Schools in Georgia

Education arguments continue.

Six years of Republican control means less money spent on education and more students failing a standard set in 1980. Not to mention the No Child Left Behind criteria.

In Hall County, the school system ran a 6 million dollar deficit after projecting a $700,000 surplus.

Full story in the Gainesville Times. Taxes will have to be raised about $200 to $300 per $150,000 home. There's a huge uproar about, ... Where did the money go?

Home foreclosures? $5 per gallon diesel fuel? Similar increases in electricity, food, water ... Odd, isn't it, when the number of homeowners paying taxes decreases at a record NATIONAL pace, the school system doesn't have as much money.

And, oddly enough, when developers walk away from huge developments without paying their taxes, school revenues go down.

A 700 home development, Seasons on Lanier, collapsed violently when Levitt and Sons filed for Chapter 11 in November 2007. (Story in Gainesville Times) That one development left houses partly built, buyers lost downpayments, workers lost paychecks, subcontractors lost about a million in unpaid work. Wachovia bank lost over $100 million, so far.

IN June 2007, Levitt and Sons were inducted into the National Association of Home Builders' Hall of Fame! (link)

In Florida, Levitt also walked away from a development, leaving over a $100 million in community losses. Full story in Orlando Sentinel.

"But, the housing crisis ins't a big problem. Let's cut some taxes!" John McCain.

Or, "We could run the whole country on a national sales tax!" John Linder et al...

When there's no money for education, why is there any discussion of teachers? Classrooms? ...

It's the economy, stupid.