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In a U.S. First, New Mexico Opens Doors to Free Child Care for All

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Re: In a U.S. First, New Mexico Opens Doors to Free Child Care for All

#391

Post by omikun »

nradov wrote: post #183
TylerE wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why? We don’t need tanks and planes. We have plenty.

We've strayed pretty far from the original topic here, but the reality is that the US military is literally running out of working aircraft because they're so old . The average age of USAF aircraft is now about 28 years. The fleet was allowed to decay and not substantially recapitalized during the GWOT. Many of the fighters in the combat coded inventory aren't even allowed to hit their original 9G maneuvering limit a…

Oh yes it’s about time the US enters another war so we can justify even more military spending and less spending to improve the livelihood of the people.

Just kidding we are already doing that with Venezuela.

Re: In a U.S. First, New Mexico Opens Doors to Free Child Care for All

#392

Post by gfiorav »

venturecruelty wrote: post #383
crazygringo wrote: post #359

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's your source for saying that most people fail to understand that social welfare programs come from taxes? The concept of where government money comes from is such an obvious fact, I don't understand how you can claim most people don't understand it. People go to work for a paycheck, they pay taxes, and they understand money doesn't grow on trees. This is adulting 101. And no, "subsidized" means a portion of som…

Fussing with language to make rightwing political points (i.e. lying) is the bread and butter of rightwing ideology. You don't say "I don't think governments should spend any money on social services or helping their citizens", because that makes you sound like a terrible person. So you look down your nose and say "Well, it's not really FREE, akshually! I am very smart." And then you prance around tooting your dog wh…

Ah, yes, thank you. I was trying to hide my right-wing tendencies. That’s what right-wing people do... they’re very shy!

Re: In a U.S. First, New Mexico Opens Doors to Free Child Care for All

#394

Post by gfiorav »

crazygringo wrote: post #359
gfiorav wrote: post #314

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I hope you were right, but I strongly suspect you are mistaken. Most people fail to understand: - Social welfare programs come at the expense of reducing everyone’s income. - The extent of the social welfare overspending is significant; we have long surpassed the point of helping those in dire need and are now funding numerous programs that, if fully understood in its long-term cost, would likely not be supported. -…

What's your source for saying that most people fail to understand that social welfare programs come from taxes? The concept of where government money comes from is such an obvious fact, I don't understand how you can claim most people don't understand it. People go to work for a paycheck, they pay taxes, and they understand money doesn't grow on trees. This is adulting 101. And no, "subsidized" means a portion of som…

What could possibly be my source for such a claim? Who is funding studies on this topic?

My source is my upbringing in Europe and my subsequent long-term residence in two other countries, which provided me with a unique perspective on people’s feelings and beliefs.

My source is my diverse life experiences, during which I actively engaged with people from all walks of life as much as I could. I am not making any claims about science or indulging in conspiracies. For such claims, I would require concrete evidence.

What I am saying is that a majority of the Europeans, particularly the youth, has become disconnected from the fundamental principle that to distribute wealth, you must generate it first.

I hope that helps.

Re: In a U.S. First, New Mexico Opens Doors to Free Child Care for All

#395

Post by Workaccount2 »

esrauch wrote: post #154
Workaccount2 wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know this sounds cold, but the people who most utilize "free" things are the absolute least likely to understand it's not free. Most people think the state is a machine of infinite money, and the only thing preventing $1 million checks in the mail to everyone is corporate lobbyists protecting the elite.

It's a completely absurd claim that "most" people think the only reason the government isn't sending million dollar checks is hoarding. The government spending too much and the debt being large is an extremely popular talking point, at least half of everyone would say "the federal government should spend less than they do" much less million dollar checks for every person.

I don't know if I have ever met someone in the ~40% of Americans who don't pay income tax, complaining that their government benefits are going too far.

The people who complain most about government spending are the people who pay a lot in taxes while only directly getting a fraction of it back in useful services. Taxes for roads and police? No Problem. Taxes for rent subsidies? Icy.

