The first of two televised college campus debates between gubernatorial candidates Robert Bentley and Ron Sparks will be held Thursday night (9/16) in the Moody Music Building at the University of Alabama. Unfortunately, you will have to either watch it on TV or listen to it on the radio. Only UA students and faculty received the free tickets.
It will air on Alabama Public Television and Alabama Public Radio, beginning at 7 p.m. Debbie Elliott, a UA graduate and National Public Radio correspondent, will be the moderator.
YOUR ASSIGNMENT:
Either watch or listen to the debate and answer the following questions:
1) What are their stances/beliefs on bringing revenue to the State of Alabama?
2) What is their opinion regarding the question of gambling (bingo/lottery)?
3) How do they feel about the system of education in Alabama? How do they propose to solve the problems?
4) Pick two additional issues that are debated and discuss them in your own opinion(s).
1.) Sparks wants to give out thousands of jobs. He believes alternative fuel (grass n trees), could be a great resourceor revenue builder for us. He believes Alabama could and should be the world leader in alternative fuel. He would also create jobs by building roads from North Alabama to South Alabama. Also, he does not want to raise taxes.
ReplyDeleteDr. Bentley believes we need to have a short then long term goal. He also wants to have a tax deduction, and believes in hiring people off the unenployment roll. He says we need a strong infostructure. He suggests that we look and see what areas have available, and based off of those availabilities, try to get industries that fit those areas. He favors expansion on current area based industries.
2.) Commisioner Sparks used Georgia as an example of benefits of gambling. They have given out 1.2 million scholarships. Sparks supports the lottery and will fight for it. He also feels this will help get Pre-K in Alabama.
Dr. Bentley will let peple vote on gambling. However, he personally is completely opposed to it. He believes that gambling hurts all economies. But, he trusts the people of Alabama to vote correctly. If a bill is written by legislature and passed, they will vote to put the issue to bed.
3.) Sparks wants to send every child to college, but without raising taxes. His plan against proration includes taxing gambling at 25-30%. That money will go to a special education trust fund and medicaid. He is for a 21st century framework. Also, he wants the Race To The Top money, because he feels it will help Alabama students to compete globally. He opposes charter schools, and is for all innovative schools.
Dr. Bentley wants to implement a 15 year rolling average budget to avoid proration. He believes that getting health care costs under control will also help the education. Also, he favors more local control of education dollars, because that would make it easier to work out a budget. He is not for race to top money because it had strings attached, and had nothing to do with charter schools. He wants to test charter schools in a few areas in the state, and then add more charter schools if those few are successful.
4.) Dr. Bentley and Commissioner Sparks also discussed the problems in the Gulf Coast and Immigration issues. I agree with Commissioner Sparks about how we should handle the situation with BP. We should take every avenue we can to make them repay the state, even if it comes to suing them. I like the kind of relentless push he said he would make against BP. On immigration, I agree with some of both candidates viewpoints. I like the ideas Sparks has on the tough immigration laws, mainly the one on if illegeal immigrants are caught as undocumented workers, that the will not receive bail. I loike how Dr. Bentley said companies who knowingly and willingly hire illegal workers will be fined, but not shut down. Shutting down the company would be unneccessary, mainly because it would damge the economy by taking away jobs of legal workers who work at that company.
1.Bently believes we should start by creating more jobs for people. He believes we should have a short-term and long-term goal. He thinks we should also help with the tax deductions that,as he says, should have already been taken care of. He also feels that we need to create a good environment and look at the areas and environments that we already have and see what kind of work we can put there. He also said we need a proper infrastructure.
ReplyDeleteSparks believes that building more roads and using alternative fuels would be a great start. He also wants to provide many jobs for more people. He thinks we should tax the money that is associated with gambling and not raise taxes on the working people.
2.Bently is completely against gambling, but feels it is the peoples right to vote on that issue. Although he is against it, he says he is confident in the people to vote the right way if a bill was to be passed on the matter. He doesn't approve of gambling because he feels it hurts individuals and the state.
Sparks on the other hand is actually for gambling. He feels that it is not hurting us, but helping us. He makes a connection to Georgia and how well their doing because of gambling and thinks we could do the same. He says it would help give more kids scholarships and school opportunities. He says he is for gambling and lottery and he will fight for it to make Alabama better.
3.Bently thinks charter schools might work. He wants to try a few of them, see how it works, and if it works to start placing them in more areas.
Sparks is against charter schools, but feels like taxing gambling would help fund education.
4.Taxes and the Gulf Coast were also brought up. Sparks said that with taxes he does not feel as if they should be raised, which i agree with completly! He also says he would take grocery taxes off unlike Bently. Bently says let's take the taxes off one cent a year. What is that going to do? He also says that he does not feel that taxes are too hard on working people, which i totally disagree with!!!
With the Gulf Coast, Sparks says that the Bp needs to pay for what they've done to the state. While i do agree, i feel that he was very harsh on this issue. Bently also feels that Bp should pay, but he wants to wait before we decide to bring up a lawsuit and i think he might wait toooo long.
1) ~For revenue Sparks really emphasized getting money out of taxing gambling. He also wanted to create a highway stretching from North to South Alabama. He wants the state to become a world leader in alternative resources; he believes we should capitalize on our grass and timber. Further revenue could come from the lawsuit against BP to make up for the losses caused by the oil spill.
ReplyDelete~Bentley believes everything boils down to jobs. Alabama should make itself an environment where businesses will grow, and thus create more employment. More employment boosts the economy and creates revenue. His plan for creating jobs is similar to a 2007 nationwide plan, and also for Alabama he thinks that each area should focus on harnessing its own unique resources. Businesses should receive tax breaks and should not be heavily taxed. For more revenue he also wants to tax streamline revenue such as internet sales.
2)~Sparks would not let up on his stance on pro-gambling for the government to tax. He believes that gambling has always been here and we are watching people load up on buses to go to Missouri to gamble too. He wants to change our gambling so that it is taxed, regulated, and monitored by a gaming commission. His proposed 25%-35% tax is supposed to bring in $45 million for Alabama that he advertised will be used for sending kids to school.
~Bentley personally thinks gambling does not benefit anyone: the harm it does outweighs any good we could get out of taxing a percentage of it. However, he wants the public to know that in truth it is not in his hands, it is in the legislature’s hands. He promises that if the legislature wants to pass it he will put it up to the people’s vote because it is a decision the public should make.
3) ~ Basically, Sparks just wants to throw money at the education system. He says that the education system is doing terribly, but nothing on how to change it. The problem between higher education and lower institutions is “they both don’t have enough money!” He promises to provide every child with the opportunity to go to college because he will get the system more money from…wait for it…wait…gambling taxes! He plans to use earnings from taxes on gambling to build an educational trust fund. He also thinks that we should improve our education to compete at a global level and we need the Race to the Top grant. Basically he just wants to throw a lot of money at our educational system.
ReplyDelete~Bentley has a plan to reform the education system. He wants to start a 15 year rolling budget to smooth out the existing budget and help avoid proration. He wants to get the costs of health care under control by mimicking the Indiana and Michigan health savings accounts for teachers. He wants to change the current plan for new hires to a 30 year retirement and defined contribution plan. He does not support the Race to the Top grant because it has strings attached and it has been shown that once the money leaves, the strings stay. In the end though, Bentley thinks more employment will help our educational funding. In my opinion, the topic of education is one place where Bentley undoubltedly sounded like he had a confident and firm grasp on what to do. Sparks just dodged the question so he could talk about gambling.
