Hopeful Trends for our Nation's Future

[TWiles]

Gas prices keep getting lower ($2.11/gal here), and gay marriage is banned.  Knock on wood and hope these positive changes keep coming and stay in place.

Travis

[Leo deMonbreun]

amen to that

[Steve H]

Couldn't agree more.

[MikeA]

$1.99 here this morning.
Begin rant:
I saw last night where Putnam County was worried about not having enough money to keep teachers because of low sales tax revenue this year. It got me to thinking why that is. I think it has alot to do with poor financial decisions by ALOT of us first and foremost. Many of us live on that line where our neck is just above the water. That said disposable income has been steadily dwindling out of our bank account and into the energy companies like Exxon, Shell, TVA. Who suffers most from this,, apparently public education. This isn't the first time out schools have been in financial trouble.
Our children’s education should always be the #1 concern we have as a nation. If we let national health care, or any other self entitlement program overshadow our children’s future we’ve screwed the pooch.

This isn’t directed at any political party cause IMO the education system has been taking one up the wazoo for sometime now.

[jarrod white]

I saw in wilson county a month or so ago, we had to vote for a tax increase county wide in order to keep some programs in school. I know this because my daughter is in the drama program , which was put on hold until after the vote. I think this is ridiculous because , if you not give the kids something to do at the school, they will turn to alternative things, which can be a dangerous trade off. I love sports etc. , but I wonder how much money is funneled toward professional sports by the cities which have teams . Nothing comes in todays times without a price, lets not short change our kids. I think its a #1 priority, whether you have kids, or not.

                                   JW

[Travis C.]

I fully agree about what Jarrod said.

I think it is absolutely silly that the TN Lottery gives money for kids to take part in college but there are county schools around the state hurting in areas from gas money to school books. I am 100% behind helping the kids that need $$ help to get higher ed. But, if we can't get any to that point it doesn't make much sense. If I am not mistaken just this year they hit the 1 billion mark I believe for the Lottery, not sure if that was scholarships awarded or total revenue. It is a good thing they are doing with it but maybe it needs some tweaking.

[Leo deMonbreun]

I fully agree about what Jarrod said.

I think it is absolutely silly that the TN Lottery gives money for kids to take part in college but there are county schools around the state hurting in areas from gas money to school books. I am 100% behind helping the kids that need $$ help to get higher ed. But, if we can't get any to that point it doesn't make much sense. If I am not mistaken just this year they hit the 1 billion mark I believe for the Lottery, not sure if that was scholarships awarded or total revenue. It is a good thing they are doing with it but maybe it needs some tweaking.

Travis, I couldn't agree more, we need to heavily invest a lot of that money in improving the elementary, secondary and high schools of our state so we CAN get more kids into higher education.  We also need to see that the state doesn't divert those funds into other programs.  That money could be used and is needed in almost every school system that is in the state with exception of private schools.

[John M]

Gov. education is one of the main reasons our country is in the state it is.  SAT scores have been declining since the 60's since the invention of separation of church and state which is not found anywhere in the constitution.  The private sector always outperforms anything ran by the government.

[grumpy]

Buy Tennessee!

Support local business!

Don't order online to save taxes then complain about it!

Simple enough!

Grumpy

[adamtn]

I think as a country we have bigger issues than homos. Sure, it creeps me out too but that ain't important enough for our government too intercede. Turn that focus toward improving education, reducing energy needs and resuming growth of our country.

Politicians and the media use stuff like homosexuality, etc to keep our attention off real issues like our huge deficit. Ten years ago we had a government SURPLUS, not a deficit. Today we are in a huge debt to countries like china that our grandchildren will still be paying on.

'the debtor is slave to the creditor'

[bd]

Amen, Adam.

bd