Polls are now open

[Derron]

is it? the district I went to school in st. louis county had more money than the district due south in a different county. are the students out of the two respective districts comparable because they are in the same state? my district had much more tax money dedicated to it, and the students were from more affluent communities.

Local issue. In our state they passed a ballot measure in 1991 that equalized all school funding on the state level. The schools in affluent Lake No Negro's got hte same funding as the shitholes in the innercity or Buttfuck rural, OR. I was RIFed from a school district where I was a journeyman grounds keeper sucking the government tit. I would be retiring this year if I had been able to stay with a pension around 5K per month.

as it is with most unions, we accept their collective bargaining and they foment a culture of union vs. the bourgeoisie. their goals are not necessarily those of the district or taxpayers.

The unions completely control the ballot box in the state when they turn out their members, families and retirees. Slam dunk any election in the state.

probably an overreaction. the system was established generations ago with little thought to what retirement guarantees would cost. any "collapse" would come from an inability to change the burdens due to political problems. it could be a controlled dismantling or controlled redirection before anything close to a "collapse" happens.

Not an overreaction at all. The people in charge of reforming the system will be collecting from the system.

Yup. Good thing our politicians have been so diligent with our tax dollars. Strike that... good thing politicians 30 years ago were so diligent with our tax dollars today.

Of course the payoffs from the unions helped a bit.

That is what was guaranteed to them. And that was guaranteed to many other people who are near retirement age now from other companies and government offices. They were the greatest generation and now they have swindled their way into our bank accounts today. the graduation rate has nothing to do with the amount teachers are given to retire. separate argument.

Yes it was. I make no idea that we should take what is contractually guaranteed to them. Never stand the court challenge anyway. But you have to start reform at some point. When the system crash's to the point that they cannot keep class sizes under 40 students, or they cannot function anymore due to the retirement payouts, then you will see shit start to change.

people can pay for the education after 6th grade.

Still the most stupid idea I have ever heard of.

[Bizzarofelice]

Local issue. In our state they passed a ballot measure in 1991 that equalized all school funding on the state level.

verrrah interesting. so all the districts are achieving the same now, right?

Of course the payoffs from the unions helped a bit.

maybe partially. but voter acceptance helped more. the people who took money from unions wouldn't be in power making decisions if they weren't consistently accepted as leaders.

[Wolfman]

The Oregon teachers must have cut a sweet deal indeed. I'm a Tier One NY State Teacher's retiree with 32 years of credited service. My final average salary (calculated on your last 3 years) when I retired in 1994 was just a few bucks under $50K. My yearly take right now as a retiree is just under $30K. So that is 3/5 or 60% to those in Rio Linda. Granted I took an option called the "Pop=Up" option where I did not take the maximum I could have taken, maybe 70%, but if I die, MrsO gets my pension. If she dies before I do, I "pop-up" to the maximum allowed. Another thing to consider is the the system is at least 90% funded by investments, so the tax burden on New Yorkers is only 10% at most. If the economy really improves, that tax burden will likely be decreased as investments will yield more revenue.
I never quibbled about making a living as a teacher. My pay really sucked when I first started. My first year of teaching came with a $4,500 per year salary. By the time I retired, $50K a year provided a very comfortable way of life. BTW--I taught summer school for the last 25 years, so I was in effect a full time teacher. No regrets one way or the other.

[Felix]

This is one of the most astoundlingly moronic things I've ever read.
And it's liberalism in a nutshell.
Yes, Felix really typed this -- a road project is too expensive for a state to finance... therefore, if the feds fund it, the Money Fairy magically makes the money appear out of thin air.
Monumental dumbfuckery. It takes a special kind of stupid to make a statement like that.

really? say, how exactly do you think Paul Ryan made his money?
here's a hint-Ryan's family has amassed much of their fortune based on.....wait for it

federal highway funding projects!!!!!

