Ill. House Approves Legalizing Same-Sex Civil Unions

Hot Dog wrote:

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I have been a Democrat all my life, "until" this year. I now think they both are corrupt. They need to kick them all out and put all new in. Like I said, we are only seeing things that they want us to see. What matters is, what is going on behind those doors. There will have to be a lot of changes before I go back. I don't like my money being stolen out of our pensions funds, that personally comes out of my paycheck. State workers are getting royally screwed. Did you know that teachers don't put any money into their pension fund like most people have too? We take care of that for them, I could go on, but you will see their pension won't be settled until after we vote. LOL They want those teachers to vote, then they are going to make them pay like everyone else,out of their own pockets . I hope. Why should someone who works a minimum paying job have to pay for a teachers retirement? They make good enough money to pay for it themselves. There are teachers who make between 40 and 70 thousand a year. I think we all will see many things this election. I voted for Obama last time but I don't think I want him this go around, and I don't want Mitt. In my opinion we don't have much to choose from....

You are misinformed about teachers and their pensions. In South Carolina they contribute 6.5% of their income. The rest of your post is moot.

Oh wow a whole 6.5%!!!! The teachers unions are going to slap us all hard this coming year as they are billions behind. The least of the responsibility falls on the actual teachers. The outrageous amount of administrators at every school now is greater than the number of teachers. The idiots investing it or "handling" the money are getting payouts for bad investments. It is a terrible mess that we will be paying for quite a while on

Mona Lott wrote:

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You are misinformed about teachers and their pensions. In South Carolina they contribute 6.5% of their income. The rest of your post is moot.

Mona Lott wrote:

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You are misinformed about teachers and their pensions. In South Carolina they contribute 6.5% of their income. The rest of your post is moot.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/charle...

Hot Dog wrote:

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The government picks and chooses what they want, and where it will benefit them. Do you really think that the ones in Congress and public figures who are saying help the poor now are doing it for their benefit? Find out what is going on behind closed doors, and what benefits they are getting, just to chop the poor guy. Do you actually think they are trying to save social security? They are taking money out of that and retirement pensions while lining their own pockets . I have friends and family all over in government jobs, I know a lot of retired senators. It is all about what can you do for me, they are borrowing from Peter to pay Paul so to speak. I am tired of the poor guy getting all the cuts and the scammers , all classes getting richer. The poor man goes to jail and the rich, gets away with it , because they have the tax advantages, you try paying 15%(inside trading)LOL and see if you don't end up in jail.LOL I do agree with you over the wars, we need to keep our money here on America's soil, and give it to their own people, the poor. Nothing makes me madder than someone scamming and now they are making it legal for the ones who do . I just don't think it is fair that they are penalizing marriages and giving tax breaks to the jerk off dads, that don't want to marry these women. Civil union of the opposite sex have choices civil unions of one sex do not.

The really sad part...in reading so many of these comments, is that you have the right to vote!
For the love of God and Country: PLEASE: Read...use your intellect...engage in conversations that
use reason and knowledge of facts. Otherwise, you are ripe pickings for the latest political
sound bite.

Betru wrote:

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The really sad part...in reading so many of these comments, is that you have the right to vote!
For the love of God and Country: PLEASE: Read...use your intellect...engage in conversations that
use reason and knowledge of facts. Otherwise, you are ripe pickings for the latest political
sound bite.

I really don't give a shit what you think of me.LOL I do vote, I don't have to give you shit.LOL You certainly have quite a way of speaking yourself, I don't sugarcoat it. I really don't think I need you to tell me about the State of Illinois, I have a sister who is a teacher, I know what is paid out, so smarta$$ look it up for yourself. I have been on this site for quite awhile, I don't need any help in you telling me how to have a conversation. I have done quite well without you.LOL I think I can handle these guys and gals fine on my own. As you can see, I can take care of myself, even with a intellectual a$$hole like you. LOL Thanks for caring tho. I choose this site as a relaxing site, I don't accommodate
anyone who speaks with their nose up in the air as you. So bring that nose down to a level that is respectful, and MAYBE I might be nice.Oh yea, I bite back!LOL Ask anyone that has been on here awhile, it will take a lot more than you to run me off.LOL So do yourself a favor and Betru to yourself, and take the stick out of your high class @$$, and treat individuals like a person, instead of a dumb ass. Do you have something to prove to bring others down?

Betru wrote:

<quoted text>
The really sad part...in reading so many of these comments, is that you have the right to vote!
For the love of God and Country: PLEASE: Read...use your intellect...engage in conversations that
use reason and knowledge of facts. Otherwise, you are ripe pickings for the latest political
sound bite.