4) Healthcare.
Dr. Bentley was very clear that he hated the national health care plan, but did not say much of an alternative for what Alabama should do. He made a point that he knows the healthcare plan best “as a Doctor”, and that he wrote a bill about it. So I would like to trust that he knows more than Ron Sparks, but he wasn’t very clear about what to do. Sparks on the other hand was clearer on how he wants to handle the healthcare situation. Sparks wants to make sure Alabama stays on top of the federal requirements so that the federal government does not swoop in and take over our healthcare. However, Sparks was really obnoxious to Bentley throughout the whole debate and it makes me question his integrity. He is so obnoxious and rude, so it’s easy to wonder just how manipulative he is or how low he’s willing to stoop to get what he wants. He also shamelessly played the emotion card about his nephew, even going as far as saying “that IS what happens when healthcare is not affordable.” Oh yes, we will all die at age 40 in parking lots. In general, Bentley seems more rational and Sparks more emotional, but Bentley couldn’t articulate his plans on healthcare as well as Sparks could.
The Gulf Coast.
Ron Sparks promised, like a demagogue, to “keep his foot on BP’s neck until they repair Alabama back to what it was before the spill.” He wants to take the caps off BP because there are no caps on the unemployment the spill has caused, the lost tourism revenue, and the businesses that are hurting. He wants that federal lawsuit to pass NOW.
Bentley thinks BP should be held responsible and should pay for everything we lost over the spill. However, Bentley is honest and upfront with saying that he may wait for a better lawsuit because the current one could hold up in court and prevent any actual payments for ten years. He wants to make sure that the lawsuit he backs will definitely provide relief as soon as possible, and not jump the gun and get stuck in court.
1)-Sparks stated that he had a plan layed out. He said that he wanted roads built from north Alabama to south Alabama. He also does not want to raise taxes.
ReplyDelete-Bentley thinks health care costs need to be under control and allow more local control of educational dollars. He wants people back in work. Also, he wants a tax deduction. He thinks we should take taxes off of groceries.
2)-Sparks basically believes that we should have an educational lottery which means he wants to use the lottery as a resource to help educate the children of Alabama. He believes in putting all children in college rich or poor. He also believes in Giving scholarships to children of Alabama.
-Bentley believed that gambling was wrong, but he said that he will let the people of Alabama vote on whether they want it or not. He stated that he trusts the people of Alabama to make the right decision on that issue.
3)-Sparks believes that education in Alabama is the most important issue. Her says that he will put the educational money in a trust fund and put a tax on gambling. He believes in a 21st century framework and wants the children of Alabama to have the money and the resources to compete globally. He opposes charter schools and wants every child to have the same type of education.He supports race to the top because he sees it as a chance to gain money for child education in Alabama.
-Bentley on the other hand does not believe in the race to the top because he believes that it has strings attached. He wants to pick a certain number of charter schools and over a coarse of time see how they work, if so, he will add more. He also believes in the control of health care cost will help the educational system.
4)-Sparks and Bentley were questioned on the issue of immigration and about the Gulf Coast. Sparks wanted tough immigration laws. He believes in the immigrants paying back the state. He holds BP completely responsible for the Gulf Coast and states that BP should pay back everything they owe the Gulf Coast. He basically says there is not a plug on anything else so why is there a plug on BP? Bentley Believes that the Federal government is held responsible for immigration and he admires Arizona's choice of passing that law. He thinks that since the Federal government isn't doing ther job that the state should step up. He also believes in making immigrants pay a fine. He says that we should let immigrants work and not shut down their companies. Just fine them. He thinks that BP should also pay back everything they owe the Gulf Coast. I tend to agree with both candidates. I aree with sparks because he says he wants tough immagration laws and the state should just fine them and/or sue them. I agree with Bentley when he said that the Federal government wasn't doing their job and the state should step up and take over those duties.
IM ON TIME! WHOO! (:
1. Sparks-He wants money to going towards education, not to raise taxes, and he wanted roads built from north Alabama to south Alabama
ReplyDeleteBently-He thinks thats we shouldn't be taxed, more local control of educational dollars, and create more employment.
2. Sparks- He said that he supports and he will fight for lottery, because gambling has benefitted the schools in states such as Florida and Atlanta.
Bentley- He said that its up to the legislators, and that if they pass the vote then he will let the people have a say so on whether or not we should have gambling in Aalbama.He also stated that we cant take money and tax it.
3. Sparks- He said we need to add additional revenue to the educational system and more innovated schools,as far as charter schools, he strongly opposes of them, he said they does not benefit us.
Bentley- He said that we should use more of the local education dollars to help the teachers in getting books, to further a childs education, as far as charter schools, he said they should spread them all over the state if they are beneficial to the students.
4. The thoughts on the gulf coast:
Sparks- He thinks that BP should be held responsible and pay for all the damage they have caused and all of the caps should be taken off of them
Bentley- He thinks they should pay for everything, not only as far as individuals but states too. He also doesnt think that a lawsuit is necessary.
Immigration
Sparks- He does not approve the immigration law and he will put a strict law to it, immigrants will be locked up with no bail.
Bentley- He believed that the federal gov.t had failed , and he wants people who hire illegal immigrants should be fined.
1.) Sparks wants to provide multiple job opportunites for people.He thinks Alabam has a chance at having a big role to play in the world of alternative fuel. He would also create jobs by building roads from North Alabama to South Alabama. He believes alternative fuel could be a great resourceor revenue builder for us. Also, he is opposed to raising taxes.
ReplyDeleteBentley believes we need to have a short then long term goal. He also is for creating jobs to help stabilize the economy.He favors expansion on current area based industries.
2.) Sparks used Georgia as an example of benefits of gambling. They have given out a little over one million dollars in scholarships. Sparks supports the lottery and will fight for it. Bentley will let peple vote on gambling. However, he personally is against it. He believes that gambling weakens economies.
3.) Sparks wants to send every child to college, he says himself that every child should have the opportunity to go to college. His plan against proration includes taxing gambling at 25-30%. That money will go to a special education trust fund and medicaid. Also, he wants the Race To The Top money, because he feels it will help Alabama students to rise to a higher level of learning that will allow them to be rtecopgnized globally. He opposes charter schools, and is for all innovative schools.
Bentley would like to input a 15 year rolling average budget completely get around proration. He thinks that controlling health care costs will in turn aid education. Bentley favors more local control of education dollars, because that would make it easier to work out a budget. He wants to test charter schools in a few areas in the state.
4.) Bentley and Sparks also discussed the problems in the Gulf Coast and Immigration issues. I disagree with Sparks about how we should handle the situation with BP.What happened in the Gulf was a mistake and that is just the cost of business to those who make work on the Gulf things happen and I don't think BP should be as bashed and talked about as they are. On immigration, I agree with some of both candidates viewpoints. I like the ideas Sparks has on the tough immigration laws, mainly the one on if illegeal immigrants are caught as undocumented workers, that the will not receive bail. I like how Bentley said companies who willingly hire illegal workers will be fined.
