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So just for conversation, what the heck happened to the Davenport schools?

We have a lot of natural resources no doubt, but are short on one important thing, the workers to perform all of these manufacturing jobs. We don't have enough now, let alone if we're ramping up production even more.

Just saw this. I agree in part. Demographic trends will turn negative in the 2030s, not that long from now really.

I didn't check today's numbers but there are about 105 million persons working and 104 million Americans not working or even seeking employment, but within the available labor pool. Granted that latter number includes the small percentage of the actually disabled and the small percentage of early retirees. The United States has a very unhealthy working/non-working ratio for any labor force.

Of course, changes must be made to prevailing social norms or that problem will go. The idea that the collective is here to provide for people who will not provide for themselves has to die as a significant feature of American governing ideology. This will require carrots and sticks but the time frame is narrowing to return to the basic principles that made us so rich our elites would promise Utopia.

Unfortunately for younger people the US is going to economically fail somewhere between now and about 2040. The economic crack up of the US is going to make the economic collapse of the USSR, where Ukraine girls really will knock you out, seem trivial.

The second rule of history: when things can no longer go on, they don't.
 
Oh my, aren't you the testy one. Not used to people who don't accept what you have to say like a divine revelation. Well, I'm not one of the nurses that thinks you're Jesus Christ, healing cripples and raising from the dead. (Helmet sticker for the first person that guesses, without research the source of that line. Hint: started in London, came to Broadway).

Now back to the task at hand. Accusations of narcissism are usually made by narcissists-because, of course, the real narcissist cannot tolerate disagreement or "disagreeable opinions". "People with strong narcissistic tendencies and other dark personality traits tend to blame others for their own bad behavior. If they are lying, then they will accuse others of lying. If they are cruel, they will say that others are cruel." Saw some other sites that had the same or similar information but, you probably already know that.

Out of the blue you inserted yourself in a conversation of which you were not already a part-my fight was with the sissy that called me and "a$$hat", which is a really junior high thing to say. Your contribution to the conversation was an out of the blue personal attack on me. If you are old enough to be a doctor, then you should know that verbally attacking someone typically invites reply or response. So, you picked a fight with me by launching the internet equivalent of a sucker punch.

The insults arrived on my screen in one of two ways. Option 1. You had an uncontrollably emotional reaction to an academic topic as dry and uninspiring as the quality of a Des Moines specific public HS. That kind of sounds like this: "People suffering from NPD often feel narcissistically hurt by other people around them and are particularly sensitive to feelings of shame, guilt and humiliation. To protect themselves from these feelings, they develop very strong defense mechanisms by blaming other people for their bad feelings (which looks like they are called “narcissist”). Most people with NPD do not even know that in the case of a narcissistic injury, they are probably not able to see the whole situation realistically and objectively or to endure empathy in the other person’s view (as this will bring them back would be great shame about their role, guilt, worthlessness, etc. to feel.)"

Or possibly this: "Rage disorder is characterized by repeated episodes of angry outbursts, temper tantrums, or violent behavior to the point of uncontrollable rage, it is grossly out of proportion to the situation. The outbursts are not premeditated and it is difficult for the person to resist aggressive impulses.

Option 2. You actually contemplated the insults you threw at me and decided that you somehow had the moral authority to personally attack me. You intended to "hurt my feelings" and probably to bully me into silence upon receipt of your reprimand. Attacking a stranger over such a trivial subject sounds like this:

Sadism — the tendency to inflict harm on others for the pleasure of the act — was once thought to be purely the domain of serial killers and deranged maniacs. Yet modern research shows that sadistic tendencies exist in everyday people and manifest along a spectrum.

Then, as a doctor, you slam me over what I charge. Dr. Pot, Squire Kettle is unimpressed.

And then, finally, you actually tried dispute the actual argument. Good try, but not really successful. I don't know where you got that 30 ranking. USNews is a pretty good source. They show Roosie is #46 with 11 DSM suburban and exurban schools from 1A to 5A are better. Coincidentally, Roosie's student body includes kids from literally the wealthiest neighborhood in Iowa. Guessing those kids come from households that create an environment for success and require more than the poor performance at the other DSM Public Schools.

Then, you provide the real reason for your rage, you called me a racist, although I've said nothing that discusses race at all. Just another limousine leftist that sees everything disagreeable as racism and arrogating the moral authority to attack those phantom racists.

Now, I would prefer to let this drop. But remember the pussy/bully thing, guessing you do. The last word is the oxygen upon which bullies feed. I will not give you that satisfaction.

