I take it you don't know any teachers then? No, the act of teaching grade school is not terribly difficult. Being a person who actually cares for the spoiled, worthless, and violent turds of sh!t that parents are putting into school now as well as someone who can put up with having their hands tied by the administration is worth a lot of money. These are the people who are shaping the lives of kids today, 'cuz parents don't do it. That's worth a lot more fvcking money than Katie Couric.
Really ? Look up the US Federal Money Supply Report for last month ... A significant percentage of Americans are in debt but continue to purchase on credit. A significant percentage of Americans use their home equity as a ATM machine. Its not just the bottom 10% !
While you are at it ... look up the statistics on the quality of american schools relative to any schools in the 3rd world ! Majority of American school kids (not just the bottom 10%) lack basic knowledge of language, math and science. Kids in Vietnan, Philipines and India handily beat us. And thats not just the top 10% of their kids.
Another fact, 99% of schools over there do not have air-conditioning ... and temperatures can easily soar above 100 degrees during very humid summers.
Its also interesting to note that in these countries, the parents play a very proactive role in their childrens education. Their society looks down on irresponsible parenting. They don't have a DHS to take away your kids if you whup them for misbehaving.
waggy
No Lifer
- Dec 14, 2000
- 68,143
- 10
- 81
i would agree with that. raising taxes is not going to help. Adminstration would just waste it.
the big problems with the school system is admistration and the teachers union. oh and goverment.
the adminstration is the one that sets what and when a child is taught something. i agree most teachers are just put in and really have no say.
its not union sbloating up the payroll. its some systems spending stuff on something stupid.
we don''t need to throw money at the problem they already get enough per student. but they really need more oversight.
Vic
Elite Member
- Jun 12, 2001
- 50,422
- 14,337
- 136
What is "significant"?
According to FICO, roughly 40% of American consumers carry no credit card balances at all, while only about 15% carry credit debt of $10k or more, and less than 37% have more than $10k in total non-mortgage related debt.
If you don't like what Katie gets paid, stop watching the news. Seriously. Otherwise, you're just blowing smoke out your ass, bitching about something that you support.
According to FICO, roughly 40% of American consumers carry no credit card balances at all, while only about 15% carry credit debt of $10k or more, and less than 37% have more than $10k in total non-mortgage related debt.
If you don't like what Katie gets paid, stop watching the news. Seriously. Otherwise, you're just blowing smoke out your ass, bitching about something that you support.
dainthomas
Lifer
- Dec 7, 2004
- 14,966
- 3,954
- 136
Are you kidding? There are probably thousands of faux-perky talking hairdos that could replace her in two seconds. How hard is it to read a teleprompter?
That being said, who still watches network news?
waggy
No Lifer
- Dec 14, 2000
- 68,143
- 10
- 81
wow 40%? i find that amazing. figured the percent would be far far lower. maybe around %20.
I pay offmy CC every month. Only reason i keep one is to keep my credit score good and emergancy's. if i can't pay cash for it i don't need it (wich is why i don't have a new computer or a 60inch HD LCD tv!).
only credit i have is my house and car. and the car is paid off next summer! woot!
Vic
Elite Member
- Jun 12, 2001
- 50,422
- 14,337
- 136
That's what they say, and they should know. Most people are like you though. Really. The average consumer has an A credit rating, has never missed a single payment in their entire life, and the average credit score is just under 700 (using the 350-850 scale). You can't have a 700 credit score if you're buried in debt, even if you've never missed a payment. The balance-to-limit ratio requirement would drag the score down.
So .. not true ...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14366431/site/newsweek/14366431
The average American family now owes more than $9,000 in credit debt.
Also ... FICO updates their scores once in 3 years ... and the latest figures they have is for 2004.
Vic
Elite Member
- Jun 12, 2001
- 50,422
- 14,337
- 136
Seriously.
Text
Average Credit Statistics
As a company that helps the nation's largest banks and financial institutions assess credit risk, Fair Isaac is often asked to describe the credit use of a typical consumer. In researching the answer, we discovered that consumers vary immensely in what types of credit they use and how they use it.
By analyzing a representative national sample of millions of consumer credit profiles, Fair Isaac was able to survey the panorama of credit activity across the U.S. The following statistics reflect the average use of credit by today's consumers.
