I am a Tea Party supporter and am on various Tea Party email lists. This forward supports ending collective bargaining as it exits today. The most successful collective bargaining in recent years is between unions and public boards; the union bosses doing the negotiating are usually full time and the public boards are often unpaid part time as here in Peoria School District #150. Much of the time public elective positions are uncontested or dominated by union collective bargaining supporters as are most of the public boards in Peoria.
One Tea Party position is posted below. I fully support this position. In my years of being in business and in public office, i supported just causes. Everyone, especially in this world of greed, wants more. It is strong boards who arrive at just decisions for the union members and those who hire them, directly or indirectly.
Merle
Dear Patriot,
The public labor dispute in Wisconsin has become the hot button issue and we have been receiving a lot of response from our membership. Most people who have responded support our efforts to defend Governor Scott Walker; however, a small number of people have attacked us. Those attacks claim that we should not be picking a fight with hard working teachers. Those attacks are coming from people who self-identify as conservatives, and that is why the Tea Party movement must continue to win the battle of ideas.
In order to shore up support for public union disputes across the country, we must arm Tea Party activists and supporters with the best arguments. In the case of teachers, good teachers would actually benefit from ending collective bargaining. Collective bargaining protects poor teachers at the expense of good teachers (think "socialism").
The unions have bargained for a system that bases increases in pay, rank, and benefits based primarily on time served instead of merit. When advancements are not based on performance, the incentive to perform well is eliminated (think "free market"). We must continue to get this message out, but we can only win the battle of ideas with your support!
The Tea Party movement is not funded by compulsory union dues; we are funded by hard working patriots like you who have made a sacrifice by making generous contributions. Your VOLUNTARY contribution of $20, $50, $100, or more gives us the resources we need to fight back! You can click here to donate.
You can also give us your support by joining our Facebook page and engaging in the conversation. Our goal is to increase the number of members on our page by 500! You can join our Facebook page here.
Friday, March 04, 2011
Thursday, March 03, 2011
Widmer's Vacation is Over
Coming back from a two months vacation in sunny South Florida and Cancun, I had to go through over one hundred old newspapers, magazines and publications. I've already played tennis three times, organized hundreds of clippings, attended the best Mardi Gra party in Peoria, organized my tax records, read, answered and deleted some 250 emails, read other bloggers blogs, talked with County Board members, overcame my bloggers "block" and am ready to write again.
As I dig into past and present happenings, my background shows I have never been against unions, I worked with the Teamsters 22 years while I owned Widmer Office Products/Widmer Interiors. I was a school teacher who realized in my first year that teachers needed bargaining rights. It is the belligerence of today's unions as witnessed in Madison that I oppose. See my next blog.
I loved to play ball of anykind, loved libraries and zoo's. Growing, as I did at Widmer's, at one time having over 90 employees in 8 different locations. We occupied over 80,000 sq. ft. of space, from Decatur and Springfield to Bettendorf, Iowa, opened a small office and showroom in Phoeniz, AZ., started Widmer Leasing, Copier Systems, warehoused for a major marketing company based in Cincinnati, (MIV), sold franchises, etc., all done without the use of taxpayer dollars.
My stance on certain taxpayer related issues are quite simple as follows:
I bought into the Peoria Baseball Chiefs when they were playing at Meinen Field. I opposed the move downtown to the present "O'Brien Field". (O'Brien quit paying for naming rights years ago but didn't object to the use of their name on the stadium and advertising when the management of the Chiefs couldn't/haven't found another sponsor).
I wrote an article printed in the JS titled, "Stockholder: New ballpark too much of a risk. Money-losing operation shouldn't be expanded with public cash." Ex-Gov Jim Ryan, now imprisoned, gave the ballpark at least $2 million of state tax dollars. The City of Peoria kicked in somewhere between $5-6 million depending on city accounting procedures.
Since I bought into the club in 1994, I have never received on dime return on my investment and as usual, I am waiting for the tax form that I expect will show another sizable loss on my investment as it has every year since 1994.
When I heard we were building a $26 million downtown palace without the money to pay for it, I suspected I would never get a return on my investment. My stock has been for sale since 1996. No offers to-date.
