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Originally Posted by jtdavis:

They wanted him, they voted for him twice, now, enjoy him

jt , as usual you have hit the nail on its head. Absolute genius.

I feel exactly the same way about this matter concerning poetic justice suffered in any form these voters have heaped on themselves.

 

just watch, Bentley will invent some reason for his constituents to blame themselves for the misery.

it will be fun to watch.

Originally Posted by direstraits:
The poor recovery continues with an average 1.95 percent GDP growth.  Worst since the depression.   Thanks, Obama.

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It's kind of hard to build an economic recovery on part time employment. It's also hard to get enough income tax revenues to fill potholes as well in such a recovery.

 

Hahahahha I knew it was coming. In a Republican ran state that is about as "conservative" as you can get, it's still Obama's fault. 

 

How in the world have these Democratic ran states been doing so well? 

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...onomy_b_6737786.html

 

http://www.realclearpolitics.c...rnaround_118943.html

 

Where is all this personal responsibility I hear from the right all the time? Is Gov. Bentley and his Republican majority in Montgomery unable to do what others in the same national economy have done? Why yes they are. 

 

 

Originally Posted by Jankinonya:

Hahahahha I knew it was coming. In a Republican ran state that is about as "conservative" as you can get, it's still Obama's fault. 

 

How in the world have these Democratic ran states been doing so well? 

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...onomy_b_6737786.html

 

http://www.realclearpolitics.c...rnaround_118943.html

 

Where is all this personal responsibility I hear from the right all the time? Is Gov. Bentley and his Republican majority in Montgomery unable to do what others in the same national economy have done? Why yes they are. 

 

 

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Those states have preexisting businesses and factories that will take time to move. Give it a year or three and they will be as successful as the dem disasters of Illinois and Detroit.

Most states that are not doing well, base the majority of their budget on taxes obtained from sales tax, like in Alabama. They do not have huge land use taxes and penalties like the states in the Northeast.  When sales are not good, or people are out looking for bargains, or forego replacing that automobile, then the sales tax will not come in.

Bentley's proposal to raise taxes on cigarettes is fair. Since smokers contribute a huge amount to healthcare, and one reason we are in this mess is because of the healthcare demands being made on the state.

His plans to raise taxes on rental cars is OK with me, I don't rent that much. Increasing sales tax on cars from 2% to 4% is OK with me since I only buy a new car every few years.

I do not want to see them do away with exemptions, or limit them, and I would like to see a tax increase on large tract land owners such as the timber companies.

 

Last edited by teyates

I think for the most part then Alabama has it going on.

We have recruited more businesses (nice paying ones) to Alabama in the past few years under the Republican leadership. (Boeing, automakers, the new firearms plants, etc). The quality of life here is excellent.  I cannot think of many places I had rather live, and the cost of living is affordable compared to the rest of the country.

And as far as education goes, what else do the schools need? We have new schools going up all over AL. There is a surplus of teachers, many more than the system needs, and most schools have a a very low ratio of students to teachers.  Teachers are compensated pretty well considering the requirements of the job and the benefits. Most can be retired before they reach 55 with a decent pension and benefits. The quality of education issue is an old topic that was drummed up by the AEA. There is plenty of money there for education and in this state almost 92% of the budget is earmarked, a huge portion for education, and that percentage of earmarked funds is one of the highest in the country.

 

Originally Posted by Jankinonya:

What makes a good economy is quality of life, education and workforce. When Alabama figures that out then we might see some changes in this state. Until then, it doesn't matter who sits in the WH. 

________________________________________________________________

Only thing going for Minnesota is the healthcare industry and education jobs; they lost manufacturing and construction jobs. Since those healthcare and education jobs need manufacturing and business jobs to exist to pay the bills and provide tax money, its easy to say the future won't be too bright when businesses leave for more hospitable climates.

 

Much of that was driven by Minnesota’s health care industry, from hospitals to ambulatory care and other services. As we’ve noted before, that job growth saved Minnesota’s bacon in the Great Recession. It continues to drive Minnesota’s post-recession success.

http://blogs.mprnews.org/newsc...in-7-charts-1-table/

 

http://publicradio1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/statewide/files/2013/04/healthjobs.png

http://blogs.mprnews.org/state...obs_saved_minnesota/

 

 

Originally Posted by teyates:

I think for the most part then Alabama has it going on.

