Comments for Augusta Insider http://augustainsider.us Navigating the corridors of power in Maine's capital Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:28:56 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on The Definition of Educational Insanity by CatTailMom http://augustainsider.us/educationalinsanity/comment-page-1/#comment-1628 CatTailMom Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:28:56 +0000 http://augustainsider.us/?p=4375#comment-1628 Multiple-grade classes or looping works well in some instances, there may be a question from someone asking about "highly effective" teachers. Since there is now a definition of that term - whether it's a good one or not - under Race to the Top, having a teacher who is not termed HE may become problematic for a school and that person if s/he were to shepherd a class through several years of school. Multiple-grade classes or looping works well in some instances, there may be a question from someone asking about "highly effective" teachers. Since there is now a definition of that term – whether it's a good one or not – under Race to the Top, having a teacher who is not termed HE may become problematic for a school and that person if s/he were to shepherd a class through several years of school.

]]> Comment on Education Necessary for Progression of Transgender Rights by MarcusDW http://augustainsider.us/educationtransgenderrights/comment-page-1/#comment-1627 MarcusDW Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:28:20 +0000 http://augustainsider.us/?p=4298#comment-1627 This in no way falls under that section, just as gay marriage does not, or they would have used the courts to enact it rather than the Legislature. Similarly, clearly LGBT privileges do not fall under Article 1, Section 1, or there would not have needed to be another law to protect them. You clearly have little comprehension of what that article really means - it does not mean anyone do whatever they want. Otherwise the state couldn't outlaw drunk driving, marijuana, automatic weapons, smoking in public places.... Neither state nor federal government is under any obligation whatsoever to make people happy. They have to balance issues, and the safety of the majority far outweighs the needs of the minority. "Happiness" is not "contentment", and people can be happy without all of their needs being perfectly met. The state obviously cannot make every single citizen happy in every single way. For example, I'm unhappy at having to pay so many taxes. Does that mean that the state's taxes are unconstitutional? Of course not. My buddy who's in a wheelchair is unhappy that at games he has to sit in a certain area. Does that mean handicapped sections are illegal? No. You're taking that section far too literally. Go to college, take a few courses in constitutional law, then maybe we can actually discuss this. This in no way falls under that section, just as gay marriage does not, or they would have used the courts to enact it rather than the Legislature. Similarly, clearly LGBT privileges do not fall under Article 1, Section 1, or there would not have needed to be another law to protect them. You clearly have little comprehension of what that article really means – it does not mean anyone do whatever they want. Otherwise the state couldn't outlaw drunk driving, marijuana, automatic weapons, smoking in public places….

Neither state nor federal government is under any obligation whatsoever to make people happy. They have to balance issues, and the safety of the majority far outweighs the needs of the minority. "Happiness" is not "contentment", and people can be happy without all of their needs being perfectly met. The state obviously cannot make every single citizen happy in every single way.

For example, I'm unhappy at having to pay so many taxes. Does that mean that the state's taxes are unconstitutional? Of course not. My buddy who's in a wheelchair is unhappy that at games he has to sit in a certain area. Does that mean handicapped sections are illegal? No.

You're taking that section far too literally. Go to college, take a few courses in constitutional law, then maybe we can actually discuss this.

