Video Poker "Manipulation"

[Carcounter]

Here in NJ, spending per pupil is two to three times higher in the 30 or so Abbot districts, all in lower income mostly urban areas. Results are still awful. Problem is most of the parents of these kids don't give a damn and just treat school as daycare, not a place to learn.

[notes1]

just when the posts seemed to be more civil, the insults have returned. even the never ending debate about whether some VP machines were rigged/changed/different was being discussed, in a friendlier manner.  before any request of how to improve poor performing schools, i had already given the answer, vouchers. that is one way to increase competition and just maybe, save some money that could be spent on another problem. another poster mentioned that lack of parental involvement was a big reason why kids are not performing, i could not agree more. he is spot on.   just because i choose not to continually respond to your endless tirades and demands for additional verification,  in no way means i have not proven my point.  feel free to call terrorism, acts of gun violence. feel free to blame everything that is wrong in someone's life, the result of another person or group. feel free to believe that spending more money on something is the answer to most problems. feel free to criticize the usa, as the source of much of the world's problems.   i choose to believe that other than those who are unable to help themselves, we are each responsible for the direction of our lives and opportunities are available to all.  

[DaBurglar]

 feel free to call terrorism, acts of gun violence. feel free to blame everything that is wrong in someone's life, the result of another person or group. feel free to believe that spending more money on something is the answer to most problems. feel free to criticize the usa, as the source of much of the world's problems.   i choose to believe that other than those who are unable to help themselves, we are each responsible for the direction of our lives and opportunities are available to all.  I never have advocated or taken the positions you cited above, those are simply your narrow minded absolutist ideas and interpretations of statements and positions that are more thoughtful and nuanced than your own views, and because you just do not like them (which is fine, that's your right, but you do not have the right to distort or mislead which is all you are doing here....)And that second part (about helping those unable to help themselves) sounds real nice, and of course I agree with that, but I am 100% positive that your view and scope of who actually qualifies (and why and under what circumstances) as "unable to help themselves" is either extremely vague, or hopelessly narrow (or hopelessly vague and extremely narrow, who knows....)Vouchers?  Sure.....that will work in certain situations and circumstances, but no way is that a panacea .....and who (or how) do you propose to administer or distirbute & oversee such a program, given your total disdain for government?Kudos to Warren Buffet (and all incomprehensibly wealthy & fortunate people) who are rich enough and have direct, PERSONAL access to the administrative and logistical resources needed to make a direct, tangible and real contribution to whatever issue-du-jour or cause they wish to help with......I am a huge fan of Mr. Buffet and personally think he should be the one in the White House and calling the shots;  but even people like HIM are limited in what they can do and in their reach and jurisdiction; .....I am all for private charity and contributing, and for people and communities solving their own problems rather than having government (of all types and level) step in......but obviously, in the real world, the vast, VAST majority of people and vast majority of issues and problems are far too large, complex and sweeping for anything EXCEPT "government" to step in and attempt to deal with or address them.....There is a very limited, specific subset of issues and problems that would be better left to private citizens and community groups to deal with, but for the most part, in the 21st century world we live in, it is a NECESSARY requirement (hell I will even call it a necessary 'evil' if that will make you happy) that the majority of societal ills and problems must be dealt with through some sort of state, local or federal governmental action or office......a century and a half ago, up until the American Civil war, I would agree that for the most part, MOST issues in a citizen's life could have been solved via local or individual action....and obviously they were given how small and unintrusive the government(s) were in comparison to today.     But, the world "DONE GONE AND GOT ITSELF IN A GREAT BIG HURRY (AMONG OTHER THINGS)"  and such a laissez-faire, hands off "deal with it yourself" approach to life no longer works for many of the larger issues facing society today.And that is really the role of government:  to deal with those problems and issues (and crises) which quite simply are too big and too complex for individual people or local groups of people to address.......pretty straightforward huh?