To all opposed and apparently are against BP for the oil spill think about this, it was a mistake and don't you think the people working on the gulf knew good and well while they were working out there what could and did happen to their business. Guys its not a hate crime its just the cost of business. things happen. So please leave BP alone for a minute. (GEEEEEEEEEZE)
ReplyDelete1. Bentley and Sparks both believe that the way to get revenue for Alabama is to create jobs. Sparks also believes that a way to get more money is to use alternative fuel, while Bentley believes in expansion on current area based industries.
ReplyDelete2. Bentley said that he is against gambling because it does not help any state and he doesn't think that it is the answer to Alabama's economic problems. Sparks said that he would tax gambling and use the tax revenue to help provide funding for education and medicaid.
3. Sparks thinks that putting a 25-30% tax on gambling will help fund the education system. He also thinks that the education system is doing bad, but he doesn't really talk about ways to change it. Bentley, on the other hand, is trying to send every child to college and thinks that controlling healthcare and chartering schools will eventually aid education.
4. They also discussed the problems on the gulf coast concerning the oil spill. They both think that Bp should pay for all the damage, but Bentley doesn't think that a lawsuit is necessary.
I agree with Ben on his thoughts about the oil spill. They all knew what could happen while drilling holes in the middle of the ocean. It could've happened to any of the other oil companies as well.
ReplyDelete1) Sparks championed bringing revenue into the State of Alabama through taxing gambling, focusing on job creation and alternative energy, and building roads from North Alabama to South Alabama. Bentley said that we need to look at economic development in the short term and in the long term. In the short term, he said that businesses need to continue having tax deductions, and in the long term, we need to create an environment in Alabama that is attractive to the growth of industry and we need to expand our infrastructure.
ReplyDelete2)Bentley is personally against gambling, but believes that the people of the state need to (and want to) vote on this issue. Sparks has made gambling one of his major platforms with a plan to tax gambling and use the revenue to fund education and medicare.
3) Both candidates want to give education more funding and are opposed to proration, but both have different opinions on how to achieve this. Sparks wants to tax gambling at a high rate of 25-30% and wishes to expand pre-K and scholarship opportunities for the children in Alabama. Bentley believes that the only way to put more money into the education system is through tax revenue from jobs and job creation in Alabama. Past that, he wishes to adopt a 15 year rolling average budget plan and wants to keep the cost of healthcare under control. He wants to allow more local control of education dollars and wants to begin a retirement plan for new hires.
4) Issue One: Taxes
ReplyDeleteBoth Sparks and Bentley are against raising taxes on working families. Sparks, however, plans to make up the difference by taxing gambling and ridding the state of our highly unfair grocery tax. Bentley wants to consider stream-lined sales taxes--such as internet sales--and wants to collect taxes that are already owed to the state government. He also wants to continue giving businesses tax breaks and plans to slowly cut off the grocery tax, one cent at a time. His main plan is to put people back to work, which will help to rejuvinate the tax system. He does not believe our state taxes burden the poor.
I believe that the best solution to fixing our tax structure was--oddly--not discussed during the tax section of the debate: Reforming the Constitution. The way our mammoth-of-a-Constitution is set up, our tax system is unbelievably unfair to the poor. Property taxes in Alabama are extremely unbalanced, with city-dwellers paying a disproportionately unfair amount compared to big timber farms that pay very little for their hundreds of acreage. Past that, I am dissappointed in Bentley's stance that our tax system does not burden the poor. I think that Spark's solution (to tax gambling) is our most viable and thought-out solution yet, though I feel that the people should get the vote on that one. So much of the problems in Alabama stem from our 1901 constitution that was written by Bourbon Democrats who's ultimate goal in writing the constitution was to keep the poor man down (black or white), and keep their pockets and the pockets of their rich children full and flourishing.
Issue Two: Immigration
Sparks is against pursuing a law that mimics the Immigration Law in Arizona. However, he still supports passing tough immigrations laws that would allow for no bail on imprisoned Illegal Immigrants and no government services for them either.
Bentley admires the Immiagration Law in Arizona and believes our federal government has failed in dealing with the immigration problem. He believes companies that hire illegal immigrants should be fined.
I do agree the there is an immigration problem in the US, but I am opposed to the Immigration Law passed in Arizona and believe that it was a law that fostered discrimination. I agree with Sparks’s plan to pass tough laws to curtail immigration. I think Bentley’s tactic for fining businesses that hire illegal immigrants is too soft. Mega-companies like Wal-Mart get fined for illegal immigration all the time, but that does not stop them from continuing to hire them. The cheap labor and lack of health insurance for all of those employees more than makes up for a few pesky fines they have to pay. I believe that businesses need to be held more accountable than that.
Sorry guys--my computer had a freak out and posted my entries several times!
ReplyDeleteComment @ Jessica:
You said that Sparks just wants to throw money at the education system. Isn't the biggest problem with our education system right now that it is drowning from lack of funding? And what are your thoughts on Spark's plan to expand pre-K and scholarship opps. for students in Alabama? I agree with you that Bentley's 15 year rolling budget plan is a good idea, but I do not think that Bentley is as focused on giving every child in Alabama the opportunity to go to college.
Also, why did you think Sparks "playing the nephew card" was unfair? Sparks was making the point that his nephew was never able to afford healthcare and he does not wish for anyone to be in that situation in Alabama. I thought it was rude of Bentley to comment saying he didn't want to hear about Sparks's "cousin" because it has nothing to do with what we are talking about. It has everything to do with what we are talking about: Alabamians who cannot afford healthcare and what we need to do about that.
1) What are their stances/beliefs on bringing revenue to the State of Alabama?
ReplyDeleteBentley stated that he thought bringing revenue to Alabama would have to start with creating good enviornments for bussiness to come to and capitalizing on an area's strengths, such as hunting and lumber businesses. Also he wanted to make Alabama a "right to work" state, with well-trained workers. Bentley also stated that he wanted to keep the price of bussiness low by keeping energy low and taxes low.
Sparks stated that he would like to look at alternative fuel sources and his main plan was to better the roads. He would impliment a 1.4 billion road program in Alabama that would create 38,000 jobs and encourage bussinesses to build there.
2) What is their opinion regarding the question of gambling (bingo/lottery)?
Sparks would like to put a 25-30% tax on gambling and use that money for education. He supports the lottery because he feels it benefits the children of Alabama's education tremendously.
Bentley feels that gambling is wrong, he feels it isn't good for the economy but he will let the people vote and let them decide.
3) How do they feel about the system of education in Alabama? How do they propose to solve the problems?
Bentley feels the only way to get more money for education is to get the unemployment rate down, and that a 15 year rolling budget should be adopted, also he wants a 100 million health savings accountant and 30 year retirement for teachers. Bentley would also like more local control of the education budgets.
Sparks would also like to add money to the education budget but by taxing gambling 25-30% and using the Race to the Top money. He opposes charter schools and would like to teach the children of Alabama to "compete globally".
4) Pick two additional issues that are debated and discuss them in your own opinion(s).
Oil Spill
Both Bentley and Sparks agree that BP should pay back all of the private money and state money that was lost due to the oil spill. However, Sparks is for sueing BP while Bentley isn't sure if that is needed. I personally hold BP accountable for all that Alabama has lost and the negative impact the oil spill has had on our economy. I believe we should sue them in order to be sure that all of the money is paid back, not only the money that the state has lost but individuals as well.