]]> Comment on Baldacci Provides Some Budget Relief by Vbrackett http://augustainsider.us/baldaccibudgetrelief/comment-page-1/#comment-1626 Vbrackett Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:55:09 +0000 http://augustainsider.us/?p=4316#comment-1626 Baldacci assured Mainers he would continue to find money saving efficiencies and again vowed not to raise taxes. “Maine families and businesses cannot afford a greater burden,” said Baldacci. That is a bold faced lie. He is raising taxes. Just not state taxes. Instead he is raising property taxes. Cities and town are faced with the decision of plowing the roads or educating the children. By not considering revenues, he is pitting the senior citizen against the young family, creating divisions within towns as they struggle with the impossible choices. Do you want thirty students in your child's class, or would you like your road fixed? What kind of choice is that? He is out of touch with the reality of the fiscal responsibilities of government. Baldacci assured Mainers he would continue to find money saving efficiencies and again vowed not to raise taxes. “Maine families and businesses cannot afford a greater burden,” said Baldacci. That is a bold faced lie. He is raising taxes. Just not state taxes. Instead he is raising property taxes. Cities and town are faced with the decision of plowing the roads or educating the children. By not considering revenues, he is pitting the senior citizen against the young family, creating divisions within towns as they struggle with the impossible choices. Do you want thirty students in your child's class, or would you like your road fixed? What kind of choice is that? He is out of touch with the reality of the fiscal responsibilities of government.

]]> Comment on Education Necessary for Progression of Transgender Rights by Simon Says http://augustainsider.us/educationtransgenderrights/comment-page-1/#comment-1625 Simon Says Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:54:44 +0000 http://augustainsider.us/?p=4298#comment-1625 Constitution? Let's examine Section 1, Article 1, of the Maine State Constitution: "All people are born equally free and independent, and have certain natural, inherent and unalienable rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and of pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness." There you have it: everyone has the equal and inherent rights of safety and happiness. When public schools are not affording vulnerable students these rights, then action must be taken. Transgender not a part of "sexual orientation"? Really? I'd argue that transgenders beautifully epitomize the diversity of different sexual orientations. If you can make a coherent argument for why transgender(ism?) is not a sexual orientation (or why the Legislature didn't intend for this when passing the bill), I'd hear you out- but until then I disagree on lack of evidence on your side. I work- I pay taxes. My parents work, own a house, and own cars- they pay taxes. Everyone in my family purchases items- we all pay taxes. I'm pretty sure I understand taxes. Constitution? Let's examine Section 1, Article 1, of the Maine State Constitution:
"All people are born equally free and independent, and have certain natural, inherent and unalienable rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and of pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness."
There you have it: everyone has the equal and inherent rights of safety and happiness. When public schools are not affording vulnerable students these rights, then action must be taken.
Transgender not a part of "sexual orientation"? Really? I'd argue that transgenders beautifully epitomize the diversity of different sexual orientations. If you can make a coherent argument for why transgender(ism?) is not a sexual orientation (or why the Legislature didn't intend for this when passing the bill), I'd hear you out- but until then I disagree on lack of evidence on your side.

I work- I pay taxes. My parents work, own a house, and own cars- they pay taxes. Everyone in my family purchases items- we all pay taxes. I'm pretty sure I understand taxes.

]]> Comment on Education Necessary for Progression of Transgender Rights by deviger http://augustainsider.us/educationtransgenderrights/comment-page-1/#comment-1624 deviger Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:49:55 +0000 http://augustainsider.us/?p=4298#comment-1624 I think the question here is whether or not transgendered students freedom or safety is an issue. Section 6-A of the Maine Constitution states: Discrimination against persons prohibited. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, nor be denied the equal protection of the laws, nor be denied the enjoyment of that person's civil rights or be discriminated against in the exercise thereof. Does denying a transgendered female a spot on the boys football team, the ability to use a restroom of the gender they associate with, etc., violate their existing civil rights? Legally, how does Maine define transgendered people? Is it by their physical anatomy or by the gender they associate with? I don't know the answers to these questions and I'm not sure if the state does at this point either. Marcus, please refrain from talking down to commenters. Let's keep the debates civil. Otherwise argue on! I think the question here is whether or not transgendered students freedom or safety is an issue. Section 6-A of the Maine Constitution states: Discrimination against persons prohibited. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, nor be denied the equal protection of the laws, nor be denied the enjoyment of that person's civil rights or be discriminated against in the exercise thereof.

