Hello Everyone
I have been a lurker on this site for about a year and just recently stated posting. Some info about me--I grew up in and still live in the Bay Area in LIBERAL California. I was educated in public schools, including state university for college. I'm a lifelong Democrat--a teacher and proud card carrying union member. I'm a mom to a wonderful 5 year old boy--I'm one of those GOP hating single mothers--but not embarrassed or ashamed to be labeled as such. I believe in preserving our social safety net, in helping the middle class stay strong, as I am a product of a stiff blue collar middle class family.
I also believe that it is extremely important to help those who are in need so they can get on their feet and provide for their families. I make it my mission to point out how our economic system continually suppresses people in poverty and gives them very few, if any, ways to get out of it. It isn't because these people lazy moochers who sit back and do nothing. Many of my students' parents work 2 or 3 jobs to make ends meet. I teach in a very low socio-economic area, with high poverty and a large minority population. I see firsthand the imbalance of access to and funding for education and resources in my school community and what poverty has done to the families of the children I teach. It sickens me because the suburb where I grew up has a higher income level and therefore well funded schools that are sparkling clean and not falling apart.
I proudly voted for Obama twice and will continue to support and shout from the rooftops about the lies the GOP has told about the haves and the have nots. i rage against these stereotypes, and will NOT keep my mouth shut when this kind of stupidity raises its ugly head.
I could go on and on, but I'll stop here. That's me. 
= new reply since forum marked as read
I will have no trouble doing that. 
My mother and my sister are both public school teachers, both union, and both proud liberal Democrats!
So, as you can see, I like teachers a lot!...
Good to have you here.
