Jason Ortiz5 said:So, let me get this straight: if my kid cleans up someone else's mess, is the kid who actually made the mess suddenly going to have some epiphany and realize that wasn't okay?
And honestly, I never agreed with making the innocent party clean up after others—not even back when I was in school. All that taught me was that the people caught in the crossfire usually get screwed over, while the ones constantly causing trouble are experts at acting sweet and innocent just to trick everyone else into being their errand runners.
Where exactly did I say this reform should be designed so that Jason Ortiz5's kid has to clean up everyone's crap while the other kids don't even have to touch their own messes?
Everyone has to clean up. I'm not going to get bogged down in the specific methodology or the "who goes first" logistics. But the bottom line is—every single kid has to clean.
Jason Ortiz5 said:So, let me get this straight: if my kid cleans up someone else's mess, is the kid who actually made the mess suddenly going to have some epiphany and realize that wasn't okay?
And honestly, I never agreed with making the innocent party clean up after others—not even back when I was in school. All that taught me was that the people caught in the crossfire usually get screwed over, while the ones constantly causing trouble are experts at acting sweet and innocent just to trick everyone else into being their errand runners.
You forgot to mention which investigative method we're supposed to use to figure out whose crap is left in the toilet or whose paper is on the floor, just so we don't cause any "confusion."
Jason Ortiz5 said:So, let me get this straight: if my kid cleans up someone else's mess, is the kid who actually made the mess suddenly going to have some epiphany and realize that wasn't okay?
And honestly, I never agreed with making the innocent party clean up after others—not even back when I was in school. All that taught me was that the people caught in the crossfire usually get screwed over, while the ones constantly causing trouble are experts at acting sweet and innocent just to trick everyone else into being their errand runners.
And you think that teaches them anything wrong about life?
What do you honestly think awaits them later on in life? Absolute justice?
Jason Ortiz5 said:So, let me get this straight: if my kid cleans up someone else's mess, is the kid who actually made the mess suddenly going to have some epiphany and realize that wasn't okay?
And honestly, I never agreed with making the innocent party clean up after others—not even back when I was in school. All that taught me was that the people caught in the crossfire usually get screwed over, while the ones constantly causing trouble are experts at acting sweet and innocent just to trick everyone else into being their errand runners.
Well, that's exactly why everyone needs to clean.
What's the point of acting all sweet and charming if everyone is forced to clean anyway?
That "sweetness" would only matter if the proposal was strictly that everyone cleans up their own damn mess. And let's be real—if we actually tried to track down whose mess was whose without installing cameras in the school bathroom stalls, half these "sweet" kids would end up looking completely innocent to a bunch of teachers.
I can't believe I'm even seeing this—it’s like some kind of fever dream. Honestly, looking at what was said here... it just makes my head spin. It’s one thing to have an opinion, but it's another thing entirely to be this spectacularly wrong about how things work in the real world. I mean, seriously? The sheer lack of logic is almost impressive, if it weren't so incredibly frustrating. You’d think after all this time, people would realize that you can't just make stuff up and expect it to hold water. It doesn't work that way. Not in America, and certainly not in any sensible discussion. It’s exhausting, really—trying to have a coherent conversation when people are just throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. I'm sitting here trying to make sense of it, scratching my head, thinking maybe I missed something obvious, but no—it’s just pure, unadulterated nonsense. Just... wow.
Jason Ortiz5 said:Basically, you're just expanding on my point: there's zero use in teaching someone they're obligated to clean up someone else's garbage; everyone needs to learn how to sweep up their own. 🤷
There’s honestly no better way to learn life lessons than by cleaning up after other people's messes. Honestly, there’s just no better school for learning how to be a total slob—you know, those people who have absolutely zero concept of not littering, yet somehow think it’s everyone else's job to pick up after them. It’s pathetic, really.
