Obama Warns Of 'Massive Layoffs Of Teachers, Police, And Firefighters'

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Obama Warns Of 'Massive Layoffs Of Teachers, Police, And Firefighters'

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/13/obama-warns-of-massive-la_n_610401.html

WASHINGTON (AP) -- If Chuck Lacasse had gotten his pink slip four days earlier, Uncle Sam would have covered most of his family's health insurance while he looked for a new job.

But Congress allowed emergency health care assistance for unemployed workers to expire May 31, and seems unwilling to renew it despite pleas from President Barack Obama.

On Saturday night, the White House released a letter Obama sent to congressional leaders of both parties asking for nearly $50 billion in emergency aid to state and local governments to fend off "massive layoffs of teachers, police and firefighters" and to prevent a possible double-dip recession.

"We are at a critical juncture on our nation's patch to economic recovery," the president warned. "It is essential that we continue to explore additional measures to spur job creation and build momentum toward recovery, even as we establish a path to long-term fiscal discipline. At this critical moment, we cannot afford to slide backwards just as our recovery is taking hold."

[unhappycamper]

1. Somehow I doubt one trillion dollars a year to the military is fiscally responsible.

Just saying... :shrug:

[latebloomer]

3. +1000

[mix]

16. bravo

:applause:

[Fumesucker]

2. "Long term fiscal discipline."

Seems to me it would involve not fucking spending as much as the rest of the world combined on war and killing.

[B Calm]

4. He should have been on top of this months ago! The teachers

who have gotten the axe for next year have already been told they're fired.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. They tied it to the war funding bill!!

Bastards. Fund war and teachers won't lose their jobs either.

I've about had it with the misleading crap coming out of DC.

[Catherina]

7. Funny how they don't mention that part n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. I posted it here and the thread quickly died

For the record, I am a teacher and I oppose this bill for that reason. Pull it from the war funding and I'll support it.

[Catherina]

12. Do you have a link to your thread?

I'd like to rec it. We need to keep setting the record straight. I'm tired of having widows and orphans thrust in my face everytime they need money for wars and corporate welfare.

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. It was several weeks ago - too late to rec

But thanks anyway!

[flyarm]

6. Michelle Obama: Teachers Are Key to a Successful Economy

Michelle Obama: Teachers Are Key to a Successful Economy - US News and World Report

http://www.usnews.com/articles/opinion/2009/10/15/michelle-obama-teachers-are-key-to-a-successful-economy.html

Michelle Obama: Teachers Are Key to a Successful Economy
By Michelle Obama
Posted October 15, 2009


yeah right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yada yada yada...what Michelle should have said..don't dare get a degree in teaching..because we are going to destroy your career choice..just like someone else in the white house did ..they say one thing and do the opposite!


read on kiddies..

We all remember the impact a special teacher had on us—a teacher who refused to let us fall through the cracks; who pushed us and believed in us when we doubted ourselves; who sparked in us a lifelong curiosity and passion for learning. Decades later, we remember the way they made us feel and the things they inspired us to do—how they challenged us and changed our lives. So it's not surprising that studies show that the single most important factor affecting students' achievement is the caliber of their teachers. And when we think about the qualities that make an outstanding teacher—boundless energy and endless patience; vision and a sense of purpose; the creativity to help us see the world in a different way; commitment to helping us discover and fulfill our potential—we realize: These are also the qualities of a great leader.

Today, more than ever before, we need precisely this kind of leadership in our classrooms. As the president has frequently said, in a 21st-century global economy where jobs can be shipped to any place with an Internet connection and children here in America will be competing with children around the world for the same jobs, a good education is no longer just one road to opportunity—it is the only road. And good teachers aren't just critical for the success of our students. They are the key to the success of our economy.

But the reality is that with each passing year, we are losing more and more of our most experienced teachers. More than half of our nation's teachers and principals are baby boomers. And in the next four years, as many as one third of America's 3.2 million teachers could retire. The U.S. Department of Education projects that by 2014, just five short years from now, our nation's schools will hire as many as 1 million new teachers. And the challenge to our schools is not just an overall teacher shortage but a shortage of good teachers in the schools where they are most essential: high-need schools that face some of the most daunting obstacles but have students with so much potential. We also have a shortage of teachers in subjects like math and science that we know will be critical to our children's future.

Today, we need a new generation of leaders to take their place in our nation's schools. We need passionate, talented, committed men and women to step up and devote themselves to preparing our students to succeed in this new century.

[Catshrink]

8. And yet her husband and the Sec of Education

are threatening and demonizing teachers. Their education policies are decidedly anti-education and pro-testing.

Sorry, TFA recruits are hardly passionate, talented, committed, and devoted. Those who remain in the trenches, working with kids year after year, dedicated themselves to helping each child embrace the joy of learning -- those are teachers, the ones Arne and Obama won't listen to, disregard, and demonize.

This is not an administration friendly to education and pedagogy.

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. It's also stupid to worry about a shortage and the need to recruit teachers

Those of us who don't get laid off can't afford to retire.

[Bluebear]

13. I wish she would have some pillow talk on the subject, then!

[Hannah Bell]

20. what is this double-speak? a teacher "shortage"?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

10. Maybe Obama can borrow it from the money they gave the Pentagon.

[Catshrink]

11. On This Week Boner was totall pissy about this letter being released on Saturday night.

Yeah, he was probably out on a bender since he stumbled over his lines a few times (you know spending, deficit, etc.). Steny Hoyer countered "you had no problem voting for trillions in spending in the last administration." :woohoo:

Boner also said "I understand that a lot of teachers and firefighters are going to lose their jobs but spending, deficit, blah blah blah."

[Bluebear]

15. Maher: We call them heros and treat them like chumps.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

18. Too bad we can't layoff politicians and lobbyists.

[Love Bug]

19. Dear President Obama:

The Dems are in the majority in the Senate. It's long past time for you to use some of your clout by picking up a goddamn phone and telling them to get on the fucking ball because they have let benefits for the unemployed lapse three times in as many months. Stop making public statements to make you look good and use that power we loaned you. Sheesh.

Sincerely,

Unemployed for 18 months and sick of it

[Hubert Flottz]

21. The republicans and the blue dogs want Obama to fail.

They don't care who gets hurt as long as the obey their corporate master's demands.

[lfairban]

22. We need Teachers and Fire Fighters.

They are very important to our wellbeing.