Governor David Paterson and top legislative leaders Sunday finished negotiations on the proposed budget for the state of New York. The governor, along with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Malcom Smith rolled out the $131.8 billion package.

Yes new taxes

Critics, of course, had plenty to say about the governor’s proposals. The package raises taxes and ups spending. Paterson says taxes must be raised to rectify a $16 billion budget gap. The budget also eliminates a property tax rebate. In total, the plan brings in $7 million in new taxes and fees.

But before you New Yorkers run out and get payday loans, CBS reports that taxes will only be raised for the wealthiest New Yorkers.

A little help from the feds

New York state will receive $7.2 billion from the federal stimulus package. The biggest spending boosts are for education, although there are some pretty big cuts to education as well.

Less for the little guys

The budget includes cutting funding for community colleges in New York by $49 million. However, it adds $125 million in funding for the State University of New York. That will put the total funding for that university at $2.5 billion. It also give $86 million more to the City University of New York, for a new total of $1.4 billion.

It also adds $50 million to the tuition assistance program.

More on schools

As for primary education, public school funding will increase by about $1.1 billion. The  new version of the budget does not contain the $700 million cut in school spending Paterson proposed in December. The new spending will make New York one of the highest spenders in the nation on education.

Bottling up taxpayer money

5 cents

The budget adds to the state’s bottle bill. It requires a 5 cent deposit on water bottles in addition to the 5 cent deposit already required for carbonated drink containers. It ups the cigarette tax on cigarillos so it is equal to the regular cigarette tax.

In a first-of-its-kind event, President Barack Obama today held a town hall meeting in the White House that was broadcast live on the internet. He answered questions submitted to Whitehouse.gov before taking live questions from the audience in the East Room.

Taxing questions on taxes

One question from a small businessman in the East Room audience has gotten some attention in the blogosphere. He explained that all the profit he made was being reinvested in his business or going toward paying off his personal loans for his business.

However, he has to pay income tax on that money, even though he never sees a penny of it. To make matters worse, it puts him in the highest tax bracket. He asked what Obama will do to help him.

Might need some fine-tuning

Obama was pretty general in his answer. He assured the businessman that he was committed to lowering the tax burden on small businesses and start-ups. He added that a cut in capital gains taxes for small businesses will go into effect in about five years.

Public schools

Another online question addressed education: How does the president plan to restore education as a right and a core cultural value?

Obama said the education system needs resources and reform. He talked about teacher incentives and being open to charter schools. I thought it was a bit of a curve ball when he threw in: “We have a school system designed for the agricultural era” that gives children three months off in the summer.

Bringing it home

Obama also fielded a question about homeownership.

What benefits are in his programs “to those of us paying our mortgages, but living paycheck to paycheck,” an online questioner asked.

Obama said his efforts so far have lowered mortgage rates and opened up more FHA loans. This makes it easier for homeowners to refinance, he says.

Unsecured personal loans can be a fantastic way to quickly solve some of your financial snags. With a reliable company, you can get the money you need quickly, and use it for what you need.

Is collateral required?

An unsecured loan is a loan that does not require collateral. Many loaning agencies require individuals to put up collateral to ensure the repayment of the loan. With large loans, this could mean a car, or even your house. This is a scary thought for many people, and rightfully so.

What happens if I default on a secured loan?

If a person defaults on a secured loan, the bank that made the loan can seize their home or car, whatever was put up as collateral, and sell it. Unsecured personal loans do not require any such steps, and eliminates the chance of having property seized.

Why do people get unsecured loans?

People get unsecured loans for many reasons. Some of the most common reasons include home repairs, vehicle repairs, medical bills, and education bills. Other reasons include debt consolidation. Many people are overwhelmed by the number of bills they receive, and find it easier to keep track of one large bill instead of a bunch of small ones.

A loan to replace a loan?