Finally, don't waste time on the lies you tell yourself. You're already thinking about me, because you keep responding. Don't say silly shit like you only read two sentences. Everyone reads every word in conversations like those in which we now find ourselves, just as we would if exchanging them face to face.

You can prove I haven't become a burning little hole in your brain by just letting this matter drop. Please do so.​
Tldr
 
It’s pretty simple really. What you are referring to is that the percentage of family structures of the kids in those schools are much more firm and sound. Their is such a huge discrepancy in the quality of students who come from single parent homes compared with those who come from two parent homes or homes with divorced parents, but have two parents involved. Yes, there are kids who overcome those obstacles and are great students and athletes, but when you talk about “privileged” kids, one should be referring to the foundation of the family that kid comes from.

People don’t like to talk about the vast number of black students being raised by a grandmother or a single mom with zero father figure in their life. Yes, their are white students, also. People don’t like to talk about the cycle and choices of low income families and their lack of priorities on education or the importance of getting involved in extracurricular activities.

For many students, the dysfunction in his/her family is too much to overcome. They don’t get involved in sports at an early age because they weren’t encouraged and given the support by a parent or family member. School is unimportant and those types of students (students of any color) don’t gravitate towards hanging out with kids who are actively involved in things.

Drugs are another big thing and the vaping seems to have gone to epidemic levels. Kids don’t want structure and the responsibility of being told what to do and being penalized for having to be some place at a certain time. They don’t want to dedicate two hours out of their day to be in a structured practice and also do something extra like lifting weights on top of it.

The Davenport schools have plenty of good athletics kids that choose to hang out with friends and vape after school instead of being involved in things. They have kids where it means more to go be a star on the playground basketball court than it does to spend the time in a structured setting. They have fast kids, huge kids, and kids with talent that choose to not be involved.
Why are there so many single parent homes? Could it be that in the 60s and 70s we removed the stigma associated with women who give birth outside of marriage? Could a further factor be the normalization of divorce, which was pure hedonism-a way to avoid the guilt of breaking up your family. Could yet a further factor be the trivialization of men working and supporting their families? Do you think the stigma of unwed pregnancy, divorce and the actual criminalization of nonsupport (still a crime in Iowa) were just arbitrary social structures some group of old white men decided one day?

No, the were social constructs that crossed many cultures and evolved over hundreds of years. Perhaps the West had bad case of hubris when it became the norm to assume the existence of some inequity in history meant all historical norms should be abandoned?​

People don’t like to talk about the vast number of black students being raised by a grandmother or a single mom with zero father figure in their life. Yes, their are white students, also. People don’t like to talk about the cycle and choices of low income families and their lack of priorities on education or the importance of getting involved in extracurricular activities.

Always happy to have this conversation, without name calling and personal rancor. For example, how will someone turn out if you constantly tell them that their anti-social behavior is really someone else's fault AND there's nothing you can do about it. Or another big lie, you can have everything you want without individual effort and it's not fair if you don't. Those are the dominating themes of modern education.

Maybe involvement in extra curriculars should be emphasized to the point of being expected? Here's a thought to get parents involved. You lose public relief if you don't attend four parent/teacher conferences per academic year. Lose a homestead exemption for failing to do the same. Give Grandma and Mom a little spiff for volunteering to help with some extra curriculars and other creative incentives.

More than anything we need to take a very serious look at reality and find solutions to these problems. While much change has been made in the last 70 years its clear there have been more bad than positive changes. Were it not so, we would not be having this discussion.

We aren't getting much Hawk information so take the time.

 
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You are that willing to lie to yourself? Or think I or anyone else would believe it. Just stop and the buzzing will eventually go away.
I read about 1/3 of your previous reply and saw how long this one was and noped.

I honestly don’t care about your feelings about football and education in the state. I don’t care about anyone’s opinions, really.

I replied to you because you are very clearly a narcissist (not a good trait in this state) and sometimes it’s worth a little of my time to let someone know how awful of a person they appear to be.
 
Absolutely not better talent.

when you have Des Moines suburban schools that are larger than schools in Iowa city, even though they only have three years, and there are twice as many kids per class as schools in other cities, you just have more numbers.

Des Moines suburban schools because to my knowledge they’re the only schools that only have three years starting sophomore year should really have their own athletic class.
The BEDS numbers for determining divisions/classes are based on grades 9-11, no matter if 9 is in the same building as 10-12 or not.
The girls did add a class to all sports and the boys added a top class in football due to the size advantage of the larger schools. most of the top schools were 50% larger than schools 37-48 in the top class, so they made the cut-off 36.

2021-2022 Iowa BEDS
 
I say we cancel the Ankenys, Valleys, Waukees, Johnstons, Dowlings and SE Polks of the world.

