en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/150163 Comments by Spineless http://bellingham.komonews.com/news/opinion/schrammie-more-legislative-genius/625183#IDComment131994080 When I learned to drive, I spent an entire semester in high school taking a driving course. Back in those days it was taught in the schools here in Bellevue. It was so much better than what we get now with the Swerve and 911 driving schools that most kids take nowadays. I don't trust that these schools can teach my teenage kids as well as I was taught. But I don't think that the solution is to have parents solely responsible for teaching their kids to drive. Parents are supposed to give their driving age children opportunities to practice what they have learned in a proper drivers education classroom. Thu, 3 Mar 2011 01:42:09 +0000 http://bellingham.komonews.com/news/opinion/schrammie-more-legislative-genius/625183#IDComment131994080 http://www.komonews.com/opinion/kenschram/35313824.html#IDComment11948612 I love and hate this time of year. I love the idea of getting together with family to celebrate to closing of another year and looking forward to the new year. What I hate is the ignorance of people celebrating Christmas. I haven't seen anyone one write this yet, so I will be the first troll to do so. Christmas is not even a christian holiday. Christmas is a Pagan holiday. And the Christmas Tree, is a Pagan holiday symbol. The Christmas tree has ZERO relevance to Christianity. Pagans decorated trees for the Winter Solstice. But that is par for the course of the Spend til it hurts crowd who demand Christmas trees and "Merry Christmas" everywhere. They don't have any clue what it is that they are celebrating anyway. Honestly people, you all need to get yourselves in check. Everyone wants to have their religious preference given preferential treatment, and that is dumb. I have zero problem with a decorated Christmas tree in the state capital, and I have zero problem with a sign that says "religion is a lie" right beside it. There is only one way to have this. Every religion or non-religion has an equal representation, or no religion has any representation. Screw this, some are more equal than others crap. Tue, 2 Dec 2008 00:30:24 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/opinion/kenschram/35313824.html#IDComment11948612 http://www.komonews.com/news/35135799.html#IDComment11784029 Now I don't know much about this apartment building in Fife. Maybe this wall was part of an agreement in it's construction, if it is a new apartment building that is. If it is not a new building, then that argument doesn't hold water. In part, I think the zoning board should share some of the blame for allowing mixed residential and commercial so close together right along the freeway. They should have taken into consideration the noise, the possible solutions, and the possible impacts from the solutions. The problem with outright killing the noise wall is that the construction of the wall will provide employment. Maybe they can come up with a better solution to the noise issue that doesn't adversely affect the businesses, but will that cost more or less? I think it might be a knee-jerk reaction to just oppose the wall construction simply because of the financial situation. There really may be a valid and justifiable reason for the wall that offsets the potential impact to the commercial businesses and the costs we are all concerned about. Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:37:41 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/35135799.html#IDComment11784029 http://www.komonews.com/news/34209969.html#IDComment10539326 How do you get "thousands" out of 81? Regardless of your exaggeration of this program's effectiveness, I will address your point. No one here is calling for wide open borders without immigration enforcement, but with your quote you appear to be making the insinuation that anyone who is against this specific border patrol activity, is in favor of allowing unfettered immigration. Your argument is intentionally divisive without providing anything of substance. In the meantime, go back and read the U.S. constitution, and let the adults debate this issue. Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:07:25 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/34209969.html#IDComment10539326 http://www.komonews.com/news/34209969.html#IDComment10534155 Terrorism has and will always exist in one form or another. Once people realize that, then we can stand up to those who choose to strip us of our freedoms. Fear is the most dangerous weapon, and its casualties are those who choose to allow it to harm them. Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:54:59 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/34209969.html#IDComment10534155 http://www.komonews.com/news/34209969.html#IDComment10534115 Yet you seem willing to relinquish your civil liberties for fear of terrorism. Do you not see the absurdity of that? I, for one, am not willing to relinquish any of my civil liberties for the notion of "safety from terrorism". There is no such thing as absolute safety and security, and the founding fathers knew this when drafting our constitution. These checks amount to and unreasonable search of your property and your person. Unless they have probable cause, these searches should not be happening this side of the border. Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:44:09 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/34209969.html#IDComment10534115 http://www.komonews.com/news/28375194.html#IDComment6337653 And factor in that the Bellevue High School football coaches get paid more for their work with the football team than the teachers at the school. I once thought high school sports were supposed to be immune to the money interests, but the BHS booster club makes sure that they have the financial advantage over everyone else. It frankly sickens me. Tue, 16 Sep 2008 10:18:26 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/28375194.html#IDComment6337653 http://www.komonews.com/news/28375194.html#IDComment6316623 Here is what I don't understand. While the strike was going on, after-school activities were still going on such as sports. Bellevue High Schools had two weeks of football games while the teachers were on strike. Why are school sanctioned sports permitted to continue while teachers are striking? I have two main issues with this... 1. This reinforces the idea that sports continues to be more important than academics. The sports programs, with the booster clubs bring in too much money for a strike to interfere with their schedules. 