Would you handle things differently if you were teaching kids in school to actually clean up after themselves? For instance—and I’m just throwing this out there—would you have a teacher following every single kid around, checking their desk every damn time to make sure they actually cleared their mess? Would you seriously go as far as installing cameras in changing rooms where kids are naked?
I mean, let’s be real here—it isn't just about scrubbing the toilets. We’re talking about the entire damn classroom, the playground, the hallways... the whole works. It’s everything.
I can't believe I'm even sitting here typing this out—it’s honestly exhausting just thinking about it—but someone has to say it. Every single time we get into these discussions, it feels like we're hitting the same brick wall over and over again. It’s frustrating, really. I try to be reasonable, I truly do, but then I see certain people posting the same tired arguments and I just lose my cool a little bit. I was looking back at what shadowhawk31 was saying earlier, and honestly? It’s just... it's a lot. There's a massive gap between how things actually work on the ground here in the States and the idealized version some people seem to have in their heads. You can't just ignore the reality of the situation and expect everyone to nod along. It doesn't work that way. And don't even get me started on the stuff Richard Perez3 keeps bringing up. It’s like listening to a broken record. I know, I know, I sound like a cranky old man sometimes—believe me, I feel it—but there’s a logic to what I’m saying if you actually take a second to sit with it. It’s not just about being contrarian for the sake of it; it’s about seeing the actual mechanics of how these systems function in America. Look, I’m not trying to start a fight, though I realize that’s probably how this is going to end up. I just think we need to be more deliberate. We need to stop skimming the surface and actually dig into the messiness of it all. If we don't, we're just spinning our wheels. Anyway, rant over. I need a coffee. kaže: Honestly, look—we’re never going to be able to compete on a global scale, let alone hold our own in Europe, if we keep letting our government and our education system rot like this. It's just a fact. 😂
And after Joker's little "reform" goes through, what exactly are we supposed to do? Seriously.
I can't believe I'm even sitting here typing this out—it’s honestly exhausting how often we have to circle back to the same nonsense—but apparently, someone needs to say it. The sheer level of incompetence being displayed right now is actually staggering. We aren't just talking about a minor slip-up or a little oversight here; we're looking at a fundamental breakdown of common sense that would make a toddler blush. It feels like every time we think we've finally reached a baseline of stability, some new disaster rolls in to remind us how fragile everything really is. And don't even get me started on the excuses people are throwing around to justify this mess—it's pathetic, really. I mean, look at the logic being applied. Or rather, the complete lack thereof. It’s like everyone involved has collectively decided that reality is merely a suggestion. You see these people acting like they’ve uncovered some profound truth, when in reality, they’re just tripping over their own feet and calling it "innovation." It's frustrating, it's draining, and frankly, it's insulting to anyone with half a brain cell left working. Anyway, I'll probably regret venting like this because I know nobody listens anyway, but there it is. Just my two cents in a sea of stupidity.
Jason Ortiz5 said:Oh, come on now! For decades, American workers have been famous all over Europe for being the absolute pros at fixing leaky toilets. 😀
Why don't you go check out Sprajc's website for once?
There are at least a dozen people hanging around there every single day, obsessing over school stuff.
And honestly, hundreds of people are just wasting their lives scrolling through tablets.
I even saw an article about some guy's social media update after he moved to Sweden.
In his post, he was claiming that in Sweden, the government buys every kid a tablet and they’ve got taxi drivers chauffeuring everyone to and from class.
Man, if you could see the absolute meltdown people had in the comments over that.
Wait—so what, you're actually advocating for everything to be digital from now on? Like, no more notebooks, ever?
What happens to handwriting? What about developing actual fine motor skills and all that?
School isn't just about academics—it’s an institution for upbringing too. The government, through the public school system, needs to step up regarding child development, because let's face it, not every kid is learning work ethic at home. For those who actually pick up responsibilities while they're still under their parents' roof, transitioning to the classroom won't be such a shock.
It’s the same deal with literacy—kids who learn to read and write at home aren't going to struggle when they hit the classroom. In fact, they usually have a head start....