Number of Credit Obligations
On average, today's consumer has a total of 13 credit obligations on record at a credit bureau. These include credit cards (such as department store charge cards, gas cards, or bank cards) and installment loans (auto loans, mortgage loans, student loans, etc.). Not included are savings and checking accounts (typically not reported to a credit bureau). Of these 13 credit obligations, 9 are likely to be credit cards and 4 are likely to be installment loans.
Past Payment Performance
On average, today's consumers are paying their bills on time. Less than half of all consumers have ever been reported as 30 or more days late on a payment. Only 3 out of 10 have ever been 60 or more days overdue on any credit obligation. 77% of all consumers have never had a loan or account that was 90+ days overdue, and less than 20% have ever had a loan or account closed by the lender due to default.
Credit Utilization
About 40% of credit card holders carry a balance of less than $1,000. About 15% are far less conservative in their use of credit cards and have total card balances in excess of $10,000. When we look at the total of all credit obligations combined (except mortgage loans), 48% of consumers carry less than $5,000 of debt. This includes all credit cards, lines of credit, and loans-everything but mortgages. Nearly 37% carry more than $10,000 of non-mortgage-related debt as reported to the credit bureaus.
Total Available Credit
The typical consumer has access to approximately $19,000 on all credit cards combined. More than half of all people with credit cards are using less than 30% of their total credit card limit. Just over 1 in 7 are using 80% or more of their credit card limit.
Length of Credit History
The average consumer's oldest obligation is 14 years old, indicating that he or she has been managing credit for some time. In fact, we found that 1 out of 4 consumers had credit histories of 20 years or longer. Only 1 in 20 consumers had credit histories shorter than 2 years.
Inquiries
When someone applies for a loan or a new credit card account - in short, any time one applies for credit and a lender requests a copy of the credit report - this request is noted as an ?inquiry? in the applicant's credit file. The average consumer has had only one inquiry on his or her accounts within the past year. Fewer than 6% had four or more inquiries resulting from a search for new credit.
Entertainment is valued highly in America
as a country we seem to not have a problem spending billions of dollars a year on it
as a country we seem to not have a problem spending billions of dollars a year on it
I'll reiterate this again, since it has been mentioned twice already but overlooked: this is a CAPITALISTIC country. It's not a perfect system but it's the best we have. Get over it.
There's value and there's perceived value. There are people with BS degrees and there are people who BS to a degree. There are those who work extremely hard. There are those extremely talented and then those extremely lucky. This country allows success for all those. That is exactly what make our country so great and attract so many foreigners.
You apparently underestimate the value of entertainment. For most of us we are beyond the food, water, clothing, and shelter phase and adjust our priorities accordingly. Americans spend a great deal of money on entertainment because there's huge demand for it: whether it be tv, sports, music, movies, video games, or porn. It should come as no surprise that the stars in these field demand high dollars.
Face it, for most Americans education is not the top priority. Yeah we pay lip service and spout out PC nonsense about education but we don't want to pay for it. Yet we don't mind paying $100/month for cable and internet service (not even going to go on about cell phones). For others education is a means to an end: higher paying jobs to buy better toys. Guess what these toys are for? Entertainment.
I'm tired of these poor teacher salary arguements. My dad was a teacher. My sister is one right now. It wasn't for the money that they decided to go into teaching. It is a well established fact that teachers don't earn as well as other professionals. It might be the fact that more people are able to teach than become doctors, lawyers, or even engineers. Here's an idea, if you think teacher salary is too low, then don't become a teacher.
As for Katie Couric earning more than all of our top professionals. Guess what? It's because of the American viewing public. We made her a celebrity. The viewing public catapult certain personalities to the top of the food chain. I bet you it's a combination of extreme luck and hard work to get where she's at. The American public doesn't care about the personalities of our country's scientists or technologists.
Does that make American priorities really shallow? Only those who measure success with money sees it that way. To those who make a decent living and going about enjoying life without envy that is not the case.
There's value and there's perceived value. There are people with BS degrees and there are people who BS to a degree. There are those who work extremely hard. There are those extremely talented and then those extremely lucky. This country allows success for all those. That is exactly what make our country so great and attract so many foreigners.