I have reread your post, LOL I have the right to vote, no thanks to people like you. Thank GOD we do have rights, you certainly wouldn't be handing them out!LOL Oh yea, the Country which you speak of was veterans who doesn't require an education, so your smart @$$ can speak with your tiny brain cell who is stuck on yourself. Since you don't care for the way I write or believe you think I am to stupid to vote, you sure are the pompous one. Sounds like you need to be reeducated.LOL..........the hard way.LOL;)

Honest AbeL wrote:

Oh wow a whole 6.5%!!!! The teachers unions are going to slap us all hard this coming year as they are billions behind. The least of the responsibility falls on the actual teachers. The outrageous amount of administrators at every school now is greater than the number of teachers. The idiots investing it or "handling" the money are getting payouts for bad investments. It is a terrible mess that we will be paying for quite a while on
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The ABC News report this week said that, when the schools give the teachers a big raise, right before retirement , the state has had to be bound, by what the school was paying when they retire. Our taxes have to pay for that raise until that teacher dies. I was not aware of that . Looks like the taxpayers are going to be screwed if something is not done. I know Illinois is broke, and can bare no more extra expenses. I honestly don't know what people are going to do. I don't understand why people are paying out taxes for their retirement, when too many of the people don't even have a retirement, that are barely making it on minimum wage.

Mona Lott wrote:

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You are misinformed about teachers and their pensions. In South Carolina they contribute 6.5% of their income. The rest of your post is moot.

Is that the state you live in? I don't know anything about South Carolina, I only know about Illinois. Does your state pick up the tab when they retire with a big bonus in their salary ? Our state does pick that up, and that is what is on the chopping block . Our tax money going for that, I am sure they will find more places for it to go, which is needed. We could dispute about it forever, I just hope they find solutions before more programs for the poor are cut to accommodate someone who is already making good money.

Who cares what people do i nthere own lifes? Live your own

Honest AbeL wrote:

Oh wow a whole 6.5%!!!! The teachers unions are going to slap us all hard this coming year as they are billions behind. The least of the responsibility falls on the actual teachers. The outrageous amount of administrators at every school now is greater than the number of teachers. The idiots investing it or "handling" the money are getting payouts for bad investments. It is a terrible mess that we will be paying for quite a while on
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How much do YOU contribute to your pension?

Hot Dog wrote:

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Is that the state you live in? I don't know anything about South Carolina, I only know about Illinois. Does your state pick up the tab when they retire with a big bonus in their salary ? Our state does pick that up, and that is what is on the chopping block . Our tax money going for that, I am sure they will find more places for it to go, which is needed. We could dispute about it forever, I just hope they find solutions before more programs for the poor are cut to accommodate someone who is already making good money.

The Hot Dog I replied to had an ISP of South Carolina.

If you live in Illinois, I found this:

http://www.illinoistimes.com/Springfield/arti...

Do teachers contribute to their pension?
Absolutely – teachers and administrators contribute 9.4 percent of salary every year of employment. And school districts contribute .58 percent of total payroll. State contributions and investment returns add to the fund.

Hot Dog wrote:

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Did you know that teachers don't put any money into their pension fund like most people have too?

Did you know that you're wrong? In many states it's taken out pre-tax. It's called deferred salary. The problem is that states aren't funding the portion that THEY are supposed to. Teachers didn't create the system, and teachers didn't create the problems. We've paid into the system the whole time, unlike the states.

Did you also know that teachers are only eligible for up to 1/2 of ANYTHING they've paid into social security? Teachers who work two jobs are paying a full share into social security, in spite of the fact that they'll never be fully eligible for benefits.

Now, who is supporting whom?

Marengo Jon wrote:

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Did you know that you're wrong? In many states it's taken out pre-tax. It's called deferred salary. The problem is that states aren't funding the portion that THEY are supposed to. Teachers didn't create the system, and teachers didn't create the problems. We've paid into the system the whole time, unlike the states.

When a teacher gets along in their last years, they school gives them a huge pay increase, like thousands of dollars. The school does not pay for those increases, but for a short time. The tax payers are having to. You could probably pull it up with ABC News. They said that Illinois couldn't pay anymore, that is what is on the chopping block in Springfield. They have decided to wait until after the election.Like I said, it was on ABC News, this week. Check it out if you like. If I am wrong, then the news is wrong .

Marengo Jon wrote:

Did you also know that teachers are only eligible for up to 1/2 of ANYTHING they've paid into social security? Teachers who work two jobs are paying a full share into social security, in spite of the fact that they'll never be fully eligible for benefits.
Now, who is supporting whom?

I didn't say anything about Social Security, I believe I have been misunderstood. I know they and everyone else pays into social security. I am talking about a pension, along with social security.

Mona Lott wrote:

<quoted text>The Hot Dog I replied to had an ISP of South Carolina.
If you live in Illinois, I found this:
http://www.illinoistimes.com/Springfield/arti...
Do teachers contribute to their pension?
Absolutely – teachers and administrators contribute 9.4 percent of salary every year of employment. And school districts contribute .58 percent of total payroll. State contributions and investment returns add to the fund.

