document.write("<script language=\"javascript1.2\" type=\"text/javascript\">function emo_pop() {window.open('http://www.haloscan.com/commenthelp.php','Help','width=200,height=320,resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes');}</script><table width=\"97%\" align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" border=\"0\" class=\"MainTable\">  <tr>    <td>    <div align=\"center\">    </div>    </td>  </tr><tr><td class=\"MessageCell\">    <a name=\"337186\"></a>        <p><img src=\"http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=b62a2514a81c5d14d2587f78c2c7e1a4&amp;default=http%3A%2F%2Fec1.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FG%2F01%2Fx-locale%2Fcommon%2Ftransparent-pixel.gif&amp;rating=PG&amp;size=32\" alt=\"Gravatar\" title=\"Gravatar\" style=\"padding: 1px; margin: 2px; float: right;\" class=\"gravatar\" />There's nothing wrong with questioning your own political beliefs.  That's what the debates are for, anyway.<br><br>Meh.  It still hurts when I breathe.<br><br>Ohh!  \"axle grease.\"  got it.  (i've never been a gear head, so I was a at a bit of a loss.)<br><br>First again!  much <br /><span class=\"byline\">           Tragic Saturn | <a href=\"http://www.blogger.com/profile/3998310\" title=\"http://www.blogger.com/profile/3998310\">Homepage</a> | 10.14.04 - 4:48 am | <a href=\"#337186\" title=\"Link to this comment\">#</a></span></p><hr /></td></tr><tr><td class=\"MessageCell\">    <a name=\"337187\"></a>        <p><img src=\"http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=92bc9baf315417f34958d2ff6e6923df&amp;default=http%3A%2F%2Fec1.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FG%2F01%2Fx-locale%2Fcommon%2Ftransparent-pixel.gif&amp;rating=PG&amp;size=32\" alt=\"Gravatar\" title=\"Gravatar\" style=\"padding: 1px; margin: 2px; float: right;\" class=\"gravatar\" />I'm glad you're opening your mind to other possibilitites. It's very weird that over here, we hear that Bush has sent his military out to battle not properly equipped to do so and there or some saying that they have had their pay cut while in the forces. Other military personel are saying that they are being over worked because they lack enough heads. Anyway, read between the lines and look at both sides very carefully. You may be angry at what you find.<br /><span class=\"byline\">           (just me) | <a href=\"http://butterfliesanddemons.blogspot.com/\" title=\"http://butterfliesanddemons.blogspot.com/\">Homepage</a> | 10.14.04 - 11:52 am | <a href=\"#337187\" title=\"Link to this comment\">#</a></span></p><hr /></td></tr><tr><td class=\"MessageCell\">    <a name=\"337188\"></a>        <p><img src=\"http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=e3bff0fa1de7a8d4967ca67e792bede6&amp;default=http%3A%2F%2Fec1.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FG%2F01%2Fx-locale%2Fcommon%2Ftransparent-pixel.gif&amp;rating=PG&amp;size=32\" alt=\"Gravatar\" title=\"Gravatar\" style=\"padding: 1px; margin: 2px; float: right;\" class=\"gravatar\" />Hey there Navy Doc.  Just a couple things on your questioning.  GW didn't  raise interest rates that can only be done thru the Federal Reserve and rates are still historically low.  ST rates were in the 9 to 10% range in 1999 and 2000.  They only started to go down when the stock market went into the crapper in May of 2000.  With education I'm not terribly sure at this point that throwing more dollars at our education system is going to \"fix\" the problem.  I think that the Teachers Unions are more of the problem than anything else and until we get into a market driven education system the Teachers Unions are never going to stop with their monopolistic practices (btw - I'm a former teacher, now Finance Controller).  So, vouchers are a start.  I'm not against public education but think there has been too much interference and control given to the Feds in controlling education.  