Does denying a transgendered female a spot on the boys football team, the ability to use a restroom of the gender they associate with, etc., violate their existing civil rights? Legally, how does Maine define transgendered people? Is it by their physical anatomy or by the gender they associate with? I don't know the answers to these questions and I'm not sure if the state does at this point either.

Marcus, please refrain from talking down to commenters. Let's keep the debates civil. Otherwise argue on!

]]> Comment on Education Necessary for Progression of Transgender Rights by MarcusDW http://augustainsider.us/educationtransgenderrights/comment-page-1/#comment-1623 MarcusDW Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:28:30 +0000 http://augustainsider.us/?p=4298#comment-1623 You're still wrong; they're not rights. Until they're enshrined in either the state or federal constitution they're not rights. No simple statute can create rights, regardless of what it's called. Simply using the word does not make it a right. The Maine Human Rights Act does not, in fact, create any new rights - only amendment of the Maine Constitution can do that. Using the word in the title of the bill does not make it a right. Moreover, it's debatable whether transgender is part of "sexual orientation". The Legislature certainly did not intend it to be when they passed the bill. Nobody who hasn't had their hard-earned money taken from them by the State understands taxes, sorry kid. You're still wrong; they're not rights. Until they're enshrined in either the state or federal constitution they're not rights. No simple statute can create rights, regardless of what it's called. Simply using the word does not make it a right. The Maine Human Rights Act does not, in fact, create any new rights – only amendment of the Maine Constitution can do that. Using the word in the title of the bill does not make it a right. Moreover, it's debatable whether transgender is part of "sexual orientation". The Legislature certainly did not intend it to be when they passed the bill.

Nobody who hasn't had their hard-earned money taken from them by the State understands taxes, sorry kid.

]]> Comment on Education Necessary for Progression of Transgender Rights by SThompson91 http://augustainsider.us/educationtransgenderrights/comment-page-1/#comment-1622 SThompson91 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:20:44 +0000 http://augustainsider.us/?p=4298#comment-1622 Marcus, don't attempt to disqualify any of my opinions because of my age by calling me "kid", please and thank-you. I'm fully sensitive to the issue of taxes- having served on the Ptld. School Committee and Finance Subcommittee for one year. In most cases, a faculty or boys and girls restroom could easily be switched to a gender neutral one- it's as simple as that. If a school isn't able to convert an existing bathroom to a gender neutral one, then it's something that should be planned for and funded in the budget over a 5-or-so year period. Secondly, you're wrong, they are rights. The Maine Human Rights Act was amended in 2005 to include "sexual orientation" as a protected class. Such an inclusion means that regardless of sexual orientation, students must have equal access to facilities and be ensured the same personal security as all other students. If these rights, including to equal access, are not being afforded, then it goes against Maine law. Clear and simple. Marcus, don't attempt to disqualify any of my opinions because of my age by calling me "kid", please and thank-you. I'm fully sensitive to the issue of taxes- having served on the Ptld. School Committee and Finance Subcommittee for one year. In most cases, a faculty or boys and girls restroom could easily be switched to a gender neutral one- it's as simple as that. If a school isn't able to convert an existing bathroom to a gender neutral one, then it's something that should be planned for and funded in the budget over a 5-or-so year period.

Secondly, you're wrong, they are rights. The Maine Human Rights Act was amended in 2005 to include "sexual orientation" as a protected class. Such an inclusion means that regardless of sexual orientation, students must have equal access to facilities and be ensured the same personal security as all other students. If these rights, including to equal access, are not being afforded, then it goes against Maine law. Clear and simple.