Another reason someone might opt for a loan like this is to replace a loan with a high interest payment. This is a good strategy. Most people do not realize how much interest they pay on a loan. If someone gets an unsecured loan with a low interest rate, and uses it to pay off a high-interest loan, they have a smaller bill each month. This can help if you need a smaller monthly bill, and it can work even better if you continue to pay the original amount every month. This pays the principle down faster, and you get out of debt sooner.

What are some other perks of unsecured loans?

An unsecured personal loan can be a very flexible option for people to look into. Small amounts of money can be borrowed, or very large sums can be gotten. This makes it a great option because you can borrow what you need.

Should I get an adjustable interest rate?

You can get a sense of confidence when you have a loan like this. Some loans have adjustable interest rates, and these can really hurt over the long run. Adjustable rates change over time, and even if you get a great rate at the beginning of your loan, it could end up being much higher later on.

Fixed interest rates

With most loan institutions, an unsecured loan will have a fixed interest rate, and fixed monthly payments. This is comforting because you always know exactly what your monthly payment will be.  Payment is the same every month. Fixed interest keeps you from worrying that payment will change. This makes for easy budgeting.

Check with your lender first

While some loan institutions will make you keep the loan for the entire life of it, there are many who will allow you to pay down additional principal whenever you like. This lets you pay even less interest on your loan.

Turn a short term loan into a longer term loan

Another tactic people can use with an unsecured loan is to pay off a loan that has a short term and high payments, and turn it into a longer term with lower payments. This is not always better, but for some people this can take some of the strain off of making their monthly payments.

Is an unsecured loan right for you?

Only you can decide if this kind of loan will place you in a better financial situation. The best thing to do is to educate yourself on the types of loans you are thinking about getting, and weigh them against each other. But unsecured personal loans can help provide the money you need and the comfort you want.

President Barack Obama revealed his budget proposals yesterday. The 2010 budget increases funding for the Agriculture Department to $26 billion. However, it also decreases funding for some programs that have been around for a long time.

No more farm subsidies for some

Over the three years that begin in September, Obama proposes phasing out direct payments to some farmers. This will only affect farmers who bring in more than $500,000 per year in sales revenue.

He will also decrease funding for the Market Access Program. The plan would eliminate funding to  promote overseas brands.

Expensive census

Obama hasn’t appointed a Department of Commerce Secretary yet, but he has drawn up plans for how much he wants to spend on commerce. This department’s funding would make a big jump from $9.3 billion to $13.8 billion.

Most of the additional spending would go toward the 2010 Census. Obama wants to ensure the Census is completed “effectively, efficiently and on time.”

Investing in education

The 2010 budget calls for $46.7 billion for education. That’s $500 million more than the education budget for 2009. The budget includes $2.5 billion to help low-income students go to college.

Focus on energy

In the Energy Department, the budget allows for $26.3 billion in spending. That’s in addition to the $11 billion for energy in the stimulus package.

Obama says his plan “supports and encourages the early commercial development of innovative, clean energy technologies through loan guarantees.”

Beefing up security

Obama plans to invest more money in Homeland Security than was spent last year. The total comes to $42.7 billion, compared to$40.1 billion in 2009.

His plan includes adding more “Visual Intermodal Protection Response” teams, changing the system for vetting travelers and workers, expanding the electronic employment eligibility verification system and extra funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement programs.

And justice for all

The budget proposes funding to hire more prosecutors and agents to combat financial fraud and more police officers. It dedicates funds to making the border more secure and proposes $145 million to strengthen civil rights enforcement.

Obama talks "bold action and big ideas."

In his speech last night, President Barack Obama reiterated the point that access to easy loans is an important factor in getting our economy back on track.

He also emphasized that “education, health care and energy were a vital part of the long-term sustainability of the economy,” says The New York Times.

Why easy loans are important

When speaking about the banking system, Obama emphasized that he wasn’t out to give handouts to failing organizations.

“It’s not about helping banks, it’s about helping people,” he said.

The banking system must be stabilized, he said, so that credit will start working normally again. If Americans can get easy loans, they’ll be able to buy cars and houses again, and the economy will grow again.

