Pope: Catholics should ask gay people for forgiveness

[Giancarlo]

You said nothing about percentages, only that more americans died in the 19th century, something which is palpably false. As for percentages, that's actually a fascinating question.

Did more Americans born between 1800 to 1899 die between those dates than those between 1900 to 1999 die between those dates? Yes. The question, "by how much" is what makes it a fascinating question. I don't know. But I bet finding out that answer would be valuable.



Are you a constitutional scholar who teaches at Harvard?



Answer the question, Gian. Where does the constitution state that there is a federal obligation to fund education? It does not. Ergo, there is no such obligation to fund anything to do with education.

The same is not true for national defense, which is an obligation of the federal government. And you call yourself an expect on the constitution?

And he's still blabbering on and on about more bull****. This idiot just doesn't know what he's talking about.

He's the one with the pathetic history degree from a christian college... if he's not lying about that.

And no... Ben isn't a constitutional scholar who teaches at Harvard lol!

I already did answer the question. The government is allowed to do so by laws established. They are under total obligation to fund education.

I'm definitely a bigger expert than you. Anyways, I'm done arguing with you... it's obvious you have no real argument and are now engaging in some stupid back and forth. You are a nobody and that's all you will ever be.

[Ben Kenobi]

This administration has actually SPENT less than its past three predecessors.

https://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/histdebt/histdebt_histo5.htm

09/30/2015 18,150,617,666,484.33
09/30/2008 10,024,724,896,912.49
09/30/2000 5,674,178,209,886.86

That's a lie.

[Giancarlo]

https://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/...ebt_histo5.htm


09/30/2015 18,150,617,666,484.33
09/30/2008 10,024,724,896,912.49
09/30/2000 5,674,178,209,886.86

That's a lie.

A lot of debt is associated with the prior administration and was merely written off the records.

You're lying and you don't know anything.

I am telling the truth entirely. This administration has actually spent the least since the Eisenhower administration.

[Giancarlo]

You can't fix a stupid christian blabber mouth.

I just wonder how much longer he'll last on here.

Good night!

[Ben Kenobi]

At 3%, there isn't a lot to be saved. Even if you cut it all, you are saving only 3% of the total spending, and totally eliminating the program. And that wouldn't play well with the voters.

Say my budget is 1k per month. What's getting cut? Food at 25 percent or your rent at 25 percent? Or education at 3?

You can save FAR more by making "some" cuts on all the bigger programs, while still keeping them in place. Far more than the 3% of education.
Sure, people will whine, but the programs will still exist.

The problem is that the voting bloc of that 25 percent is g-normous.

That's why budgets cuts are usually made across the board... Save more money, and spread the pain out. Have everybody trim the fat while still keeping programs intact.

Actually there have been very few cuts. Most of the cuts done are through tinkering with the official inflation number. Keeping that lower than the actual interest rate saves the US hundreds of billions a year.

[Ben Kenobi]

A lot of debt is associated with the prior administration and was merely written off the records.

Bush came in with 5 trillion on the books with the Clinton administration and left with 10. Current debt is 19.5. 9 trillion >> 5 trillion. O will likely outspend every prior president, combined.

This administration has actually spent the least since the Eisenhower administration.

Unfortunately the actual facts don't support this contention.

[Ming]

Parents given the choice between being forced to send their children to a terrible school, and a better school, will generally move, or enroll their children in a private school in order to get them out of a terrible school. I'm not sure how you putting your child in a good school is a refutation of my argument here.

The last time I looked, only 10% or so of kids are in private schools. Most kids by far are in the public school system. Some parents can't afford to pay for a private school, or move to a better school district.
There are bad private schools and good private schools. Just as there are bad public schools and good public schools.

Your argument seems to be that most public schools suck so all should be eliminated. I went to a great public High School, and my kids went to great public grade schools and the best High School in the state. So yes, I'm refuting your argument.

[Ben Kenobi]

Your argument seems to be that most public schools suck so all should be eliminated. I went to a great public High School, and my kids went to great public grade schools and the best High School in the state. So yes, I'm refuting your argument.

My argument is that privatization would improve the education that schools provide. I realize it is a controversial position. I went to a public school myself. Despite Gian's claim. 100 percent of my education is from public schools.