]]> Comment on Education Necessary for Progression of Transgender Rights by MarcusDW http://augustainsider.us/educationtransgenderrights/comment-page-1/#comment-1621 MarcusDW Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:19:21 +0000 http://augustainsider.us/?p=4298#comment-1621 Hey Simon, who's going to pay for that mandate? You willing to see taxes raised just to install a few hundred more bathrooms in Maine schools? Oh wait, you're just a kid, what do you care about taxes. Stupid question. These aren't "rights", kid. Nowhere is access to bathrooms mentioned in the Maine or U.S. constitutions, and if it's not in there - or been designated by the courts as a "right" - it's not a "right." Just labeling it one does not make it so. Hey Simon, who's going to pay for that mandate? You willing to see taxes raised just to install a few hundred more bathrooms in Maine schools? Oh wait, you're just a kid, what do you care about taxes. Stupid question.

These aren't "rights", kid. Nowhere is access to bathrooms mentioned in the Maine or U.S. constitutions, and if it's not in there – or been designated by the courts as a "right" – it's not a "right." Just labeling it one does not make it so.

]]> Comment on Partisan showdown undermines needs of Maine workers by MarcusDW http://augustainsider.us/partisanshowdown/comment-page-1/#comment-1620 MarcusDW Mon, 01 Mar 2010 22:25:20 +0000 http://augustainsider.us/?p=4290#comment-1620 If only 90% of the dissenters were Republicans, that means there actually are some smart Democrats in Augusta. I guess I was wrong. Why do Democrats insist on continuing to do everything possible to undermine small businesses and destroy Maine's economy? Haven't you people done enough damage yet? ANY increased cost to businesses in the middle of a recession is unacceptable. I don't understand how any legislator could go back home, look a small business owner in the eye, and say, "The cost of doing business in Maine isn't high enough. I want to impose greater burdens on you, even if it means you'd have to shut down, because my labor union buddies said so." This bill had a fiscal price tag to the state. That means in the middle of a $300 million budget deficit, you people want to spend EVEN MORE. Small business, watch out. Sean Flaherty is in the House, and he thinks way too many of you are still around. If only 90% of the dissenters were Republicans, that means there actually are some smart Democrats in Augusta. I guess I was wrong.

Why do Democrats insist on continuing to do everything possible to undermine small businesses and destroy Maine's economy? Haven't you people done enough damage yet? ANY increased cost to businesses in the middle of a recession is unacceptable.

I don't understand how any legislator could go back home, look a small business owner in the eye, and say, "The cost of doing business in Maine isn't high enough. I want to impose greater burdens on you, even if it means you'd have to shut down, because my labor union buddies said so."

This bill had a fiscal price tag to the state. That means in the middle of a $300 million budget deficit, you people want to spend EVEN MORE.

Small business, watch out. Sean Flaherty is in the House, and he thinks way too many of you are still around.

]]> Comment on Got Stoopid? by SThompson91 http://augustainsider.us/gotstoopid/comment-page-1/#comment-1619 SThompson91 Sun, 28 Feb 2010 18:16:11 +0000 http://augustainsider.us/?p=4273#comment-1619 I would have to argue that UMaine's decision was not nearly as frivolous as you depict it. Although I agree that alcohol poses a much more serious problem, the decision by UMaine to move to a smoke-free campus by 2012 will lead to increased education and awareness of the dangers of tobacco. It will lead to decreased potential for second-hand smoke and a cleaner campus. Just because alcohol is a problem, we shouldn't ignore- or attempt to remedy- other problems. As for so-called "omniscient fairies carrying little fire extinguishers," I think it will be as simple as campus police (who are already present and funded) handing out fines to students they see smoking- easy, cost-effective, and healthy. I would have to argue that UMaine's decision was not nearly as frivolous as you depict it. Although I agree that alcohol poses a much more serious problem, the decision by UMaine to move to a smoke-free campus by 2012 will lead to increased education and awareness of the dangers of tobacco. It will lead to decreased potential for second-hand smoke and a cleaner campus. Just because alcohol is a problem, we shouldn't ignore- or attempt to remedy- other problems. As for so-called "omniscient fairies carrying little fire extinguishers," I think it will be as simple as campus police (who are already present and funded) handing out fines to students they see smoking- easy, cost-effective, and healthy.

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