I love museums but I could not support the tax referendum to fund building the PRM nor the county's ownership of the building and surroundings. Now another $3 million for 'permanent exhibits' is to be given the PRM as reported in the JS. Does that include the big digital screen and seating; the screen once widely promised to be an IMAX and who knows what now? No one is talking.
Extremely disturbing is that the museum is nowhere near raising the $16 million Endowment fund needed to offset operating costs last projected to be $4.3 million a year and growing. The County originally voted to fund the museum to the tune of $37 million. That figure keeps growing and the last published figure is $43+ million. As of Dec, 31, 2009, approximately $14 million had been spent by the PRM without a shovel of earth turned.
When it comes to the use of public dollars, I have little use for liars. These projects were built on "projections", not one of which has been true. Brad McMillan said to the County Board members while selling the PRM project that "it was not unusual for the taxpayers to fund one third of the cost". Actually, the taxpayers will fund over 70% of the costs.
I oppose the building of a new BelWood Nursing home where projections have risen from around $6 million to totally renovate in year 2000 to rebuild soon a 214 bed unit for a minimum of $65 million including interest. The county does not have the cash. Meanwhile, governments are planning to cut the cost of reimbursing BW for many costs, mainly Medicaid where 80+% of BW clients are Medicaid. State and Federal Governments plan to allocate more money for cheaper and more popular home care. This decision, which I predicted, has left board members divided, Democrats insist on proceeding to commit $65 million regardless of cost and risk to the taxpayers while some of the more common sense Republicans are wisely contesting proceeding.
Very few counties have public owned nursing homes including neighbors Tazewell and Sanagamon counties. Could it be that BW employees roughly 150 union members and the Peoria County Board is dominated by Democrats on all committees. (See my LTE to the JSEB approximately 12/16/2010).
Despite being a minority for all my 3 terms on the Peoria County Board, I take some credit that Mr. Urich left the county with a relatively balanced budget. Mr. Urich used to tell me "I kept him on his toes". We are both gone now but not forgotten. I hope.
I opposed the RiverPlex because of the exaggerated usage projected by the superintendent and disbelief that the RiverPlex (originally call the Rec-Plex interpreted by too many to mean "wreck") would generate a $500,000 profit by 2007. No profit, but approximately $1.2 million in losses.
The PPD has secured a liquor license to hold events inside the new African Zoo to help offset losses. The zoo is projected to lose $750,000 this year according to one board member.
These events like selling liquor compete against the private sector as does the RiverPlex with it's lower rates. The RP does not pay property taxes as does the privately owned Clubs at River City, Landmark, etc. Operating cost and employee benefits are charged to PPD funds to make it appear the RiverPlex breaks even. At last report, approximately 40% of the paying users at the RP come from OUTSIDE the PPD's taxing authority, meaning these people pay no property taxes to support park endeavors.
And the RP is a long way from breaking even, let alone make the profit projected.
The African Exhibit, which I called "Zooilogical" in my 5 blogs leading up to it's construction, was never completed. The planned parking lot was never built and their is small evidence based on visuals, that one is needed. The new signage advertising the exhibit was never built nor was the entry into the park improved as planned. Whether the millions borrowed from the Zoological Society were ever paid back is not known. Since that was private money loaned, I have no problem but the PPD is paying $4 million in interest on both loans. Those are property tax dollars. (Source, JS 9/8/06, "Park District approves loan for zoo of $2.2 million in addition to the $10 million obtained in March).
Then there is the library $40+ million dollar boondoggle. The library board considered closing the downtown library before spending millions to renovate it. They closed the SouthSide Library that they never gave a chance to succeed. Why not succeed? Hours were from 10-5, Monday through Friday. When did adults who could read use it?? They closed Taft Library and RiverWest Library and spent millions adding on to little used Lincoln Library. To complete the folly, they built a new library out along Rt. 6 in the industrial section of the city in competition with Dunlap's new expanded library a mere 5 miles away. Only my actions in swaying one of the critical 6-5 vote preventing the taxpayer from being stuck with another $7 million to expand and renovate Lakeview.
Despite considering at one time the closing of McClure Library, the board elected to renovate at a coat of over a million, all borrowed money.
I am not "aginer" as shown by my business record. The public sector has been the main spender that has gotten this country in the terrible financial shape it is in. Most of the these public expenditures nationwide fly under the radar or are considered priorities by special interest groups. But to spend and risk taxpayer money in such large unpaid projects goes against my experience. Let the private sector take the "high" risk. Not the spend and tax Democrats and the tax and spend Republicans.