That’s why we need this dual role of parents and schools—as a safety net in case one side drops the ball.
Look, I agree that raising kids is primarily a parental duty, but plenty of parents just don't pull it off successfully. Kids are important. The goal is for them to actually learn. In my opinion, if a kid turns out completely undisciplined, yeah, the parents are to blame. But the focus shouldn't constantly shift back to the parents; the focus should be on the children. The State—society, specifically the school system—has to look out for them.
And for the record, I wasn't even talking about teachers as individuals here. I really don't want to drag the whole "teacher salaries" debate into every single conversation. Can we please move past that?
Everyone’s standards have slipped lately. It’s not necessarily because of one specific reason, but honestly, that’s yet another tangent. As a profession, teachers aren't the exception to this decline—they're part of the rule. Nobody gets to use a drop in general standards as an excuse for being lazy. If anything, I think today's teachers are actually better than previous generations. But again, that's not the point. The point is the system. Let's leave the finances out of it for a second. The changes I’m advocating for don't require extra taxpayer dollars.
We shouldn't be confusing cause and effect. I find it totally misplaced to label teacher pay as an "investment in our children." It’s also completely ridiculous to make excuses like, "we can't emulate the Japanese model because our teachers don't get paid like theirs."
The argument always goes: "First give us better raises, then we'll talk about implementing the Japanese way." They are mixing up the cause and the consequence. The Japanese didn't start earning high wages and then suddenly progress; it was the exact opposite. They progressed while they were still struggling, and *then* the wealth followed.
What do people expect? That money will just fall from the sky and suddenly everything will work perfectly? Is that how you teach kids? Give me a break! Where are we supposed to get more money than what's already being provided right now?
Now, regarding tech—we definitely need computer science as a required subject. But no, not starting in first grade. Please.
First, we need to clarify what "computer science" actually means in this context. If we're talking about web design, coding, and all that specialized stuff, then no, that absolutely shouldn't be mandatory for every single student—certainly not in elementary school.
However, if we mean teaching kids how to use a computer, a tablet, or basic software for writing and math? Yes, absolutely. But that doesn't need to be its own standalone subject. Personally, I think it's much more effective to integrate these tools into core subjects; for instance, using Word during English class or Excel during Math, Physics, or Chemistry. At the same time, we cannot neglect handwriting and basic mental math without relying on computers, calculators, tablets, or whatever else.
I wouldn't call myself a huge tablet enthusiast, but I'm not against them either. I assume a kid will probably need to be proficient with these devices later in life, so we shouldn't isolate them from technology, but it's not the most vital thing in the world.
Yet, it seems like there’s this total consensus among parents, students, teachers, and the media that the most important thing in education is the tablet.
And of course, the "most important" thing is making sure the school budget is big enough to buy every single kid a tablet. I disagree, though I know I'm in the minority here.
You see how people rave about the Swedish school system because they hand out tablets to everyone. If they started handing out two tablets per kid, they'd probably be even more obsessed with their educational system.
Lisa Rivera said:@sunshinestar It’s almost as if today’s kids aren't already incompetent enough... lacking the basic motor skills our generation developed without a tablet glued to our hands at all times. 🤦
So, your vision for a 21st-century educational reform is essentially based on children who spend their days cleaning, cooking, and tapping away at a screen with a single finger? Especially when they don't even touch actual computer science until middle school, let alone meaningful foreign language instruction which most American schools barely start until much later... though I suppose we still find time for two hours of religious studies a week starting in first grade. I have absolutely nothing against teaching them life skills like housework, but domestic help isn't exactly the primary flaw in the American education system... 🤣
First off, I'm a guy.
Second, are you implying that a decent education is built on domestic chores?
Look, some people argue that students today are already drowning in coursework. But you think they have way too little on their plates, which is why you're pushing for foreign language classes starting in kindergarten.
The whole thing surrounding Jokić's reform is a total mystery—nobody actually knows what's written in those proposals—yet everyone is backing it. Some people support it because they're terrified of extra workloads (kind of like you), while others think it’s going to axe foreign language programs entirely.
