A modest question.

[MadHound]

If you found that a Democratic president, along with a Democratic Congress were directly attacking your chosen profession, and by extension you, how easy do you think it would be for you to vote for said Democrats in upcoming elections?

Here's the deal. Four years ago I went back to college to get a degree in education. A big part of the reason for doing this was because I saw the damage that NCLB and decades of attacks on our public education system was doing, and I wanted to be part of the solution to this problem. Not to mention that there was a supposed desperate need for teachers at this time. I certainly didn't get into it for the money, when and if I get my first teaching job, I will be making less than I did at my previous position working at a nuclear plant.

I did extraordinarily well in my college career. Dean's list every semester, member of several honors societies, graduated suma cum laude, glowing recommendations from my professors and my cooperating teacher from student teaching.

And yet, here I am, a month out from graduation and I can't find a job. In fact less than ten percent of the education majors I graduated with have found a job.

Why is this? Part of it is due to the economy, lower tax revenues equals fewer teachers. But you see the thing is, this didn't happen last year because of the stimulus package that came down, a stimulus package that wasn't continued this year, despite the obvious need.

Furthermore, though teachers thought that at least things wouldn't get worse under a Democratic administration, we find ourselves now under an even worse assault from Obama. His push for privatizing education is wreaking havoc on public education. The Democrats in Congress have failed to repeal NCLB, and are in fact now looking to tighten the screws on it. Seniority doesn't matter in teaching anymore, but increasingly a teacher's future is being tied to test scores. Obama has not only implemented an assault on education via his Race To The Top funds, which among other things forces states to lift caps on charter schools, but he has publicly praise the firing of an entire school district's teachers, administrators and support staff because they dared to try and negotiate more money for the increased time they were being forced to put in.

Meanwhile, the public's mood regarding education, never terribly favorable to begin with, has taken a decided turn for the worse. Democrats who are supposedly loyal union folks openly praise the union busting going on in schools. Teachers are being blamed for everything from Johnny not reading to Jill having a hangnail. Our school boards are quickly being filled with RW fundies who are dictating the direction of schools, yet teachers are getting the blame. And raising taxes to help fix some of the real problems in our schools, well that has never been a high priority in our society, and it is sinking like a rock right now. Hell, part of that stimulus package last year was for school construction and repair, sixteen billion dollars that was desperately needed around the country, yet instead it got cut out and replaced with the least stimulating tactic, more tax cuts.

The ones who are truly suffering from this aren't the teachers however, but rather their students. We already have one generation that is lost, thanks to Bush's NCLB. We are now in the process of crippling another generation with this assault on public education. These students are graduating with a very limited knowledge base. They don't like to read, and anything besides a multiple choice, fill in the bubble type of test throws them for a loop. Write an essay? OMG!

I saw these students in the college I attended, my wife who works at that college deals with them on a daily basis, and my professors, whom I related to more as a colleague than a student due to my age and stage of life, all agree that the current crop of students entering college really don't have what it takes to attend college, despite what their grades and test scores say. Writing a coherent paper, doing research in a logical way, putting together a simple persuasive argument is, at least initially, beyond these people. It is taking at least a year for these students to get up to speed, and sometimes longer. And these are college students, look around at what is happening to those who go straight into the workforce after college, if they can find a job. They're lost, clueless and lost. And we as a society have failed them, badly.

So again, my question. Why should I support a president, a party that has singled out myself, my profession, and those I care about, the students, for an ongoing assault? Why should I reward a man who has failed me at every turn so far? Why should I support a party that denigrates my efforts and fails to have my back? Because they're not Republican? Sorry, but from where I sit, you're going to have to come up with a better reason than that because, quite frankly, in the area of education Republicans are no worse than Democrats, and sometimes even a bit better.

[zipplewrath]

1. Single issue politics

To some degree what you are discussing is "single issue politics". I realize from your point of view it is probably more than one issue. But even at that one could effectively call it "pocketbook politics". Some will defend this kind of politics. I tend to suggest that you always need to consider the whole candidate, the whole platform, and the whole job. I realize some issues will have a greater importance to you, and a higher sense of priority. But it is that larger balance that does seem to need to be considered.

[LWolf]

5. I like to consider the big picture when looking at public education.

I think it's a keystone to a healthy representative democracy, and I think the attacks on intellectualism and public education are one of the reasons we've seen the rise in conservatism, in fascism, in corporatism during my lifetime.