Restoring confidence

Obama’s tone was optimistic and encouraging throughout his speech. He spoke about the United States as a nation that does not quit. He said we must seize “opportunity from ordeal.”
He told stories about a bank executive who split his $60 million retirement bonus with all of his employees. He hailed the man as a great example. He assured listeners that the days of executives padding their paychecks with taxpayer money are over.

Not nonpartisan

News organizations are pointing out many of his ideas go directly against Republican ideals. He is proposing raising taxes on the wealthy, revamping health care and reversing climate change.

Obama says he does not want bigger government, but he is headed toward having a more activist government.

No baby steps

One New York Times writer suggests:

“Another approach might have been simply to preach patience, to seek time for his initiatives to take root.”

However, in Obama’s speech he made it clear that he’s confident that we, as a nation, can turn around the economy while still accomplishing other important goals. He has not abandoned the issues he focused on during his campaign.

Where credit is due

After a little more than a month in office, Obama enjoys a fairy high approval rating. It’s different depending on whose poll you look at, but consensus is that a healthy majority has faith in our new leader.

Obama no doubt will become even more popular if his plan to right the economy works and easy loans start flowing to the public once again.

About 1.2 million public high school students drop out every year

Education is absolutely important; just like how payday loans are when it comes to your finances. Young people who don’t complete high school will face more problems in their adult lives than people who graduate.  You must have at least the minimum skills and necessary credentials to properly function in today’s world. Despite the seriousness of having a diploma, many people don’t realize it or chose to simply ignore it.

The Problems with Dropouts

Many people don’t realize that this problem generally begins at home. Family problems are the leading factor in a young student’s life. Some parents show no interest in education and fail to provide guidance and support their children in studying. Other parents assume that sending their children to school and looking at their report cards is enough. However, studies have shown that parental involvement extensively affects a child’s performance in school.

Social problems are also a contributing factor. Some students will do everything or make up anything to avoid having to go to school. Without knowing, your child could be a victim of bulling or is constantly ridiculed by peers. Social problems can occur over ethnic backgrounds, religious preference or just having different morals and beliefs.

Another reason is work pressure. There many families that is in desperate financial need, unable to match with the living costs or obtain financial assistance such as enough state benefits, let alone payday loans. Therefore, the children are required to find work to help pay for household expenses. These problems are some of the most common reasons why young people are uneducated, unskilled and/or unable to perform their best in this corporate world.

High School Dropouts Cost States Billions

According to researchers, some 1.2 million public high school students drop out every year. In California alone, about 120,000 students fail to get a diploma by age 20. In truth, high school dropouts cost billions of state money.

According to the California Dropout Research Project, each annual wave of dropouts costs the state $46.4 billion over a lifetime because people without a diploma will most likely be unemployed, incarcerated, need state-funded medical care, apply for welfare and pay no taxes. Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, high schools are required to raise their graduation rate each year by one-tenth of a percentage point, or sustain at least an 82.9 graduation percentage.

Researchers’ biggest complaint is that California does not have a system to accurately measure the dropout and graduation rates. California State Sen. Darrell Steinberg created the SB219, a law that will add dropout rates for grades eight and nine to the Academic Performance Index once the student-tracking system is in place. With fiscal crisis and a deteriorating economy, school districts and other agencies throughout the state are forced to put an axe to their budget.

No Credential, No Job, No Payday Loans

With the way the economy is going, we can easily get distracted. Of course the current economic crisis is a huge matter that needs immediate, extensive attention; but so are our children. How well they are educated will determine the kind of economic structure we will have in the near future. We can’t just depend on payday loans when hard times strike. Rather, train our children on money management techniques that will help significantly when financial hardships strike. Emphasize the importance of having the right skills and knowledge to properly function in today’s society.