I know this has got to be a shocking development but it's true...if you need the data, let me know and I'll provide it to.....in a nutshell, no state is capable of funding their own road funding project, especially when we're talking Intersate roads, and high volume state highways....sorry dimbulb, but you are way, way, way out of your fucking league on this one....this is my area of expertise and if you want a breakdown on how federal funds are doled to the states, make a request and I can give you a breakdown on how much money the WSDOT receives from the feds for highway funding projects....Washing state rely heavily for federal funding

portipitionWDOT funds much of their state highways, but highways built to federal standard are much more expensive to construct, due to such things as environmental compliance, there is no state in the country that has the funds to roads utilized as federally designated highway....that's why we have a federal gas tax....if the state of idaho were to rely soley on the money we generate from our gas tax, you'd be driving on dirt fucking roads....

you see my friend, once again your speaking out of your ass and that's what if love about you dins, offering your expertise on something you have no fucking clue about what your talking about....federal funding for state highways and highways roads leading through Portland designated with State Highway status, but have been funded were largely paid by fed funding

believe, youy
don'a tlcue as to what I, y

or chlodre are

[Atomic Punk]

For the love of Christ, Midget Sale, it's fucking "Lurch."

L.U.R.C.H. Lurch.


"Lurch"

Of course, at your height, EVERYBODY looks like "Lerch" to you...

I was wondering when someone was going to point that out.

[mvscal]

...in a nutshell, no state is capable of funding their own road funding project,

Shut the fuck up, moron. States fund road building projects all the fucking time.

[War Wagon]

this is my area of expertise

wow.

[Felix]

...in a nutshell, no state is capable of funding their own road funding project,

Shut the fuck up, moron. States fund road building projects all the fucking time.

states fund road projects all the time, but most generally on smaller scale....that kind of funding is generally limited to resurfacing existing highway projects, widening some state highways, but no state is economically capable of funding all of their road projects, and no state is solely capable of funding interstate road development, and why would they? Federal gas taxes are collected in order to fund such interstate road projects....having dealt with lots of lots of Cal Tran people, I can assure you that without federal money, that shithole state you live in would be driving on fucking dirt roads and goat tracks....

wow.

I know crazy isn't...I serve in an advisory capacity to our state delegation for ASHTO, and spend lots of time establishing state policy with the FHWA.....

[Sirfindafold]

I predict that the teleprompter-in-chief has a tee time Wednesday morning at 8:00am.

[Mace]

The polling results here (80% Romney) explains a lot of the predictions for a blowout tomorrow when, in all probability, it's going to be very close and keep many of us up to the wee hours waiting for the final results. I plan to keep the coffee pot on and watch every minute of it...minus the numerous piss breaks.

[Dinsdale]

Felix, if that's your "area of expertise," then you're one stupid motherfucker.

So, you're saying when the feds take money from the states, the states can't afford projects unless the feds give them their money back?

What a genius take.

Take a big ol' guess how that could be quickly remedied... like tomorrow?

[Mace]

Felix, if that's your "area of expertise," then you're one stupid motherfucker.

So, you're saying when the feds take money from the states, the states can't afford projects unless the feds give them their money back?

What a genius take.

Take a big ol' guess how that could be quickly remedied... like tomorrow?

Felix was spot on with explaining how it works. You pay the Feds a gas tax, and likely a state tax too, every time you stop at the pump, and that's not going to change tomorrow regardless of the election results. You pay about 50 cents per gallon in Oregon, I pay 40 cents/gallon in Iowa.

http://www.gaspricewatch.com/web_gas_taxes.php

[Dinsdale]

Felix was spot on with explaining how it works. You pay the Feds a gas tax, and likely a state tax too, every time you stop at the pump, and that's not going to change tomorrow regardless of the election results. You pay about 50 cents per gallon in Oregon, I pay 40 cents/gallon in Iowa.

http://www.gaspricewatch.com/web_gas_taxes.php

I understand exactly how it works.

And if the federal tax were lowered, with the understanding that states would raise it to finance more of their own in-state projects...

there'ya'go.

And it could indeed happen tomorrow... it won't, but it certainly could.


