Dugger

Rendell will in effect take money from working families, putting thenm in jail if they fail to obey, and redirect to his pet political projects. Thats whats going on here.

As I wrote earlier, the very same could be said of any spending decision made by goverment.

Why does this one deserve your special disdain?

Substitute Bush for Rendell, noting that faith-based initiatives are among his “pet political projects”.

Somehow I don’t see the outrage on the right over that. I guess only a Republican is supposed to direct public funds to something he feels strongly about.

I can see the argument for not allowing any money for “pet projects”, or continuing the ability to earmark for “pet projects”, but at least be consistent.

Dugger, Progressives believe the problem is distributing the finished goods, not sweating to finish the goods

whether they raise taxes or not and it will cost more than if Rendell did not force it on them.

The same could be said of any expenditure by government. What good is the power to collect taxes without the authority to spend what’s collected?

Rendell leads Swann 45 percent to 42 percent, in large part because the governor remains unable to transfer his popularity beyond his eastern base. The poll’s margin of error is 4 percentage points.

Poll 2:

Republican challenger Lynn Swann has caught Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell, a new Pittsburgh Tribune-Review/WTAE-Channel 4 Keystone poll shows.

Swann, who trailed Rendell by 20 points five months ago, has jumped to within three points — a statistical tossup. More than half — 54 percent — of voters questioned believe it is time for a change in the governor’s office. About two in five — 39 percent — said they believe Rendell deserves re-election.

Poll 3:

Pennsylvania Governor: Rendell-Swann a Toss-up
January 19, 2006–Our latest poll of the race for Pennsylvania governor shows Republican Lynn Swann, the former receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, narrowly leading Democratic Governor Ed Rendell 45% to 43%.

Fifty-four percent (54%) of voters view Swann favorably; 47% view Rendell favorably.

Perhaps something more recent? How about 3/15?

9. Do you approve or disapprove of Governor Ed Rendell’s job performance?
Approve 46%
Disapprove 36%
Undecided 18%

10. Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Governor Ed Rendell?
Favorable 43%
Unfavorable 34%
Undecided 23%

11. Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Republican Lynn Swann?
Favorable 51%
Unfavorable 26%
Undecided 23%

12. If the election for Governor was held today, and the choice was between Ed Rendell, the Democrat and Lynn Swann, the Republican, whom would you vote for?
Ed Rendell 44%
Lynn Swann 44%
Other 2%
Undecided 10%

Yes, the campaign is a joke, indeed….

My point is that the local school board (which was elected) has decided not to continue the program. local government is as close to “the people” as you can get. Rendell is using tax dollars from other citizens in other school districts to continue aprogram that the local school board doesn’t want.

I’m not judging the progam… that’s for the local, elected officials. I’m judging the process.

Dugger

why does Rendell get props when in fact he is seizing more cash from working families

More?

I missed the part where this would involve a tax increase.

But if it touches one penny of inherited wealth, well, them’s fighting words.

“If I m reading this right, some posters think that taxation to provide for a specialized education program is theft. Does that mean all taxation is theft?”

Not to worry. You are reading it wrong. The government has the authority and power to confiscate wealth from working Americans. It needs to do that to run its programs. But it still uses its police power to seize wealth. So why does Rendell get props when in fact he is seizing more cash from working families to fund a program that the local community does not want.

And OW thinks this is a good idea!!

Dugger

My interest in it is because I know the curriculum intimately, and know the conservatives are bullshitting about it, and because I think it’s important for American kids to be hypereducated if we want to retain our position of leadership in the world.

But no matter what search terms you use, this is still one of the least-”uproar”-ious topics in politics today. (As compared to true “uproars”: V for Vendetta, the Katherine Harris Debacle, Dubai Ports World, Cindy Sheehan)