Part of Obama’s costly Stimulus Plan involves alternative energy generating which should create jobs as well. At a time when many of us are in desperate need of a payday loan, a plan comes to light that just might work. Within a handful of days before getting sworn in, President-elect Barack Obama visited Ohio, making an appearance at the Cardinal Fastener & Specialty Co., a manufacturer of parts for wind turbines which generate electricity. In proposing his humongous economic stimulus plan, he has said, “It’s not too late to change course – but only if we take dramatic action as soon as possible . . . The first job of my administration is to put people back to work and get our economy moving again.”

The plan in hand is quite enormous indeed. . .

We’re talking about an $825+ billion stimulus package, representing around $275 billion in tax cuts over the next two years as well as $550 billion in federal spending to make this plan work to kick-start our critical economy. In pitching this whole idea, our 44th president explained that it is required to create long-lasting, well-paying employment positions in many fields such as alternative energy, and help out industrial states that have been hit hard by the failing economy, like Ohio, immediately and for a long time to come.

To some, his idea seems to make sense. . .

In speaking on the subject of creating jobs for the American people, he said, “We’re not looking to create just any kind of jobs here. . .  We’re looking to create good jobs that pay well and won’t be shipped overseas. Jobs that don’t just put people to work in the short term, but position our economy to be on the cutting edge in the long term.” Well said. And really, that’s all we want, right? Imagine a time where we can be comfortable enough to not have the need to take out a life-saving payday loan. That’s what we definitely could use right about now, wouldn’t you agree?

Is this all just a wind-blown idea?

Other energy related proposals will include $20+ billion in tax cuts for promoting the development of alternatives for fossil fuels, and quite a few billion more for making buildings and homes, such as federal buildings, modest-income homes and public housing, more energy efficient. Of course, such an enormous plan won’t only focus on this one angle to stimulate the economy. Besides energy, this plan is also to focus quite heavily on health care, education and highway construction which will create many jobs as well.

His call to action has a tone of urgency in his voice

True enough, Obama has a phenomenally huge mess to clean up when it comes to our economy. He hit the nail right on the head when he said, “The need for us to act is now. It’s never been more urgent”. I cannot think of any other time in history when a U.S. President ever walked into the job with an inordinately overwhelming amount of things that needs to be done. From his very first day in the office, he’ll be handed the reins to a country in one of the worst crisis situations in a good long while. In light of the reality of our country’s situation, Barack Obama also said, “Recovery won’t happen overnight, and it’s likely that, even with these measures, things will get worse before they get better.” As for myself, I’d better apply for a payday loan.

It may seem early, but some states have February deadlines for turning in the FAFSA, the biggest source of financial aid for college students. So make sure you know the deadline in your state, and start filling out that paperwork.

Making the most of it

There are ways to get the most out of your financial aid package, without taking out payday loans and SmartMoney was kind enough to compile a list. The article lists five ways to boost the amount of money you receive.

Turning in the FAFSA as early as possible is the first item on the list. The feds will accept FAFSAs until the end of June, but universities and states can have different, earlier deadlines. Also, as time goes on, the financial aid pot shrinks. The closer you are to “first come,” the more you’ll be served.

Open up

Most financial aid applications require that you fill out your family’s income, but this may not be the best indicator of your financial situation. Write a detailed letter to the college letting them know of any changes in situation that won’t show up in the line item that shows income.

As long as you provide accurate information and any documents that back up your claims, you  have a good chance of ending up with some extra cash if you need it.

Get educated

FAFSA requirements have changed in the last year. Parents no longer need to report it if they received Social Security benefits and had children who received Social Security benefits. Excluding this amount can mean more federal funds in your pocket.

Scholarships

Before you go out and apply for every scholarship you can think of, make sure you know the consequences of receiving said scholarships. Any money you get from a scholarship will affect the amount that you can get from the Feds.

Say you got a $1,000 scholarship. It is possible that because of that scholarship you will lose out on a much higher amount of money from the government.

Don’t give up

If you or your family is in need of more money than what you’re offered, appeal, appeal, appeal. It’s worth a shot. But be careful, and only do this if you do, in fact, need more money. An appeal could cause deeper scrutiny of your family’s finances and assets, and it is possible that you will end up with even less money than they offered before.

