<p>State and federal governments are broke. Every other middle class group is feeling the pain of this horrible economy which results in less sympathy for union employees. Maybe government union employees need to “share the wealth”</p>
<hr>
<p>I read an article yesterday that stated increased brain function occurs within 5 minutes of drinking a glass of water and suggested school children begin their day with a glass of water instead of a glass of juice.</p>
<p>zoosermom, when you say “Detroit,” what do you mean exactly, which unions are you blaming, and why? </p>
<p>Admittedly, I could be wrong about this, but to go back again to the neighborhood around Carstens Elementary from the NYT article: a lot of the housing stock there was built from about 1910-1950. I think that the original owners of the houses probably were union members, who worked for the auto companies. However, I doubt that there have been many union members in that area since about 1970. </p>
<p>I have the impression that some of the skilled trades unions in the auto factories have historically passed membership (in some way) to family members, with a discriminatory impact over all. Again, I could be wrong about this. If it is true, I would blame the unions for not opening skilled-trades membership to a more diverse group.</p>
<p>However, I do nor fault the unions for working to raise the wage scales and benefits for their members. Part of the difficulty that the auto companies had is connected with health care costs–hitting everyone. The union members had no better health care plans than the executives, and probably worse.</p>
<p>Despite complaints about high union pay, if you look at the ratios of the compensation of people at the top of the company to the union members in the plants, I think that the unions have acted as a brake on the escalation of this ratio, but it has almost certainly grown nevertheless.</p>
<p>Finally, to react to Kajon’s comment about drinking water: John Tierney in last Sunday’s New York Times magazine had an article on decision-making, and why it is ultimately tiring. He noted that the brain runs on glucose. Further, children’s nutritional needs differ somewhat from adults’ needs–obviously–because the children are still growing.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Just because you state something emphatically doesn’t make it “unquestionable.” Many would question that statement. I could just as easily say that management and stupid executive decisions were to blame. Racism also “unquestionably” played a huge role.</p>
<p>
I don’t think there is any serious person who doesn’t realize the damage done by the UAW contracts. Greed and ineptitude aren’t zero sum games. Plenty to be attributed to management and racism, as well.</p>
<p>The Verizon strike was quite an interesting case study. That union, which doesn’t make money for the company, really doesn’t want to contribute to healthcare costs. Who, in this day and age, doesn’t expect to contribute something? Oh. Right. City workers. Among them, my husband. The union work rules are crippling municipalities. Two of my husband’s union co-workers were publicly convicted of crimes committed ON THE JOB in the last month or so and received either probation or sentences of less than a year, and guess what? After lengthy, expensive disciplinary proceedings, they still have their jobs on the taxpayer dime. This is exactly what is killing our country.</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>A glass of Tropicana Orange Juice has 26 grams of carbs and 2 grams of protein. Of that 26 grams of carbs, 22 of them are sugars. Orange juice isn’t recommended before a workout either as it has the wrong kind of sugar for short-term energy. The only drink that I’ve had today is tap water - nine glasses so far today. Was out on the tennis courts for 1.5 hours on a humid day.</p>
<p>I heard a representative from one of the Verizon unions on the radio and they didn’t have a problem with giving back some of their benefits. His chief complaint was that Verizon had a list of some 140-odd demands of givebacks which they weren’t prepared to do.</p>
<p>We had Verizon in NH before they sold the operations to Fairpoint. The unions objected to the sale but it went through. Then Fairpoint went into bankruptcy and came out and is recovering. It’s interesting that service from Verizon’s broadband service came from India and was generally awful. Fairpoint’s customer service is based in the US and is quite good. Fairpoint’s prices are generally better than Verizon’s. I don’t know what happened to the unions with Fairpoint - there are no news articles that I could find on Fairpoint and unions for the last two years. Either they are out or they are in but there haven’t been any conflicts.</p>
<p>BC, I don’t know why you keep comparing the nutritional needs of a middle age man with growing children.</p>
<p>They are not comparable.</p>
<p>I consider myself a “serious person.” I am not sure that the UAW contracts damaged the auto companies. I would be more likely to cite the poor quality of the vehicles, at just the time when many baby boomers were buying their first cars, and failure to recognize shifts in the types of vehicles demanded by consumers. With the exception of some specific vehicles that were lemons (not by design), and could be blamed on the unions, most of the quality issues were connected to the design and materials of the vehicles, decisions made by management and not the unions. In my opinion, the American-made cars have improved very considerably since the 1980’s, but too late to attract back the customers that were lost.</p>
<p>With regard to health care costs: I think the health plans should be compared within an industry. Do the executives at the auto companies contribute to their health care costs? Maybe they do; I don’t know. </p>