Enhancements are nice but they do not bring home owning taxpayers. Well paying jobs do that. Once the building is all done, these projects will not pay taxes but collect taxes from, as an example, the nearly 15,000 people who voted against the PRM.
Trails, sure they are nice and we have an over abundance. But special interests want more. So let these special interests pay for the completion of the Kellar Trail. Don't expect many vehicles to stop to let walkers, hikers and bikers cross Pioneer Parkway, either.
As I dig into past and present happenings, my background shows I have never been against unions, I worked with the Teamsters 22 years while I owned Widmer Office Products/Widmer Interiors. I was a school teacher who realized in my first year that teachers needed bargaining rights. It is the belligerence of today's unions as witnessed in Madison that I oppose. See my next blog.
I loved to play ball of anykind, loved libraries and zoo's. Growing, as I did at Widmer's, at one time having over 90 employees in 8 different locations. We occupied over 80,000 sq. ft. of space, from Decatur and Springfield to Bettendorf, Iowa, opened a small office and showroom in Phoeniz, AZ., started Widmer Leasing, Copier Systems, warehoused for a major marketing company based in Cincinnati, (MIV), sold franchises, etc., all done without the use of taxpayer dollars.
My stance on certain taxpayer related issues are quite simple as follows:
I bought into the Peoria Baseball Chiefs when they were playing at Meinen Field. I opposed the move downtown to the present "O'Brien Field". (O'Brien quit paying for naming rights years ago but didn't object to the use of their name on the stadium and advertising when the management of the Chiefs couldn't/haven't found another sponsor).
I wrote an article printed in the JS titled, "Stockholder: New ballpark too much of a risk. Money-losing operation shouldn't be expanded with public cash." Ex-Gov Jim Ryan, now imprisoned, gave the ballpark at least $2 million of state tax dollars. The City of Peoria kicked in somewhere between $5-6 million depending on city accounting procedures.
Since I bought into the club in 1994, I have never received on dime return on my investment and as usual, I am waiting for the tax form that I expect will show another sizable loss on my investment as it has every year since 1994.
When I heard we were building a $26 million downtown palace without the money to pay for it, I suspected I would never get a return on my investment. My stock has been for sale since 1996. No offers to-date.
I love museums but I could not support the tax referendum to fund building the PRM nor the county's ownership of the building and surroundings. Now another $3 million for 'permanent exhibits' is to be given the PRM as reported in the JS. Does that include the big digital screen and seating; the screen once widely promised to be an IMAX and who knows what now? No one is talking.
Extremely disturbing is that the museum is nowhere near raising the $16 million Endowment fund needed to offset operating costs last projected to be $4.3 million a year and growing. The County originally voted to fund the museum to the tune of $37 million. That figure keeps growing and the last published figure is $43+ million. As of Dec, 31, 2009, approximately $14 million had been spent by the PRM without a shovel of earth turned.
When it comes to the use of public dollars, I have little use for liars. These projects were built on "projections", not one of which has been true. Brad McMillan said to the County Board members while selling the PRM project that "it was not unusual for the taxpayers to fund one third of the cost". Actually, the taxpayers will fund over 70% of the costs.
I oppose the building of a new BelWood Nursing home where projections have risen from around $6 million to totally renovate in year 2000 to rebuild soon a 214 bed unit for a minimum of $65 million including interest. The county does not have the cash. Meanwhile, governments are planning to cut the cost of reimbursing BW for many costs, mainly Medicaid where 80+% of BW clients are Medicaid. State and Federal Governments plan to allocate more money for cheaper and more popular home care. This decision, which I predicted, has left board members divided, Democrats insist on proceeding to commit $65 million regardless of cost and risk to the taxpayers while some of the more common sense Republicans are wisely contesting proceeding.
Very few counties have public owned nursing homes including neighbors Tazewell and Sanagamon counties. Could it be that BW employees roughly 150 union members and the Peoria County Board is dominated by Democrats on all committees. (See my LTE to the JSEB approximately 12/16/2010).
Despite being a minority for all my 3 terms on the Peoria County Board, I take some credit that Mr. Urich left the county with a relatively balanced budget. Mr. Urich used to tell me "I kept him on his toes". We are both gone now but not forgotten. I hope.
