[chicagomom]

The Barbara Bush Foundation awards grants to family literacy programs including one called Even Start, which got three grants in '03.<br><br>
This year, Bush is proposing eliminating funding for Even Start ($247 million). The admin says it's just shifting monies to 'higher-priority programs', but the net effect of the cuts to all reading programs proposed would be $108 million.<br><br>
Even Start serves the poorest families in the US; according to them, "41 percent of Even Start families had an annual household income under $6,000."<br><br><a href="http://www.famlit.org/AboutNCFL/PressRoom/CurrentPressReleases/Even-Start-2005.cfm" target="_blank">http://www.famlit.org/AboutNCFL/Pres...Start-2005.cfm</a><br><br>
In 2002 Bush proposed eliminating funding for Reading Is Fundamental, another program his mother has promoted.

 

[sleeping queen]

From what I"ve seen of the Even Start program in our area, I would have to agree with Bush. Money could be better spend for food, medical care, or housing.

 

[TiredX2]

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Any evidence that is the plan Bush has? :LOL, of course not. There is plenty for BOTH if we would, hmmm, make rich people/corporations pay taxes and not try to take over the world w/useless weapons.

 

[goodcents]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>sleeping queen</strong></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">From what I"ve seen of the Even Start program in our area, I would have to agree with Bush. Money could be better spend for food, medical care, or housing.</div>
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Um SQ arent you one of those people who does not support a national healthcare system. If so how come you say the money could be better spent on medical care?

 

[indie]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>TiredX2</strong></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Any evidence that is the plan Bush has? :LOL, of course not. There is plenty for BOTH if we would, hmmm, make rich people/corporations pay taxes and not try to take over the world w/useless weapons.</div>
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<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/nod.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="nod"><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>
I used to volunteer for RIF. Giving kids books is such a waist of money. We could be using that money to kill people instead. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/eyesroll.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="roll">

 

[aussiemum]

SQ- can you go a little further with what it is you don't like about the Even Start program? I know nothing about it, doesn't affect me one way or the other, but it might be useful to the discussion for you to describe exactly what your experience has been??<br><br>
And hey........ I liked the suggestion about funding medical care. Don't tell me i've got ya convinced about soc. med! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/winky.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink"> (just teasing..... <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> )

 

[*Erin*]

too bad he was never in anything like even start...might've helped his comprehension-he has the aptitude of a garden slug..

 

[sleeping queen]

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This is from the local Even Start web sit. In addition to the above mentioned activities they provide free transportation, childcare , and meals to the classes. While none of these things are bad I don't think it is necessary for the government to be involved. Take note of the home visits. Why do we want the government in our homes?<br><br>
I am opposed to national healthcare, but I do have a softspot for children and those who hit rough spots in their life. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[CanOBeans]

So your experience with Even Start is that you've read their web site?

 

[Morgaine]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>TiredX2</strong></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Any evidence that is the plan Bush has? :LOL, of course not. There is plenty for BOTH if we would, hmmm, make rich people/corporations pay taxes and not try to take over the world w/useless weapons.</div>
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Rich people pay more than their fair share of money in taxes. I know my parents paid more in taxes than we made last year. And corporations do not pay taxes, do you know why? Because all taxes are paid by the consumer. Raise their taxes and all you is raise prices for everyone.

 

[sleeping queen]

can o beans, I have a friend that works their.

 

[Els' 3 Ones]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Morgaine</strong></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">And corporations do not pay taxes, do you know why? Because all taxes are paid by the consumer. Raise their taxes and all you is raise prices for everyone.</div>
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Then, why do prices go up anyway? Even with near-zero inflation?<br><br><br>
I disagree. Here are some numbers to chomp on : <a href="http://www.cbpp.org/10-16-03tax.htm" target="_blank">THE DECLINE OF CORPORATE INCOME TAX REVENUES</a><br><br><br>
IMNSHO, these tax decreases do little more than pay outrageous multi-million dollar salaries to the executives. While placing a bigger burden on us.

 

[Levi's Mom]

Didn't he say his favorite book when he was a kid was Eric Carle's "The Very Hungry Caterpillar." The funny thing about this comment was that book came out in 1969, when he was 23. Eeeks!