That would even the playing field....... ;)
I’ve said it numerous times, Eastern Iowa will never be able to compete with the DM metro.

They haven’t been able to for 10-15 years now & will never again. Maybe an occasional fluke team from CR/IC/Wloo/Dub/CF will sneak in a title but for the most part it’s over for Eastern Iowa.

It’s been over for Eastern Iowa.

Des Moines metro needs it’s own class in sports. Way too much $ there for the rest of the state to compete. Way better athletes. Way better coaching. And an endless population boom compared to the rest of the state.

Facts
 
I’ve said it numerous times, Eastern Iowa will never be able to compete with the DM metro.

They haven’t been able to for 10-15 years now & will never again. Maybe an occasional fluke team from CR/IC/Wloo/Dub/CF will sneak in a title but for the most part it’s over for Eastern Iowa.

It’s been over for Eastern Iowa.

Des Moines metro needs it’s own class in sports. Way too much $ there for the rest of the state to compete. Way better athletes. Way better coaching. And an endless population boom compared to the rest of the state.

Facts
They could probably compete a little better in basketball now and then but I would agree, the entire DM Metro area is just booming comparatively.
 
I’ve said it numerous times, Eastern Iowa will never be able to compete with the DM metro.

They haven’t been able to for 10-15 years now & will never again. Maybe an occasional fluke team from CR/IC/Wloo/Dub/CF will sneak in a title but for the most part it’s over for Eastern Iowa.

It’s been over for Eastern Iowa.

Des Moines metro needs it’s own class in sports. Way too much $ there for the rest of the state to compete. Way better athletes. Way better coaching. And an endless population boom compared to the rest of the state.

Facts
Every team gets their own class. Trophies for all!
 
I honestly don’t care about your feelings about football and education in the state. I don’t care about anyone’s opinions, really.

I replied to you because you are very clearly a narcissist (not a good trait in this state) and sometimes it’s worth a little of my time to let someone know how awful of a person they appear to be.
I'm beginning to think you are not a doctor. An actual physician would not have taken the course of argument you have chosen because they would recognize narcissists think everyone that thwarts them is narcissistic, the veritable birthplace of "projection". Read the two sentences above. "I don't care about anyone's opinions, really" and "sometimes it’s worth a little of my time to let someone know how awful of a person they appear to be." Those were the words you used.

Your words, and your admission that you can attack people because you think they are awful are precisely the words/justification that narcissists use to attack people-as my previous post documented. Although the frank admission you feel a right to attack people with whom you disagree, even about an unemotional topic certainly sounds like you're maybe more on the psychopathy spectrum. Psychopathy is a neuropsychiatric disorder marked by deficient emotional responses, lack of empathy, and poor behavioral controls, commonly resulting in persistent antisocial deviance and criminal behavior.

To remind you, you attacked me out of the blue. Attacking strangers out of the blue is fairly antisocial behavior. Most certainly not very cricket I'd say. I think most people would agree.

1. "I don't care about anyone's opinions, really." Sounds just an awful lot like a "deficient emotional response..." and a "lack of empathy", does it not?

2. "...sometimes it's worth a little of my time to let someone know how awful of a person they appear to be" sounds like lack of empathy and poor behavioral control resulting in persistent anti-social deviance. Your admission that you think you have the right to attack people, out of the blue, because you think they are awful people is frankly among the most narcissistic things I have ever heard. Again, I think most people would agree.​

Seriously, please let it go. You have just admitted things about yourself that psychologically healthy people don't think about themselves. Even if they suspected such dark personality traits they would probably never admit, much less boast about as you have done.

Your use of the plural "sometimes it worth a little of my time..." means you've attacked other people out of the blue because you felt your moral superiority was so absolute it gave you the right to attack other people. If you so readily admit persistent antisocial behavior over something as trivial as the quality of the City schools, what in the hell would you do to some that actually said or did something to you that resulted in your actual injury, as distinguished from a narcissistic injury.

Let it go. Block me or ignore or whatever. Just stop attacking me. You stop, I stop.
 
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Deplorable you are living in a world long ago unfortunately. I believe you are an attorney, correct me if I'm wrong. We do not make anything here anymore. Anything. We represent 12-15 different manufacturers that have over the last 2 years seen unprecedented growth. However the majority of them are making less money. Every single one of them depends on Asia to get parts. Every single one of them. This didn't just happen lately. It started 40 years ago, and is just coming to fruition now. Every 2 months there is a price increase. Not sure how (or why) you think we will ever start manufacturing up again in the US. That ship has sailed. We've done it to ourselves. Why pay American labor 20-25 dollars an hour when the Chinese can do it for .50 cents and get it shipped? And bowlhawk, you are correct, the only labor force we have would be immigrants, which you many on here don't want around.
That ship has not sailed, although I agree with much of what you say. As I said above, this has been a bipartisan shit show since 89.