Taxes
Sparks is very much against raising taxes on working people but would rather tax gambling to get additional money. Bentley is also against raising taxes but instead would like to "collect old taxes". Bentley blames the Federal government for not lowering taxes. I agree more with Sparks on this issue. I believe that we should not outlaw gambling, only tax it more. The state can use this money to fund more education programs and support medicaid. I don't believe Bentley's plan of "collecting old taxes" will follow through, but that those taxes will develop into new taxes instead.
To @nancy: I did not know our constitution was as corrupt and unfair to the poor as you stated and that our property taxes are extremely unequal, so I'm suprised it wasn't brought up more in the debate. However, I do agree with your stance that Spark's solution to tax gambling is our best solution so far.
ReplyDelete1. Bentley believes in economic expansion through the introduction of industry. He thinks that bringing in more big business that leans to Alabama's natural resources we can bring in a great deal of money. Sparks focused more on alternative fuel sources and improving our roads.
ReplyDelete2. Sparks supports gambling and he says that he thinks we need a lottery and that it will bring a large amount of revenue to the state. Bently feels opposite, he believes that gambling is wrong. But he also says that he will let the people decide what they want.
3 Sparks wants to tax gambling to get money to fund education. While Bentley wants to fix the budget with a plan that will work over a range of time to smooth out it's existing problems.
4
a. The oil spill
Both candidates believe that BP should be held responsible for their mess and that they should have to pay for everything involving the cleanup of the spill. I agree with this and i think that BP is completely responsible, but i think they should be a little harder on on BP. The spill "allegedly" happened because they cut corners so i think it should be treated as if they did it on purpose.(If there is evidence that the BP executives knew that the wells were unsafe)
b. Immigration
Sparks believes that immigration is very serious and he favors very strict penalties for illegal immigrants who are caught. Bentley has similar views, but they are not quite as strict.
comment @ Nancy
ReplyDeleteI agree that simply fining businesses for hiring illegal workers will not work, something has to be done that will do damage to outweigh the financial breaks the companies receive.
@Nancy: I do think that our education system’s biggest problem is lack of funding, but it's more than just how much money there is. If we give millions to the education system to buy Amazon Kindles we’re not really helping students; likewise if we give millions and it all goes to scholarships but not to textbooks we’ll still have a messed up system. I didn’t like how Sparks didn’t address that and instead he just said they need money. Yes there needs to be more funding but there has to be a more efficient system of allocating the money as well. So I liked Bentley’s thoughts that the budget should be determined locally instead of by the state. Sparks said more about scholarships, but I think the opportunity to go to college starts with pre-K through 12th grade. In order to provide more scholarship opportunities we should make sure every child has a good undergraduate education first.
ReplyDeleteI don’t know if Bentley meant to be as rude and dismissive as he was when he said “cousin” – I caught that too. My feelings are that Bentley doesn’t like healthcare either, but he might not have a family relation who died tragically from it. It doesn’t make him any more for or against healthcare. So Sparks playing that he’s like a vigilante to prevent this from happening is impossible for Bentley to counter if none of Bentley’s kin fell over dead in a Wal-Mart parking lot. Yes people die from not having affordable healthcare, but saying the extreme is going to happen to everyone, in my opinion, is a scare tactic rather than a response to the problem. That's my opinion on the nephew thing, but in general, from the debate Sparks had a better response on healthcare.
@ Ben. I think that even if it was just a mistake it would set a bad precedent if everyone wasn't holding BP responsible. Then, if another drill had an accident and dumped millions of gallons of oil into the sea we wouldn't be able to get mad at that corporation either. Even though it seems tough, BP is being made an example of. Whether or not they could have prevented to spill does not change the fact that because of them hundreds of other businesses have tanked. So, I think they should at least take some dent in their income.
ReplyDelete1) Bentley was in favor of making business want to come here and making the one's we thrive off of better. He wanted to create more jobs and get better trained staff to up the revenue of the state. Sparks based his ideas on improving the roads and finding alternative fuel resources in order to bring revenue to the state.
ReplyDelete2)Robert Bentley felt that the decision about gambling should be left up to the National legislature and then to the people. He felt that he should not be the one to have to make a decision about gambling but it should be what the people want. Ron Sparks, on the other hand, wants a lottery. He feels that the lottery will do nothing but benefit the state-but more specifically- the educational system. He made many comparisons to other states that do have a lottery to back up his stance on the issue.
3)Both candidates feel that the educational system in Alabama has fallen behind most other states in the nation and they want to do something about that. Bentley feels that in order to solve problems within the school systems is to get the unemployment rate down and have more control over the system's budget. Sparks wants to correct things by first getting gambling back in the state and then applying a heavy tax on it to get more money for the school system.
4) Immigration Laws: Sparks was very closed minded about allowing illegal aliens to be in the state. He stated that the federal government isn't doing a very job of keeping them out and he plans to propose and put in effect the strictest border policy he can. Bentley had similar thoughts about this matter but he wasn't as strict as Sparks was.
@Ben M.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your point about people on BP. It could've happen to anybody and BP just happened to be that lucky company. You can't blame them.
1) Bentley seemed to more so be in favor of improving Alabama businesses that already exist and encouraging growth and expansion of industries coming into the state. Dr.Bentley wants to have better trained staff and create new jobs to boost Alabama's revenue.
ReplyDeleteSparks more so was on the idea of creating interstates stretching from North Alabama to South Alabama. He also wants to find alternative fuel sources to increase the state revenue.
2)Dr.Bentley feels that the major decision on gambling is up to the National legislature and then to the people. He felt that he should not have the power to make the decision about gambling but it should more so be a choice made by the citizens.
Mr. Sparks, is in favor of having a lottery.In his opinion having a lottery will do nothing but do good for the state as well as it's educational system.He provided examples of other states that have lotteries in place.
3)Both candidates agreed that Alabama have fallen behind where they should be in standards set by other states.
Bentley feels that unemployment rates contribute to school system failure and that gaining control over state budget will help the school system. Sparks wants to get gambling back in the state and begin placing a heavy tax on it to benefit the education system.
4) Immigration Laws:
Sparks was not at all tolerant of illegal immigrants entering the country. He plans on enacting the strictest border policy in his power. Sparks believes that this would have a overall positive effect on the state.
Bentley had negative views illegal immigration, not quite to the extent of Sparks but still not in favor.
1. Sparks believes that we could build roads from North Alabama to South Alabama and create jobs from that. He does not want to raise taxes. He thinks that more jobs should be given out. Bentley wants to adopt the 15-year budget process and also is for the creation of more jobs in Alabama.
ReplyDelete2. Sparks is for gambling, but wants to tax it at 25-30% and put in a trustfund for education. Bentley is personally against gambling,saying it hurts more than helps, but thinks the people should have the opportunity to vote on the issue. He believes that the people of Alabama will make the right decision.
3. Both candidates were very strong on their platforms for education. Sparks believes that every child in Alabama should have the opportunity for early childhood education and pre-k. He wants to be able to send every child to college and for children to be educated in the 21st century framework so that we can copete globally for the race to the top money. He opposes charter schools. Bentley believes there should be more local control of education dollars and is opposed of using federal dollars because of the stipulations. He is, however for the idea of charter schools in Alabama.