I think measures to erode the public system and privatize education are measures as deadly to the future health of the nation and the planet as off-shore drilling, making public education a big enough issue to be a legitimate deal-breaker.

Even setting aside an issue that should never be set aside, though, Obama doesn't exactly shine when looking at the "whole." He fails on too many of those key issues: health care and peace would be up next.

[glitch]

15. Looking at the whole makes it worse.

I wish there was a single shining issue that I could focus on.

[MadHound]

6. To some extent all politics is "single issue" politics

Under an ideal situation, voters in a democracy vote their self interest. Since I am heavily tied into education, that is a large, though not only, lens I look through when regarding a candidate. How are they going to treat education and by extension myself? We deride the conservative voter because they don't vote in their self interest, yet expect people like myself, who are getting hammered by this administration, to do just that when it comes to Democrats, vote against our own self interest. Does that make sense?

However I do consider many other issues as well, I'm not blind nor naive. Yet the same argument plays out when I consider the other issues I care about, peace, civil liberties, health care, etc. etc. I see very little progress on these issues, instead I watch in horror as this administration and Congressional Dems continue the madness.

So again, even taking in the bigger picture, I find this administration, these Democrats disappointing to say the least.

[zipplewrath]

22. I would dispute your point

"Under an ideal situation, voters in a democracy vote their self interest."

Depending upon the definition of self interest, Jim Crow might still be with us in such a system. It works best when we consider what's best for the larger community, even when it might not be in our own best interest.

That said, I agree that folks of certain political stripes an find find more than one issue with the current president. It's just a matter of when "alot" becomes "too much".

[MadHound]

23. So, do you think that the shredding of our education system,

Turning it over to private, for profit players, many with religious connections, is what's best for the larger community? How about turning out generation after untold generation of ill educated, taught to the test students, is that what's in the best interest of the larger community? Education is a huge issue, one that effects all of us in multiple different ways, and it determines the future of this country. Do you really think that it is best for the larger community to tear down our education system rather than repairing and enhancing it? Or are you OK with your kids being taught that humans and dinosaurs co-existed and that Reagan was a political saint?

Too much indeed.

[zipplewrath]

25. Calm down

I understand what your concerns are. I'm discussing the original question you posed. You asked about with holding support based upon a core issue. That's what I addressed.

[MadHound]

26. Oh, I understand what you're addressing, I'm just not sure that you do

Education is probably one of the largest factors that effect this country's future, and to simply dismiss it as a "single issue" is naive and foolish. Just pointing that out to you, since you didn't seem to get it.

[zipplewrath]

28. I acknowledge it in my post

"To some degree what you are discussing is "single issue politics". I realize from your point of view it is probably more than one issue."

I didn't "dismiss it" at all. It's a matter of semantics, much like many other groups see their issues as having multiple dimensions. Believe me, having to sit around the nutballs all day, the NRA folks don't think of the 2nd amendment and gun control as a "single issue".

[William Z. Foster]

60. "their issues"

That is so insulting and demeaning to the people courageously fighting to save public education.

It is not possible to call an issue "your issue" or "their issue" and then claim to support it.

[William Z. Foster]

59. what's best for the larger community

If public education is not an important example of what's best for the larger community, what ever could be?

[CLANG]

33. I work for a Health Insurer

But I still wanted single-payer, public option, or mostly Medicare for All. I won't hold the world hostage just for my job (career actually). And if I lost my job it would be very difficult for me as I am 55, and very well paid, which means I'd probably lose my house and everything if I couldn't find a job fairly soon.

But as I said, I want what is best for the country so I would vote on that basis (not that it would make any difference.

[MadHound]

36. You know, if it was simply about my job, I really wouldn't be concerned

I'm quickly approaching the half century mark myself, and have enough job experience in other fields that I can find employment.

But when you are attacking education, you are attacking the future of this country, the future generations. Do you really think it is a good idea for those future generations not to have the tools they need to be happy, involved, productive citizens? Do you want to entrust the future to people who have few, if any, critical thinking skills?

This is what we're facing with this attack on education, future generations who simply don't have the skills or knowledge to function within society in any but the most basic way.

[CLANG]

37. I totally agree about the need for MUCH better education.

I've been under the impression that the Dems usually do more than the Reps in this area.

[MadHound]

39. Dems usually do, that's the thing

Every teacher that I know was expecting some positive results from the '08 election. Now we not only find ourselves under even greater assault, but with a president who not only is leading the charge, but is cheering on the destruction.

