# Stupid Republican idea of the day **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 26, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897 "2009-03-26T18:48:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 220
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4381 "2012-02-01T23:25:45Z")
Dan Quayle would be smart compared with this crowd. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4382 "2012-02-04T04:33:11Z")
According to Alabama state Senator Shadrack McGill, if you pay teachers too much, you’ll only attract bad teachers. It’s a Biblical thing. [ > [@](#): > > “And these teachers that are called to teach, regardless of the pay scale, they would teach. It’s just in them to do. It’s the ability that God give ‘em. And there are also some teachers, it wouldn’t matter how much you would pay them, they would still perform to the same capacity. > “If you don’t keep that in balance, you’re going to attract people who are not called, who don’t need to be teaching our children. So, everything has a balance.” ]([http://thinkprogress.org/education/2012/02/01/416446/alabama-teacher-bible-teacher-pay/](http://thinkprogress.org/education/2012/02/01/416446/alabama-teacher-bible-teacher-pay/)) So. Better not give teachers a pay raise. Wouldn’t want to make that holy occupation of learnin’ our kids real good too easy of a job. And implicit is that if some good teachers leave the profession because they can’t earn a living wage, I guess they just weren’t really called to it, so good riddance. Funny how the principle doesn’t apply to legislators. > [@](#): > > McGill found justification in the Bible for not increasing teacher pay, but he evidently found nothing in scripture preventing him from approving a 67 percent pay increase for legislators in 2007, which increased annual salaries for the part-time legislators from $30,710 to $49,500. He said that the higher pay helped to stop corruption. Pay teachers more and you might corrupt the occupation. Pay legislators more, so you WON’T corrupt the occupation. Gotcha. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4383 "2012-02-05T00:16:28Z")
He sounds like a major douche, but I have to say Senator Shadrack McGill is one of the coolest names I’ve heard in a while. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4384 "2012-02-05T00:25:43Z")
> [@Jenaroph](#): > > Pay teachers more and you might corrupt the occupation. Every time I see nonsensical arguments like this one, I reread [this](http://m.examiner.com/k-12-in-topeka/in-what-other-profession) essay. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4385 "2012-02-05T16:19:51Z")
> [@Jenaroph](#): > > According to Alabama state Senator Shadrack McGill, if you pay teachers too much, you’ll only attract bad teachers. > Funny how the principle doesn’t apply to legislators. He’s got a point: They pay legislators more than teachers and that job attracts doofuses\* like Shadrack McGill. (\*Or possibly ‘doofi’ for you Latin fans) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4386 "2012-02-05T16:37:35Z")
[This bit by Taylor Mali](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxsOVK4syxU) should help clear up the question of “what teachers make”. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4387 "2012-02-05T16:40:06Z")
Connect the dots, people! Republicans depend on a staggering amount of stupid ideas to keep their platform afloat. Education only increases the chances that a person will detect how stupid those ideas are. _Of course_ the GOP is a natural enemy of education. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4388 "2012-02-05T17:03:31Z")
> [@DoctorJ](#): > > He sounds like a major douche, but I have to say Senator Shadrack McGill is one of the coolest names I’ve heard in a while. With a name like this it’s quite a shame he got into politics and not, say, barbarian kinging or archmagery. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4389 "2012-02-05T17:08:08Z")
The Kwisatz Shadrak ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4390 "2012-02-05T17:22:31Z")
> [@42fish](#): > > He’s got a point: They pay legislators more than teachers and that job attracts doofuses\* like Shadrack McGill. > (\*Or possibly ‘doofi’ for you Latin fans) Hmm. A name like Shadrack sounds straight outta the Book of Daniel. Maybe it should be Doophelim… ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4391 "2012-02-05T17:26:42Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > Connect the dots, people! Republicans depend on a staggering amount of stupid ideas to keep their platform afloat. And to think we’re helping them out by maintaining this here clearinghouse! I don’t know whether to feel proud or horrified. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4392 "2012-02-05T18:33:23Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Hmm. A name like Shadrack sounds straight outta the Book of Daniel. It was. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4393 "2012-02-05T18:54:50Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Hmm. A name like Shadrack sounds straight outta the Book of Daniel. Unfortunately, this one was never thrown in a fiery furnace… ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4394 "2012-02-05T18:55:57Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > > > Hmm. A name like Shadrack sounds straight outta the Book of Daniel. > > > > Maybe it should be Doophelim… > > It was. [Wiki cite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadrach,_Meshach,_and_Abednego)for those playing along at home: > [@](#): > > **Shadrach** , Meshach, and Abednego are people recorded in the biblical Hebrew book of Daniel Chapters 1–3, known for their exclusive devotion to God. In particular, they are known for being saved by divine intervention from the Babylonian execution of being burned alive in a fiery furnace. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2012, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4395 "2012-02-06T04:29:46Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay;h,] Unfortunately, this one was never thrown in a fiery furnace… [/QUOTE] Yeah, my first inclination was to think of a throw-him-in-the-furnace line (maybe by moving to Alabama just to vote for a gubernatorial candidate named Nebuchadnezzar), but the Doophelim joke presented itself, and I just decided to go with that… ---
**Author:** ![Sinaptics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Sinaptics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaptics)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2012, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4396 "2012-02-06T20:29:36Z")
Not so much as a stupid idea as a stupid Republican. Though, I guess you can make a case that posting random articles to your facebook without checking them out is, in fact, fairly stupid. [Congressman Falls for The Onion’s Planned Parenthood ‘Abortionplex’ Story](http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2012/02/congressman-falls-months-old-onion-story-about-planned-parenthood-abortionplex/48344/) ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2012, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4397 "2012-02-06T23:31:43Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/9Dx2d446dsU/hqdefault.jpg "Busted! Rep. Leaves ALEC Wording In Corporate Tax Resolution") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Dx2d446dsU) ALEC caught with hand up Florida Republican’s arse The legislator left the ALEC mission statement in the text of the bill as submitted. Hey, it’s not a big deal, ALEC are certainly free to write model legislation; it’s just funny. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2012, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4398 "2012-02-06T23:36:42Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player\_embedded&v=9Dx2d446dsU](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9Dx2d446dsU) > ALEC caught with hand up Florida Republican’s arse > > The legislator left the ALEC mission statement in the text of the bill as submitted. > > Hey, it’s not a big deal, ALEC are certainly free to write model legislation; it’s just funny. Been there, done that: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=14729916&highlight=alec#post14729916](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=14729916&highlight=alec#post14729916) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2012, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4399 "2012-02-06T23:50:14Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Unfortunately, this one was never thrown in a fiery furnace… Or in the quarry … ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4400 "2012-02-07T02:02:08Z")
> [@42fish](#): > > (\*Or possibly ‘doofi’ for you Latin fans) That’s just silly. Clearly, it would be ‘doofopodes’. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=219) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=221)