When?

[Xavier_Onassis]

What makes America great is that we've been great enough to fix our mistakes, and we do so unlike most countries on the planet.

===================================================================
I think one can say that the Germans, Italians and Japanese did a better job by far of "fixing" the errors caused by Hitler, Mussolini and Tojo that the US ever has at "fixing" the errors caused by slavery.

It would appear that many countries are at least at good at fixing their "mistakes" as the US.

I am waiting anxiously for someone to fix the multitudinious mistakes of Juniorbush and Dickless Cheney.

[Xavier_Onassis]

I'd like to see the factory that makes something without labor.
====================================================
There are many factories which do nearly all the labor with robots. Lightbulb factories mostly use labor only to pack the boxes of bulbs in larger boxes.

Petrochemicals require very few humans doing physical labor.
 

[_JS]

>>Cheney has a deferred compensation account with Halliburton arranged in 1998 of which he is still legally entitled to own.<<

This is interesting. He is still legally entitled to own? Of course he doesn't, and hasn't since 2000.

Or figures seem to differ, but that doesn't change the fact that regardless of what he EARNED while at Haliburton, he hasn't recieved anything additional from it since 2000.

As for hating America, you always revel in reminding us of America's past mistakes. What makes America great is that we've been great enough to fix our mistakes, and we do so unlike most countries on the planet.

Yes, he does. Cheney

Cheney receives deferred compensation from Halliburton under an arrangement he made in 1998, and also retains stock options.

And yes he has, though he claims that his family has given the additional proceeds earned while he is in office to charity.

How do you know that I "revel?" Where did you get that?

Can you give some examples of fixing our mistakes? How did we "fix" the mistakes we made in Latin America or Selma?

[Xavier_Onassis]

There are three components of manufacturing: raw materials, labor and capital.
Capital is used to purchase the factory and the equipment used in manufacturing. Raw materials are the substance from which the product is made, and labor adds what is called additional value to the product.

In a capitalist society, the capitalist decides at what price the product will be sold. This is not decided on the basis of for whom the product might do the greatest good, as one might logically do if the product is something needed crucially, such as a vaccine, or what it might cost to make the product.

Depending on competition, the capitalist might have to reduce the price of his product to compete with other producers.

In a socialist society, the factory is built by and belongs to the government or perhaps the workers in the factory. In this case, the selling price does not depend on a maximum profit, nor is there any severe competition to worry about. The price of bread, for example, will be determined by the cost of raw materials such as flour, oil, yeast and such as well as the utility of the product to the consumer.

Marx is worth reading because his analysis of what the problems of capitalism are are largely correct. He was, however, incorrect in that he did not forsee that the human nature of those running a socialist state could cause a variety of problems with regard to favoritism, over and underproduction, the arising of black and gray markets, and the tendency of those running the factories being almost as oppressive as the capitialists who once ran them.

Pretty much everyone agrees that the slogan "From whom according to his abilities, to whom according to his needs" is far too utopian for humans as they are today or ever will become. Some people can do many things, and they end up doing most ofthe work, while others never learn to even try to learn to do much more than drudgery.

Communism has worked better in China than nearly anywhere else, dur to the fact that Chinese society is more regimented than that of most other places.

The East Germans had a far more egalitarian and prosperous society after 45 years than the Russians managed to attain in 75 years. There was no hunger, unemployment or widespread disease in the GDR by 1991. The main reason for the collapse was that the Westies had attained a far greater degree of prosperity.

[Cynthia]

Ami,
I have been researching some things about our NM school system in NM.  NMPED
Which is something I don't usually have time to do, and I have to admit, I need to take time to learn more. This is fascinating. Thanks for the push to find out more details.. . but..there is still a but.... there is more to statistical evidence. The REAL STORY behind the scenes, sometimes.

Ok...anyway I know...This doesn't answer that 18% question, as I am waiting for a phone call, as I type. ha.
But, in the meantime, I thought I would post some stats here.

I found this 2007 annual report very interesting, indeed.

Whoohooo...we rank 1 when it comers to KIDS GETTING A FREE MEAL.
  but, I suppose there'e more to that story too. ha.

New Mexico ranks 1st in the nation for the highest number of lowincome
students eating free and reduced-price breakfast.
Food and Research Action Center 2007
New Mexico ranks 1st for growth in Oral Reading fluency in Reading First
Western States. Federal Reading First Office 2007
New Mexico ranks 4th nationally for standards, assessments, and
Accountability. ?Quality Counts 2007: From Cradle to Career, Connecting
American Education From Birth to Adulthood,? Education Week 2007
New Mexico is recognized for having high academic standards aligned to
the National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP).
US Department of Education 2007
? 8th nationally in 4th grade reading
? 9th nationally in 4th grade math
? 7th nationally in 8th grade math
? 11th nationally in 8th grade reading
New Mexico is recognized for significant increases in academic performance
on the NAEP. US Department of Education 2007
? NM is one of only 4 states to show significant increases in math and reading
for 4th grade Hispanic students.
? NM is one of only 14 states to show significant increases in both 4th
grade math and reading for all students.
? NM is recognized for significant increases in 4th and 8th grade, math and
reading for Hispanic students.
? NM is recognized for significant increases in math and reading for 4th
grade students eligible for free/reduced lunch.
16 New Mexico High Schools rank among the nation?s top high schools
for ensuring quality education and college readiness for all
Students. ?America?s Best High Schools? US News and World Report
2007
Excellent Standards, Accountability, &
Assessments
In 2007, according to Education Week?s Quality
Counts Report, New Mexico ranks 4th in the nation
for aggressive state policies ensuring
high standards, aligned assessments, and
strong school accountability.