Sad, really. We like to mouth the polite platitude that education is one of the most important issues of our society, but when the rubber meets the road, well, education gets left in the dust. At best, for the past sixty years we've been trying to do education on the cheap, now we've opened education up to be raided by Corporate America.

And it is the future generations that will suffer the most.

[CLANG]

42. Only by electing true progressive will anything change

Campaign finance reform would be helpful too.

[MadHound]

43. Yep, we need to start with publicly funded election campaigns,

That would help solve a lot of problems. Of course do you think that our current political leaders would go for that? Somehow I doubt it, and they are the ones who make the laws.

[CLANG]

46. Yeah, were screwed

But I think education and campaign finance are dwarfed by this gulf situation for me. If we don't solve this, nothing else will really matter anymore.

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. It's a pretty big issue

I'm upset with this administration over the war also. The there's torture, failing to hold Bush and Cheney accountable, continuing aid to Israel . . .

I could go on.

But if it was just education, that's enough because it is my profession and I think how well we educate our kids is our most important responsibility.

So it's actually a pretty big issue.

[MadHound]

20. Yup, one that actually determines what our future as a country is going to be.

Are we going to be a country willed with well educated citizens, or filled with poorly educated serfs.

Sadly, I think we're going for the latter.

[fascisthunter]

52. no it's not, and therefore you fail in dismissing the OP

[William Z. Foster]

58. public education

Public education is the bedrock foundation of everything that the political left stands for. It is hardly a single issue or a pocketbook issue.

"Some issues will have a greater importance to you?" Public education is important to all of us, other than the super wealthy.

There is one issue - freedom, justice and equality for working class people, as the wealthy few try to privatize everything and take away everything that benefits working class people, that gives them a shot at a decent life, at surviving. There is only one pocketbook - the working class people's shared pocketbook, and it is being robbed.

If we will not fight for public education, we will not fight for anything. If we see public education as a "single issue" that we can compromise away, there is nothing that we will not compromise on. If we see public education as merely an issue that is important to some, we have accepted and embraced some sort of libertarian Hell.

[LWolf]

2. You shouldn't. But then, I share your bias.

I'm a teacher. I have a meeting with my student teacher, who will be with me next fall, this afternoon. The meeting is for nuts and bolts. But how do I present the teaching profession positively to her? Is it dishonest not to be clear about what she will face?

Obama's "blueprint for reform," linked in the post below, does more than tighten the screws on NCLB. Oh, it drops the problematic "NCLB" label, returning it to the previous ESEA, but read the fine print.

How about the requirement that 5% of schools be closed or turned into charter schools, or that half their teaching staffs be fired?

Obama's version is likely to be WORSE than NCLB, and that's saying a lot.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8573904

[MadHound]

10. I saw that, and shook my head

Teaching and education simply don't seem to matter to this country, or at least to our so called representatives anymore.

Judging by what has happened over the past decade, and what is being proposed, it is easy to come to the conclusion that our so called leaders want a dumbed down populace. Because that is exactly what these Bush and Obama policies are leading to.

[Autumn]

3. I'm so sorry MadHound, Your post

is heart breaking. :hug: You have put a lot of time and effort into a field that means a lot to you,there is no rationalizing it. Sometimes a betrayal is just that, a betrayal. My niece is having the same problems.

[MadHound]

13. Well, I'm fortunate in that I have a lot of experience outside of teaching

And can hopefully find a job outside of education is a teaching position doesn't come through. What I'm more concerned about is what this assault on education is doing to those generations coming up now and in the future. Given the nature of what has happened over the past decade, you could easily conclude that our leaders actually want a dumbed down populace, because that is certainly what's happening now.

We've lost one generation, we're losing another right now, and if this continues, who knows how many more we'll lose.

Best of luck to your niece, let her know that she's not along out there, lots of us are right there in the same boat with her.

[Iggo]

4. You should vote Republican...

...because they love teachers, and education, and unions, and all that good stuff.

[LWolf]

7. As far as education goes, it wouldn't matter.

When asked what republicans do better than democrats during his campaign, Obama's answer was "education," and his education appointment and policies reflect that.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,352785,00.html


Holding up Republicans as the "boogie man" is a really ineffective way to try to bully someone into voting for a lesser evil.

In the case of public ed, though, as already pointed out, the evil isn't even "lesser."