And I don't think your website is accurate. I think in Oregon, it's about $.44 (splitting hairs, I guess). I believe the county I live in adds a penny or something, and since the almighty feds nor the state would do anything about the state highway I live off of, the city I live in added another penny or something to fund their own highway project...

But since it's all posted on the pump, and I'll likely purchase gas at some point today, I'll check it out, maybe.

[Mace]

That chart was dated April of 2012, so it's possible that Oregon lowered their state tax since then. The Feds get 18.4 cents/gallon and the states get the balance.

[Dinsdale]

it's possible that Oregon lowered their state tax since then.

RACK!!!


BWA! You're a funny guy. Good one.


Yeah, Oregon lowered a tax... happens all the time.

[Mace]

I laughed when I typed it too.

[Dinsdale]

I'll see if I can come up with a definitive answer (because I know you care A LOT what state gas tax is in Oregon) some time today -- it's on the gas pump.

[Mikey]

Felix was spot on with explaining how it works. You pay the Feds a gas tax, and likely a state tax too, every time you stop at the pump, and that's not going to change tomorrow regardless of the election results. You pay about 50 cents per gallon in Oregon, I pay 40 cents/gallon in Iowa.

http://www.gaspricewatch.com/web_gas_taxes.php

I understand exactly how it works.

And if the federal tax were lowered, with the understanding that states would raise it to finance more of their own in-state projects...

there'ya'go.

And it could indeed happen tomorrow... it won't, but it certainly could.


And I don't think your website is accurate. I think in Oregon, it's about $.44 (splitting hairs, I guess). I believe the county I live in adds a penny or something, and since the almighty feds nor the state would do anything about the state highway I live off of, the city I live in added another penny or something to fund their own highway project...

But since it's all posted on the pump, and I'll likely purchase gas at some point today, I'll check it out, maybe.

So you're saying that the Interstate Highway System should, and could, have been financed and built by the individual states?

I always gave you credit for at least a minimal amount of intelligence but I'll need to re-think this.

[Derron]

.30 per gallon

http://www.oregongasprices.com/tax_info.aspx

[Dinsdale]

So you're saying that the Interstate Highway System should, and could, have been financed and built by the individual states?

I always gave you credit for at least a minimal amount of intelligence but I'll need to re-think this.

No, never said any such thing.

The feds need to collect the minimum amount possible to fund FEDERAL highways.

Why the fuck should any state get one cent from the feds for a state project?

[smackaholic]

is it? the district I went to school in st. louis county had more money than the district due south in a different county. are the students out of the two respective districts comparable because they are in the same state? my district had much more tax money dedicated to it, and the students were from more affluent communities.

Local issue. In our state they passed a ballot measure in 1991 that equalized all school funding on the state level. The schools in affluent Lake No Negro's got hte same funding as the shitholes in the innercity or Buttfuck rural, OR. I was RIFed from a school district where I was a journeyman grounds keeper sucking the government tit. I would be retiring this year if I had been able to stay with a pension around 5K per month.

as it is with most unions, we accept their collective bargaining and they foment a culture of union vs. the bourgeoisie. their goals are not necessarily those of the district or taxpayers.

The unions completely control the ballot box in the state when they turn out their members, families and retirees. Slam dunk any election in the state.

probably an overreaction. the system was established generations ago with little thought to what retirement guarantees would cost. any "collapse" would come from an inability to change the burdens due to political problems. it could be a controlled dismantling or controlled redirection before anything close to a "collapse" happens.

Not an overreaction at all. The people in charge of reforming the system will be collecting from the system.

Yup. Good thing our politicians have been so diligent with our tax dollars. Strike that... good thing politicians 30 years ago were so diligent with our tax dollars today.

Of course the payoffs from the unions helped a bit.

That is what was guaranteed to them. And that was guaranteed to many other people who are near retirement age now from other companies and government offices. They were the greatest generation and now they have swindled their way into our bank accounts today. the graduation rate has nothing to do with the amount teachers are given to retire. separate argument.