I opposed the RiverPlex because of the exaggerated usage projected by the superintendent and disbelief that the RiverPlex (originally call the Rec-Plex interpreted by too many to mean "wreck") would generate a $500,000 profit by 2007. No profit, but approximately $1.2 million in losses.
The PPD has secured a liquor license to hold events inside the new African Zoo to help offset losses. The zoo is projected to lose $750,000 this year according to one board member.
These events like selling liquor compete against the private sector as does the RiverPlex with it's lower rates. The RP does not pay property taxes as does the privately owned Clubs at River City, Landmark, etc. Operating cost and employee benefits are charged to PPD funds to make it appear the RiverPlex breaks even. At last report, approximately 40% of the paying users at the RP come from OUTSIDE the PPD's taxing authority, meaning these people pay no property taxes to support park endeavors.
And the RP is a long way from breaking even, let alone make the profit projected.
The African Exhibit, which I called "Zooilogical" in my 5 blogs leading up to it's construction, was never completed. The planned parking lot was never built and their is small evidence based on visuals, that one is needed. The new signage advertising the exhibit was never built nor was the entry into the park improved as planned. Whether the millions borrowed from the Zoological Society were ever paid back is not known. Since that was private money loaned, I have no problem but the PPD is paying $4 million in interest on both loans. Those are property tax dollars. (Source, JS 9/8/06, "Park District approves loan for zoo of $2.2 million in addition to the $10 million obtained in March).
Then there is the library $40+ million dollar boondoggle. The library board considered closing the downtown library before spending millions to renovate it. They closed the SouthSide Library that they never gave a chance to succeed. Why not succeed? Hours were from 10-5, Monday through Friday. When did adults who could read use it?? They closed Taft Library and RiverWest Library and spent millions adding on to little used Lincoln Library. To complete the folly, they built a new library out along Rt. 6 in the industrial section of the city in competition with Dunlap's new expanded library a mere 5 miles away. Only my actions in swaying one of the critical 6-5 vote preventing the taxpayer from being stuck with another $7 million to expand and renovate Lakeview.
Despite considering at one time the closing of McClure Library, the board elected to renovate at a coat of over a million, all borrowed money.
I am not "aginer" as shown by my business record. The public sector has been the main spender that has gotten this country in the terrible financial shape it is in. Most of the these public expenditures nationwide fly under the radar or are considered priorities by special interest groups. But to spend and risk taxpayer money in such large unpaid projects goes against my experience. Let the private sector take the "high" risk. Not the spend and tax Democrats and the tax and spend Republicans.
Enhancements are nice but they do not bring home owning taxpayers. Well paying jobs do that. Once the building is all done, these projects will not pay taxes but collect taxes from, as an example, the nearly 15,000 people who voted against the PRM.
Trails, sure they are nice and we have an over abundance. But special interests want more. So let these special interests pay for the completion of the Kellar Trail. Don't expect many vehicles to stop to let walkers, hikers and bikers cross Pioneer Parkway, either.
How to Research My older 1600 Blogs
When you read my blogs you will note in the upper right hand corner, a heading reading "Search this Blog". For example, if you wish to read some of my older blogs on the subject of unions, just type in "Peoria - A look back" or "Merit Pay for teachers", for examples and hit "Research" and it will immediately take you to many subject I have ever blogged. From the PRM, the PPD, the Highway to Chicago, the death penalty, missed projects, BelWood, the Meinen Field/ Peoria Park District swap that never happened, Rick Baker, the Oder Brothers, etc.
Thanks you for reading me. All comments that are not personal or anonymous will be posted
Thanks you for reading me. All comments that are not personal or anonymous will be posted
Unions Do More Than Fight For Pay, Pensions
*******************************
So true. Unions protect with up to hundreds of thousands of dollars of union dues incompetent teachers and union employees especially in the public sector. Unions create job tenure making it next to impossible to fire ANY teacher. A study by the Illinois based Small Business Group found that only 7% of the state's 876 school systems have attempted to fire a tenured teacher in 10 years with 2% being successful.
