to wipe their own asses, much less serve in the military. That's your "changing demographic" right there, liberals. Shameful.

WASHINGTON -- It's tough enough selling military service to teen-agers who might not be so keen on getting their heads shaved or buy the whole "we do more by 9 a.m." line. And the fact that enlisting today could very well mean a visit to the front lines doesn't help, either.

But according to a new report, there are other factors that make recruiters' jobs even more difficult: the country's poor education system and the worsening obesity crisis.

About 75 percent of the country's 17- to 24-year-olds are ineligible for military service, largely because they are poorly educated, overweight and have physical ailments that make them unfit for the armed forces, according to a report issued Thursday.

Other factors, such as drug use, criminal records and mental problems, contribute to what military leaders say is a major problem that threatens the country's ability to defend itself at a time when the all-volunteer force is already strained fighting two wars.

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hmmm. arent 75% of all young people liberal? Cause and effect?

Ya think?

If this country ever has a need to defend itself, the old cons will have to do all the fighting....

...you vote against any measure suggesting raising taxes to pay for education - am I right? Years of budget cuts to education, physical education and sports programs are coming home to roost...

Then one considers a) Depression Era Americans, often educated iwth handme down or homemade books, and obvioulsy not as "nutritionally blessed" did ok in the Military, and b) most kids do not participate in the sports offered. There is no indication throwing at education helps, just look at the billions spent on Head Start. We have teachers that won't teach(What's Wrong WIth America, featuring Brit Bailey, the Posting PedophilePedagogue should be appearing here soon), and our government actually is reduced to running commericials urging kids to "get out and play AN HOUR a day. AN HOUR!!!! NO, MTV, PACMAN etc has come home to roost.

Don't blame the libs Barb. While they certainly aren't blameless, George W. Bush and Dick Cheney did more in eight years to destroy the will to serve than the libs have done since the end of the Vietnam War...

Figjam:

...you vote against any measure suggesting raising taxes to pay for education - am I right? Years of budget cuts to education, physical education and sports programs are coming home to roost...

Federal spending on education DOUBLED under George W. Bush!!!! And yet, we get the same sad results. When are you airhead libs going to learn that throwing money at education, in an attempt to solve its current problems, is a fools' errand...

Not on education. And...a small part of that...smaller than they would have liked, went to the Bush family for selling educational testing supplies...

Money is required and as always, there are smart ways to spend money...and dumb ways to spend it.

Tell me...how much do the school administrators bring in up around Pittsburgh?

"Tell me...how much do the school administrators bring in up around Pittsburgh?"

About six thousand of my hard earned dollars...

Do they get that from every resident? Shall I assume you mean you pay $6,000 a year in SCHOOL taxes? I doubt that...but whatev.

The county school boss here makes about $300,000 per year. The Governor about $150,000.

Craig:

Do they get that from every resident? Shall I assume you mean you pay $6,000 a year in SCHOOL taxes? I doubt that...but whatev.

The county school boss here makes about $300,000 per year. The Governor about $150,000.

Our teachers make about $75,000 per year (on average) for nine months of work. If that isn't enough to get the most out of them then my guess is we can find someone else for that compensation level that it will. Throwing more money at them isn't the answer - getting rid of the union is...

That's close to double what the average teacher makes around here...for 10 months of "work"...

Was it because you were "poorly educated, overweight or had physical ailments that make you unfit for the armed forces? "

or was it because you just weren't interested in the restricted life of a military gal?

I think Fox News must be having a slow news day to write snooze like your C&P...Our young Americans are doing just fine...thank you.

fini

Craig:

That's close to double what the average teacher makes around here...for 10 months of "work"...

I think maybe you are referring to their STARTING salary. As for the nine vs. ten months, you must be including the week off at Thanksgiving, two weeks at Christmas and another week of spring break as time "worked..."

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This is a PDF of the collective bargaining agreement between the state of Pennsylvania and the teacher's union. The highest salary possible according to this schedule is around $75,000 (with an advanced degree), with salaries beginning at around $40,000 for a first year teacher with a bachelor's degree. That's about what it is in Houston. I saw another link that said the average salary in Pittsburgh was just over $50,000/year (that was in 2003, maybe it's higher now--but twenty thousand dollars a year higher? Please). Teachers can make a few thousand more based on some other factors, according to that agreement, which is in effect through 2010.