We have recruited more businesses (nice paying ones) to Alabama in the past few years under the Republican leadership. (Boeing, automakers, the new firearms plants, etc). The quality of life here is excellent.  I cannot think of many places I had rather live, and the cost of living is affordable compared to the rest of the country.

And as far as education goes, what else do the schools need? We have new schools going up all over AL. There is a surplus of teachers, many more than the system needs, and most schools have a a very low ratio of students to teachers.  Teachers are compensated pretty well considering the requirements of the job and the benefits. Most can be retired before they reach 55 with a decent pension and benefits. The quality of education issue is an old topic that was drummed up by the AEA. There is plenty of money there for education and in this state almost 92% of the budget is earmarked, a huge portion for education, and that percentage of earmarked funds is one of the highest in the country.

 

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Alabama is one of the poorest states in the union. We rank somewhere around the 7th poorest. Our education system is ranked at the bottom, well at least we have MS to keep us from being dead last. We have a high school drop out rate of around 41%. We are far below the national average for college degrees. We are also ranked in the top 10 states for worst quality of life. 

I think we have a lot to do before I would say Alabama is doing it right. 

Originally Posted by Jankinonya:
Originally Posted by teyates:

I think for the most part then Alabama has it going on.

We have recruited more businesses (nice paying ones) to Alabama in the past few years under the Republican leadership. (Boeing, automakers, the new firearms plants, etc). The quality of life here is excellent.  I cannot think of many places I had rather live, and the cost of living is affordable compared to the rest of the country.

And as far as education goes, what else do the schools need? We have new schools going up all over AL. There is a surplus of teachers, many more than the system needs, and most schools have a a very low ratio of students to teachers.  Teachers are compensated pretty well considering the requirements of the job and the benefits. Most can be retired before they reach 55 with a decent pension and benefits. The quality of education issue is an old topic that was drummed up by the AEA. There is plenty of money there for education and in this state almost 92% of the budget is earmarked, a huge portion for education, and that percentage of earmarked funds is one of the highest in the country.

 

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Alabama is one of the poorest states in the union. We rank somewhere around the 7th poorest. Our education system is ranked at the bottom, well at least we have MS to keep us from being dead last. We have a high school drop out rate of around 41%. We are far below the national average for college degrees. We are also ranked in the top 10 states for worst quality of life. 

I think we have a lot to do before I would say Alabama is doing it right. 


I suspect your ranking for education is based mainly on $$$$ spent per student, which doesn't mean jack if the parents aren't actively involved in their child's education. 

 

Your dropout rate is not even remotely close to the mark.  Actual drop out rate is 14%.

 

http://www.al.com/news/index.s...chool_graduatio.html

Last edited by Mr. Hooberbloob
Originally Posted by Crash.Override:
Originally Posted by Mr. Hooberbloob:

Nope, I've seen the figures and what they actually get to keep is far, far, far below the actual revenues brought in.  Just say it's a good way to waste money and I'll agree with you wholeheartedly.

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you must have gone to the 'direstraits school of accounting'... your best answer is 'their figures are wrong and i'm right.'... this is priceless. regressive 'facts' from the low information voter poster child.


Here you go, low info poster boy:

 

Tennessee State Lootto (not misspelled)

Total Revenue FY 11-12: $1,221,573,973

Total Expenses FY 11-12:  $911,224,498

Net Proceeds FY 11-12:  $310,349,475

 

Spend $1.2 billion and get back $310 million.  Yep, that sounds about right for you Crash.

 

http://www.capitol.tn.gov/join...20-%20DEC%202012.pdf

 

 

 

Hoob, you do understand how taxes work, right?

 

We spend more for a product than we pay in the tax. Like groceries. I might spend $200.00 dollars at the store for food but the state gets $8. 

 

We got 232mil in tax revenue from cigarette sales. Alabamians spent far more on the purchase of packs of cigarettes though. 