This started back in the 60's that was the start of the decline in our education system.  Thanks for you<br /><span class=\"byline\">           Toni | <a href=\"http://www.viewfromtonka.blogspot.com\" title=\"http://www.viewfromtonka.blogspot.com\">Homepage</a> | 10.14.04 - 4:31 pm | <a href=\"#337188\" title=\"Link to this comment\">#</a></span></p><hr /></td></tr><tr><td class=\"MessageCell\">    <a name=\"337190\"></a>        <p><img src=\"http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=ae4003b9f5dc27c61259d6ca89e50f1d&amp;default=http%3A%2F%2Fec1.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FG%2F01%2Fx-locale%2Fcommon%2Ftransparent-pixel.gif&amp;rating=PG&amp;size=32\" alt=\"Gravatar\" title=\"Gravatar\" style=\"padding: 1px; margin: 2px; float: right;\" class=\"gravatar\" />I love ya for who you are and not for what you believe in. Its good to get all view points and you are doing a great  job!<br /><span class=\"byline\">           Sarah | <a href=\"http://psychoalice.blogspot.com\" title=\"http://psychoalice.blogspot.com\">Homepage</a> | 10.14.04 - 4:58 pm | <a href=\"#337190\" title=\"Link to this comment\">#</a></span></p><hr /></td></tr><tr><td class=\"MessageCell\">    <a name=\"337189\"></a>        <p><img src=\"http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=05f220a8080faf68e497f50ae0e1f8f1&amp;default=http%3A%2F%2Fec1.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FG%2F01%2Fx-locale%2Fcommon%2Ftransparent-pixel.gif&amp;rating=PG&amp;size=32\" alt=\"Gravatar\" title=\"Gravatar\" style=\"padding: 1px; margin: 2px; float: right;\" class=\"gravatar\" />I totallly agree with Sarah. I just put up a post on my blog entitled Split Screen. It is my musings of how different the same thing looks when filtered through our differing biases and the importance of these conversations on the MIblogs.<br /><span class=\"byline\">           deerdancre22 | <a href=\"http://livejournal.com/users/deerdancer22\" title=\"http://livejournal.com/users/deerdancer22\">Homepage</a> | 10.14.04 - 5:56 pm | <a href=\"#337189\" title=\"Link to this comment\">#</a></span></p><hr /></td></tr><tr><td class=\"MessageCell\">    <a name=\"337174\"></a>        <p><img src=\"http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=2db9bfc9678c27a474db2e62083fe299&amp;default=http%3A%2F%2Fec1.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FG%2F01%2Fx-locale%2Fcommon%2Ftransparent-pixel.gif&amp;rating=PG&amp;size=32\" alt=\"Gravatar\" title=\"Gravatar\" style=\"padding: 1px; margin: 2px; float: right;\" class=\"gravatar\" />Just a comment on the \"unconditional absences\" thing.  In my kid's school system at least, it's UNEXCUSED abscences.  Excused absences (such as medical problems, family emergencies, etc.) do not count.<br /><span class=\"byline\">           Catt | <a href=\"http://cativa.blogspot.com/\" title=\"http://cativa.blogspot.com/\">Homepage</a> | 10.15.04 - 12:41 pm | <a href=\"#337174\" title=\"Link to this comment\">#</a></span></p><hr /></td></tr><tr><td class=\"MessageCell\">    <a name=\"337175\"></a>        <p><img src=\"http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=a36f05ac0208001e874aad75f019f617&amp;default=http%3A%2F%2Fec1.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FG%2F01%2Fx-locale%2Fcommon%2Ftransparent-pixel.gif&amp;rating=PG&amp;size=32\" alt=\"Gravatar\" title=\"Gravatar\" style=\"padding: 1px; margin: 2px; float: right;\" class=\"gravatar\" />It's good to question beliefs.<br /><span class=\"byline\">           Seth | <a href=\"http://silonius.blogspot.com\" title=\"http://silonius.blogspot.com\">Homepage</a> | 10.18.04 - 1:18 pm | <a href=\"#337175\" title=\"Link to this comment\">#</a></span></p><hr /></td></tr><tr><td class=\"MessageCell\">    <a name=\"337176\"></a>        <p><img src=\"http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=1b1ad452e6c294e8645d1b28034b581d&amp;default=http%3A%2F%2Fec1.