So follow these tips to make sure you get it if there’s any extra cash out there for you, so you won’t need payday loans.

Most people know that education is a good investment. College degrees fetch higher salaries, thus giving the student a return on his or her investment. But does higher tuition mean a better education or a better salary? A report at from SmartMoney.com addresses this question.

Price difference

For students who move to a different state to go to college, private schools cost about 30 percent more. Stay home to go to school and that difference jumps to about 75 percent.

So going to a public school in your home state costs a quarter of what it would cost to go to a private school.

Speaking of price difference, the fees on payday loans are often less than the costs incurred from bounced checks or bills that are paid late.

Nuts and bolts

The SmartMoney report analyzed the cost of private school versus public schools based on out-of-state tuition. It looked at the cost of attending 50  university and the salaries of alumni three years later and 15 years later.

The results are not surprising. While many Ivy leaguers do make higher salaries, the extra money they spend repaying their student loans cuts greatly into the return on their investment.

All about the Benjamins

SmartMoney’s survey looked at financial gain only. It didn’t factor in the other reasons students go to college. It didn’t measure how well-educated graduates were.

The formula, which used PayScale.com to find out the alumni salaries, simply compares dollars and cents. For some students, college is all about the experience. Many graduates don’t even get jobs in their field of study. And private schools do boast a higher faculty-to-student ratio.

But in terms of cost versus earning potential only, it’s no surprise that public schools topped the list. Here are the schools that came out on top.

Winners

No. 1: University of Georgia, which offered an average 338 percent return on students’ investments.

No. 2: Texas A&M, 315 percent

No. 3: University of Texas, Austin, 306 percent

No. 4: Georgia Tech, 263 percent

No. 5: University of Washington, 225 percent

An imperfect model

Looks like Texas and Georgia are the places to go to get the most bang for your buck. But keep in mind that these figures are based on out-of-state tuition and fees. Also, the study only “looked at what graduates from 50 of the most expensive four-year colleges earn in their early and midcareers.”

So there are even less expensive schools out there that could potentially give you an even larger return on your investment. Another way to save money on getting an education is to get an associate’s degree from a community college, then transfer to a four-year college. Community colleges generally don’t charge out-of-state fees.

One college-girl’s opinion

As a college graduate myself, here’s my model for the least expensive way to get a degree:

Go to community college first. Tuition is a fraction of what it costs to go to a four-year university. After you transfer and get your bachelor’s degree, it’ll carry just as much weight as everyone else’s.

If you want to go to an out-of state school: Most states consider you a resident after you’ve lived there one year, as long as you only go to school part-time. So move to the place where you want to go to school, attend community college part-time for a year. Then you’ll be able to pay in-state tuition and fees for the rest of your college career.

In the end, extra money saved will turn into extra money earned, and you’ll be less likely to need payday loans.

Yet simple, fact-based (rather than anecdotal) evidence tends to cut to the heart of the matter. Recent studies by Answers, etc., a company that has developed check-cashing and payday advance software for the consumer financial services industry since 1989, presents clear information about payday loans. Their research over the past few years indicate that payday loan costs, the standard customer profile and how the consumer loan products are regulated fall far from the media’s unstudied portrayal.

What do payday loans cost in relation to typical alternatives?

Answer, Etc’s findings indicate that on average, payday loan fees are 2.3 times less expensive than checking overdraft charges. An even greater discrepancy exists when late charges and utility reconnect fees are considered. Banks and credit unions are fond of citing the near 400 percent APR that accompanies a no fax payday loan, but this is misleading. First of all, no payday loan is a 12-month loan; typically they are to be repaid in two weeks. Furthermore, payday loan opponents deliberately neglect to mention that the APR game definitely doesn’t play favorably upon their argument, as you’ll see. These are average examples; frequently the other numbers can make payday loans look like even more of a bargain:

• $100 payday advance – $15 fee, 391 percent APR
• $100 checking overdraft protection – $30 fee, 782 percent APR
• $100 credit card bill with late fee – $29 fee, 756 percent APR
• $100 bill, fee for late/disconnected utility bill – $50 fee, 1,304 percent APR
• $100 bounced check/NSF – $25 fee, 652 percent APR

Interestingly, banks and credit unions are exempted from disclosing their fees for overdraft protection and NSF charges as an APR. Perhaps the above information casts a harsh light on the reason why.