 

[TiredX2]

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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">This is from the local Even Start web sit. In addition to the above mentioned activities they provide free transportation, childcare , and meals to the classes. While none of these things are bad I don't think it is necessary for the government to be involved. Take note of the home visits. Why do we want the government in our homes?</td>
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Perhaps *you* don't want government in your home, but maybe the people asking for help from this program DO. Do you currently make under $6K yearly. Maybe you would feel differently about a free ride, a free book for your child and some parenting help if you did (like the plurality of the parents in the program). You do not HAVE to have visits--- you are *allowed* to, and that is a BIG difference.<br><br><div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">Rich people pay more than their fair share of money in taxes. I know my parents paid more in taxes than we made last year. And corporations do not pay taxes, do you know why? Because all taxes are paid by the consumer. Raise their taxes and all you is raise prices for everyone.</td>
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First, NO, corporations do not pay taxes because they CHEAT and have enough money that it is more cost effective to pay lawyers and out of country govts $ than to just follow the ethical path.<br><br>
Secondly, if your parents are actually "rich" (top 4% we'll say) it is doubtful that they paid a larger marginal tax rate (if you include ALL taxes paid rather than just income taxes, which the rich is what they WANT you to look at). But even if they did... so what? The fact remains that taxing someone who makes $1mil 30% would pinch them much less than the 18+% tax rate that the very poorest are hit with.

 

[Cranberry]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Levi's Mom</strong></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Didn't he say his favorite book when he was a kid was Eric Carle's "The Very Hungry Caterpillar." The funny thing about this comment was that book came out in 1969, when he was 23. Eeeks!</div>
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<span style="color:#0000FF;"><span style="font-size:large;"><span style="font-family:'Arial Black';"><br>
YIKES!</span></span></span> <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/shake.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="shake"><br><br>
Was it his wife Laura who was reading it to him?

 

[chicagomom]

In 1999 Pizza Hut asked 50 governors about their favorite books as children, as part of a reading promotion campaign the chain was doing. Bush's responses were:<br><br>
The very hungry caterpillar<br>
Sarah's Flag for Texas<br>
James and the Giant Peach<br>
Tuck Everlasting<br>
My Side of the Mountain<br>
The Wind in the Willows<br>
Just So Stories<br><br>
The first four I believe were published when Bush was an adult.

 

[chicagomom]

It amazes me that someone could be opposed to teaching adults to read, helping them get a GED, providing parenting classes, and doing the other things Even Start does to make them a better parent and more productive member of society.<br><br>
Work is what makes this country prosperous. If you want good workers you've got to educate them. If it's not the government's job to assist in the education of it's workforce, whose job is it? Do you really think charities should handle education? Remember, this guy is the 'education president'.<br><br>
You talk about wanting people to get off welfare, break the cycle of poverty, etc. If you want to do that, you need to give them the tools to do so.

 

[TiredX2]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/clap.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="clap"><br><br>
Excellent post chicagomom, ITA

 

[sleeping queen]

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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">It amazes me that someone could be opposed to teaching adults to read, helping them get a GED, providing parenting classes, and doing the other things Even Start does to make them a better parent and more productive member of society.</td>
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It amazes me that we already pay for an education system that is supposed to teach reading skill, then people think we should pay for it agian to do what should have already been done. I think the government has no business teaching parenting classes to begin with.

 

[TiredX2]

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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">It amazes me that we already pay for an education system that is supposed to teach reading skill, then people think we should pay for it agian to do what should have already been done.</td>
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Of course, we have totally removed the ability of teachers to TEACH and instead spend vast sums on random testing, supervision, etc...<br><br><div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">I think the government has no business teaching parenting classes to begin with.</td>
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Perhaps not mandated ones (except in cases of abuse and neglect) but why should poor parents not have access to parenting improvement classes. Financially speaking, I am quite confident that parenting classes would *save* money in the long run (decreased CSD interventions, better school readiness, etc...). It is simply another case of the moral minority trying to force their agenda down the throat of this nation.