It’s called taxation, and it is the only way to properly fund our nation’s activities. My personal donations won’t do a bit of good by themselves. I make a bit of change, but not enough to fund even one/one billionth of any significant federal program. My personal donations are irrelevant to the discussion.

“I think we just hit on something here. Do you need a pen?”

Could you explain that further? Are you suggesting that lojasmo is all talk?

That sounds like a rather….um….trollish comment. Maybe you could clarify.

I know I don’t mind paying taxes. Maybe I am not materialistic. Maybe all I believe i need to to do is have a happy little house with a happy wife and pay all my bills, buy a thing or two and that’s enough.

Is the importance of the bottom line perhaps a bit overblown, CMan?

One criticism I hear quite a bit from people overseas is that America is too materialistic. Could this be true?

lojasmo — I think we just hit on something here. Do you need a pen?

@ really: I’m not going to get in a pissing match with you about education and wages. I’ll just say this: I am a professional, and am in the top 5% of wage earners nationally.

I would gladly pay more to provide services for the good of the nation.

Knock yourself out, though, you stingy f***.

As far as it being our choice to go into teaching (I’m a teacher too), if we continue undervaluing the education profession, we will see increasing shortages. Currently, almost a third of Minnesota teachers starting out today will quit the profession within five years (the national average is 50% out in five). That kind of attrition would be alarming in the private sector and most assuredly cause an increase in pay to stop it. Or, we would lower our expectations of teacher quality. The market for teachers is small, the quality is high (Minnesota is tops nationally and highly competitive internationally). In business, you get what you pay for - why shouldn’t that be the same for teaching?

It always fascinates me when people try to apply a business model to every part of education except teacher pay.

Gay unions! Ask for that! And quit twisting our legislator’s arms because that will mean no health care reform, less help for hardworking families, and less regulation.

Two pronged approach should be rethought. One prong approach. Courts! Look back at our history and major social reform.

Again, I’m tired of losing on election night.

“And, by the way, I probably give more to to charity in a year than you pay in taxes.”

I didn’t know NAMBLA was considered a charity.

Holly - what does that have to do with Amy Klobuchar pushing for tax money to support a group that promotes “pray away the gay”? People criticize Michele Bachmann (rightly) for her efforts to push this - Amy Klobuchar should also be criticized for the same thing.

And why did Klobuchar treat the U of MN campus gay group as if they had cooties?

Neither of these issues have anything to do with including gays in the institution of marriage.

Doug Benson’s group - Marry Minnesota - is pushing a court case - and Benson and Strand (Marriage Equality Minnesota), are also pushing a marriage equality bill in the legislature. A two pronged approach on this issue makes perfect sense - especially since DOMA was passed by being attached to a non-related bill. It should be thrown out for that reason alone. Then let the legislature pass the legislation again if they want - on an up or down vote.

HC: “Perhaps legislators can get on board if there is a unified, clear, message. Maybe that is impossible, though…

Legislators often try to act on behalf of the majority.”

EY: Actually, due to the excellent lobbying effort by David Strand and Doug Benson, there are quite a number of people on the marriage equality bill - both on the Senate and House version. I understand that Margaret Anderson Kelliher is busily doing what she can to stop the bill from getting to the floor. She needs to get calls from people in her district. Outfront Minnesota has also signed onto the Marriage Equality bill, though they have a 3-5 year goal on the bill, and Project 515 is promoting a more incremental approach.

Gays have a variety of opinions on strategy. Assuming that all gays think alike is a bit presumptuous.

What are you specifically addressing in my comments? Your rant leaves out details, as usual. But it sure does use all of theose names. Really man, didn’t your mother teach you that if you can’t soeak nicely of someone, to shut the hell up?

Methinks the sociopath here is the one posting under the nom-de-plum of NITRO. If not a sociopath, than definitely a stalker.