[Ming]

Say my budget is 1k per month. What's getting cut? Food at 25 percent or your rent at 25 percent? Or education at 3?

One might argue that you should look at the 47% you didn't bother to mention. Plus, the education is free in public schools.
So yet again, another lame example that isn't relevant to the discussion.

The problem is that the voting bloc of that 25 percent is g-normous.

And what percent of the voting block has kids? It's HUGE.

Actually there have been very few cuts. Most of the cuts done are through tinkering with the official inflation number. Keeping that lower than the actual interest rate saves the US hundreds of billions a year.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA... an irrelevant response. You are the one talking about cutting it, and now you are claiming that there have been very few cuts... WHICH IS IT?

[Ben Kenobi]

And what percent of the voting block has kids? It's HUGE.

It's actually smaller, and by a fair bit at that.

You are the one talking about cutting it, and now you are claiming that there have been very few cuts

Why is that a contradiction? If I want something cut that hasn't had very many actual cuts, wouldn't that reinforce my position. ?

[Ming]

My argument is that privatization would improve the education that schools provide. I realize it is a controversial position. I went to a public school myself. Despite Gian's claim. 100 percent of my education is from public schools.

Simply an opinion with no facts to support it. Sure, make some irrelevant claim how one school does it for this cost and another does it worse for more based on a limited situation. But privatization is not the solution to all problems. Take a look at the privatization of jails in this country... that didn't go very well.

But again, it comes down to asking voters to pay big bucks for something they are used to getting for free (yeah, property taxes and all that crap, but that's not how it would be perceived) and the party that takes that position will go down in flames.

[Ming]

It's actually smaller, and by a fair bit at that.

please provide a cite on that... Yeah, big defense contractors are all for it... but the average voter...

Why is that a contradiction? If I want something cut that hasn't had very many actual cuts, wouldn't that reinforce my position. ?

One more time... cutting something that doesn't cost much in relevant terms to the total budget is simply peanuts. There are far more dollars to be cut else where without totally eliminating it. But to answer your lame question... NO.

[Ben Kenobi]

But privatization is not the solution to all problems. Take a look at the privatization of jails in this country... that didn't go very well.

Sure. Jails are part of the obligation of the state to protect citizens. I'm not sure how it applies to schools, which are not an obligation. We shouldn't privatize things the state has to run, but we should privatize the thins that are not an obligation of the state. I am not arguing for pure privatization (as I am not a libertarian), but schools can and should be privatized.

But again, it comes down to asking voters to pay big bucks for something they are used to getting for free (yeah, property taxes and all that crap, but that's not how it would be perceived) and the party that takes that position will go down in flames.

Nothing is free. I am not even arguing against cutting from the other 47 percent. Simply arguing that of these three entitlements, that public schooling is likely to get the short end.

[Ming]

Sure. Jails are part of the obligation of the state to protect citizens. I'm not sure how it applies to schools, which are not an obligation. We shouldn't privatize things the state has to run, but we should privatize the thins that are not an obligation of the state. I am not arguing for pure privatization (as I am not a libertarian), but schools can and should be privatized.

Nothing is free. I am not even arguing against cutting from the other 47 percent. Simply arguing that of these three entitlements, that public schooling is likely to get the short end.

And you have raised no valid argument on why the 3% will get the short end.
And I cringe in horror with the thought of schools being privatized. It won't change the basic equation. Rich people will send their kids to the well run and better expensive private schools while the middle class and poor people will be only to afford the lesser and crap schools. That is not a solution to the current situation.

[Ben Kenobi]

I'm seeing a number of 78 million americans with children 25 or under. SS beneficiaries are 65.6 million

https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/quickfacts/stat_snapshot/

For parents with children 18 and under, that's 65 million. So I am actually correct here. SS beneficiaries outnumber parents with children 18 and under.

http://www.census.gov/hhes/families/data/cps2015A.html

Medicaid enrollment is 75 million, which is greater than those with children under 18.

http://kff.org/health-reform/state-indicator/total-monthly-medicaid-and-chip-enrollment/?currentTimeframe=0

3k beast!