You apparently underestimate the value of entertainment. For most of us we are beyond the food, water, clothing, and shelter phase and adjust our priorities accordingly. Americans spend a great deal of money on entertainment because there's huge demand for it: whether it be tv, sports, music, movies, video games, or porn. It should come as no surprise that the stars in these field demand high dollars.
Face it, for most Americans education is not the top priority. Yeah we pay lip service and spout out PC nonsense about education but we don't want to pay for it. Yet we don't mind paying $100/month for cable and internet service (not even going to go on about cell phones). For others education is a means to an end: higher paying jobs to buy better toys. Guess what these toys are for? Entertainment.
I'm tired of these poor teacher salary arguements. My dad was a teacher. My sister is one right now. It wasn't for the money that they decided to go into teaching. It is a well established fact that teachers don't earn as well as other professionals. It might be the fact that more people are able to teach than become doctors, lawyers, or even engineers. Here's an idea, if you think teacher salary is too low, then don't become a teacher.
As for Katie Couric earning more than all of our top professionals. Guess what? It's because of the American viewing public. We made her a celebrity. The viewing public catapult certain personalities to the top of the food chain. I bet you it's a combination of extreme luck and hard work to get where she's at. The American public doesn't care about the personalities of our country's scientists or technologists.
Does that make American priorities really shallow? Only those who measure success with money sees it that way. To those who make a decent living and going about enjoying life without envy that is not the case.
I find something illogical about these two posts coming one after the other.
I agree that entrepreneurs are responsible for the creation of new technologies, great strides in medicine, etc., and the strength of our economy. I also agree that they "deserve" what they get in return because of the risks they take; and the qualifications, ambition, innovation, and drive that it takes to get the results they and their shareholders want to make their products and businesses successful.
But what about, why they do it? Are most of them driven by a desire to benefit society? No. Most do it for the money. Personal wealth, an affluent lifestyle, to have the best for their families, a secure retirement, an inheritance for their children, etc. And I agree that they get what they do because it's what the "market" says they "deserve" and will bear. Does the promise of all that attract a lot of unqualified idiots? Of course it does, just look at all the businesses that are started and soon fail. Those unqualified idiots don't last very long because they don't get the required results. And part of the reason they don't get the results is because they don't have the best equipment, the best ideas, the best innovations, the best managers and workers, etc.
So how can you say that the same thing wouldn't work in the education market? Studies have also shown that schools in high tax-bracket districts (markets) with parents (shareholders) who are willing and able to invest in the best facilities, equipment, and salaries to attract the best teachers are much more successful in getting the results they want for success. They want their kids to get into the best colleges and they want them to be prepared for success in those colleges and therefore the workplace.
Can anyone with a college degree get a job as a teacher? The answer would be yes for most districts, but not for these. Why? Because these shareholders don't want babysitters teaching a cookie-cutter curriculum to their students. They may attract a lot of unqualified idiots in their marketplace just as the business world does, but just like the in the business world, those people either don't make the cut or are soon out when they don't get the required results (the only difference being that when they are let go they don't get the $100 million severance package that a lot of corporate CEO's get when they're forced out.).
Offering high salaries for teachers would attract the best and the brightest, the most qualified, innovative, ambitious, and driven. And you would get the results you want from them, but only if the current system is overhauled. The current tenure system would have to be thrown out and replaced with an on-going results based one. Just like the one for entrepreneurs. The teacher unions would have to be dissolved. Political corruption in the bureaucracy would have to be eliminated. And the services and products produced would have to be highly valued in the marketplace.
Relatively small wealthy ones are willing to bear the cost of the investment for what they view as a large return on it. The larger national one is not.
Jadow
Diamond Member
- Feb 12, 2003
- 5,962
- 2
- 0
I could care less if a NASA scientist makes 1/100th of Katie Couric. It's a free market system. If someone wants to pay Katie X million dollars, good for her.
EDIT. The key point being, the Government isn't FORCING anyone to do any job or accept any wage. If a teacher is unhappy with her pay and wants to get paid like Katie, she's free to pursue a career in TV, and based on her own talents, will succeed or fail. It's called Freedom.
EDIT. The key point being, the Government isn't FORCING anyone to do any job or accept any wage. If a teacher is unhappy with her pay and wants to get paid like Katie, she's free to pursue a career in TV, and based on her own talents, will succeed or fail. It's called Freedom.
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