 

 

 The lotto is a product, not a tax. The $1.2 billion that could have gone towards college savings accounts was instead wasted on overhead and then what little was left over was funneled into college funds.  There is nothing fiscally responsible about this plan. 

 

Until people start investing their 401K's in lotto tickets, you will never convince me the lotto is sound financial planning, either by individual or state.

Originally Posted by Mr. Hooberbloob:

 The lotto is a product, not a tax. The $1.2 billion that could have gone towards college savings accounts was instead wasted on overhead and then what little was left over was funneled into college funds.  There is nothing fiscally responsible about this plan. 

 

Until people start investing their 401K's in lotto tickets, you will never convince me the lotto is sound financial planning, either by individual or state.

___________________

with that 'little left over'.. any kid, with decent grades and the will, can attend a state university FOR FREE! then again, keeping the people uneducated has sure proven a great way to make more republicans. just go read hoob's posts... you'll see exactly what a 'low information voter' will post to a public forum.

Last edited by Crash.Override
Originally Posted by Mr. Hooberbloob:
Originally Posted by Crash.Override:
Originally Posted by Mr. Hooberbloob:

Nope, I've seen the figures and what they actually get to keep is far, far, far below the actual revenues brought in.  Just say it's a good way to waste money and I'll agree with you wholeheartedly.

__________

you must have gone to the 'direstraits school of accounting'... your best answer is 'their figures are wrong and i'm right.'... this is priceless. regressive 'facts' from the low information voter poster child.


Here you go, low info poster boy:

 

Tennessee State Lootto (not misspelled)

Total Revenue FY 11-12: $1,221,573,973

Total Expenses FY 11-12:  $911,224,498

Net Proceeds FY 11-12:  $310,349,475

 

Spend $1.2 billion and get back $310 million.  Yep, that sounds about right for you Crash.

 

http://www.capitol.tn.gov/join...20-%20DEC%202012.pdf

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WOW.  Hoob you really do not understand finance at all do ya?  Any company in the world would LOVE to have $1.2B in revenue with a profit of $310M after expenses.  This may be the dumbest argument I have seen in years. Unbelievable.....

 

 

 

And Jank, how can throwing more money at "education" lower the dropout rate?  People have to want to get an education in order to drop that rate.  it is a product of "want to". If they don't want to get an education and better themselves, then you can have the best schools in the country and the highest paid teachers and it will do no good.  Nothing you mention in your post has anything to do with the fact that money is no provided for education. We have one (or had) the most powerful tecaher's unions in the US, and it basically did nothing to increase the standings. Why?  Primarily because there was much more concern over what they were being paid than what was being taught and how it was being taught.  The well runs dry when there is no proof of your success.

Originally Posted by daddy joe:
Originally Posted by Mr. Hooberbloob:
Originally Posted by Crash.Override:
Originally Posted by Mr. Hooberbloob:

Nope, I've seen the figures and what they actually get to keep is far, far, far below the actual revenues brought in.  Just say it's a good way to waste money and I'll agree with you wholeheartedly.

__________

you must have gone to the 'direstraits school of accounting'... your best answer is 'their figures are wrong and i'm right.'... this is priceless. regressive 'facts' from the low information voter poster child.


Here you go, low info poster boy:

 

Tennessee State Lootto (not misspelled)

Total Revenue FY 11-12: $1,221,573,973

Total Expenses FY 11-12:  $911,224,498

Net Proceeds FY 11-12:  $310,349,475

 

Spend $1.2 billion and get back $310 million.  Yep, that sounds about right for you Crash.

 

http://www.capitol.tn.gov/join...20-%20DEC%202012.pdf

 ______________________________________________________________

WOW.  Hoob you really do not understand finance at all do ya?  Any company in the world would LOVE to have $1.2B in revenue with a profit of $310M after expenses.  This may be the dumbest argument I have seen in years. Unbelievable.....

 

 

 


This is not a company dummy.  This is a government program taking in over a billion dollars, wasting it on unnecessary overhead, then giving nickles on the dollar back to the people who donated to it.  If you can't see this as doubling down on dumb to fix the state economy, then you and crash should both start wearing pointy hats and stand in the corner together.