[Sea Lion]

Wow! This thread really took off from getting hosed at the VP machines to schools.Yes, I have had some really great hits on 10 play over the years, but too often these days are mostly sh!tty hands from all directions. It goes with the flow to get losing hands, but when they are too frequent or even predictable, thats when the fun stops. Playing for entertainment value is getting too expensive now, even on nickel 10 play. I might have to make a new years resolution and swear off VP for 2016. As for schools, I was a product of the LAUSD back in the 70's, and schools were so much better then. Drivers Ed was required, and we had all kinds of electives ,and still wanted to ditch school and party. Then came the lottery in 1985. Ask California (L.A.) how that is working for them.... even 30 years later. How many times have the voters been duped on multi-billion dollar bonds that are advertised as "for the kids"? The money never makes it to the schools and the kids and teachers are still getting short changed while the peeps on top are sitting fat and fluffy. If Nevada voted for a lottery, the same damn thing would happen here, especially with the crap going on with the CCSD. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Time to go "fishing"!

[ko king]

[QUOTE=notes1]  feel free to call terrorism, acts of gun violence. feel free to blame everything that is wrong in someone's life, the result of another person or group. feel free to believe that spending more money on something is the answer to most problems. feel free to criticize the usa, as the source of much of the world's problems.   i choose to believe that other than those who are unable to help themselves, we are each responsible for the direction of our lives and opportunities are available to all.  I never have advocated or taken the positions you cited above, those are simply your narrow minded absolutist ideas and interpretations of statements and positions that are more thoughtful and nuanced than your own views, and because you just do not like them (which is fine, that's your right, but you do not have the right to distort or mislead which is all you are doing here....)And that second part (about helping those unable to help themselves) sounds real nice, and of course I agree with that, but I am 100% positive that your view and scope of who actually qualifies (and why and under what circumstances) as "unable to help themselves" is either extremely vague, or hopelessly narrow (or hopelessly vague and extremely narrow, who knows....)Vouchers?  Sure.....that will work in certain situations and circumstances, but no way is that a panacea .....and who (or how) do you propose to administer or distirbute & oversee such a program, given your total disdain for government?Kudos to Warren Buffet (and all incomprehensibly wealthy & fortunate people) who are rich enough and have direct, PERSONAL access to the administrative and logistical resources needed to make a direct, tangible and real contribution to whatever issue-du-jour or cause they wish to help with......I am a huge fan of Mr. Buffet and personally think he should be the one in the White House and calling the shots;  but even people like HIM are limited in what they can do and in their reach and jurisdiction; .....I am all for private charity and contributing, and for people and communities solving their own problems rather than having government (of all types and level) step in......but obviously, in the real world, the vast, VAST majority of people and vast majority of issues and problems are far too large, complex and sweeping for anything EXCEPT "government" to step in and attempt to deal with or address them.....There is a very limited, specific subset of issues and problems that would be better left to private citizens and community groups to deal with, but for the most part, in the 21st century world we live in, it is a NECESSARY requirement (hell I will even call it a necessary 'evil' if that will make you happy) that the majority of societal ills and problems must be dealt with through some sort of state, local or federal governmental action or office......a century and a half ago, up until the American Civil war, I would agree that for the most part, MOST issues in a citizen's life could have been solved via local or individual action....and obviously they were given how small and unintrusive the government(s) were in comparison to today.     But, the world "DONE GONE AND GOT ITSELF IN A GREAT BIG HURRY (AMONG OTHER THINGS)"  and such a laissez-faire, hands off "deal with it yourself" approach to life no longer works for many of the larger issues facing society today.And that is really the role of government:  to deal with those problems and issues (and crises) which quite simply are too big and too complex for individual people or local groups of people to address.......pretty straightforward huh?
[/QUOTE]

Wait, wait, wait, I'm maybe a little confused. Are you saying that we don't have a big and intrusive government today?

[FAA]

Wow! This thread really took off from getting hosed at the VP machines to schools.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Welcome to the forum.

[picov]

Fascinating thread. Apparently, the best education in the world happens where teachers are paid well, respected and VALUED by everybody, including students and their parents, not undermined and disrespected at every turn. VALUED! Imagine that.

