By David Jackson, USA TODAY
Russia's foreign ministry has said that if the United Nations were to pull out of Syria, it would have "serious negative consequences" for the region.
Obama: My plan will save teachers' jobs
President Obama again urged Congress to pass his jobs bill Saturday, this time with an emphasis on teachers.
"Since 2009, we've lost more than 300,000 education jobs, in part because of budget cuts at the state and local level," Obama said during his weekly radio address.
In the 11 months since Obama proposed his jobs bill, congressional Republicans have said the plan would be ineffective while adding to the national debt.
Obama said that the Republicans are pushing a budget that would cut education while giving tax breaks to the wealthy, all at a time when the U.S. faces intense global competition for high-skill jobs.
Education cuts are "the opposite of what we should be doing as a country," Obama said. "States should be making education a priority in their budgets, even in tough fiscal times. And Congress should be willing to help out -- because this affects all of us."
The president's radio address:
Hi, everybody. This week, I spent some time traveling across Iowa talking with folks about rebuilding an economy where if you work hard, you and your family can get ahead.
And along the way, I stopped in at Cascade High School to thank the teachers there for doing such a great job -- and wish them luck as they head back to the classroom for this school year.
There's nothing more important to our country's future than the education we give our kids. And there's no one more important to that education than the person at the front of the classroom.
Teachers matter. Most work tirelessly, with modest pay, sometimes digging into their own pocket for school supplies -- just to make a difference. They give everything for our kids – and in return, we should invest in them.
But here's the thing: this year, several thousand fewer educators will be going back to school. Since 2009, we've lost more than 300,000 education jobs, in part because of budget cuts at the state and local level.
Think about what that means for our country. At a time when the rest of the world is racing to out-educate America; these cuts force our kids into crowded classrooms, cancel programs for preschoolers and kindergarteners, and shorten the school week and the school year.
That's the opposite of what we should be doing as a country. States should be making education a priority in their budgets, even in tough fiscal times. And Congress should be willing to help out -- because this affects all of us.
That's why part of the jobs bill that I sent to Congress last September included support for states to prevent further layoffs and to rehire teachers who'd lost their jobs. But here we are -- a year later with tens of thousands more educators laid off -- and Congress still hasn't done anything about it.
In fact, the economic plan that almost every Republican in Congress voted for would make the situation even worse. It would actually cut funding for education -- which means fewer kids in Head Start, fewer teachers in our classrooms, and fewer college students with access to financial aid -- all to pay for a massive new tax cut for millionaires and billionaires.
That's backwards. That's wrong. That plan doesn't invest in our future; it undercuts our future.
If we want America to lead in the 21st century, nothing is more important than giving everyone the best education possible -- from the day they start preschool to the day they start their career.
That's why we launched a national competition to improve our schools. And for less than one percent of what our nation spends on education each year, we've encouraged almost every state to raise their standards -- the first time that's happened in a generation.
That's why we've invested in math and science education, and given states more flexibility on No Child Left Behind.
And that's why we've reformed the student loan program to put students before big banks, and increased financial aid for millions of young people -- because in America, higher education cannot be a luxury; it's an economic necessity every family should be able to afford.
This is a country where no matter what you look like or where you come from, if you're willing to study and work hard, you can go as far as your talents will take you. You can make it if you try. I am only the President of the United States today because of the chance my education gave me. I want every child in America to have that chance. That's what I'm fighting for. And as long as I have the privilege of being your President, that's what I'm going to keep fighting for.
Thanks, and have a great weekend.
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Today is
A Nation's Priorities are reflected in it's Citizen's Cultural & Civil Values
This Nation is currently in a financial crisis, but, you would never know that any type of financial crisis exists when political parties are receiving donations in historic numbers, hundreds of millions are being donated to each party, in the first ever "$Trillion Dollar" Election.
The Republican Party, during the Bush Admin, spent all of the U.S. Surplus of money, chose to attack Iraq, and said no to the CIA when they had a bead on Osama Bin Laden in Afghanistan and requested to take him out, gave the rich tax breaks that continues to this day and is paid for each month with money that is borrowed from China adding to our unimaginable deficit.
And while Bush was doing all this financial destruction to this nation, his friends were raking in huge sums of untracked money, to the tune of $Billions. What were the Democrats doing while Bush gave away this countries wealth..., not one darn thing.
For the past 3.8 years of Obama's admin, post Bush financial destruction of the U.S. economy, the republicans in the house have committed "Treason" by collectively undermining any and every initiative that the Obama administration have attempted to introduce with sincere intentions of helping "all" the American citizens and this country.
The success of the republican's efforts of "Treason" is reflected in the unemployment rate,
the reduction of the U.S.'s Credit Rating for the first time in American History,
the verge of collapse of bridges across this country in each and every state,
the state of roads in this country costing citizens $Trillions due to the unmanaged conditions of the asphalt that cause car damages daily,
the college systems on the brink of loosing its credibility based on the amount of college fees as compared to jobs capable of allowing graduating students to repay college loans based on their income capable of ernings from a college degree,
the school system on the verge of collapse due to lack of funding for school repairs and up keep,
teachers being laid off due to funding cuts, and students simply not attending schools because of teachers don't care because they are over worked and under paid, Math & Science being ignored while music classes are being removed,
the air traffic control system in the U.S. on the verge of collapse due to outdated infrastructure,
and so much more that we could go on for days, listing the effects of the Treason that is taking place by the republican party, against, not just President Obama, but against every American Citizen, in that, money for a road repair, school repairs, bridge repairs, school teachers pay, don't have a political color, sexual preference or a territory favorite.
What is Education and what are it's effects on citizens
A Nation that educates it's citizens will be more apt to have citizens that create cultural activities for all to enjoy, they would participate in cultural activities with great appreciation and they will encourage their children to participate in cultural events for personal satisfaction.
A Nation that educates it's citizens will reap the benefits in new structure designs that bring visual pleasures for all to view.
A Nation that educates it's citizens benefit from it's citizens willingness to participate in political discussions that ensure that those with mal character are not elected to office.
A Nation that educates it's citizens benefit from minimum numbers of racist acts or activities taking place.
The U.S. current political donations reflect the priorities of the rich and this nation
Just as we read about the ongoing financial crisis that permeates all media conversations, we equally read about how much money is being donated to the two Presidential candidates by the rich.
The Rich have gained huge sums of wealth over the past 10 years, even as the middle class have practically gone away and the poor get more poor.
In one breath, journalist speaks to the harsh conditions in this nations finances, and in the next breath, journalist speak of huge sums of money that both parties are collecting, and what I find interesting is how not 1 journalist that I observed, display any degree of disgust at the fact that the rich are pouring in millions into campaigns while the rich remain silent on arguments about the tax breaks that they are receiving since Bush gave them the tax breaks.
When the Rich chooses to spend their money to bribe politicians and ignore the value of a nation's educational system and a nations cultural pleasures, the poor get more poor, and the politicians focus their careers on pleasing the rich campaign donators.
Today, our roads are that of a 3rd world nations because building and repairing roads don't generate huge profits for the extremely wealthy. Our Bridges are on the verge of collapsing because politicians would rather spend state money on projects that benefit that huge campaign donor who would prefer states invest in high cost insurance programs for state employees.
We complain that we don't have enough technically trained citizens to address all the technical jobs that are currently available in the U.S...., and you wonder how that happened?
In My Opinion
ASKFMB
8/18/2012
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