Originally Posted by Crash.Override:
Originally Posted by Mr. Hooberbloob:

 The lotto is a product, not a tax. The $1.2 billion that could have gone towards college savings accounts was instead wasted on overhead and then what little was left over was funneled into college funds.  There is nothing fiscally responsible about this plan. 

 

Until people start investing their 401K's in lotto tickets, you will never convince me the lotto is sound financial planning, either by individual or state.

___________________

with that 'little left over'.. any kid, with decent grades and the will, can attend a state university FOR FREE! then again, keeping the people uneducated has sure proven a great way to make more republicans. just go read hoob's posts... you'll see exactly what a 'low information voter' will post to a public forum.


Is this the good news you speak of?



According to recently published data, the highest four-year graduation rate at a community college in Tennessee, at Pellissippi State in Knoxville, is only 22 percent.

 

The statewide average graduation rate at community colleges is an alarming 13 percent, with some graduating only 6 percent of their students.

 

Despite these abysmal numbers, Governor Haslam created the Tennessee Promise program, which will funnel students and resources away from four-year colleges and universities and into community colleges using HOPE Lottery Scholarship money that was intended to keep the best and brightest students in Tennessee.

 

Tennessee Promise is part of the Governor’s “Drive to 55” initiative, a plan with laudable goal of increasing the number of Tennesseans with a college degree or certificate from 30 percent to 55 percent by 2025. However, given the low graduation rates, it seems obvious that we are not going to get more graduates simply by putting more students in our struggling community colleges.

Tennessee Promise will drastically reduce the reserves for the HOPE Lottery Scholarships and take any other excess from the HOPE program, which will make any increase to those scholarships impossible.

 

Promise also reduces the amount of HOPE Lottery Scholarships to freshmen and sophomores at four-year colleges by $500. Given the state’s stagnation in higher education spending and its reliance on sales tax for funding government services—perpetuated further by the passage of the constitutional amendment banning an income tax—tuition will continue rise.

 

The purchasing power of the HOPE Lottery scholarships, which were intended to cover full tuition but now cover approximately half, will continue to decrease, becoming more of a stipend.

Rather than directing students to low-performing community colleges, Governor Haslam could have directed the money toward scholarships for promising and accomplished students. I urged him to use the money to increase the lottery-funded ASPIRE grants, which currently provide up to an additional $2,250 per year to students whose family income is less than $36,000.

 

He could also have raised the income level for the ASPIRE grants so that more middle-income students could benefit. Helping students who have achieved in high school and equaled or exceeded the lottery scholarship criteria is the best bang for the buck for keeping bright students in state and getting them to graduate.

 

I share the governor’s goal of increasing the number of college graduates and improving the workforce in Tennessee and I understand how the Governor, operating in a legislative environment that refuses to raise revenue for programs, would seize upon unappropriated lottery money to try to accomplish his legacy goal.

 

But the facts militate against Promise being successful. Spending funds collected for scholarships by siphoning them into an inefficient and predictably unsuccessful program avoids the need to legislatively pass tax or revenue measures to accomplish the Drive to 55.

 

However, the facts clearly demonstrate that lottery funds are best used to strengthen the HOPE program which will continue to produce four-year graduates in Tennessee and keep the best and brightest in the state, fulfilling the purpose for which the lottery was created.

 

Instead of a promise, Governor Haslam has all but delivered a death sentence to the benefits of the HOPE Lottery Scholarship program.

 

Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, represents Tennessee’s 9th congressional district.

 

http://www.tennessean.com/stor...oomed-fail/20270861/

Last edited by Mr. Hooberbloob

I'm sure most people think the lotto is a wonderful financial strategy, why should I be surprised that most Americans are drowning in credit card debt, car debt, college debt, mortgage debt and common sense debt.  I'll just continue living below my means and save for myself instead of letting a government offcial decide where my kids go to school and what hoops I must jump thru to get this "aid".  No thanks, I'll be a man and take care of myself.