Thank you for the info, I don't understand how the news, can be so off track, if that information is correct? I will have to talk to my sister again, that is for sure.

Marengo Jon wrote:

Did you also know that teachers are only eligible for up to 1/2 of ANYTHING they've paid into social security? Teachers who work two jobs are paying a full share into social security, in spite of the fact that they'll never be fully eligible for benefits.
Now, who is supporting whom?

Well I have something to think about. Most of the teachers in Southern Illinois own houses that a Doctor or Lawyer would own. Most live in a higher class area, and drive the most expensive cars.They do better than most people in the area. It is hard for me to take this in.LOL Now, maybe the teachers in other states that live in areas that are more expensive to live has to have two jobs. You are painting me a picture of the teachers being broke, and that is hard for me to conceive. I know some teachers that own a couple of very nice homes and go to their other condo's in Florida on their retirement. They only had a teachers salary, I know they did not have any other retirement, they taught me in school. I have known them all of my life, and I am not young. LOL I will look into this some more and get back to you. It will be interesting to see what Springfield decides. Oh, I am not saying they don't work for their money, they do. I couldn't handle a bunch of screaming kids.

Hot Dog wrote:

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Well I have something to think about. Most of the teachers in Southern Illinois own houses that a Doctor or Lawyer would own. Most live in a higher class area, and drive the most expensive cars.They do better than most people in the area. It is hard for me to take this in.LOL Now, maybe the teachers in other states that live in areas that are more expensive to live has to have two jobs. You are painting me a picture of the teachers being broke, and that is hard for me to conceive. I know some teachers that own a couple of very nice homes and go to their other condo's in Florida on their retirement. They only had a teachers salary, I know they did not have any other retirement, they taught me in school. I have known them all of my life, and I am not young. LOL I will look into this some more and get back to you. It will be interesting to see what Springfield decides. Oh, I am not saying they don't work for their money, they do. I couldn't handle a bunch of screaming kids.

I know you didn't mention Social Security, but I wanted you be certain that teachers aren't eligible for it. Even when the are eligible, it's only up to half.

Teachers, on the whole, have more education than most adults in any field nationwide. In Illinois, for instance, you will NOT advance on the salary schedule unless you're continually taking classes. Most teachers have a MINIMUM of a Master's Degree (after several years in the field) and many have the equivalent of a Doctorate (Master's plus 42+).

If the State of Illinois endorses continuing education for teachers, then teachers should be remunerated accordingly.

In two household families where both spouses work, with one of them being a teacher, it would be fair to assume that the standard of living is comfortable.

Hot Dog wrote:

Oh, I am not saying they don't work for their money, they do. I couldn't handle a bunch of screaming kids.

You couldn't pay me enough to teach school. As far as I'm concerned, teachers are underpaid.

Hot Dog wrote:

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Well I have something to think about. Most of the teachers in Southern Illinois own houses that a Doctor or Lawyer would own. Most live in a higher class area, and drive the most expensive cars.They do better than most people in the area. It is hard for me to take this in.LOL Now, maybe the teachers in other states that live in areas that are more expensive to live has to have two jobs. You are painting me a picture of the teachers being broke, and that is hard for me to conceive. I know some teachers that own a couple of very nice homes and go to their other condo's in Florida on their retirement. They only had a teachers salary, I know they did not have any other retirement, they taught me in school. I have known them all of my life, and I am not young. LOL I will look into this some more and get back to you. It will be interesting to see what Springfield decides. Oh, I am not saying they don't work for their money, they do. I couldn't handle a bunch of screaming kids.

in reality, teachers get a bad rap. in general, teachers are under appreciated, and under paid. they work more and longer hours than anyone in the u.s. other than an over the road truck driver and possibly a farmer.

teachers wake up early to prepare for the day, have to arrive at work early, and face way too large a class load. during their off hours they must correct and grade all the classwork for the day, and the prepare their classes for the following day. during vacations they are forced by the system to enroll in and study continuing education to learn about advances in their own field of expertise at their own expense.

my wife is an english teacher... she actually teaches classes for 30 hours a week, but in reality that translates to 90 to 100 hours a week. many nights she doesn't get to bed until after 1 a.m. and has to get up at 6.

my first wife's sister was a teacher in the rochester, ny city school system. many of the teachers who were entering into the work force were 2nd and 3rd rate at best. one year at the end of the school year her salary was less than 20 thousand dollars... during the summer the school board voted to double the salary for newer teachers and triple it for tenured teachers... the reason they did this was an attempt to attract better teachers... it worked. with the higher salaries they were inundated with applications being made by experienced, well educated teachers who had already achieved their masters and doctorate degrees, and could pick and choose who they wanted. even at that i never met one who could afford a better house than could a doctor, or had to work any less than they had before.