Here's somethings that could be done and make complete sense.

1. Tax and regulatory advantages to build and buy American. I generally think taxes should be pretty flat, now is not the time for that reform-have to wait until we fix this foreign imbalance. Something in the nature of a credit for both consumers and producers.

2. Designate a small list of "strategic materials and products". I was truly ****ing stunned to learn that most American vaccines, pharmaceuticals are made in China? That's just plain stupid. All lithium and uranium the US could produce, if mining rights hadn't been sold to foreign actors. Those contracts need cancelled and wholly American owned producers takeover the contracts.

3. Tariff the hell out of anything made by American MFGs abroad. Make more cost advantageous to repatriate the manufacturing by allowing a one time exemption of the physical costs of repatriation. On the other hand, give significant advantages to foreign employers to build in the US and employee Americans.

4. Disengage from international trade regulators. They don't work for us, they work for the Chinese and really everyone before the US.

I have many other ideas but, bottom line, make it much cheaper to do business here than abroad. There are many alternatives that could be the source of endless discussion but the goal is to restore American manufacturing and the American middle class, which I think really is a moral imperative at this point in history. We cannot become a nation of serfs and oligarchs under the umbrella of an expensive socialist economic plan creating an enormous footprint in daily life. We also cannot become mercantilists who have no sense of any goal but the accumulation of great wealth.

Now is the best time because we have about 90 million people floating around just outside the labor force that are actually available to work. That actually provides a slower trajectory of increased costs while much of the front end costs are discounted.

Many other good ideas are out there but the time frame in which to act is closing faster than I expected 20 years ago.​
 
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Yes, the coach (I won't mention the name) killed the program at City High. He has been replaced and they appear to be coming back. The coach played almost iron man football, the same players on offense and defense, the program had fewer and fewer players each year. His offense made the Hawkeye offense look dynamic. He ran all four downs, seldom passed, never punted, it was nuts. He just killed a great program, but because of the talent at the start of his head coaching career he looked like a good coach, he cost them at least one state championship, maybe two. Sad.

I remember those Bettendorf/City High games....Tavian Banks vs Tim Dwight, unfortunately the two best teams in the state got matched up early in the playoff. Larry Brown was coaching City High then, great coach.
liberty didnt help matters for the west and city high programs. I predict Clear Creek Amana will move up a class inthe next 5 years.
 
The QC Labor market is vastly different than the DM Metro.
Comparing the two is like comparing apples to oranges. I am very family with both areas. The Des Moines Metro is exploding and far more white collar than the Quads. WIth that said the DSM publics are turrible in sports for the same reasons the Dav schools are. The public schools in DSM are in this order based on how crappy they are. 1) East, 2) North, 3) Hoover, 4) Lincoln, 5) Roosevelt. Roosevelt is far and away the crown jewel of the DSM public Schools, but still far behind the burbs and Dowling.
 
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Davenport sucks at all sports. Shit town, shit schools, shit people, shit bars, river full of shit. The whole area needs a good Katrina flushing. 😂
I worked in davenport almost weekly for several years ending about 5 years ago. I am in Davenport 4-5 times per year. I never really liked the town. It always seemed run down with terrible streets and terrible traffic flow. Coming in on Brady Street from the North is a good example. Davenport has to be the world leader in seedy gas stations that specialize in liquor and tobacco. There is a bike trail through the city called the Duck Creek Parkway. A local and friend of mine was bragging about it. The trail is 4-6 feet wide and appears to have been built in the late 1970s or with a late 1970s mentality. It doesn't cross over/under main thoroughfares or streets for the most part so the chances of getting hit by a car riding this "bike Trail" go up significantly if you want to travel the entire length of its massive 8.5-mile length by crossing those streets (think of the video game frogger). A good gauge of city's progress is based off its recreational opportunities. Recreational trails are a good indicator. Davenport has a handful of out and back trails that go to nowhere and of course the crown jewel duck crap parkway. Des Moines metro on the other hand has an expansive trail network that actually goes somewhere including trailside establishments and eateries. Trails like raccoon rive trail 89 miles. The Great Western and Sommerset trails are each 16-20 miles long (that's in one direction). The Gary Wilson trail thats 21 miles and connects with the high trestle trail. The Neal Smith and the trestle trail are intersectable and are a total of 50 miles. I could go on and on.
 
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