Jason Ortiz5 said:Honestly, you have to wonder about parents who can't even teach their own kids how to scrub a toilet. I really think schools should focus on teaching actual subjects, not basic life skills like that. And no, there is absolutely no way I’d let my kid be cleaning up after anyone else. Every time I hear stories about how some kids act in class, I just want to tell their parents they should be the ones doing the scrubbing for their little angels instead.
Look, school isn't just about textbooks; it's an institution meant to help shape character, too.
The school system has a responsibility to help raise these kids, regardless of whether the parents are stepping up at home or completely dropping the ball on basic life lessons.
A school's job is to teach reading, writing, and math. It shouldn't matter if the parents have already covered those basics at home or not.
And quite frankly, the school board shouldn't have the authority to force students into cleaning up after other people—period.
I honestly cannot wrap my head around the point of Jokić's reform. What is the actual goal here? It feels like the only constant in the American education system is just endless, repetitive reforms! Does anyone even remember Primorč's reform? Or the Bologna Process? Has any young person actually benefited from any of these "reforms"? What has actually improved because of them, and what makes anyone think things will magically get better after this latest curricular overhaul?
Why don't we run a reform that actually makes an impact—like firing all the janitors in our elementary and high schools?
Why don't we force those schools to have the students clean their own bathrooms, sinks, and floors every single day after classes end?
That’s how the school system works in Japan.
Japanese kids—who are forced by the state to scrub floors and clean toilets after school—achieve way better results than American kids, whose schools have the government paying janitors to clean up after them.
And don't even get me started on how a reform like that would save literally millions of dollars every single month—it would be more than enough to buy every single student a brand-new tablet every year.
A reform like that would, on one hand, actually prepare kids for the real world, and on the other, it would bring massive savings for taxpayers while finally getting rid of thousands of useless bureaucrats we don't need—neither them nor their services.
Tourism this year? It’s practically non-existent—basically invisible. Even last year wasn't exactly great, if we're being honest.
You had those lucky folks who owned property right on the water—you know, the ones sitting on savings because they were making a killing off tourists.
But then you have the others—the ones who went all in, took out massive loans, and invested everything. They’re basically one disaster away from total ruin; all it takes is one major incident on the coast to wipe them out. Take what happened in Italy, for example. They recently brought in rules requiring any Non-profit organization helping "refugees" to disclose their funding sources and carry a police officer on board. Suddenly, these NGOs stopped helping refugees altogether—which, let's be real, actually reduced their numbers. In essence, Italy effectively shut down the business cooperation between humanitarian NGOs and human traffickers by adding police presence, so the groups just quit their "humanitarian work" because the profit margins vanished. The fallout? Refugees might just find a whole new route.
We can't rule out a path through Albania, Mexico, and America heading straight toward Canada. And if that happens, it could mean the absolute collapse of American tourism.
Or, on the flip side, imagine if terrorism just suddenly ceased in almost all of America's competitors.
Right now, America and Portugal are pretty much the only spots left without terrorism or refugee issues hitting the tourist destinations directly. But that's just the situation *right now*. Everything can change drastically overnight, and once it does, getting back to the way things were is nearly impossible.
It’s the exact same story in agriculture. Some people poured everything into buying John Deere tractors, building massive farms, setting up livestock operations, and diving into what seemed like profitable niches. Well, "seemed" being the keyword there. The market is incredibly volatile, and just because something was in high demand last year doesn't mean anyone gives a damn about it this year.
I knew this one family—they built these top-tier luxury apartments, took out huge loans, and are now praying they can pay it all back over the next 20 years. And sure, it looks fine on paper if this current peak lasts for two decades. If it doesn't? They're finished, just like so many other farmers out there.
Just three days ago, the news hit the media here in America—basically telling us that by the end of June this year, 938 Family Farms had their bank accounts frozen. According to data from the IRS, those folks owe a staggering 414.6 million kuna.
