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" I was a kid 20 years ago, and I know I was better off than kids are now. My parents actually raised me, made me do chores, taught me respect, knew how to tell me "no" and did it often, and let me make mistakes so I could learn from them. Try to find that now and you'll be searching for a little while. "

" So Mr. Noble (talk about an egghead), exactly how are children better off today? I hope it's for reasons other than attendance at pre-school and health insurance. Are kids better educated? Are they healthier? Are their families stronger and more supportive? It seems to me that kids today are more out of shape and less interested in education than they were 20 years ago. This article sounds to me like just a lot of self-promotion by this "Voices for Illinois Children" group. I'll bet Blagojevich is behind it somehow. "

" Late Breaking News. Kids are better off today than during the Children's Crusades. Nothing Follows. In other news,... "

" to paf: In reality some kids are better off if their parents work and they go to daycare. There are a number of reasons but first of all there is the money. In addition at daycare and preschool kids learn social skills and language development and other developmental issues are addressed that wouldn't be in some of the homes. They see role models as to how they are to behave in society. Some of these kids don't have much of a chance from the getgo. As long as the daycare is ran by reputable people and the caregivers are good role models it is a plus not a minus for the kids. Kids attitudes and the way they approach learning and other issues in life is generally decided in the early years. I think if there is one place we should spend money to give kids a start it is here. "

" Excuse me but when I hear terms like "state supported pre-school" and "public health insurance" I see the government taking over more facets of our lives. That is "Socialism" folks and it goes against the grain of what this country was founded on. Todays' schools are becoming a place for people to send their 3 and 4 year olds a couple of hours a day to get them out of the house. Schools have breakfast programs and when I went to elementary school right here in Bloomington they did not even have school lunches, no elementary schools did. Students were dismissed one hour a day for lunch. All this money being poured out and one thing that can not be denied and that is the dumbing down of our youth today. Remember when cash registers were manual and clerks counted out your change? Very few clerks today can make change without the register telling them how much to give back. Now tell me about improved education.
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" Total bull! I'd wager there are more kids on drugs now than there was 20 years ago. That and there are more kids in gangs etc than there was 20 years ago. They'd be better off if we did away with the teachers union.
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" I agree they have it made, Xbox, the net, softer chairs to set on at home, no summer jobs because parents give them what they want or they are to lazy to get out and find a job. Cars we had bicycles, 100 dollar shoes we wore 20 dollar shoes. They are right kids have it made !!! "

" I wonder if having fewer children on welfare also includes statistics on how many are on SSI, the new welfare. Are they calling day care a state supported preschool? Day care would indicate that more mothers of young children must work now to support their families. It also says 70% MORE kids are covered by health insurance not 70% of all children. This is a reflection of the kids health program I assume. There are so many holes in this report it really doesn't paint an accurate picture. Raising eligibility for programs and services will produce the same results. It also doesn't improve the conditions for our children. Flat fact is the US still leads industrialized nations in child hunger "