[MadHound]

8. Nice bit of sarcasm, but you are dodging the point I'm trying to make here

Namely what is one to do when both major parties put education, teachers and unions under the same intense assault?

[ljm2002]

11. Yep yep yep...

...and most importantly, you should STFU about Obama's education policies because dammit he's OUR President and criticizing those policies must mean you're a Republican operative.

Or something like that.

:sarcasm:

[Starry Messenger]

21. We got a two for one deal this time.

The Democrats are following the Republican plan for education.

[TheKentuckian]

56. That's good for the gold in the cop out Olympics

How are we going solve or even meaningfully address serious issues when SOP is just to say the TeaPubliKlans are worse.

Are you prepared to look at the expanse of wasted skin and make them the bar by which we measure the quality of policy?

At some point you're saying vote Mussolini, whaddya want Hitler?!?

Or

What's wrong with a little cancer? You must really like AIDS!

Let's raise the bar to at least the point that a shovel isn't required to get under it.

[Robb]

9. If you really feel that way, of course you shouldn't.

I may not agree, but if you feel that strongly about it, no way should you give support. I wouldn't, either.

[EFerrari]

12. Of all the jaw dropping things the party is doing nowadays

turning on teachers and public schools and unions stuns me the most. But I couldn't get a teaching job right now unless I start my own school and hire myself.

[MadHound]

16. Which is something that I've actually considered.

In fact a friend of mine the other day, after hashing through what's going on in education, in all seriousness asked me when I was going to open my own school.

You're right, probably the biggest disappointment about this administration has been the redoubling of the Bushco assault on education. Every single teacher and educator that I knew thought that we would return to some semblance of sanity in education if Obama got the WH. Instead, we were all in for a rude awakening and I don't know a single teacher or educator who is going to vote for the man come 2012 if he keeps this up. A few might vote 'Pug, but most will either go third party or stay home. Makes one wonder where he thinks he'll get the votes he needs in 2012.

[Obamanaut]

If you are interested in teaching at the college/pre college level, consider

"NCPACE" Navy College Program for Afloat College Education.

Instructors go to sea aboard some of the ships, and hold classes while underway. Early in my career, I took several classes via PACE (the early name.)

Later (after several promotions) I made sure that the people who were assigned to my squadron who were enrolled had ample opportunity for classes and studying. Their shipmates cooperated with this, taking up any slack the students' absences caused.

My favorite HS teacher (I graduated in 1960) moved on from my HS to teach at the college level, including PACE. He was so revered that when he died, hundreds of former students - HS, college, former military - attended his services.

You can be very much appreciated.

[MadHound]

18. Twenty years ago that would have been an option,

But now that I'm reaching the half century mark, I've got responsibilities here at home that I have to stick around and attend to. Not to mention family and business concerns. Same reasons I can't teach in Dubai, as another friend of mine suggest that I go do. Sure, the money is good, but I can't leave a bunch of stuff and people in the lurch for a couple of years and run off to Dubai.

Thanks for the info though, sounds like a great program.

[Obamanaut]

34. You're right. Positive thoughts coming at you for your search. nt

[Dr Morbius]

14. What response did you get from the White House when you contacted them?

If the answer is, you haven't contacted them, then that's my answer.

In the area of education, I think the Democrats are poor and the Republicans far worse. But that's my opinion.

[MadHound]

17. Polite form letter,

We're aware of your concerns, but there is a bright new future in education just around the corner, oh and we need your vote to see this through, yadda, yadda, yadda.

Don't worry, I regularly contact my representatives about my concerns.

When it came to education, I used to be in the same camp you are. However the assault on education over the past year and a half has led me to the conclusion that both parties are in the "far worse" category right now.

[Laelth]

24. Because Obama is better than McCain, and the Ds are better than the Rs.

Seriously. That's the only argument that the President's die-hard supporters have these days, and while they are right, it doesn't make those of us on the left feel much better.

:dem:

-Laelth

[MadHound]

27. See, that's the thing,

On issues like education, the wars, civil liberties and others, I don't think that you can even make that argument anymore. Hell, in the year and a half Obama has been in office he has arguably done more harm to education than Bush did in eight. Civil liberties, well, apparently both Obama and Bush are against them, so that's a draw.

It is becomingly increasingly difficult to say that either party is on the right side of so many issues, that's the problem.

[Laelth]

30. So far he has given us two, very good Supreme Court nominees.

That, alone, makes him far better than McCain because the Supreme Court really does matter. I also give Obama credit for a few other legislative successes (not health insurance company enrichment, however), but on balance, I must admit, he is better than McCain.