I found the last line in this letter to be very interesting. .."a more rigorous high school graduation requirement".
I wonder if, given time for so many of these changes in the PS' to "kick in", that the drop out rate will improve. Hmm, just a thought. The 'time element' for any new change needs to also be considered. Over time, perhaps that is when we can measure these changes with more clarity. I know for sure that the new programs we have implemented require at least 5-6 years to see better results in terms of assessments.

(This comes from the opening page in the report.)


A robust education system demands a comprehensive approach to academic success. In 2007, New
Mexico earned national recognition for education reform initiatives, our outstanding schools, and for the
progress our students are making academically. Increased public PreK enrollment, parent and community
involvement initiatives, more highly qualified teachers than ever before, increased professional development
opportunities, increased educator salaries, increased access to technology, achievement gap
initiatives, higher academic performance standards, and more rigorous high school graduation requirements
all contributed to moving New Mexico forward in 2007.

[Amianthus]

There are many factories which do nearly all the labor with robots. Lightbulb factories mostly use labor only to pack the boxes of bulbs in larger boxes.

Petrochemicals require very few humans doing physical labor.

And the building of these factories? The maintenance of them? Other robots do repairs, or do humans do them?

[Xavier_Onassis]

And the building of these factories? The maintenance of them? Other robots do repairs, or do humans do them?

========================================================
Yada yada yada.
This is missing the point.

Labor is what creates the added value to the raw material.
For example, a bale of cotton would do you little good in staying warm.

[Amianthus]

Labor is what creates the added value to the raw material.
For example, a bale of cotton would do you little good in staying warm.

Duh.

[Rich]

>>Yes, he does.<<

Here's the truth about Vice President Cheney and Halliburton:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,134761,00.html

and ...

http://www.factcheck.org/kerry_ad_falsely_accuses_cheney_on_halliburton.html

[Rich]

>>I think one can say that the Germans, Italians and Japanese did a better job by far of "fixing" the errors caused by Hitler, Mussolini and Tojo that the US ever has at "fixing" the errors caused by slavery.<<

Can you explain how they did a better job? Is there no more hatred of Jews in Germany? Are there no racists in Germany? Are Germans welcoming people from every nation with open arms?

<chuckle>

[Cynthia]

http://kob.com/article/stories/S398790.shtml?cat=516

Well, I found an online slice of the segment that was aired recently. But I am still waiting back for the demographics coordinator to return my phone call.




Message boards..Interesting, message boards are a dime a dozen ....it seems.
http://www.topix.com/forum/source/kob-new-mexico/TI3EEM5HKPBRRH5NV



http://www.findinternettv.com/Video,item,506099759.aspx

The actual news loop.

[Cynthia]

Ok, my work here is done. 

I still maintain that there is always more to a published article, or statistics that carry weight in terms of money allocated or not allocated. There is always more to any story when it comes to "news" and stats. That was what I was simply trying to argue,Ami.

But, I do have to agree, that finding such details is quite exciting. I don't see everyone on this board doing that, but hey, I will always try to step up to the plate when I can.

Cynthia

[Amianthus]

Ok, my work here is done. 

I still maintain that there is always more to a published article, or statistics that carry weight in terms of money allocated or not allocated. There is always more to any story when it comes to "news" and stats. That was what I was simply trying to argue,Ami.

I wouldn't agree. If you had read the report that BT posted, they rolled up the totals into larger and larger areas, including more school system. If students had transferred to another school system, as implied in the article you presented, they would be included in the statistics.

The problem is that individual school systems are essentially "double counting" students that graduated elsewhere. They reduce the number of students, but still count it as a graduation, which artificially inflates their graduation percentage.

[_JS]

>>I think one can say that the Germans, Italians and Japanese did a better job by far of "fixing" the errors caused by Hitler, Mussolini and Tojo that the US ever has at "fixing" the errors caused by slavery.<<

Can you explain how they did a better job? Is there no more hatred of Jews in Germany? Are there no racists in Germany? Are Germans welcoming people from every nation with open arms?

<chuckle>

So to "fix" a problem, a nation has to eradicate the cause?

I suppose there is no more racism in the United States? African-Americans are as prosperous as whites? Welcome everywhere they go? Mixed marriages are accepted and welcomed by all of white America?

 

[Rich]

X claimed Germany had done a better job than the United States.

You're comments aren't relevant to the discussion.