Here's the stark contrast between the tea partiers' demonstrations and the union demonstrations: the tea partiers ARE concerned about money, but not so much in self interest. They're interested in the future of this country, the debt that we are accumulating and the reach of government into private lives.
The unions are concerned about their own money: their fat pensions, their salaries, and the benefits that are bankrupting the states.
The tea partiers are concerned about what will be left for today's children.
A most remarkable expose of leftist "civility" can be found here, with lots of pictures.
Lawmakers have been assaulted and harassed; even their families are not safe.
Here's a woman who bears a remarkable resemblance to a certain Lord of the Rings character who claims lawmakers are trying to take away her health care, that she can no longer receive health care because of the vote taken in Wisconsin.
For the record, the average Wisconsin teacher salary is about $56,000; Cadillac benefits put the cost per teacher at over $100,000 per teacher. From the Wall Street Journal:
•Health care for current employees. Under the current collective- bargaining agreements, the school district pays the entire premium for medical and vision benefits, and over half the cost of dental coverage. These plans are extremely expensive.
This is partly because of Wisconsin's unique arrangement under which the teachers union is the sponsor of the group health-insurance plans. Not surprisingly, benefits are generous. The district's contributions for health insurance of active employees total 38.8% of wages. For private-sector workers nationwide, the average is 10.7%.In addition, these teachers contribute nothing to their pension funds. All is contributed by the taxpayer.
So we have these people crying about how mean the state legislators are to try to balance the state budget, but no one seems to care about all the money the union blows on parties and parking spots and all kinds of luxuries. New York Daily News.
In fact, the NEA spends millions on supporting left wing candidates, as reported in Open Secrets.
UPDATE: From The Blaze, if teachers are back in class, who's protesting? (Obviously, the union has sent "solidarity" agents in to testify, collapse weeping on the floor and claim they've lost their health care, and scream invectives at the lawmakers who passed the bill.)
Notice Indiana's fleebaggers are still on the road even after the "right to work' bill was pulled. Now they have the effrontery to demand the Republicans promise not to call certain bills this session. Those bills are:
ReplyDeleteHB 1002 Charter School Expansion. Expands the Charter School Program and diverts money from the public schools to charter schools.
HB 1479 Private Takeover of Public Schools. Allows the state of Indiana to take over poorly performing schools and for these schools to be managed by for-profit companies. It removes local decision making in schools.
HB 1584 Public School Waiver of state laws. Allows school boards to seek waivers of almost any school law or regulation.
HB 1585 Right to work for Public Employees. Removes collective bargaining rights at the local level.
And the bill that would make Milton Friedman jump for joy and Albert Shanker slit his wrists is;
HB 1003 School Vouchers. This bill allow a family making up to $81,000 to receive a $4,000 voucher to any private or parochial school they choose.
Charter schools and vouchers are a threat to public schools. Witness "Waiting for Superman," etc. If they were halfway smart and did their jobs, they wouldn't have this threat looming at their doors constantly.
ReplyDeleteBut conversely, the Repubs' proposals aren't just about money either. This is a chess game. We're waiting to see the next move. It's disheartening to see that the Ohio Repubs seem to be backing down.
That said, I think the idea of merit pay is fraught with the some kind of problems that cronyism presents. If you assume the administrators are legit and concerned about "the children," you would hope the truly good teachers would be rewarded.
But look what happened to Michelle Rhee.
And, tragically, Jaime Escalante of "Stand and Deliver" fame.
A wonderful teacher, driven out of the profession.