Look, given how many accounts get blocked for all sorts of reasons, this isn't exactly breaking news in America. But there’s a deeper story buried under these numbers—one that really exposes why the folks living out in the rural areas are getting squeezed dry.
The "Unified Account Register" shows there are 8,226 active accounts belonging to these Family Farms, and as of late June, about 11.4% of them are currently blocked. Some people are spinning this as "good news"—claiming that compared to the end of the first half of 2016, the number of blocked farms has dropped by 60, and total debt has dipped by 2.7 percent over the last year. Give me a break.
This brings me back to those negotiations for joining the European Union. I remember watching an agricultural program on Sunday after the Diary, where some self-proclaimed "expert" was sitting there explaining that back then, about 150,000 families were involved in farming—some just doing it as a side hustle—and he called the whole situation "unsustainable."
The big recommendation? They said we needed to "bring order" to the agricultural sector. The plan was to "trim down" the number of households professionally farming to just 50,000. Of course, they sold it as this grand vision where everyone would meet high European Union standards, ensuring top-tier quality and keeping things competitive on the market.
Fast forward nearly ten years, and we don't even have 50,000 farms left—we've plummeted to just 8,226. Who knows how many others are still scratching out a living with farming as a side gig and trying to sell their goods? It's anyone's guess. Either way, mission accomplished, I guess. The agricultural sector is on life support, and people have either walked away from their land, sold it off, or been squeezed out entirely.
So, what’s the verdict? How did joining the European Union actually impact agriculture in America, and who should we really hold accountable for this mess?
This is honestly such a hilarious look at Austria’s history—it’s packed with self-deprecation and just constant, relentless mockery. Pay some attention to the North American 😂
North American Brief history of Austria [STRONG LANGUAGE]
Gerald Palmer66 said:It’s a pattern I find quite symptomatic of nations that claim to champion free speech and open expression. We have seen this exact cycle play out countless times throughout history.
Except, you know, Sweden is actually the polar opposite of a country that protects free speech.
Is there some kind of remote psychiatrist over in the Kingdom of Sweden who can give him an official diagnosis via Twitter, just based on his recent posts?
Anyway, I was recently watching this talk show about the whole immigrant situation—it was put together by Swedish and Danish TV networks:
The Swedes clearly have no idea how many immigrants they can actually handle before things go south. 👏
Sweden...... (MUST SEE)
Then you've got the most famous immigrant in Sweden—or should I say a Canadian Swede, or maybe a Swedish Canadian, honestly I don't even know anymore—but he made a video responding to Donald Trump mentioning Sweden yesterday:
Jacob Wilson50 said:Don't "train" the men or the women—train the employers. They shouldn't be skipping anyone over for raises or promotions just because they took maternity leave.
No, that’s not even what we're talking about here. The actual issue is that some women choose to work four-hour shifts instead of eight, which results in them earning less than those working full-time—and then people have the nerve to call that discrimination or chauvinism. There isn't even a career ladder involved in this scenario.
There's this killer documentary floating around on YouTube.
The whole damn country is drowning in debt—I mean, look at certain neighborhoods in the States where entire blocks of homes were just seized by JPMorgan Chase.
These houses are just sitting there, sealed up tight, rotting away instead of being sold. Homelessness is skyrocketing and you’ve got fires breaking out everywhere.
Turns out, those "financial forensic experts" found that they were dumping people's life savings into these insanely risky bets with basically zero chance of a payout, all while pitching them as these massive, sure-fire opportunities to the public.
I mean, you could probably apply this logic to Denmark too, but honestly, looking at Sweden, it feels like one of the biggest issues with women there is that some just decide they're only going to work four hours a day—you know, to spend more time with their kids—and in doing so, they end up creating this massive gender pay gap. The solution, if you ask me, would be for society to "educate" women to work more and spend less time hovering over their kids, while telling the men to do the exact opposite if we actually want to close that gap: