you know what really saddens me...

[Reverend_Smitty]

to know that such a cool person can be a Bush supporter. My supervisor is one of those people. We never discuss politics, just because I'm not the type of person who wears her politics on her sleeve when doing my job, that and she's the person who is giving me a grade...it's best to stay on the good side of those people. But I know she knows that I am a big Democrat simply because I have all of my campaign work on my resume. Anyway when I'm there we always have a great time, we always laugh and have a good time...hell whenever we order lunch or dinner she picks up the tab. It just makes me sad to think that a smart and funny person can support Shrub. We live in the northeast and she isn't religious at all...it doesn't make any sense.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

1. She just isn't there yet

she still wants to believe. Give her time.

I an convinced that there are just folks who want to believe.

[hfojvt]

2. that's what happens

when you make 130% or more of the median income. It changes you. You forget how the other half lives. Unless you read alot of Howard Fast and Michael Collins. (Hint: Christmas presents "The American" and anything by Michael Collins)

[Reverend_Smitty]

3. yeah but she's not rich either

at least not in the CEO sense, I mean she's basically making a teacher's salary. I don't know how much her husband makes but judging by their house I'd say is somewhere in the comfortable middle class range.

[hfojvt]

4. teachers, in spite of their constant

whining, actually make median income or above. Of course, they all have master's degrees, yada yada yada. So do I btw. And if she is a DINK, then she probably pays more in taxes than I make in income. I call that pretty well off.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

5. The best teacher I've ever had--been teaching for 30-odd yrs, AND

I believe she has a Master's--makes around 45k, I believe. Now, I know that's not bad at all, but it just doesn't seem right. If you knew this woman, you'd know how FUCKING AMAZING she is. She teaches like no one else I've ever met--simply fantastic. And I'm sure there are other teachers just like her who could be making a whole lot more, and deserve to make a whole lot more.

Maybe from an economic standpoint it makes sense to shortchange teachers (at least, if you're Bush, it does), but teachers--GOOD ones, especially--are probably the most important people in America right now. The future rests in their hands.

I'm not trying to start a flame war or anything. I'm just saying that I personally believe teachers are underpaid and far underappreciated.

[hfojvt]

6. you are studying to be a teacher, aren't you?

I make 24K myself, so nobody who makes 45 looks underpaid to me unless they are putting in 500 hours of mandatory overtime. Underappreciated. Hah! My sister has parents and former students telling her how great she was and how much she helped them or their kid with far more frequency than I ever get told anything positive about the work I do. They get awards, they get yearbooks dedicated to them, and they get to hang out with smart kids, some of whom are not totally disrespectful. The average service and factory worker is paid and appreciated alot less. You also may be underestimating how much she makes, because 45K does sound low for MA + 30.

[Reverend_Smitty]

7. depends on where you live

If you lived in the NY/NJ area, 45K is not a ton of money...granted you could be doing a lot worse. My aunt has been a teacher for almost 20 years and she makes somewhere in the upper 50's low 60's . Also in my area you can't find a 2-3 bedroom house for under 300Km so it's all relative

[hfojvt]

8. the real estate is probably part of it

if she bought her house when she started teaching 30 years ago, it probably cost 35K and is now worth $350K, and paid in full. Today's starting teachers may have it tougher.