<p>Can’t defend the union defense of employees convicted of crimes on the job (or off the job, for the most part).</p>
<p>Quantmech
</p>
<p>In almost every industry people’s pay has dropped a whole lot in the past few years, for those who are still employed. I don’t think I am sticking my neck out at all to suggest (even without Google assistance) that in many industries (such as construction) the compensation decrease is considerably more than 10%.</p>
<p>Quantmech
I would LOVE to be put in charge of helping Detroit, and I would bet everything I own on my ability to do it successfully. It is actually very simple. </p>
<p>Create a pro-business zone there, a place where taxes and regulations are hugely lifted, and where companies can ban union formation. Let companies pay people what they would like to pay them, and cover health care only if they want to do so. People can choose whether or not they take the jobs, or go elsewhere. </p>
<p>In this zone, environmental laws would be reduced to those effecting pollution issues ONLY (global warming related regulations - gone - they are debatable anyway). A taxes and regulations czar would be appointed to reduce all of the things weighing enterprise down by A LOT, simplifying everything at the municipal, state, and federal level. Codes, rules, permits - everything would be streamlined in this emergency response scenario. So many businesses would go there that they would have to compete for employees. Until that point, people could pay for they own health care with their own JOBS. So much money would come to Detroit that many people would have a good chance to start up a small business, and then they could set up their own health care and benefits for themselves.</p>
<p>Soon, as a result of competing for employees, bigger companies would offer greater and greater benefits to lure them. We could even have new manufacturing enterprises. In America. Imagine! This is my dream, so I can make it what I want. The justification is related to what might happen during a natural disaster. Special powers are invoked. Detroit is a disaster, and people should not be abandoned in that situation. Do this, and watch businesses flock to the area. You just wouldn’t believe what is possible.</p>
<p>It’s a fair bet. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics compiles data on the compensation of workers in many job categories. Those connected with construction can be found by scrolling down at the site: [List</a> of SOC Occupations](<a href=“http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_stru.htm#47-0000]List”>http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_stru.htm#47-0000)
and then following the links to specific trades.</p>
<p>For each trade, the percentiles 10, 25, 50, 75, and 90 of compensation are listed. The number of people employed is also listed.</p>
<p>There’s an interesting aspect: The data are provided for May 2010. So when the data come out for May 2011, we can take a look at it.</p>
<p>Aside from hourly rates, there is a separate question of how many hours per week the construction worker is employed (and how many weeks per year). That could contribute to a decrease in income while the hourly rate remains the same or goes up. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes the percentiles both for hourly rate and for total compensation, so both aspects can be considered.</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>[Childhood</a> Obesity in New York City Elementary School Students](<a href=“http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1448480/]Childhood”>Childhood Obesity in New York City Elementary School Students - PMC)</p>
<p><a href=“Physical Education and Physical Activity | Healthy Schools | CDC”>Physical Education and Physical Activity | Healthy Schools | CDC;
<p>[International</a> Journal of Obesity - Abstract of article: Childhood overweight and elementary school outcomes](<a href=“http://www.nature.com/ijo/journal/v30/n9/abs/0803311a.html]International”>Childhood overweight and elementary school outcomes | International Journal of Obesity)</p>
<p>[Fighting</a> Obesity: What Schools Can Do](<a href=“http://www.districtadministration.com/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=574]Fighting”>http://www.districtadministration.com/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=574)</p>
<p>Offer healthful food Oversized portions and the increased consumption
of sugar-sweetened drinks have been linked to rising obesity
rates. Schools can support healthful choices by restricting the sales
of food and beverages that are high in fat and sugar. Emerging
evidence shows schools can offer more healthy foods in their vending
machines without losing revenue.</p>
<p>[Childhood</a> Obesity & Elementary School Cafeteria Food | LIVESTRONG.COM](<a href=“http://www.livestrong.com/article/519859-childhood-obesity-elementary-school-cafeteria-food/]Childhood”>The Advantages & Disadvantages of School Canteens | Healthfully)</p>
<p>Childhood obesity is a growing problem in the United States. According
to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 12.5 million
children and teens are obese. Obesity is caused by several factors,
including poor diet. Children spend a lot of time eating snacks, lunch
and breakfast from the school cafeteria. Being educated in childhood
obesity will assure your child gets the most nutrients out of his
elementary school cafeteria food.</p>
<p>[Obesity</a> Risk for Infants Fed Solid Foods Early - WSJ.com](<a href=“http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704570104576124632441136032.html]Obesity”>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704570104576124632441136032.html)</p>