4. Two other issues that were discussed in the debate immigration and healthcare. Both candidates spoke strongly of the measures the would take to get immigration under control. Bentley even said he admired the law that Arizona passed on immigration. I did, however, like Sparks' ideas. Illegal immigrants shouldn't be able to work and get the benefits and jobs that some jobless citizens already do not have. Companies who knowingly hire them should also be fined, or I think should have an ad printed in the papers saying "We Hire Illegal Immigrants". On the issue of healthcare, Bentley is totally against Obama's bill saying it was the worst bill ever passed. Sparks, however, was in favor, saying he would have voted for it, but there are some parts of it he'd change. I thought that the healthcre reform was a good idea in theory, but I believe the reason Bentley is so against is because of the tax cut for the middle class.
1)Bentley stands strong in the opinion that we should continue to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit in Alabama so that we produce jobs locally to help stimulate the economy. His opposition, Sparks, suggests that the way to help bring revenue to Alabama would be to implement a lottery and to switch to using more “green” fuels and to help the environment.
ReplyDelete2)Although Bentley is against gambling, he believes people should vote in Alabama. He stands firm on the opinion that gambling hurts economy. Sparks on the other hand, is pro gambling. He believes gambling would bring money to the government to give scholarships to students and give them a better education. He wants to tax casinos at a large percent to provide revenue to fund education.
3)Bentley suggests a rolling average budget in order to avoid proration, to get health care under control, and to allow more local control of education money. Bentley is also against raise to the top money because of the attached strings, but is not opposed to charter schools (under a pilot program basis). Bringing new jobs to the state will provide families with the money to send their children to college reducing the number of uneducated people. Sparks believes that the use of a lottery/bingo will help to bring in revenue for higher education. He also doesn't see avoidance to proration. He is lobbying for raise to the top money so that students can compete globally in education, while he opposes charter schools.
4)
1.Gulf Coast
Bentley believes Alabama deserves retribution to individuals effected by the oilspill and at the state level to fund the economy. He believes BP will settle, but doesn't know if a law suit is necessary because law suits will tie governmental money up in court and the state won't get the money for years when they need it now.
1.Sparks also believes Alabama deserves retribution but believes we should file law suits against BP to get retribution for damage done to the state of Alabama. He stated that he would “hold his foot on B.P.'s neck” until they repay the state.
2.Immigration
1.Bentley feels strongly that the government has failed to control immigration. States must protect themselves within their borders; He agrees with the Arizona immigration law and believes similar laws are necessary if the government will not take control. Bentley wants companies who hire illegal aliens knowingly to be fined for their wrongful actions.
2.Sparks said that he would not pursue the Arizona law, but that he would pass laws that would limit undocumented workers to not be granted bail, and to require contractors to hire local Alabama help. “We need to stop them at the border so we can do what we have to do in Alabama.”Sparks also said “I will pass the toughest immigration law in the country.”
1) What are their stances/beliefs on bringing revenue to the State of Alabama?
ReplyDeleteBentley: When asked about taxes Bentley said that he would not raise them in a depressed economy, however in order to bring more revenue into the state he would better tax internet sales, enforce used-taxes, and collect more owed taxes. He also mentioned that his big plan to create more jobs as a factor because more jobs = more taxes.
Sparks: Sparks said he would not raise taxes. His main point for revenue is to tax gambling. He would also implement more no-bid contracts and investigate loopholes in the tax system.
2) What is their opinion regarding the question of gambling (bingo/lottery)?
Bentley: personally against gambling of any kind, even for state revenue, but is willing to let the people vote if it passes the legislature (which he seemed pretty confident that it wouldn't).
Sparks: Fully supports gambling and will fight for it in the state of Alabama. Wants to use it as a means of getting more jobs, and getting state revenue.
3) How do they feel about the system of education in Alabama? How do they propose to solve the problems?
*The candidates were asked more about supporting the education system financially than what they think about the system in general.
Bentley: In order to better support Alabama's education system he plans to implement a rolling average budget, savings accounts for teachers, more control over education dollars, and 30-year retirement plans. He didn't think experimenting with charter schools was important.
Sparks: Main plan for bringing in funding for education is to again tax gambling 25-35% and put that money into an education trust fund. He also talked about implementing a "21st century framework" for all educational institutions. Sparks was also not in favor of charter school experimentation.
4) Pick two additional issues that are debated and discuss them in your own opinion.
Gulf Coast
Bentley said that he will make BP pay for all liabilities and that the state and the individuals harmed need significant settlements now. Sparks had a similar answer, saying simply it's the states role to hold BP accountable. In my opinion these are reasonable remarks, but they failed to elucidate about what specific plans they intend to implement to solve the problem.
Immigration
Bentley said that the federal government has failed enforcing immigration laws and that he admires the laws that Arizona passed. He said that he plans to put up a fight against immigration. Sparks stated that he would not "pursue" the Arizona law, but followed that to say he would pass the toughest immigration law in the country. He would no allow bail for illegal immigrants, not allow them to receive government services, and would check all Alabama workers to ensure that they are documented correctly. Both attitudes towards illegal immigration were appalling to me. In Bentley's case I couldn't believe that he would applaud one of the most racist laws made in the past ten years. Sparks completely contradicted himself and failed exemplify what the "toughest immigration law in the country" would entail.
>;( arrghghh! my post was erased!!
ReplyDelete1.) Sparks thinks that gambling should be legal in the state of Alabama so that the tax money could help the schools.
Bentley says that the only way to create more revenue is to create more jobs.
2.) Sparks is all for gambling, he thinks that it would be wise to tax gambling 25 - 30 percent and give that money to the schools and create more scholarships for students.
Bentley (although he is personally apposed to gambling) wants to let the people vote on the issue. He doesn't believe taxing gambling will benefit the state.
3.) Once again, Sparks wants to legalize gambling so that the tax money can go to schools to make sure that every student can get a quality education.
Bentley wants local control of the money that goes towards education.
4.) My two additional topics are(a) Immigration and b) Health Care.
a.) Sparks Doesn't want to take the same route as Arizona did. He says that he would put undocumented workers in jail without bail and that he would create the harshest immigration law possible. Sparks says we need to "stop them at the border".
Bentley 'admires' what Arizona did and thinks that the state of Alabama should do something similar. One way he would crack down immigration would be to fine companies that knowingly hire illegal immigrants.
b.) Sparks wants to find a proposal that benefits the state of Alabama the most. He says that if we would follow the laws, government wouldn't have to take control of health care.
Bentley is completely opposed to the health care bill. He believes that there would be rationing of care and falter on specific individual needs. He wants control of health care on a state level.
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete1. Sparks wants to tax gambling and use alternative resources like grass and lumber to help Alabama. He also believes that building a road from North to South Alabama would help. Bentley’s plan is to create more jobs.
ReplyDelete2. Sparks believe that allowing gambling to come to Alabama it would provide an opportunity to better our schools.Bently is against gambling but plans to leave it up to the people to make the best vote.
3. Both Sparks and Bentley believes that are schools could use help. Sparks plans on taxing gambling 25-30% to help schools. Sparks believe that this plan would also help are nation as a whole .Bentley’s plan is to create more jobs. His second ideas is to increase retirement to 30 years. Also use a 15 year rolling plan to smooth out things.
4. Spark’s plan to stay on BP about repaying for the damage done to Alabama is something I strongly agree with. They shouldn't to be let loose easily. There was a great deal of lose for business and I think they should make right of the wrong. Another Issue is the tax issue. I agree with Spark’s idea of not taxing the people. I think it's a good idea to tax gambling, because people travel out of state all the time to gamble. Maybe play the lottery so why not use it to make the state better. Just cause you don't bring it here isn't gone stop people. So the taxing gambling and not the people is a good idea.
