closed the state parks

[PKCSPT]

Well they closed Minnesota state parks today in preparation for the government shut down. Along with the traffic cameras and state funded road construction.
Hope we wake up to a budget tomorrow.

[delaford321]

GOSH! This budget business is starting to get old, nationwide.

[CARS]

Just think of all the revenue they are going to loose this weekend.

Why is it that I have to keep a balanced check book, but our government doesn't have to??

[caseydog]

Just think of all the revenue they are going to loose this weekend.

Why is it that I have to keep a balanced check book, but our government doesn't have to??

Actually, in most states, they do have to maintain a balanced budget -- at least on paper (our Governor managed to hide our shortfall until after he was re-elected}.

And, most Americans are in debt just like our government. Even if it is just a home mortgage, it is debt. The American people hold debts totaling about 350 percent of the national GDP. That's worse than the federal government's debt.

CD

[parnold]

Casey:

If my debt is equal to two years salary, is that a good thing? (200%??).

[planovet]

That sucks

[Fenlason]

Just think of all the revenue they are going to loose this weekend.

Why is it that I have to keep a balanced check book, but our government doesn't have to??

Actually, in most states, they do have to maintain a balanced budget -- at least on paper (our Governor managed to hide our shortfall until after he was re-elected}.

And, most Americans are in debt just like our government. Even if it is just a home mortgage, it is debt. The American people hold debts totaling about 350 percent of the national GDP. That's worse than the federal government's debt.

CD

zero debt here...

[mandy]

That sucks well at least yours arent burning down.

[Shadow Catcher]

"The governor said his last offer would have raised income taxes only on those earning more than $1 million a year—an estimated 7,700 Minnesotans, or 0.3 percent of all taxpayers, according to the Revenue Department.

Republicans rejected the proposal, Dayton said, because they "prefer to protect the richest handful of Minnesotans at the expense of everyone else."

"The GOP had a couple of "compromise" ideas for a budget agreement. They:

proposed delaying another $700 million in payments owed to schools, which would add to the more than $1 billion the state already owes K-12 schools.

Republicans also offered to issue "tobacco bonds" of an unspecified amount to cover any remaining budget gap. Sources said Dayton considered the offer, but he criticized it as unwise borrowing late Thursday."

[caseydog]

"The governor said his last offer would have raised income taxes only on those earning more than $1 million a year—an estimated 7,700 Minnesotans, or 0.3 percent of all taxpayers, according to the Revenue Department.

Republicans rejected the proposal, Dayton said, because they "prefer to protect the richest handful of Minnesotans at the expense of everyone else."

"The GOP had a couple of "compromise" ideas for a budget agreement. They:

proposed delaying another $700 million in payments owed to schools, which would add to the more than $1 billion the state already owes K-12 schools.

Republicans also offered to issue "tobacco bonds" of an unspecified amount to cover any remaining budget gap. Sources said Dayton considered the offer, but he criticized it as unwise borrowing late Thursday."

Schools and kids health care took the brunt of our budget cuts.

I have said it before, and I will say it again. I will gladly pay more to camp in a Texas State Park, if it will help balance the budget without taking money out of public education and health care for children. And, I don't even have children.

Kids can't chose whether they will be born into rich families or poor ones. Every child deserves a chance to become a healthy, well educated adult.

Rant off.

CD

[caseydog]

I just read that 22,000 state workers have been laid off. But, at least the billionaires who selflessly provide the rest of us with jobs -- well, the few jobs they don't send to China-- are okay.

It just amazes me to see how middle-class Americans are voting themselves into poverty to help the rich get richer.

CD

[Shadow Catcher]

My wife is a teacher, I know how much she puts into her job. Unfortunately I feel the US is ignoring the future that is our children. Education is our future and when and more importantly who started the dialog that teachers are to blame. Education is a child's ecosystem.
Politicians are ignoring the folks they work for, us, and seem to pay attention only to those willing to buy them.

[PKCSPT]

Thank you to all teachers. I spent many years volunteeering in the classroom as my kids went through school.
I think you have to be a little crazy to do that job not because of the kids but the parents.

[Jazzy Lynn]

That sucks well at least yours arent burning down.

We won't have any campgrounds left if the fires don't stop.

[mezmo]

caseydog wrote:

"It just amazes me to see how middle-class Americans are voting themselves into poverty to help the rich get richer. "

I share that sentiment totally. Since the forum doesn't want politics
discussed I won't go any further except to say people really need to step
back and think just what our taxes provide for the citizenry - State Parks
being one of many worthwhile things - and quit listening to the ideologues
and ranters who can only speak in slogans.

Norm/mezmo