Is a pony for every kid really that far off?
 

The government at its finest.

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Democrats are proposing that iPods and other MP3 players be given to every child in Michigan, according to an editorial in the Detroit Free Press. The party's state house speaker Andy Dillon suggested the idea as part of a larger spending bill, suggesting that it would help students learn. The idea has already triggered a major controversy in the state for the cost it would inflict on the already ailing government, taking $38 million away from Michigan's budget when the territory faces a $600 million deficit this year and an even greater $2.1 billion gap in 2008.

Educators in particular saw the proposal as an excess at a time when far more basic issues were at hand. "My members are telling me they have much more pressing things they're worried about, like whether they're going to be able to make payroll in May," Michigan Association of School Boards spokesman Don Wotruba said.

The choice also drew expected flak from Republicans and their supporters, including an editorial in the Detroit News which accused the Democrats of wasting money on luxuries for youth while putting increasing strain on the parents that support them through tax hikes offered at the same time a the iPod plan.

"We wonder how financially strained Michigan residents will feel about paying higher taxes to buy someone else's kid an iPod," the anonymous author said. State officials hope to have the budget signed by June 1st to take effect when the fiscal year starts in October.

iPods have been increasingly used as a help in many American college and university campuses. Duke University's Digital Initiative regularly hands out iPods to faculty and students for class-related podcasts and other material, while Apple itself has partnered with several schools in North America for its iTunes U feature that hosts school-specific content on the iTunes Store. A comprehensive study of the effect of portable music players and podcasts on learning, however, hasn't yet surfaced.


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http://www.macnn.com/articles/07/04/...michigan.kids/

Re: Is a pony for every kid really that far off?
 

What democrats?

Re: Is a pony for every kid really that far off?
 

Re: Is a pony for every kid really that far off?
 

What heartless bastard could oppose this?

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/images/and-a-pony.jpg

THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!

Re: Is a pony for every kid really that far off?
 

YOUR PONY TOO SLOW

Re: Is a pony for every kid really that far off?
 

I have a sweet pic but don't know how to post it

find it here:

NSFW

lol

Re: Is a pony for every kid really that far off?
 

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I have a sweet pic but don't know how to post it

find it here:

NSFW

lol

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ban plz. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Is a pony for every kid really that far off?
 

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YOUR PONY TOO SLOW

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ARGH. Wasted too much time THINKING OF THE CHILDREN!!!

Re: Is a pony for every kid really that far off?
 

GO HOME SLOW PONY

Re: Is a pony for every kid really that far off?
 

Posted by D'oh Eyes on January 31, 2007 8:59 AM

Ejacto cumtronum!

Re: Is a pony for every kid really that far off?
 

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What democrats?

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Re: Is a pony for every kid really that far off?
 

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THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!

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Reminds me of children like this:

http://www.socialistaction.org/images/stalin2.jpg

Stalin, as the "Friend of Little Children," poses with six-year-old Gelya Markizova in 1936. A year later, Gelya's father was shot for "spying for Japan" and her mother was murdered.
http://www.socialistaction.org/news/200103/last.html

Re: Is a pony for every kid really that far off?
 

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What democrats?

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All of 'em, man. They're evil!!! DOWN WITH THE STATE

Update
 

Here is an update from this debacle. Obvious back pedaling but they wouldn't be politicans if they didn't.

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LANSING -- Three Michigan lawmakers who took a trip to California last month paid for by Apple Inc. to learn about educational technology will reimburse the company $1,702 each.

"The only reason we're paying for it is to end this public perception that something is misguided," said Rep. Tim Melton, D-Auburn Hills.

Melton, chairman of the House Education Policy Committee, said House Democrats erred last week when they announced that they planned to put $38 million into the budget to buy Apple iPods for students. He said that was never the plan, but it was widely reported in the Michigan press and then picked up by the nation's media. He said the "iPod controversy" has become a national joke.

"We did the press a great disservice and we're deeply sorry for that," said Melton.

The other two lawmakers who went on the California trip were House Speaker Andy Dillon, D-Redford Township, and Rep. Matthew Gillard, D-Alpena, who is the chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee on education. It was Gillard who held an iPod up before reporters when talking about the plans to put more technology into the classroom.

Gillard said Dillon, who did not attend today's news conference, was "gravely disappointed" by the flap over iPods.

"There was never a plan to provide an iPod for every child in the state of Michigan," Melton said.

He said that because of the state's budget crisis the entire $38 million proposal could be scrapped and most of the proposed money put toward teacher development.


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http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...TICS/704130368