1. Republican Robert Bentley pledged if elected to never raise taxes, to fight against the federal health care, to do more to oppose illegal immigration and to give tax breaks to small businesses. He would also create jobs by building roads from North Alabama to South Alabama. Democrat Ron Sparks pledged if elected to push for a lottery to fund college scholarship and pre-kindergarten and provide a college education to every child. Bentley questioned whether providing a college education to all qualified students is the job of government.
ReplyDelete2. Sparks supports the lottery and he feels that it will help with Pre-Kindergarten and more scholarship funds in Alabama. Sparks used Georgia as an example of benefits of gambling. They have given out 1.2 million scholarships. Even though Bentley is against lottery. He wants to let people vote on gambling. He believes that gambling hurts all economies, but he is trusting the citizens of Alabama to make the decision they feel is right.
3. Basically Sparks thinks that we should have a tougher leadership. He feels the education is the most important issue and that we should put a tax on gambling to help increase the funds for scholarships and pre-kindergarten voluntary. On the other hand, Bentley wants to send every child to college and thinks that controlling healthcare and chartering schools locally will eventually help with it.Also, he thinks that if we can get the unemployment rate to lower we would receive more money for education 30 year retirement for teachers is one of his ideas.
4. "The Oil Spill"
Both Sparks and Bentley believe that BP should be held responsible for the oil spill and that they should have to pay for everything involving the cleanup. I definitely agree, I think that BP is absolutely, with out a doubt, responsible. Unless they have a lot (not partial) proof to prove that it was all an accident.
"Immigration"
Sparks takes immigration very serious and he is very strict about the penalties for captured illegal immigrants. He does not think that the government is handling it in the right procedures. Bentley had similar thoughts about immigration but he was not as strict as Sparks. I am kind of neutral when it comes to immigration. I know that having immigrants here messes with our money, jobs etc. Basically, Americans lives general. But, when I put myself in their shoes I do understand that they just want a better life and I can imagine how it would feel.
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ReplyDelete@ Paris, Ben,and Deja. I agree it not like they made it happen. Things happen that way but, it's still their problem.
ReplyDelete@ Jessica
ReplyDeleteI also think that Sparks "playing the nephew card" was not unfair. His nephew never being able to afford healthcare was a great point of why healthcare should be handled better that it is and basically I think he was just elaborating that he does not wish for anyone to have to go through that in Alabama. Bentley comment about not wanting to hear about Sparks's "cousin" was very rude and unprofessional to me. It is something that can be done about people in Alabama who cannot afford healthcare.
@ Amani
I disagree with them fining business that hire immigrants. All they are doing is stepping up and giving them a chance. The benefit of the doubt, that must companies would not. I just think that it is hard for us to relate to them because we are extremely blessed whether we as Americans realize it or not. I try to put myself in their shoes. Honestly, HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF NO ONE EVER GAVE YOU A CHANCE AT A BETTER LIFE? It's something you really have to sit down and think about
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ReplyDelete1)Sparks's plan is to tax gambling in the state of Alabama to bring more money in. He also wants to create more jobs by switching to alternative fuel, and rebuilding the roads in Alabama.
ReplyDeleteBentley wants to create jobs by looking at what certain areas in Alabama have to offer, and have them specialize in different industries. He also wants employers to start hiring people off of the unemployment roll.
2)Sparks is for gambling. He says that by putting a tax on gambling it will bring in a lot of revenue.
Bentley stated that he will let the people vote on whether or not gambling should be allowed. Even though he does not agree with it, he said that the people should be given the choice and that they will make the right one.
3)Sparks said that, again, by taxing gambling he can increase the education fund by 25% to 30% and that it can help bring Pre-K to Alabama. He says that with the money there will be more scholarships available to kids. He also is in favor of the Race to the Top Money.
Bentley mentioned that if we can get healthcare under control it will benefit the education system. He wants to put a few charter schools in place to see how well they work and if it shows promise, put more charter schools.
4) One other issue they discussed is immigration. Sparks said that he would put in place some of the toughest Immigration laws in the country; however he made it clear that he does not agree with the Arizona laws. Bentley said that he admired Arizona and their new immigration laws and says that the states should be able to take responsibility for their state and do what they think will improve it. I agree with Bentley in that, since the federal government was unable to keep illegal aliens out and are failing to enforce the laws then the states should be able to take control, because illegal immigrants in this country are becoming a serious problem.
Another issue was health care. Bentley is very much against the health care bill that was passed, but does agree that there should be accessible and affordable health care for everyone. Sparks said he would want a plan that would benefit Alabama the most. My opinion is that there should be affordable health care, but that the government should stay out of it. There is no way that one giant bill is the best way to get everyone health care. I think that if the insurance companies were able to compete with each other across state lines the price of health care would go down on their own without the government's help.
1.Bentley wants to create more jobs while Sparks would like to tax gambling to bring in more revenue for Alabama.
ReplyDelete2. Bentley is against gambling although he wants to leave it up to voters to decide. Sparks is completely for it, believing that it is beneficial for the state.
3.Both candidates agree that education is important and that the system here in Alabama need improving.Bentley would like to see more charter schools in Alabama. He wants to send every child to college and believes that he can do this by using a rolling budget. Sparks believes that by taxing gambling this money can be put towards the education system.
4. When discussing the Gulf Coast/BP issue both candidates agreed that BP should be held responsible for all costs and damages. However, Bentley is not in favor of a lawsuit. I agree with Bentley because although it is there fault and they could have worked faster on getting it cleaned up it could have happened to anyone.
Another issue discussed was healthcare. Bentley was totally against the bill while Sparks said that he would have voted for it though he would have changed a few things. I agree with Bentley because I just don't think that Obamacare is going to be beneficial for America. If the politicians are not going to be required to have it then there must be some problem with it.
Mona- I really like your alternatives to affordable healthcare. I hadn't thought of that and I agree that would help
ReplyDelete1. Sparks
ReplyDeleteHe wants to give out a lot of jobs and try to rely on a renewable fuel source. Sparks plans to create jobs by building roads from North Alabama to South Alabama. He believes that we should not raise our taxes any higher than they are now.
Dr. Bentley
He wants to have a to have our taxes decreased. He also believes that we should hire people off the unemployment roll. Dr. Bentley believe we should focus on attainable short term goals than longer term goals. He also believes that we should look at the areas that we could improve or expand and expand on those areas.
2. Sparks
He Supports Bingo/lottery in Alabama. He referenced Georgia as an example of the great things that could become of Bingo/lottery because of how they gave 1.2 million dollars in scholarships. Sparks also believes that money generated from gambling will help get Pre-K programs in Alabama.
Dr. Bentley
He believes the people should vote on gambling. Dr. Bentley, personally, is opposed to gambling. He believes that it hurts our economy.
3. Sparks
He wants to send every child to college. The only catch is that he wants to do this without raising taxes. Sparks also plans to counter against proration by taxing gambling anywhere from 25 to 30%. The money collected will go to a special education trust fund and medicaid. Sparks is against charter schools, and supports innovative schools.
Dr. Bentley
His plan to counter proration is to implement a 15-year rolling average budget. He believes that once we get health care costs under control it will help education. Sparks favors local control of education money because it would enable us to better control our budget. He also wants to test a few charter schools in the state, and then add more charter schools if the few tested are successful.
