Understanding the Issues: Education

I can't say I understand what you're saying about a mortgage crisis 20 years ago? Rates were great in the 80s. I'd like to comment further but I can't say I understand what you're talking about.

As for the little guy comment, I perceive myself to be one of the little guys. I'm a guy just like anybody else. I just take responsibility for my actions and do what needs to be done to make good decisions.
my wife called this crisis close to 20 years ago. she knew that there are tons of unethical people doing whatever they could to get people into houses that they just couldn't afford. she has been under writing mortgages for almost 25 years. the people that were the root cause of this will pack up shop, walk away, and open up somewhere else. when you haven't walked in these peoples shoes, your comments come off as snobbish( or shall i use the term, elitist?) right now, there are alot of good people really struggling to make ends meet. living paycheck to paycheck. one wrong decision could pretty much ruin them financially. growing up in an environment of poverty, already starts them off with a strike against them. they can only mimic the choices and decisions they have seen. that's part of the reason it remains a cycle. the other is it takes alot of hard work to break that cycle. some want to, but don't know how. others are just too damn tired to break it. others don't mind going along for the ride. i think that most are good, decent, hard working people. that want a better life, both for their kids, and themselves. but most are also very proud, that would rather do without a hand out. its very hard to separate the needy, into people that want to do the right thing. and people that are generally worthless

So the parents that have shown that they make the bad choices and have the social programs allready need more help? What has the billions of dollars that we have allready spent done to correct the problem? Nothing. Sure you can go out and find examples of how people have used the social programs and bettered their life and then contributed back to the community but there are far more that just keep using the system for every penny they can get.
We're not talking about other social welfare programs - just the after-school care.

The one good thing about after school programs is that it does go directly to the children and not to the parent. I just feel its a jod that is better delt with on a local level than depended on the fed gov. and having to play by their rules to receive the funding. Also if the money is not just a hand out from the fed gov the local community will do a better job on using the money wisely.
That's what I said (http://www.thewarpath.net/parking-lot/23667-understanding-the-issues-education-3.html#post452515). As Schneed said, it's a long post, and you probably haven't read every single post.

I can't say I understand what you're saying about a mortgage crisis 20 years ago? Rates were great in the 80s. I'd like to comment further but I can't say I understand what you're talking about.
30 year fixed rates in the 80s were awful, Schneed. My parents first mortgage in the DC area in 1981 was at 19%.
Interest Rate Trends ~ Historical Graphs for Mortgage Rates (http://mortgage-x.com/trends.htm)

30 year fixed rates in the 80s were awful, Schneed. My parents first mortgage in the DC area in 1981 was at 19%.
Interest Rate Trends ~ Historical Graphs for Mortgage Rates (http://mortgage-x.com/trends.htm)

Yeah that was the tail end of the mortgage crisis that spilled over from the 70s into the 80s. But under the Reagan administration rates moderated and, 20 years ago (1988) were back to very manageable levels, around 9-10%. Still higher than what we're used to today, but manageable.

Maybe he meant 25-30 years ago, because 20 years ago things were relatively good on that front.

Okay, I think it's settled. All in favor of helping kids say "AYE"!

Booo kids!

Nay!

Kids suck - anyone want mine?

I agree - we've beat this one to death.