Of the more than 95,000 tenured teachers employed in the State of Illinois, an average of only two a year are fired for poor job performance and another 5 a year are fired for misconduct. The Genoseo school district has spent over $400,000 in attorney fees over five years stemming from appeals of ONE tenured teacher. (Source, JS, 12/05/05)
Wages and benefits for the unionized public sector average about 30% more than employees in the private sector. Corrupt ACORN founded in 1970 by union organizer, Wade Rathke, boasted as early as 2006 of having $40 million in the bank.
Of all $50+ millions of dollars donated to candidates in 2008 by all unions, all but $10,000 was given to Democrat candidates.
On December 7, 2010, the Democrat mayor of Los Angeles was quoted, "Over the past 5 years, while partnering with students, parents and non profits, business groups higher education, charter schools, elected board members and teachers, school district leadership, there has ben one unwavering roadblock to reform; the UTLA (United Teachers of L.A."
Some Democrats are realizing that they and belligerent unions have pushed the button too many times and as Tolstoy argued nearly a century ago that no group be allowed to arrogate the the right to educate. The outcome would be perverse for education and for society itself.
The writer of the article below is a left leaning Democrat known more for his actions protecting the right of unions to dictate to the dues payers. The belligerent actions of those belligerent teachers led by a dirty and lying number of union thugs, sometimes violently accosting Republican lawmakers, makes Tolstoy's statement ring true.
Merle
From the Chicago Sun Times, Tuesday, March 2, 2011. See
http://www.suntimes.com/news/otherviews/4083538-452/unions-do-more-than-fight-for-pay-pensions.html
*******************************
Unions do more than fight for pay, pensions
By Robert Bruno
The intense debate unfolding in Midwestern state legislatures and,
more loudly, outside of their marble chambers is not about fiscal
sanity. As real as soaring state budget deficits are, the central
issue bringing thousands of spirited Americans to Wisconsin is an
assault on collective bargaining.
If Gov. Scott Walker had simply accepted the state workers' union
concessions on health care and pension contributions, the once proud
heartland of progressive politics would not today be the site of a
working-class upsurge. Who could have imagined a few weeks ago such a
grass-roots uproar over something of which most Americans know very
little and have too little appreciation?
Collective bargaining in the private sector has been the law of the
land since it was enshrined in the National Labor Relations Act of
1935. The law protects the collective rights of most private-sector
workers to act as a group to negotiate in good faith and secure decent
wages, benefits, and working conditions. Since the 1950s all but 10
states have adopted some form of collective bargaining rights for
public-sector works.
The right to have a legitimate say in how your labor is treated is not
a union right, but rather, a human right that belongs to all workers.
Wages and benefits are unquestionably the core issues that animate the
collective bargaining process, and union workers - whether from the
private or public sector - are better rewarded for their work than
unorganized employees. But what is rarely addressed in nearly all of
the popular stories and rhetoric about collective bargaining is that
it is a very dynamic and flexible tool for problem solving. We hear
about the rancor over health care and pension payments for union
workers, but never a word is uttered about the way that collective
bargaining can be used to restructure work, increase efficiency or
design productivity enhancements.
For example, in the early 1980s New York City and the Sanitation
Workers Union negotiated a productivity bargaining agreement that
reduced truck crew size from three to two and included a shift bonus
for crew workers. Reducing the crew size created the incentive to
adopt cost-saving equipment improvements (such as automated
side-loading trash containers and the standardization of trash bins)
and rules for how work would get done (such as the requirement that
bins be placed at curbside). The agreement introduced measures that
substantially reduced the amount of labor that was required to do
sanitation pickup and disposal.
Nor is there any mention of how collective bargaining can identify
training needs, integrate socio-technical systems, reduce turnover,
lower workplace tensions or create a mechanism for joint
problem-solving. Collective bargaining serves both employees and
employers by providing a means to raise shared interests, lower
production and service costs, reach out to consumers and taxpayers,
improve product quality and services, and when necessary, reduce labor
costs. Collective bargaining can work so effectively that it can even
keep public bodies from financial insolvency.
Despite Walker's misguided call to withdraw bargaining rights from
state employees on the grounds that it somehow shares responsibility
for the state's fiscal crisis, the truth is that the citizens of
Wisconsin have already "benefitted" from the process. It was through
collective bargaining that the state employee unions agreed to pony up
more for health care and pension benefits. They did so without
strikes, service disruptions, public rallies or sit-ins.
In Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana and in thousands of municipalities across
this country, the collective bargaining process has worked creatively
to address not just well-funded but underfunded pensions, not just
teacher retention but teacher evaluations, and not just job security
but job retrenchment.
Collective bargaining is not always easy, pretty, logical, or without
abuse, but neither employers nor workers have ever found a more
effective and democratic way to promote the interests of multiple
constituencies.
---------------------------------
Robert Bruno is a professor of labor and employment relations at the
University of Illinois.
***************************************************
--
So true. Unions protect with up to hundreds of thousands of dollars of union dues incompetent teachers and union employees especially in the public sector. Unions create job tenure making it next to impossible to fire ANY teacher. A study by the Illinois based Small Business Group found that only 7% of the state's 876 school systems have attempted to fire a tenured teacher in 10 years with 2% being successful.
Of the more than 95,000 tenured teachers employed in the State of Illinois, an average of only two a year are fired for poor job performance and another 5 a year are fired for misconduct. The Genoseo school district has spent over $400,000 in attorney fees over five years stemming from appeals of ONE tenured teacher. (Source, JS, 12/05/05)
Wages and benefits for the unionized public sector average about 30% more than employees in the private sector. Corrupt ACORN founded in 1970 by union organizer, Wade Rathke, boasted as early as 2006 of having $40 million in the bank.
Of all $50+ millions of dollars donated to candidates in 2008 by all unions, all but $10,000 was given to Democrat candidates.
On December 7, 2010, the Democrat mayor of Los Angeles was quoted, "Over the past 5 years, while partnering with students, parents and non profits, business groups higher education, charter schools, elected board members and teachers, school district leadership, there has ben one unwavering roadblock to reform; the UTLA (United Teachers of L.A."
Some Democrats are realizing that they and belligerent unions have pushed the button too many times and as Tolstoy argued nearly a century ago that no group be allowed to arrogate the the right to educate. The outcome would be perverse for education and for society itself.
The writer of the article below is a left leaning Democrat known more for his actions protecting the right of unions to dictate to the dues payers. The belligerent actions of those belligerent teachers led by a dirty and lying number of union thugs, sometimes violently accosting Republican lawmakers, makes Tolstoy's statement ring true.
Merle
From the Chicago Sun Times, Tuesday, March 2, 2011. See
http://www.suntimes.com/news/otherviews/4083538-452/unions-do-more-than-fight-for-pay-pensions.html
*******************************
Unions do more than fight for pay, pensions
By Robert Bruno
The intense debate unfolding in Midwestern state legislatures and,
more loudly, outside of their marble chambers is not about fiscal
sanity. As real as soaring state budget deficits are, the central
issue bringing thousands of spirited Americans to Wisconsin is an
assault on collective bargaining.
If Gov. Scott Walker had simply accepted the state workers' union
concessions on health care and pension contributions, the once proud
heartland of progressive politics would not today be the site of a
working-class upsurge. Who could have imagined a few weeks ago such a
grass-roots uproar over something of which most Americans know very
little and have too little appreciation?
Collective bargaining in the private sector has been the law of the
land since it was enshrined in the National Labor Relations Act of
1935. The law protects the collective rights of most private-sector
workers to act as a group to negotiate in good faith and secure decent
wages, benefits, and working conditions. Since the 1950s all but 10
states have adopted some form of collective bargaining rights for
public-sector works.
The right to have a legitimate say in how your labor is treated is not
a union right, but rather, a human right that belongs to all workers.
Wages and benefits are unquestionably the core issues that animate the
collective bargaining process, and union workers - whether from the
private or public sector - are better rewarded for their work than
unorganized employees. But what is rarely addressed in nearly all of
the popular stories and rhetoric about collective bargaining is that
it is a very dynamic and flexible tool for problem solving. We hear
about the rancor over health care and pension payments for union
workers, but never a word is uttered about the way that collective
bargaining can be used to restructure work, increase efficiency or
design productivity enhancements.
For example, in the early 1980s New York City and the Sanitation
Workers Union negotiated a productivity bargaining agreement that
reduced truck crew size from three to two and included a shift bonus
for crew workers. Reducing the crew size created the incentive to
adopt cost-saving equipment improvements (such as automated
side-loading trash containers and the standardization of trash bins)
and rules for how work would get done (such as the requirement that
bins be placed at curbside). The agreement introduced measures that
substantially reduced the amount of labor that was required to do
sanitation pickup and disposal.