Re: In a U.S. First, New Mexico Opens Doors to Free Child Care for All

#397

Post by ivan_gammel »

coryrc wrote: post #363
ivan_gammel wrote: post #255

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The US was founded on individual rights Excluding those whose land was stolen and redistributed by government. > not community sacrifice Excluding government-funded infrastructure projects like canals that enabled growth. And support that immigrants received from ethnic communities. > Meanwhile, during the 1800s, scores of millions of people moved up from poverty Yes, fifteen tons, we know that song.

> Yes, fifteen tons, we know that song. What society mass-moved individuals from menial work to better work? Many societies have made generational improvements: children raised with more opportunity, but I'm not aware (hey, I'm ignorant of a lot) of any that moved significant numbers of menial laborers themselves up significantly in standard of living besides the USA post-WWII or new technology (electricity, plumbing…

Well, that‘s not related to this specific conversation, but industrialization in socialist states did that in a number of cases. Soviet Union between 1950s and 1970s has seen significant growth and by various accounts achieved up to 5x improvement in purchase power compared to Russian Empire at its peak, in 1913 (how much goods could a worker buy for their salary, not including welfare, which was obviously superior in SU). I‘m not saying socialism is good, the price paid for that was terrible. And anyway my argument wasn’t that there were better societies, just that America of 1800s was ugly place to live even for many white Europeans (and let’s not forget that 60% of the time in that century there existed slavery). People went there not because it was great (and not everyone went there, many German settlers chose opposite direction, moving to Wild East, helping colonial expansion of Russian empire). It was just marginally better than certain places in Europe with its wars and famines.

Re: In a U.S. First, New Mexico Opens Doors to Free Child Care for All

#398

Post by EasyMark »

jameslk wrote: post #143

It’s good that it’s a state policy, not a federal one. We need more policies to stay at the state level, regardless of the policy. Federalism is how we can test the effects of competing policies under the same house. If the policy is a problem for you, it’s a lot easier to vote with your feet and move to a different state than to move to a different country

For something like this as a first pass, for sure, but if it can be shown to be "realistic" then I have no problem with the Feds enacting it. I especially feel that we need a single-payer option for health insurance. We're the only major "wealthy" nation with a completely regressive health care policy that punishes people for being poor to the point we just let them die if the $ aren't flowing

Re: In a U.S. First, New Mexico Opens Doors to Free Child Care for All

#399

Post by EasyMark »

nkrisc wrote: post #207
jameslk wrote: post #143

It’s good that it’s a state policy, not a federal one. We need more policies to stay at the state level, regardless of the policy. Federalism is how we can test the effects of competing policies under the same house. If the policy is a problem for you, it’s a lot easier to vote with your feet and move to a different state than to move to a different country

For some things, yes. I think this sort of thing is compatible with being legislated at the state level. Other policies are not. See states with strict gun laws being undermined by neighboring states with very loose laws.

Sure but you have to pass a Constitutional amendment to fix that, and I don't see that happening on something as divisive as gun ownership.

Re: In a U.S. First, New Mexico Opens Doors to Free Child Care for All

#400

Post by EasyMark »

sib301 wrote: post #319
georgeburdell wrote: post #256

Ham-fisted reactionary policy versus attacking the root cause, which is 1) cost of living has now increased to require two working parents 2) The government values housewives at about $2k per year in tax credits. Let women stay at home and raise their children as they know best, and pay them for the cost of the service they provide.

What if the husband wants to stay home and raise the kids? Also no, women (or men) who stay home don’t “know best” by default. That knowledge is earned and requires intent.

Exactly. I was raised by two working parents who were very involved in my life, and I wasn't a "latchkey" kid by any means. While the "traditional" spouse at home does work out pretty well if the single wage earner can do well, to be sure. That doesn't mean other situations can't prosper. It's not a magically set up that is the solution for everyone.
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