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The reason I brought that up was because DF made the claim, which I do believe is correct, that in Obama's presidency this country has seen the highest increase in government spending in history and without comparing percentage (or at least comparing something that makes sense for a comparison)...

Highest increase or highest percentage increase? I'm pretty sure the latter would raise some eyebrows, but I rather doubt that it's true.

I tried to look up "national language" and it sure looks like it's just a generic term that can have various meanings, but it seems to have no legal meaning in the United States, so yeah...

...including teaching?

The words I underlined are synonyms, really. But if it helps, just replace "popularity contest" with "reputation contest." The problem is still there. Edit: Actually, it reminds me of this, which might be helpful as a comparison.

EB, it sounds like this wouldn't be merit-based pay, but instead a popularity contest to determine one's pay grade. That's pretty different...

I don't actually know anything about this, but did hear anecdotes (my father was a firefighter for a long time) of areas in the U.S. where fire departments didn't get whatever it was they wanted contractually and went on strike. If there was a fire, they would show up to make sure that everyone...

The answer to that question is "sometimes." I know that's vague, but there's a good reason: cancer isn't just one thing. It's an umbrella term for cases of rampant cell division that have certain properties. But other than the properties that make something "cancer" it may have virtually nothing...

Well no, that's the thing. It wouldn't make teachers any better. Not by itself anyway. It would merely make merit-based pay something that is unquestionably based on actual merit. It's sort of a thought experiment, I guess. Proponents of merit-based pay don't typically, in my experience, provide...

So on the one hand, what matters for you is what the letter of the law happens to be. It's binding on all of us, no ifs, ands, or buts. And on the other hand, you want smoking to either be legal everywhere with no stipulations or illegal everywhere with allowances. Yet, the letter of the law...

The issue of banning smoking in restaurants and such is interesting to me because about five years ago, we had this on the ballot where I live. I forget the details, although the ban did pass. I didn't vote on it either way, but my father and my sister voted against each other on it, which is...

Since the topic has come up, last year I actually spent some time making up a system for merit-based pay to work. I'd look for what I originally wrote down back then if I weren't on vacation, but the gist of it was that I read someone stating that merit-based pay was a total pipe dream and gave...

"Let us back away. Whatever they are, they may only have been startled. If they are defending their territory and we absolutely must explore this path, it will still be here on our return, barring any pesky enchantments to the contrary, of course."

I've had some distinctly bad teachers who were of above average intelligence as far as I could tell. I've also had some distinctly bad teachers who were morons. I know several bright people who would make terrible teachers. One of my best friends was going to a university with the intention of...

I lost track of things when I left anyway, but good job wolves I guess. I never suspected Melkor was actually one of them even for a second. I was too focused on the others.

In that case, you've still got nearly a month, Spidey. Come on, you can do it! ...uh, I mean Oversoul is still gone. Wi-Fi in hostels? No such thing. It's not like we're living in the future... ...Discuss.

Malcontents.

The door swings open, revealing a dark chamber littered with huge spiderwebs... And that's it until I get back in late October. I wonder what will be in the room with the huge spiderwebs...

If I were a werewolf, I wouldn't still be stuck in irons. They'd probably burst when I transformed or at least they'd get warped enough for me to slip them off. I know Spiderman thinks I'm bloodthirsty, but I'm not a vampire and if any of you tries to stake me in the heart or rub garlic on me or...

Carl Paladino. Christine O'Donnell. I would think so too. Maybe we're just crazy, though.