one single penny of extra tax money to provide for the 20+ % increase in enrollment, so what would happen then. You should thank your lucky stars that so many parents manage to find ways to get their kids top-notch educations outside of the often-broken public school system while still paying a big share of the property taxes that fund the public schools. Class envy disguised as concern for education or outrage over miss-spent public money is an ugly thing…
And blaming the Georgia GOP, while convenient, overlooks the record that the Democratic party accrued during their preceding 100 years of monopoly dictatorial control. I guess before about 2002 the Georgia public schools were ranked in the top 10% of the country and there was no corruption down at the golden dome?
Joe Hussein Mama
January 30th, 2013
12:25 pm
Towncrier — ” They are only “reviewing” their coverage of the video because they got caught, ONCE AGAIN, editing footage to essentially tell a lie:”
Per your link, where’s the actual *evidence* that, as is claimed, “NBC News has been caught red-handed maliciously editing video,” please? I’m especially interested in the evidence of “malice” and of the “red-handed” characterization of the perpetrator(s)’ apprehension.
stands for decibels
January 30th, 2013
12:26 pm
Thanks for the link, cat. Gotta say though, that’s a mighty noisy poll.
guy
January 30th, 2013
12:27 pm
the cat do you believe what you hear or read from Washington?
bigbadbob
January 30th, 2013
12:28 pm
“Well, in this case, they’re “redirecting” those tax dollars right back into their own pockets.”
Jay, that is either an extremently poorly worded response or an out and out lie!
skipper
January 30th, 2013
12:28 pm
Still so many missing the point………folks are going to do soething to save their kids from many of these cesspools (and the buffoons who serve on the boards.) Call it rich folks, white folks etc. (although many blacks as well have fled these clusters.) Better get to the root of the problem, or the political games will continue with no end in sight……….
Joe Hussein Mama
January 30th, 2013
12:28 pm
bigbadbob — “You should thank your lucky stars that so many parents manage to find ways to get their kids top-notch educations outside of the often-broken public school system while still paying a big share of the property taxes that fund the public schools.”
Paying property taxes is obligatory. You’re *supposed* to pay your property taxes.
Paying for your kids’ private schooling is a choice. People make their own choices.
I fail to see why I should be so thankful for either one.
Mick
January 30th, 2013
12:28 pm
Yes, I tried to watch hannity’s show last month and couldn’t make past 15 minutes of that spiel. Ok, so it’s his opinion but the slant is just so over the top anti-obama, it’ll give you a headache. Feel sorry for his regular viewers who hang on every word of that pompous idiot..
Doggone/GA
January 30th, 2013
12:29 pm
“Jay, that is either an extremently poorly worded response or an out and out lie!”
No, it isn’t. If they “donate” to a school and then get a dollar-for-dollar tax offset (not deduction) then, yes, they are “donating” that money to THEMSELVES
Doggone/GA
January 30th, 2013
12:31 pm
“Yes, I tried to watch hannity’s show last month and couldn’t make past 15 minutes of that spiel”
Then you’ve got a stronger stomach than I have. I last just about as long as it takes to click to the next channel.