2. I also feel that student athletes who are participating and competing in sports while teachers are striking have an unfair advantage over other athletes who have to maintain schoolwork as well as train. This puts the student who has homework at an unfair disadvantage. I believe that if teachers are on strike and school hasn't started, then the schools teams should not be able to complete. They can practice all they want, but no games. What's fair is fair. Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:24:41 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/28375194.html#IDComment6316623 http://www.komonews.com/news/28040244.html#IDComment6085853 I doubt they would. Frankly, I support the standardized curriculum of the district for the most part. It provides cost efficiencies across the district, plus it frees teachers up from having to create the curriculum. Hmm... I thought the teachers were complaining about being overworked, but they want to do more work? This strike is the most dumb teachers strike I have ever seen in Bellevue! Tue, 9 Sep 2008 19:03:05 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/28040244.html#IDComment6085853 http://www.komonews.com/news/28040244.html#IDComment6085833 Stop claiming that the curriculum is the problem. Frankly, I like the idea of a standardized curriculum. This is about teacher greed and bitching! Tue, 9 Sep 2008 19:01:34 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/28040244.html#IDComment6085833 http://www.komonews.com/news/28040244.html#IDComment6085753 I guess the obvious is lost on you. Both are government employees. Though I do support the right to strike, but only when it is truly necessary. Not on these yearly whims when the teachers get their panties in a bunch and start whining about how bad they have it. They get better benefits, more time off, and more job security than just about anyone in the private sector. Cry me a river! Tue, 9 Sep 2008 18:58:38 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/28040244.html#IDComment6085753 http://www.komonews.com/news/28040244.html#IDComment6085653 I have had the unfortunate displeasure to deal with Vicky Murray. And as a parent, I would love to see her fired. She is worthless. Talk about the fox guarding the hen house. Tue, 9 Sep 2008 18:54:00 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/28040244.html#IDComment6085653 http://www.komonews.com/news/28040244.html#IDComment6085573 What a tool! Tue, 9 Sep 2008 18:50:56 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/28040244.html#IDComment6085573 http://www.komonews.com/news/28040244.html#IDComment6085523 It seems that teachers, like some of the kids they teach, do think that there is a magical tree where money grows, and all that is needed is for someone to harvest it. Tue, 9 Sep 2008 18:48:27 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/28040244.html#IDComment6085523 http://www.komonews.com/news/28040244.html#IDComment6085473 I am disappointed that the district even offered them a raise. Curriculum and benefits and that's all! Tue, 9 Sep 2008 18:47:02 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/28040244.html#IDComment6085473 http://www.komonews.com/news/28040244.html#IDComment6084443 What drugs are you using? Bellevue is ranked second to last? Hmm... yet three of our high schools are ranked in the top 100 in the nation, and two of those are in the top 10. Yes we have such a bad school district... boohoo Tue, 9 Sep 2008 18:01:52 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/28040244.html#IDComment6084443 http://www.komonews.com/news/28040244.html#IDComment6084303 Yeah, do your job and fire these teachers! Tue, 9 Sep 2008 17:58:42 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/28040244.html#IDComment6084303 http://www.komonews.com/news/28040244.html#IDComment6084263 Do I realize that the strike is about more than money? Let's see, the district resolved the curriculum and benefits issues the teachers had, but I don't see the teachers back in class. It is, and has always, been about the money. The whole curriculum and benefits arguments were straw men so that the public would support the strike. Now that the public can see this, we are on the the BEA's game. Enough is enough. Stop your bitching and Get Back To Work! Tue, 9 Sep 2008 17:57:49 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/28040244.html#IDComment6084263 http://www.komonews.com/news/28040244.html#IDComment6084143 Middle income families can barely live in Bellevue these days. The median household income cannot afford the median price of a house in Bellevue. Have you seen the rents going up in Bellevue? Bellevue... The home of the wealthy and elite. Thanks Kemper Freeman you wanker! Tue, 9 Sep 2008 17:53:23 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/28040244.html#IDComment6084143 http://www.komonews.com/news/28040244.html#IDComment6084063 So in order to pay for the latest BSD405 offer, we have to pay even more in property taxes. I grew up in Bellevue, and have lived there since '71. At this point, Bellevue has become a city only to be populated by the wealthy. The middle-class is essentially impoverished in Bellevue. As far as I am concerned, Bellevue has become a cesspool of greed and envy and I am looking forward to moving out of this F-ing town. BTW, I don't support the teachers strike. They first said it was because of curriculum and benefits. Those issues got resolved. And now they want more money. I would love to have the job security those folks have and get the guaranteed annual raises they get. I got 2.5%, and they are bitching about getting 7%. They can go to hell! Tue, 9 Sep 2008 17:49:37 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/28040244.html#IDComment6084063