4. Two other issues that I will expand on that were discussed in the debate are immigration and healthcare.
Both candidates agreed that there would be a lot of the measures that would have to take place to get immigration under control.
Bentley
He said he admired the law that Arizona passed on immigration.
Spark
He believes that Illegal immigrants shouldn't be able to work and get the benefits and jobs that some jobless citizens already don't have.(I strongly agree!) He also believe Companies who knowingly hire them should also be fined.
Healthcare
Bentley
He is totally against Obama's bill, and said it was the worst bill ever passed.
Sparks
He disagrees with sparks, he, on the other hand, was in favor of the bill saying he would have voted for it, but wishes to change some parts of it.
@ Jessica:
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that having a lot of money for the education system, but not allocating it properly, would be a failure. Sparks needs to have a plan for where he wants all of his proposed money to go. I liked Bentley's stance on letting it be more locally controlled. My one issue with Bentley's education plan was that he had no real plan for getting more money to our schools. While jobs created does indeed help the economy, it does not directly allocate money to schools. Most of our funding for schools is through sales tax, which is so unpredictable (due to econ ebb and flow) and just one reason why our schools do not get enough money. It didn't seem like Bentley really realized that with his plan, it may be years and years before the schools come out of the hole.
The whole health care thing is confusing to me, but I was just commenting on the way that Bentley handled that exchange was not really tactful. He probably was tripped up because he, like you said, most likely doesn't have a relative story to share along the same vein as Sparks. I want to know if the fact that Bentley is a doctor really means that he understands the health care system better...
Nancy (out)
3. Sparks
ReplyDeleteHe wants to send every child to college. The only catch is that he wants to do this without raising taxes. Sparks also plans to counter against proration by taxing gambling anywhere from 25 to 30%. The money collected will go to a special education trust fund and medicaid. Sparks is against charter schools, and supports innovative schools.
Dr. Bentley
His plan to counter proration is to implement a 15-year rolling average budget. He believes that once we get health care costs under control it will help education. Sparks favors local control of education money because it would enable us to better control our budget. He also wants to test a few charter schools in the state, and then add more charter schools if the few tested are successful.
4. Two other issues that I will expand on that were discussed in the debate are immigration and healthcare.
Both candidates agreed that there would be a lot of the measures that would have to take place to get immigration under control.
Bentley
He said he admired the law that Arizona passed on immigration.
Spark
He believes that Illegal immigrants shouldn't be able to work and get the benefits and jobs that some jobless citizens already don't have.(I strongly agree!) He also believe Companies who knowingly hire them should also be fined.
Healthcare
Bentley
He is totally against Obama's bill, and said it was the worst bill ever passed.
Sparks
He disagrees with sparks, he, on the other hand, was in favor of the bill saying he would have voted for it, but wishes to change some parts of it.
1) Sparks wants to create more jobs and is a strong proponent of alternative fuel. He believes Alabama should be a world leader in alternative fuel. He also wants to connect North Alabama to South Alabama by building roads, which would also create more jobs. Bentley believes we need to focus on short term goals as opposed to long term. He supports the idea of having a tax deduction and hiring from the unemployment roll. He advises that we look and see what regions we have available and make those places settings where businesses can develop.
ReplyDelete2) Essentially Sparks believes that we should have a lottery that would be used as a resource to help teach children in Alabama, using the successes of Georgia’s system as validation. Bentley believes that gambling is wrong, but said he would allow the citizens of Alabama to vote on whether they want it or not. He said that he trusts the people of Alabama to make the right decision.
3) Sparks believes that education in Alabama is the most important issue. He says that he will put a heavy tax on gambling. He believes in a 21st century framework and wants the children of Alabama to have the financial resources to compete globally. He opposes charter schools and wants every child to have the chance to get the same quality of education. He supports Race to the Top and sees it as a chance for Alabama to gain money for education. Bentley wants to start a rolling budget to round off existing expenses and help avoid proration. He wants to go to a 30 year retirement plan for new hires, with a defined contribution plan. He does not support Race to the Top.
4.) Bentley and Sparks also debated on the problems in the Gulf Coast and issues with Immigration. I agree with Commissioner Sparks about how the BP situation should be handled. We need to make them repay the state by whatever means are necessary. Bentley believes that the Federal government is held responsible for immigration. He says that if an illegal immigrant is caught working, and the company they’re working for is aware that they are illegal, the company should be fined.
1. Sparks wants to control and regulate gambling in the state of Alabama and repair the roads from north to south. Bentley wants to create more jobs which he says will create revenue.
ReplyDelete2.Sparks is for gambling in the state of Alabama while Bentley is personally opposed to it. Sparks wants to tax gambling and put that money into what he called the Education Trust Fund. Bentley while personally opposed to gambling said that he thought the people should vote on the matter and that that decision would be the correct one.
3. Sparks again wants to regulate and tax gambling in Alabama. The revenue acquired from these taxes would be put into an education trust fund that would be used to fund schools and scholarships. He said in his debate that he wants to give every student a scholarship. Bentley wants to experiment with a few charter schools. He also wants to adopt a 15 year rolling budget to iron out the kinks over a period of time.
4. Sparks let it be known that he wanted BP to pay back All of what it owes to Alabama and its affected people. Sparks said he wanted this money NOW. Bentley feels that BP should pay as well, but he thinks that it would be better carried out with a different lawsuit.
Sparks said he would pass the toughest immigration laws in the country. He doesn't agree with the Arizona laws though. Bentley wants to protect American jobs by fining businesses whom knowingly hire illegal immigrants. Bentley likes Arizona immigration laws.
@ Jessica. I agree with you when you say that Bentley seems more rational while Sparks more emotional. Bentley seems to have trouble articulating much of what he says. It may just be his public speaking or ill-preparedness, either way he seemed not on top of his game.
1. Sparks wants to create a lot more jobs. He would do so by building roads from North Alabama to South Alabama and is also against tax increases. Bentley, also wants a tax deduction but believes we should have a short term goal first then followed by a long term goal.
ReplyDelete2. Sparks is totally in favor of the lottery/ gambling because of its benefits. He referred to Georgia and how the state issued out 1.2 million scholarships through the gambling and lottery system. Bentley stated that he was opposed to gambling, but however will let the people vote on the issue in hopes of them making the "right" choice.
3. Sparks wants every child to attend college without the increase in taxes to do so. However, he wants to tax gambling in the place of that so that the money would then go to and education trust fund and medical trust fund. Bentley, believes if we get healthcare controlled then that will help out with education. He favors charter schools and would like to test them to see how successful they are; if all goes accordingly, he will implement more of them.
4. Sparks felt that taxes shouldn't increase as a result of the Gulf Coast; as opposed to, Bentley, who favors tax increases but will decrease it by one cent per year. Sparks views on immigration were that we need stricter immigration laws, which i totally agree with. He also felt that the immigrants should pay the state. Bentley believes that the Federal government is responsible of the immigration and that the immigrants should pay a fine. He said that he would allow them to work and own their own business's but at the expense of fines filed toward them.
Sorry so late.
@ Jessica I strongly agree with you on the statement about Sparks just throwing money at the educational systems with no indication of a method to do so. However, i do feel that his efforts to better the educational system financially is worth appreciating and to be considered but he's just not going about it the most beneficial and proper way.
ReplyDeleteI'm posting late because I was on a college visit that I got back from tonight.