Of course, my 10-year-old daughter would be better than McCain, so that's not saying much, and I am not terribly comforted by saying it, but there it is, and it is reality.

:dem:

-Laelth

[MadHound]

31. I actually voted for Obama because of one thing,

Keeping Palin from being one heart beat away from the Oval Office. That scared the shit out of me.

But I have grown tired of always voting for the lesser of two evils. By doing so, all we've done is slow down the pace of this country's slide into oblivion, we haven't stopped it, we haven't reversed it, we've just slowed it down. And with this war on education that Obama is conducting, I'm really starting to wonder if we've even slowed it by very much, if at all.

Politics has become increasingly depressing the older I've gotten.

[Laelth]

40. I hear you, and I am sick of not having a liberal party to vote for.

And I have to agree that, on education, Obama is making a bad situation worse. I certainly understand your anger. And it is depressing.

:dem:

-Laelth

[MadHound]

41. Which is one reason I live in a rural area,

Getting back to nature always is a cure for the ill that are in this world.

[proud2BlibKansan]

29. And criticizing Obama means Palin will be elected in 2012

That's my personal favorite :)

[Greyhound]

32. Nor those of us that have already seen how this play ends.

The list is long and parallels the decline of the U.S.
:kick: & R

[Uzybone]

35. support the GOP then, or a third party

the choice is yours.

[MadHound]

38. Yes, it is,

And as I said elsewhere on this thread, every single last person I know in the education profession is not going to be voting for Obama due to his assault on education. Extrapolate this across the country and what do you see? Me, I see a defeat for Obama in 2012, and for the Democrats as well. They've got great political minds in the Democratic party, so they must be seeing this as well. So the logical conclusion is, as Obama stated, they don't care about a second term.

Which means it is time for a real change in this country, not this faux change that we were given.

[Uzybone]

44. If we could place a bet I'd bet you that educators will vote for Obama in the same numbers

in 2012 and they did in 2008. You can book it.

[MadHound]

47. LOL! I really wish that there was a way we could break out the education demographic

You apparently don't hang with folks in the teaching profession, otherwise you would know you are speaking nonsense.

[Uzybone]

57. My GF, my brother and his wife are all educators

and neither them nor their colleagues are on the internet whining about Obama and wondering if they should vote 3rd party.

Making assumptions is never a good idea.

[William Z. Foster]

63. or....

Pretend that you are a responsible citizens in a representative democracy, and continue to speak out for the principles and ideals you stand for, continue to fight for justice and equality, continue to criticize the powerful no matter which party is in office, full well knowing that this is the only way that social and political change can ever happen, and knowing that silence will not only prevent change but will not even do your favorite politicians or party any favors, either.

[county worker]

45. Who would you vote for instead? Or would you not vote at all?

Either choice could be plus for the conservatives who are worse on public education.

[MadHound]

48. 'Pugs worse than Obama on education?

I hardly think so. Sure, they gave us NCLB, but they're not going out and deliberately destroying public education, teachers' unions and the teaching profession.

As far as my voting preference, well, that's two years away, which gives Obama time to earn my vote. If he doesn't, well, I'll see who else is running and vote accordingly. I can guarantee you that I won't be voting against my own self interests.

[treestar]

49. You shouldn't. If Obama is really ruining all teachers' lives

they should vote against him and other Democrats. They should vote for whatever party will pass laws giving teachers what they want.

If you are sure you are interpreting things correctly and that you really understand the effects of Obama's policies on this.

If you can't find a job, it could well be the economy, not anything in the federal laws regarding education. But if you are sure the federal laws on education are directly the reason you can't get a job, then why would you vote for anyone who supported those laws?

Finding someone TO vote for might be a problem. But it's all about just you, and so you'll have time to find the party that is 100% right for you.

[MadHound]

51. And you know what, a lot of teacher could very well do that

When you attack an entire profession, those in that profession tend to get a bit pissed. Both the NEA and AFT were leery of Obama to begin with, I imagine that in 2012 they won't be giving him a favorable recommendation.

Withdrawing the stimulus money after one year was devastating to schools across the country. Notice, there weren't massive teacher layoffs at the end of the last school year, the stimulus made sure that staffing levels would remain up. However without that stimulus, and no further revenue forthcoming, layoffs had to occur.