[notes1]

Fascinating thread. Apparently, the best education in the world happens where teachers are paid well, respected and VALUED by everybody, including students and their parents, not undermined and disrespected at every turn. VALUED! Imagine that.
 how many professions are there where all are paid well, respected and valued by everyone?in today's world, the trend is to pit one group against another, never take responsibity for one's actions, blame another person or group for your shortfalls and to be offended by almost everything.  as i see it and i am no expert, the problem for teachers is;-too many unruly kids, who's parents treat school as day care. loss of discipline in schools.-expanding the role of teachers beyond basic teaching into politically correct education.  -aligning themselves with their union.  when the economy was doing well, many were in favor of upgrading teachers pay/benefits. what most did not know was that to gain the political voting block of teachers, these pay packages were well beyond what the public knew and could afford. now that so many have been negatively affected by the economy and their own poor decisions, and government employee benefit packages have come to light, many tax payers are offended that while they must work well into their 60's, their taxes are supporting those who can retire with guaranteed pensions/health care, at a much younger age. 

[DaBurglar]

Wait, wait, wait, I'm maybe a little confused. Are you saying that we don't have a big and intrusive government today?I am saying a LOT more than that, including that such a statement (i.e. "Government is TOO BIG") is really a pointless thing to say because reality is far more complex and involved and volatile.     In terms of corruption, inefficiency and incompetence, sure I would agree that government sucks, is wasteful and dumb and often late-to the-party in terms of actually fixing certain problems, etc etc etc.    But in other areas or other issues/problems, I maintain that "Government" (State, Local & National) is the ONLY possible solution (or option) for society & people to address, deal with or fix problems.....Let me repeat something I said earlier:  "People in general would rather believe a SIMPLE straight forward LIE (or Fantasy)  than a complicated and involved TRUTH anyday....."I have found that people who constantly & consistently repeat the mantra "Big Government is the cause of all our problems"  or some version/variation of this  fall right into the category of my above quoted truism.....Seriously, what's the "Right" size of government?  What is the "right" level of "INTRUSIVENESS"?    Once you start really examining any single issue facing society today, and how each party would go about addressing it, you will find that the main difference between Democrats and Republicans is NOT about SIZE of government, but rather they differ on WHAT government should spend money on and WHAT areas government should be involved in.......Both parties will spend AS MUCH money and build as many programs as they can, just on different things and with different goals.   I would agree that Democrats are (in general) too eager to spend money on a variety of social issues and problems, and too ready to just "TAX rich people" to find money for any given issue.....but you have to look at each individual issue or situation to determine this.However.......If republicans are so in favor of SMALLER & less government, why do they advocate things like putting up massive walls on our borders and deporting all illegals?  Who do they think will accomplish these HUGE tasks (and how)?    Why do they spend so much on the MILITARY (costs which are by far the biggest DISCRETIONARY, i.e. non-automatic, aspect of Federal spending?)  Don't they realize that things like tanks and missles and bombs are things you build that you HOPE you never have to utilize, which means once you buy the damn things, the money is gone and there is NO resulting benefit in economic terms???   Please do not insult yourself, or me, to say that i am now ADVOCATING pacifism or having NO DEFENSE at all, because obviously that is NOT what I am saying......I am just making a point about this whole "Big Government  vs.   LESS Government"  issue.....Both parties claim to be the right one to deal with terrorism, and yet our government continues to GROW and GROW and GROW in its ability to monitor, investigate and literally "Spy" on its very own citizens......personal privacy is a thing of the past....how is THIS in keeping with "smaller or less intrusive government"???When a Hurricane devastates a wide swath of the country, what exactly is the "right" size of the FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY that ALL PEOPLE (Democrat, Republican, Independent, Unconcerned, Ignorant, LAzy, Socialist, Communist, Fascist-Neo Nazi, etc etc) look to and call upon to "SAVE THEM"???Do you honestly think a "well armed" militia, in keeping with the original intent of the 2nd amendment, is the best way to deal with potential adversaries like Russia or China, or ISIS?   Of course not!   Here is where WE DO NEED a well trained & equipped military (but not a wasteful, corrupt, absurdly expensive military.)Ask yourself this:   Why was the Federal GOvernment in 2003 so eager and willing to go to war in Iraq based on a lie (WMD), and yet today, the Drug Cartels in Mexico (& elsewhere) are literally causing far more damage and destruction to US Society than Saddam Hussein ever hoped to achieve?   Why dont we use this "great" military to bomb the cocaine and poppy fields and Meth labs in Mexico???  Seriously......why not?You see where this can end up going when you really start to think about it fairly, intelligently and logically.......

[notes1]

simple question that everyone can ask themselves, do you feel safer today, than you felt seven years ago?