Yes it was. I make no idea that we should take what is contractually guaranteed to them. Never stand the court challenge anyway. But you have to start reform at some point. When the system crash's to the point that they cannot keep class sizes under 40 students, or they cannot function anymore due to the retirement payouts, then you will see shit start to change.

people can pay for the education after 6th grade.

Still the most stupid idea I have ever heard of.

Derron, could you maybe, just once, not use an apostrophe when making something plural?

[BSmack]

Derron, could you maybe, just once, not use an apostrophe when making something plural?

... says the man who can't spell government without turning into Fred Sanford.

[mvscal]

but no state is economically capable of funding all of their road projects,

Shut the fuck up, moron.

no state is solely capable of funding interstate road development,

Who the fuck said they were or should? Shove your strawman up your ass.

[Dinsdale]

You just don't understand, mv -- if the fed pays for something, it's with Magic Money... it just appears out of thin air and makes everything better. I mean, we're not exactly sure where it comes from, but it certainly isn't from the states.

Now, the states... that's real money... someone in America actually has to pay it.

A federal dollar is worth, like, $300 state dollars.

[smackaholic]

Felix went to the same econ school as nancy pelosi, apparently. Remember her statement about how a dollar of welfare money generated something like 1.70 of economic activity.

The fed. highway system is a good idea. It is in the interest of the nation to build hiways across states like South Dakota who couldn't do it themselves. But handing out counterfeit money to local governments with the stipulation that the shovel holders get $32/hr or whatever shovelholder prevailing wage is, is fukking stupid.

[Goober McTuber]

governments

WOAH!!!

[smackaholic]

and for deron, government's

[Felix]

Felix, if that's your "area of expertise," then you're one stupid motherfucker.

So, you're saying when the feds take money from the states, the states can't afford projects unless the feds give them their money back?

exactly, it's called revenue sharing....not every state is flush enough with cash to shell out the dough needed to constuct new roadways.....how do you think states like Idaho (you know, big states with not much population) build roads like US 95, which runs a total of 538 miles through the state.....now put on your thinking cap and recognize that one mile of a road like that costs about 2 to 2.5 million per mile.....538 x 2.5 million is roughly 1.35 billion.....where do you think a state like Idaho is going to come up with that kind of money?

now think before you spit out another of your moronic statements.....

What a genius take.

Take a big ol' guess how that could be quickly remedied... like tomorrow?

you're not going to say the states keep the money themselves are you? tell me your not that fucking stupid

[Felix]

but no state is economically capable of funding all of their road projects,

Shut the fuck up, moron.

so you don't agree with that? then by all means, start listing all the states that fund all of their own road projects?

[mvscal]

I drive on state roads every fucking day. So does everybody else in the fucking country.

Piss off, idiot.

[mvscal]

US 95

Good job kicking your own ass, you fucking moron.

[Dinsdale]

Not enough :facepalms: in the world for you, Felix.

And when the feds collect money, 100% goes back to the states, right? No administration involved?

Wait -- most federal departments return about 20% of the funds they take in, and spend the rest on personell and whatnot.

"Carter Democrats" are one fucked up, moronic lot.

[Felix]

US 95

Good job kicking your own ass, you fucking moron.

it's a designated state highway...want to try again

[War Wagon]

governments

WOAH!!!

no shit, who stole cockaholics password?

[smackaholic]

US 95

Good job kicking your own ass, you fucking moron.

it's a designated state highway...want to try again

Then why is it called US 95?

It is called US 95 because way back when the Feds realized that it would be beneficial to subsidize major roads for the exact reason you said as they are expensive and they benefit people outside the state.

But, that's not what is being talked about here. We are talking about fed funds for local roads. It is absolute bullshit. Local roads should be paid for by towns/counties. States should handle state highways that link tons and the feds should help with a limited number roads that may or may not be limited access, aka Interstate highways.