Nor is there any mention of how collective bargaining can identify
training needs, integrate socio-technical systems, reduce turnover,
lower workplace tensions or create a mechanism for joint
problem-solving. Collective bargaining serves both employees and
employers by providing a means to raise shared interests, lower
production and service costs, reach out to consumers and taxpayers,
improve product quality and services, and when necessary, reduce labor
costs. Collective bargaining can work so effectively that it can even
keep public bodies from financial insolvency.
Despite Walker's misguided call to withdraw bargaining rights from
state employees on the grounds that it somehow shares responsibility
for the state's fiscal crisis, the truth is that the citizens of
Wisconsin have already "benefitted" from the process. It was through
collective bargaining that the state employee unions agreed to pony up
more for health care and pension benefits. They did so without
strikes, service disruptions, public rallies or sit-ins.
In Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana and in thousands of municipalities across
this country, the collective bargaining process has worked creatively
to address not just well-funded but underfunded pensions, not just
teacher retention but teacher evaluations, and not just job security
but job retrenchment.
Collective bargaining is not always easy, pretty, logical, or without
abuse, but neither employers nor workers have ever found a more
effective and democratic way to promote the interests of multiple
constituencies.
---------------------------------
Robert Bruno is a professor of labor and employment relations at the
University of Illinois.
***************************************************
--
Monday, February 21, 2011
Obama Is Lost in a Country of His Own Making
Sure, the mess we are in in this country is not all Obama's fault. You have Pelosi, Dodd, Rangle, Frank, Waters, etc.
Merle
Wis. Governor Tells Obama to Butt Out Again
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker repeated Sunday what he said last week -- that President Barack Obama doesn't need to meddle in the affairs of the state of Wisconsin. Appearing on "Fox News Sunday," Walker said, “The president ultimately should stay focused on fixing the federal budget because they’ve got a huge deficit."
“And believe me they’ve got their hands full," Walker said. "They’re far from getting it accomplished in Washington.”
Wisconsin's capital city has been the scene of daily protests over Walker's attempt to plan to cut pay, benefits and some collective bargaining rights for public employees.
Merle
Wis. Governor Tells Obama to Butt Out Again
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker repeated Sunday what he said last week -- that President Barack Obama doesn't need to meddle in the affairs of the state of Wisconsin. Appearing on "Fox News Sunday," Walker said, “The president ultimately should stay focused on fixing the federal budget because they’ve got a huge deficit."
“And believe me they’ve got their hands full," Walker said. "They’re far from getting it accomplished in Washington.”
Wisconsin's capital city has been the scene of daily protests over Walker's attempt to plan to cut pay, benefits and some collective bargaining rights for public employees.
Another Reason Why I Support Governor Walker of Wisconsin
Milwaukee has the reputation as being the worst school system in Wisconsin. Average pay is approximately $60,000 a year. I do not understand why people unhappy with their jobs in the public sector don't go to work in the private sector. In previous blogs I've given the real reason. Most of them are not qualified nor could they make this much money or be granted all the benefits doled out by weak school boards and demanded by smarter full-time union bosses.
Ranting Ravitch is correct on one thing. Walker may advocate tax breaks to the harassed private sector. Why? Because the private sectors are the prime taxpayers who pay educational salaries.
Locally, a relatively young retired #150 teacher complained in a comment on my blog site about her pension being only $40,000 a year and she receives no Social Security payments. She didn't mention that she didn't have Social Security deductions made from her paychecks either. Nor all the other benefits of tenure, vacation time, sick leave, personal days, mostly taxpayer paid health and insurance benefits, etc.
Why do people working in the public sector feel they are more "valueable" than those who work in the private sector? Most are already earning more and have considerably more benefits.
It is an oft repeated lie that most teachers have to pay for their own chairs and supplies. If they don't like the chair provided they can buy their own. Same for supplies. Most good teachers I know are not effectively teaching sitting on their butts.
Not all teacher fall under the radical union spell as a picture in Friday's WSJ confirmed. What role models these economically greedy teachers present for the kids they claim to care about deeply. Worse yet, most of these teachers take their left wing liberal Democrat approach to the classroom.
And we wonder why this great nation is in danger of both moral and fiscal bankruptcy in the not too distant future.