How much do THEIR fees cost?

• Consumers will pay $4.2 billion in ATM service charges in 2006 to withdraw their own money (Bankrate.com Fall 2006 Survey)
• Consumers pay an estimated $22 billion in NSF fees to banks and credit unions (”Contrasting Payday Loans to Bounced Check Fees,” Consumer Credit Research Foundation, Thomas E. Lehman, Ph.D., 2005)
• Banks collect an estimated $10.3 billion annually for overdraft protection services (”Overdraft Fees Can Overwhelm,” Washington Post, June 26, 2005)
• In 2000, consumers paid credit card interest of more than $87 billion (Public Interest Research Group, 2002)
• An estimated $57 billion in late bill payment fees were collected by businesses in 2003, more than 140 percent of the total estimated payday lending volume in the United States (”Sizing NSF-Related Fees,” BAI Banking Strategies Magazine, Bill Stoneman, January-February, 2005)
• Credit card late fee penalties totaled over $11 billion in 2005 (CreditCards.com, November 2006)

Payday loans are regulated to best serve consumers

The “cycle of debt” that the media attributes to payday loans is quite often an impossibility, as few or no loan rollovers are typically allowed. Here are recent restrictions states place on the industry. Any that have changed have only become more strict. They remain among the lowest rates in the country for consumer loans:

• Arizona: 15 percent max fee; $500 max loan; three rollovers
• California 15 percent max fee; $300 max loan; no rollovers
• Colorado: 20 percent max fee on first $300, 7.5 percent on next $200; $500 max loan; one rollover
• Kansas: 15 percent max fee; $500 max loan; no rollovers
• Missouri: 75 percent of loan amount Max Fee; $500 max loan; Up to 6 rollovers;
• Nebraska: 15% Max Fee; $500 max loan; No rollovers;
• Nevada: No Limit; 25% of gross income max loan; None beyond 60 days for original due date;
• Oklahoma: 15% Max Fee up to $300, 10% above $300; $500 max loan, No rollovers
• Oregon: No Limit; Subject to net income max loan; 3 rollovers
• Washington: 15% on the first $500, 10% to $700 max fee; $700 max loan loaned; No rollover.

Portrait of a payday loan customer

• The average payday advance customers earn $40,000 annually
• 68 percent are under 45 years old; only four percent are over 65, compared to 20 percent of the population
• 94 percent have a high school diploma or better, while 58 percent have some college and 19 percent have a college degree
• 41 percent percent own their own homes
• 85 percent have access to other credit, including savings accounts
• 77 percent of the customers were satisfied with their experience
• 92 percent of customers think payday lenders offer a valuable service
• 90 percent of customer are satisfied with their understanding of the terms and conditions of the loan
• 100% have steady incomes and active checking accounts, both of which are required to receive payday loans

(Sources: The Credit Research Center, McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University, Gregory Elliehausen and Edward C. Lawrence; “Payday Advance Credit in America: An Analysis of Customer Demand,” April 2001; Cypress Research Group, “Payday Loan Customer Satisfaction Study,” April 2004)

Payday loans exist because the public supports them

Regardless of media claims, payday loans are a viable form of short-term support when consumers face financial shortfall. Consumers find them to be consistently fast, convenient and discreet. When the simple, most direct data is studied as Answers, etc. has done, the haze of media bias is cleared and real answers become apparent.

How my journey to goth began.