<p>[Infants</a> not exempt from obesity epidemic](<a href=“http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110104163855.htm]Infants”>Infants not exempt from obesity epidemic | ScienceDaily)</p>
<p>[Medical</a> News: Obesity Epidemic Spreads to Infants - in Pediatrics, Obesity from MedPage Today](<a href=“http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pediatrics/Obesity/3907]Medical”>PRIME® Continuing Medical Education)</p>
<p>[Obesity</a> Epidemic Spreads to Toddlers - ABC News](<a href=“Obesity Epidemic Spreads to Toddlers - ABC News”>Obesity Epidemic Spreads to Toddlers - ABC News)</p>
<p>[Toddlers</a> given milk at bedtime risk obesity, research claims | Mail Online](<a href=“Toddlers given milk at bedtime risk obesity, research claims | Daily Mail Online”>Toddlers given milk at bedtime risk obesity, research claims | Daily Mail Online)</p>
<p>[Florida</a> high school art teacher punches student; Sandra Hadsock, 64, in Hernando County - YouTube](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpOKihp_5AI]Florida”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpOKihp_5AI)</p>
<p>The kid that assaulted the teacher looks to be as big as I was at my heaviest point. If you look around at the other kids in the classroom, you’ll see that there are other overweight and obese kids there. I was somewhat shocked to see how big the kids in some classrooms are. When I was in high-school most kids were pretty skinny.</p>
<p>QuantMech, let me know what you think of my SAVE DETROIT idea.</p>
<p>I forgot one thing, in this Pro-Business emergency zone, the czar would have the freedom to impose mandatory free choice for school children. All students would get a voucher. Private schools would flock to the area. especially for-profit ones, and the kids would have immediate access to choose a great education.</p>
<p>I wonder how much reduced recess time is tied to increased health risks for children.
</p>
<p>Read more: [Recess-part</a> of School Days Past? | Healthmad](<a href=“http://healthmad.com/conditions-and-diseases/recess-part-of-school-days-past/#ixzz1WFmCeln4]Recess-part”>http://healthmad.com/conditions-and-diseases/recess-part-of-school-days-past/#ixzz1WFmCeln4)</p>
<p>The decreased recess time is tied to the standing in line for the subsidized lunch. It is much faster to eat a lunch brought from home, and have more recess time.</p>
<p>no the decreased recess time is tied to more time in the classroom to prepare for testing as well as using reduction of recess for disciplinary issues.</p>
<p>
[Recess</a> Makes Kids Smarter | Scholastic.com](<a href=“http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3755758]Recess”>http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3755758)</p>
<p>I am no expert on Detroit, but I think there is already some sort of a Renaissance Zone there, with significantly decreased business taxes. Not sure about regulations. Some regulations are safety related (aside from those on pollution), and I think those need to continue to be enforced. Spideygirl, you might send your suggestions to Governor Synder and Mayor Bing, who would have some possibility of implementing them–and would also know the current state of play in Detroit better than I do. </p>
<p>I support the idea of school vouchers, provided that they ensure that students can actually afford to enroll elsewhere–i.e., $3000 for a low-income student, when the tuition at a private school is $8000 or higher, doesn’t do much good. On the other hand, I don’t believe that the charter schools in Detroit have done noticeably better than the public schools there. Data on this would be interesting. I think some of the charter schools may be tuition-free.</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>$8,000 for a private school? That’s pretty hard to find in my area.
The good ones start at $20K in my area.</p>
<p>One of my co-workers told me that her son was accepted to a charter
school that I live near (two blocks away). It has been very difficult
to start and operate a charter school in NH because they are supposed
to be funded by school districts and school districts have refused to
turn over funds in the past.</p>
<p>This particular charter school has parents driving their kids there
from all over the state. It also generally has top-notch (often by
a huge margin) test scores. So it’s clear to me that charter schools
can work.</p>
<p>This particular charter school has parents driving their kids there
from all over the state. It also generally has top-notch (often by
a huge margin) test scores. So it’s clear to me that charter schools
can work.</p>
<p>how are students enrolled?
Is it first come first served or is it a selection process?</p>
<p>( of course low income families rarely have the option of driving across the state)</p>
<p>I picked $8000 as representative of parochial-school tuition in Washington, D.C. and Cleveland, OH, when vouchers were under consideration both places. Also, I think $3000 was about the level of voucher assistance being offered in Cleveland.</p>
<p>I realize that the really good private schools cost much more–typically as much as an Ivy, although in some areas they can be found for $20,000 to $30,000. All of that is totally out of range of the Detroit residents under discussion!</p>
<p>Also, I agree that there can be good charter schools. I was writing specifically about the charter schools in Detroit, that serve a similar population to the public schools.</p>
<p>Open enrollment with application and interview. Free for any student in NH. The students study algebra, biology, chemistry and physics in the sixth grade so students would need to have the background for that.</p>