Originally Posted by jtdavis:

Hoob, why do you want to take a shot at a dream away from adult people. The lottery is a voluntary thing. If somebody wants to throw $5 up a wild hogs butt, so what. 


I  never said I was against the lottery.  What I am against is the continually perpetuated LIE that it is a program that is a financially sound way to fix a state's budget woes.  It actually only compounds the problem.  If you want to blow your money, then by all means blow it.  You'll never see me standing outside the state lotto office carrying a protest sign, I just simply choose not to support it by not buying worthless tickets and I'm not going to pretend it's a good deal for anybody.

Originally Posted by jtdavis:

Hoob, that post sounds a lot better than the others.


That was a reiteration of a post I made on the first page:

 

"I have never belittled anyone for playing the lotto.  You are right, it's a tax on the poor, who pay very little to none in the first place.  However, when you tell me that the lotto is a good way to generate revenue for the people of any state, well, that's just a lie and I'm not going to just let that lie perpetuate."

Last edited by Mr. Hooberbloob
Originally Posted by Mr. Hooberbloob:
Originally Posted by jtdavis:

Hoob, that post sounds a lot better than the others.


That was a reiteration of a post I made on the first page:

 

"I have never belittled anyone for playing the lotto.  You are right, it's a tax on the poor, who pay very little to none in the first place.  However, when you tell me that the lotto is a good way to generate revenue for the people of any state, well, that's just a lie and I'm not going to just let that lie perpetuate."

_________________

 

But, even you posted that it does in fact generate revenue. Over 300 million in clear profit no less. If Alabama had that we would be half way to fixing our budget crisis without raising taxes. If we decriminalized marijuana we would actually be in the black. 

 

I would think that you would be on board with something that gave more people freedom, personal responsibility, AND is a voluntary way for the state to raise revenue. 

So who is lying?

Originally Posted by Jankinonya:
Originally Posted by Mr. Hooberbloob:
Originally Posted by jtdavis:

Hoob, that post sounds a lot better than the others.


That was a reiteration of a post I made on the first page:

 

"I have never belittled anyone for playing the lotto.  You are right, it's a tax on the poor, who pay very little to none in the first place.  However, when you tell me that the lotto is a good way to generate revenue for the people of any state, well, that's just a lie and I'm not going to just let that lie perpetuate."

_________________

 

But, even you posted that it does in fact generate revenue. Over 300 million in clear profit no less. If Alabama had that we would be half way to fixing our budget crisis without raising taxes. If we decriminalized marijuana we would actually be in the black. 

 

I would think that you would be on board with something that gave more people freedom, personal responsibility, AND is a voluntary way for the state to raise revenue. 

So who is lying?


You send me $100.  I keep $70 for myself and send you back $30 that can only be used at places I say it can be used.    Now tell me, who wins?

 

Rarely do people on the far political spectrum agree on the same things, but folks at both the Mises Institute and Think Progress both dislike lotteries. I believe the libertarians dislike the inefficiency of the system as well as the looting of the overburdened taxpayer while the liberals don't like the fact that it is a tax upon their uneducated followers as well as inefficient:  https://bastiat.mises.org/library/lottery-racket-0 ; http://thinkprogress.org/econo...ad-bet-state-budget/

 

As for me, I don't care; let people get burned, it's the only way the stupid learn. I suspect that some Southern conservatives see lotteries as a way to claw back some of the forced "sharing of the wealth" to state coffers, but it is an inefficient way of doing it. Anywho, since lottery money usually goes to education, it won't address the problem area in Alabama's budget, the General Fund. Alabama colleges and universities might get more gold plated fountains and statues though.

Originally Posted by Crash.Override:

poor hoob. he just proved the 'republican dumbing down of TN'.. the governor hoob is whining about is... are you ready... a REPUBLICAN!

 

thanks, hoob. you never fail to prove my point!


Poor crash, too dumb to realize the lotto is not good regardless who is in charge.  Any pol, republican or democrat, who believes the lotto can fix a budget is not worth their weight in salt.  I guess I did prove a point though, that you are too obtuse to understand complex sentences.  Next time, I'll try to dumb it down so you can keep up.

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