[Truman]

Felix was spot on with explaining how it works. You pay the Feds a gas tax, and likely a state tax too, every time you stop at the pump, and that's not going to change tomorrow regardless of the election results. You pay about 50 cents per gallon in Oregon, I pay 40 cents/gallon in Iowa.

http://www.gaspricewatch.com/web_gas_taxes.php

Thought we were low. Gallon of gas generally runs about $0.07 - $0.10 cheaper on the Missouri-side, despite that special-blend, EPA-compliant crap they truck to the area in an effort to keep emissions down.

BTW, Mace, the Do-Gooders in this state slapped another tobacco initiative on the Missouri ballot, with the usual suspects as the beneficiaries (schools, health care, smoking cessation, etc.). They want to raise our smoke tax from $0.16 per pack (lowest in the nation – ‘bode) to $0.90.

The gaul of some folks (‘sup Mikey).

JSYK, I’ll be voting to protect your right to cheap chew, but since Governor Nixon vetoed the voter picture-ID law passed by the General Assembly, I’d be happy to slip you my voter registration card (I can still use my license) if you care to brave the border to help the Cause…

[smackaholic]

Not sure what our tax is on a pack of smokes, but it sure as hell is a lot higher than 16 cents or even 90.

And it is fukking bullshit.

I don't smoke, never have, never will, but, the idea of deciding that somebody else's shit should be taxed at a higher rate than my shit is bullshit.

[Truman]

US 95

Good job kicking your own ass, you fucking moron.

it's a designated state highway...want to try again

Sure it is... A UNITED STATES highway. The "US" in its designation was your first clue. Oh, sure, the locals kick in for some of the maintenance - same as they do for interstates - since they benefit you locally, but I assure you US 95 is part of the Federal highway system.

Most of the north-south roads that criss-cross Missouri are state highways. Projects take awhile to complete, as they are funded by, well, the state. But they get done eventually.

[Mace]

BTW, Mace, the Do-Gooders in this state slapped another tobacco initiative on the Missouri ballot, with the usual suspects as the beneficiaries (schools, health care, smoking cessation, etc.). They want to raise our smoke tax from $0.16 per pack (lowest in the nation – ‘bode) to $0.90.

What? Are those motherfuckers trying to become IOWA?? They stuck an extra dollar per pack/can tax on us a few years back and were stupid enough to claim that the dip (pun intended) in sales meant that folks were giving up their horrible vices. They apparently neglected to check out the huge increase in sales of the bordering states. The Missouri economy has greatly benefitted from Iowa's tax hikes. VOTE THAT FUCKER DOWN TOMORROW....PLEASE! I enjoy my trips to northern Missouri and made a trip last week. Might have to make another one soon to stock up. Let me know if it passes and when it goes into effect. Thanks.

JSYK, I’ll be voting to protect your right to cheap chew, but since Governor Nixon vetoed the voter picture-ID law passed by the General Assembly, I’d be happy to slip you my voter registration card (I can still use my license) if you care to brave the border to help the Cause…

Good idea, but committing voter fraud isn't worth a few cans of Skoal (about $600/yr for me).

[War Wagon]

BTW, Mace, the Do-Gooders in this state slapped another tobacco initiative on the Missouri ballot, with the usual suspects as the beneficiaries (schools, health care, smoking cessation, etc.). They want to raise our smoke tax from $0.16 per pack (lowest in the nation – ‘bode) to $0.90.

.17 now, actually, but that doesn't mean they're cheap, not by any means. I'd like to take the editorial board at The Star out behind the woodshed and beat some sense into them. I have, by e-mail. Yael Abouhalkah and Mary Sanchez don't want to see my name in their inbox again.

The first thing the proponents of this tax will point to is how it will raise money for education. Oh, you mean like first the lottery and then the casinos were supposed to do? Then go on to say it will make some smokers quit and cause others to never start.

Hypocritical, talking out of both sides of their mouths douche bags don't seem to understand or just ignore the concept of a regressive tax. Their only intent is to punish smokers, a vulnerable minority. I thought libs were supposed to protect minorities.

Fuck them. Missouri voters have twice before shot down this same initiative and I've no doubt they will again this time.