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FG%2F01%2Fx-locale%2Fcommon%2Ftransparent-pixel.gif&amp;rating=PG&amp;size=32\" alt=\"Gravatar\" title=\"Gravatar\" style=\"padding: 1px; margin: 2px; float: right;\" class=\"gravatar\" />yeah, how else would you believe in them?<br><br>hey, i just came by to say hey<br /><span class=\"byline\">           el sid | <a href=\"http://www.tinylittlerantsofdoom.blogspot.com\" title=\"http://www.tinylittlerantsofdoom.blogspot.com\">Homepage</a> | 10.18.04 - 3:30 pm | <a href=\"#337176\" title=\"Link to this comment\">#</a></span></p><hr /></td></tr><tr><td class=\"MessageCell\">    <a name=\"337177\"></a>        <p><img src=\"http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e&amp;default=http%3A%2F%2Fec1.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FG%2F01%2Fx-locale%2Fcommon%2Ftransparent-pixel.gif&amp;rating=PG&amp;size=32\" alt=\"Gravatar\" title=\"Gravatar\" style=\"padding: 1px; margin: 2px; float: right;\" class=\"gravatar\" />you rock and thats why we luv you!<br><br>xxxooo<br /><span class=\"byline\">           vadergrrrl | <a href=\"http://vadergrrrl.blogspot.com\" title=\"http://vadergrrrl.blogspot.com\">Homepage</a> | 10.19.04 - 1:52 am | <a href=\"#337177\" title=\"Link to this comment\">#</a></span></p><hr /></td></tr><tr><td class=\"MessageCell\">    <a name=\"337180\"></a>        <p><img src=\"http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=71a77006367a8c7b6dbac05e426080d9&amp;default=http%3A%2F%2Fec1.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FG%2F01%2Fx-locale%2Fcommon%2Ftransparent-pixel.gif&amp;rating=PG&amp;size=32\" alt=\"Gravatar\" title=\"Gravatar\" style=\"padding: 1px; margin: 2px; float: right;\" class=\"gravatar\" />Sounds hectic. I hope things settle down for you soon.<br /><span class=\"byline\">           Jenny | <a href=\"http://justanarmywife.blogspot.com\" title=\"http://justanarmywife.blogspot.com\">Homepage</a> | 10.22.04 - 8:06 pm | <a href=\"#337180\" title=\"Link to this comment\">#</a></span></p><hr /></td></tr><tr>    <td class=\"InputCell\">                  <br /><div style=\"margin: 0 auto; width: 234px;\"><a href=\"http://js-kit.com/?hsad\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"http://www.haloscan.com/images/jskit-ad-banner-small.png\" width=\"234\" height=\"60\" border=\"0\"/></a></div><br /><div id=\"newcomment\"></div><form method=\"post\" name=\"addComment\" action=\"http://www.haloscan.com/comments/sstrunks150/109770048807304914/\" target=\"_self\">        <p>    Name: <br />          <input name=\"name\" type=\"text\" size=\"38\" value=\"\" /><br />          Email:<br />          <input name=\"email\" type=\"text\" size=\"38\" value=\"\" /><br />          URL: <br />          <input name=\"url\" type=\"text\" size=\"38\" value=\"\" /><br />          Comment:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"javascript:emo_pop()\" title=\"Smiley and tag help\" target=\"_self\">?</a>&nbsp;<br />          <textarea name=\"addMessage\" rows=\"12\" cols=\"38\"></textarea><br /><input type=\"checkbox\" name=\"subscribe\" id=\"subscribe\" value=\"1\" /><label for=\"subscribe\">Notify me of followup comments via email</label>        </p>        <p class=\"PSubmit\"><input name=\"submit\" type=\"submit\" value=\"Publish\" style=\"font-weight: bold;\" class=\"SubmitButton\" />&nbsp;<input name=\"previewMessage\" type=\"submit\" value=\"Preview\" class=\"SubmitButton\" />        </p>      <input type='hidden' name='user' value='sstrunks150' /><input type='hidden' name='comment' value='109770048807304914' /></form>    </td></tr>  <tr>    <td><p align=\"center\">        Commenting by <a href=\"http://www.haloscan.com/\" target=\"_blank\">HaloScan</a></p>      </td>  </tr></table><img src=\"http://c5.statcounter.com/counter.php?sc_project=561713&amp;java=0&amp;security=01eeff58\" alt=\"\" border=\"0\" /></body>");