ReplyDelete1)Sparks wants to tax gambling as a source of revenue. He'd also like to possibly use the British Petroleum Oil Spill as a way to bring in more money due to environmental damage. Bentley wants to tax things like internet sales and use natural resources that are unique to Alabama.
2)Sparks is very supportive of gambling due to his stance on taxing casino revenue. A very substantial portion of his revenue plans for the state come from gambling, so its obviously an important component. Bentley is opposed to the gambling because he feels it does more harm than anything else.
3) Both Bentley and Sparks seems to understand that the education system in the state definitely requires improvements. Sparks intends on using tax revenue from gambling to improve the school systems, along with a Race to the Top Grant. Bentley intends to use a new budget to better retirement policy, and he seems to want to increase employment for education, as well as raising standards for employment.
4) The Gulf Coast situation is an important issue in not only Alabama, but the entire southeast bordering the bay. I think a main difference between the two in this area is that Sparks wants the current federal lawsuit to be passed immediately, whereas Bentley wants to make sure the battle is chosen wisely to ensure the maximum amount of responsibility is taken by BP.
Immigration is also a very prominent issue for Alabama and the southeast, so their opinions are important in the upcoming years. Both Sparks and Bentley seem to approve of tougher immigration laws, and seem to think that the federal government has generally failed with its approach to handling illegal aliens. Sparks seems to want to go another way than the Arizona's Immigration Laws, whereas Bentley is more supportive.
@ Ben
ReplyDeleteI don't understand how you can be so easy-minded or indifferent about BP's involvement in the Gulf. Of course we should try to be understanding and forgiving to an extent in all accidents, but this isn't the first time BP has screwed up like this, and the situation goes far beyond saying "My bad" when an entire ecosystem and economy are affected in the process. This doesn't only affect the southeast near the bay, this just ads another grueling injury to the list for the national economy. After so much crisis things start to add up, and our economical output as the strongest power in the world at the moment affects the entire world, so its a pretty big deal when BP drops the ball like that. I feel they should definitely be held responsible for their mistakes.
@ Lnz: I completely agree with the points you made about the oil spill and about immigration. I don't think that it is our place as a state to control immigration but I don't think the government is doing enough to help. I also agree that the oil spill was B.P.'s fault and they should take responsibility and repay what they owe to the states effected by the oil spill.
ReplyDeleteI personally feel that immigration is only an issue because they aren't paying taxes. I really don't care who lives here as long as its equal; we pay taxes on everything so they should have to also. And on the topic of B.P., I think that it was a mistake. I think steps should have been taken to protect from what happened, but it was an accident that B.P. is responsible for. And when you are responsible for something that happens, you have to own up to the consequences. And right now, that is paying for damages done to the gulf coast.
im posting late as well because i am coming back form a college visit.
ReplyDelete1.Bentley would like to bring revenue to alabama by using things that only alabama has and putting taxes on them and draw in money that way. Sparks however would like to use gambling as a taxable resource for alabama to use.
2.Sparks is pro gambling because it would bring more money in through taxes while bentley is against gambling becausehe sees it as causing more problems than the money earned could fix.
3.Sparks and Bentley both see the education system as having problems sparks intends to use gambling revenue while Bentley intends to re-plan the budget and offer higher standards
@ Da'Shelle on your response to Amani, there is no problem with businesses that hire immigrants who are actually applying for citizenship in the U.S., it's the businesses that hire illegal immigrants that should be fined. I agree with your statement about giving everyone an equal opportunity, though.
ReplyDeleteParis and Ben, about your comment on BP, there were several signs before the explosion that were reported but BP didn't want to spend the money to fix the problems which ended up causing 11 people their lives. So in my opinion, the accident could have been avoided and BP should take all the blame for it.
ReplyDeletecan anyone explain to me what 'Race to the Top' is? They were talking about during the debate but I've never heard of it before.
ReplyDelete@madison I agree with the fact that you said they both agree that Alabama has fallen.
ReplyDelete@ LNZ and Andrew,
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you all responded to Ben's comment, even though it didn't intentionally mean to happen, it still did and I think they should still pay for what happen because, it has had an effect on the ecosystem, which affects us humans. So yes I believe they should still pay considering the fact it was their company.
@diamond, I agree with you on the Sparks and education situation. It may seem like he's just talking, but at least he is worried about education. He may or may not have a plan, but he's working on it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mona's comment towards Ben and Paris. I actually did not know that this problem could have been avoided. I saw it as just an accident. Guess I did not get the full story.
ReplyDeleteMichael - Something to consider - Considering the cost of litigation, would it be worth it to sue BP? Companies who are found to be hiring illegal workers now are fined.
ReplyDeleteCourtney - What evidence did Bentley offer on Charter school? Something to think about - how much money would the state lose if there are no more taxes on groceries? How could the difference be made up.
Jessica - Highway north to south = Corridor X. Taxing internet sales has proven, at lest to this point, extremely hard to manage. Interesting take on Sparks‘ attitude. Wonder if you would have felt the same if you had listened to the radio?
Amani - Wonder if Sparks knows all the components of RttT.
Chasity - How do you add revenue to support infrastructure, education, and such without raising taxes? If immigrants are locked up, who foots the bill?
Ben M - I think Georgia has given out more than that in scholarship funds.
Deja - Don’t you think a candidate should talk in detail about how to solve problems?
Nancy - What is the vote goes against gambling? What do you think Sparks would do?Good insight and outside information.
Merrill - Alabama is a “right to work” state. How would Sparks pay for the 1.4 billion road program? Hope Sparks researches the RttT Program beforehand. Good response to Nancy. Our Constitution is indeed very one sided. Not many politicians want to debate it because they opens up an entirely different can of worms.
Cortez - Would have like to see you expand on your answers. How do they propose to fund the programs they create?
Paris - So, we are going to let Washington decide on the issue of gambling in Alabama? Question of clarification for number 3 - How does unemployment impact education? What about your second issue for question 4?
Madison – How does he feel unemployment contributes to failing school systems? Where is your second issue on number 4?
Mercedes – How would Sparks fund the building of roads without raising taxes?
Hayden – Companies who employee illegals are fined now.
Julian – Are you sure Bentley is against experimenting with charter schools? Why was his comment so appalling to you?
Lena – How would Bentley go about creating these jobs?
Te’Kara – Go into detail on how they plan to accomplish each item. Good to see your opinion on programs they already had planned. What are two addition programs?
Da’Shelle - How do they propose to get the unemployment rate down?
Lyndsey – How do they propose to create more jobs? What about your second issue for number 4?
Mona – How can you hire people, even off the unemployment roll, if there are not any jobs?
Megan – How would they go about creating these jobs?
Amber – It’s going to be a little hard to send everyone to college without raising taxes. Also, not everyone needs to go to college. Will there be alternative training plans.
Matt - Good post. If Sparks believes that education in Alabama is the most important issue, then why does he expound so much on gambling in his advertisements?
Ben B. - #1 - To do either you must have money first. How do they propose to begin laying the foundation for this?
Diamond - Did you notice how much of their responses centered around economics? If you favor tax increased, but will decrease it by one cent per year is that a ax increase or decrease?
Andrew - How would he use the BP spill to raise revenue?
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John - College visit? Come on, you went to the Duke game.... :) Roll Tide Roll!!!!!!!!! What about the two additional issues?