My journey began when I began pairing my black Hot Topic shirts, promoting
bands such as Slipknot, Insane Clown Posse, Pantera, Korn, and Limp Bizkit, with
my modest rotation of black slacks and steel-toe boots. Considering that
some of the stuff was a bit pricey, my mom had to use no fax payday loans;then again, it was so worth it.

*N Sync, Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears- Think Again!

Anyways, most of this behavior was to show my allegiance to the to the new,
more abrasive, genre of music I’d been buying into for the last couple of years;
largely as a rebellion against the wildly-popular manufactured pop music of the
time by *N Sync, Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, and the like.

My parade didn’t carry on for too long, however, when I learned that one of these people I was modeling my style of dress after was starting to feel as if I were mocking him and his group of friends.

Don’t be a poser-Learn about Goth!

“Dude, Slipknot, ICP, and Korn are a bunch of posers!” he began. “If you really want to dress that way, and you really want to be a Goth, you ought to learn what it’s really all about.” Hating the notion that I was living as a poser at the time, I knew that I had a big stack of homework waiting to be done. With that in mind, I read up on the history of Goth, from it’s beginnings to the state of things now, got schooled in the music, acquired more no fax payday loans and really started taking a liking to it. Tomorrow, I’ll tell you all about my continuing journey into Goth, and how
no fax payday loans helped me get there.

If you’ve been reading my blog entries for a little bit of time, you know that I’m a sucker for a controversial news story. My desires were fed this morning with an article from USA Today’s website entitled, “NYC teachers sue to wear political buttons in school.”

In the report, it tells of how Universities, in various states, have forbidden their students, faculty, and staff, from not only wearing candidate-supporting garb, but also participating in partisan rallies and the like. Justification stems from an apparent law, proclaiming that all state employees are forbidden from participating in political rallies and/or expressing their support or opposition of a candidate.

Seriously, isn’t that what going to a public university is about; being able to learn of the world around you, by hearing from all viewpoints equally? At least that’s what I thought, also considering that in order to know who you support for elected office you must know where they stand. I also thought that, despite the predominate slant to the left, a public university is where you can believe what you choose, and shed fears of the prevalent agenda within our nation’s K-12 systems.

Brainwashing children

The late George Carlin explained the pitfalls of the public school system best during his 2001 HBO special, “Complaints and Grievances.” In it, he describes public schools as indoctrination centers, where children are sent to be brainwashed, stripped of their identities and become mindless members of a consumerist society. Brother, we applaud you for telling it like it is.

Further proof can be seen of this, within the evidence I gained during a recent conversation with my boss. During the meeting, she told me of one of her children who was told he was wrong when he answered “George W. Bush,” not “John Kerry,” in response to the exam question, “who do you support for president?” You’d never believe what my rightfully-seething boss was told when she confronted the higher-ups at the public institution.

“Kids in public school are taught that they must be obedient,” one of them responded. Certainly, if that were my child in the system, being told that they’re on the verge of flunking because their views clash with those of the majority, I would be outraged, as well. Because, hey, to say the least, what they’re teaching aren’t the tenets of the true American way; instead, they’re pushing for a socialist society, where we all live the way that Big Brother sees fit.

My stomach turns

Hearing of such things going on in our public schools never fails to make my stomach turn. I mean, the concept of Universities employing agenda-driven professors is nothing new, but today’s students ought to be completely free to learn about the world around them. Then, in the end, the option should be there to decide what they believe, not that of their legislative masters.

The same thing goes for another thing which, in tough times, is just as important as our constitutional right to free speech; installment loans. Just like the right for folks to express their political views on public campuses, the quick and convenient installment loans service has come under fire, with state and national politicians wielding the flame throwers.

Vote YES

We have the opportunity to stomp out the fires they’ve started, coming up on November 4. We can save the short term installment loans industry by voting Yes on Arizona’s Proposition 200, and no on Ohio’s Governor-backed HB 545. Otherwise, our school children will not only continue to be told to “sit down and shut up,” but our economies will suffer even further decay.