What's really sad is that in some cases, such as the mass firing at Central Falls RI, Obama even cheers the firings.

So tell me, if Obama loses the teachers in large numbers, how will he make up for those lost votes?

[treestar]

54. Are you really sure Obama "attacked" the entire profession?

Or do you just disagree with effects and goals?

I belong to a profession that generally gets attacked by everyone, so I'm hard hearted on the subject.

[NNN0LHI]

50. Have you supported other unions whenever you could?

[MadHound]

53. Let's see, I've unionized two plants in my lifetime,

What have you done? Oh, yeah bitched about people who don't buy crappy American cars because we can't afford to replace them every five years. Gotcha;)

Oh, and my Honda, twelve years old and still going. My Toyota, twenty three years old and still going. Show me comparable American cars from that time era that are performing at that level.

But just to assuage your bruised feelings, I will tell you that when I go to buy a new car I will approach it as I always do, with an open mind. If an American car is the best value, great. If not:shrug:

Oh, and yes, my scooter was made in India. Let me know when Harley starts making 150cc scooters and I'll buy one:rofl:

[NNN0LHI]

55. So lets see. You helped break my union

And now you are looking for a job as a union teacher and can't find one.

How is that union busting strategy working out for you?

Don

[Ignis]

71. "You helped break my union"

:eyes:

[KonaKane]

61. Don's making a good point.

When you claim you are pro union and you help break those that aren't in your direct interest...and laugh about it....you certainly do not come off as pro union.

Karma has a way of balancing this out, if you feel me.

[proud2BlibKansan]

64. Actually he's crapping on a teacher thread as he is so fond of doing

We've had this conversation over and over. Teachers who belong to unions who also purchased crappy American cars are not responsible for the woes of the UAW. It's far more complex than that.

[Starry Messenger]

65. Plus they never answer when we ask if

all their kids were in public schools in the UAW. Or if they always voted for school bonds. Of course, that shouldn't matter either, but if we're whipping out rulers here...

[proud2BlibKansan]

70. When it mattered back before NAFTA, my union was there

We walked the picket line with UAW. We bought American made cars. There was a time when our school parking lots had nothing but American cars in them.

But they forget. Sigh.

[NNN0LHI]

73. I was laid off way before NAFTA and the teachers car lots were full of imports then

I used to tell my kids when they were little that their teachers who did that were imbeciles. My kids teach their kids the same thing today.

Don

[NNN0LHI]

67. The poster isn't a teacher. Didn't you read the OP?

He says he wants to be a teacher which I have doubts about. He says he has never been one. But he thinks its President Obama's fault he can't find a job as one.

I want to skipper a nuclear submarine and can't seem to get that job. Is that President Obama's fault too?

Don

[proud2BlibKansan]

68. He's graduating with a degree in teaching

I know him. He has a certificate that says he's a teacher. That works.

[Name removed]

72. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[KonaKane]

74. I definitely support teachers unions. I support ALL unions.

But fracturing and attacking each others' unions is a stupendously idiotic thing to do.

[BzaDem]

62. It depends on the position of the other party on that profession.

If the Republican party were better on my profession, I would weigh their positions with my profession against their positions on everything else (and likely vote Democratic).

If the Republican party were the same or worse on my profession (and worse on everything else), it wouldn't even be a question. You don't vote for the greater of two evils. You also don't do anything to aid and abet the greater of two evils (such as voting 3rd party or not voting).

If Obama loses in 2012, any educator who voted against him will suddenly realize how GOOD they had it under Obama. You heard correctly. People have very little appreciation of the idea that just because they don't like a position doesn't mean there isn't a MUCH, MUCH worse position. They will of course gain that appreciation when reality hits them in the head. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes real, direct consequences to focus the mind.

(Though I would also dispute your contention that much of the negative consequences in your post are because of Obama. There are certainly a few, such as Race to the Top, but the idea that Obama is responsible for right wing schoolboards, reduction in local school spending, the economy, the reluctance of blue dogs to enact another stimulus, etc etc etc is silly.)

[ecstatic]

66. But yet we don't bat an eye when an insurance worker's job is at risk,

or a person who works on an oil rig is out of work. Everyone's job is at risk at some point or another, as society changes. That being said, I think teachers should get a stimulus because the system is in trouble.

[mmonk]

69. Your loyalty is to yourself and family.

One question is, is the local Democartic Party on board with the administration and the national party?. I'm finding there is some separation on the local level. Just curious.