My wife is a former Wisconsin teacher. She stands firmly behind Governor Walker. I suggest the teachers who are shills of the fading power of union bosses are earning less respect for their claimed "love of teaching".
But then, recently teaching has become "all about the benefits, job security and money to a growing number of teachers. It's called "American Greed" and many in the educational system are not immune to the disease.
Merle
"Why America's teachers are enraged"
By Diane Ravitch, Special Consultant to CNN
Thousands of teachers, nurses, firefighters and other public sector workers have camped out at the Wisconsin Capitol, protesting Republican Gov. Scott Walker's efforts to reduce their take-home pay -- by increasing their contribution to their pension plans and health care benefits -- and restrict their collective bargaining rights.
Republicans control the state Legislature, and initially it seemed certain that Walker's proposal would pass easily. But then the Democrats in the Legislature went into hiding, leaving that body one vote shy of a quorum. As of this writing, the Legislature was at a standstill as state police searched high and low for the missing lawmakers.
Like other conservative Republican governors, including Chris Christie of New Jersey, John Kasich of Ohio, Mitch Daniels of Indiana and Rick Scott of Florida, the Wisconsin governor wants to sap the power of public employee unions, especially the teachers' union, since public education is the single biggest expenditure for every state.
Public schools in Madison and a dozen other districts in Wisconsin closed as teachers joined the protest. Although Walker claims he was forced to impose cutbacks because the state is broke, teachers noticed that he offered generous tax breaks to businesses that were equivalent to the value of their givebacks.
The uprising in Madison is symptomatic of a simmering rage among the nation's teachers. They have grown angry and demoralized over the past two years as attacks on their profession escalated.
The much-publicized film "Waiting for Superman" made the specious claim that "bad teachers" caused low student test scores. A Newsweek cover last year proposed that the key to saving American education was firing bad teachers.
Teachers across the nation reacted with alarm when the leaders of the Central Falls district in Rhode Island threatened to fire the entire staff of the small town's only high school. What got their attention was that Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and President Obama thought this was a fine idea, even though no one at the high school had been evaluated.
The Obama administration's Race to the Top program intensified the demonizing of teachers, because it encouraged states to evaluate teachers in relation to student scores. There are many reasons why students do well or poorly on tests, and teachers felt they were being unfairly blamed when students got low scores, while the crucial role of families and the students themselves was overlooked.
******************************************************
--
Ranting Ravitch is correct on one thing. Walker may advocate tax breaks to the harassed private sector. Why? Because the private sectors are the prime taxpayers who pay educational salaries.
Locally, a relatively young retired #150 teacher complained in a comment on my blog site about her pension being only $40,000 a year and she receives no Social Security payments. She didn't mention that she didn't have Social Security deductions made from her paychecks either. Nor all the other benefits of tenure, vacation time, sick leave, personal days, mostly taxpayer paid health and insurance benefits, etc.
Why do people working in the public sector feel they are more "valueable" than those who work in the private sector? Most are already earning more and have considerably more benefits.
It is an oft repeated lie that most teachers have to pay for their own chairs and supplies. If they don't like the chair provided they can buy their own. Same for supplies. Most good teachers I know are not effectively teaching sitting on their butts.
Not all teacher fall under the radical union spell as a picture in Friday's WSJ confirmed. What role models these economically greedy teachers present for the kids they claim to care about deeply. Worse yet, most of these teachers take their left wing liberal Democrat approach to the classroom.
And we wonder why this great nation is in danger of both moral and fiscal bankruptcy in the not too distant future.
My wife is a former Wisconsin teacher. She stands firmly behind Governor Walker. I suggest the teachers who are shills of the fading power of union bosses are earning less respect for their claimed "love of teaching".
But then, recently teaching has become "all about the benefits, job security and money to a growing number of teachers. It's called "American Greed" and many in the educational system are not immune to the disease.
Merle
"Why America's teachers are enraged"
By Diane Ravitch, Special Consultant to CNN
Thousands of teachers, nurses, firefighters and other public sector workers have camped out at the Wisconsin Capitol, protesting Republican Gov. Scott Walker's efforts to reduce their take-home pay -- by increasing their contribution to their pension plans and health care benefits -- and restrict their collective bargaining rights.
Republicans control the state Legislature, and initially it seemed certain that Walker's proposal would pass easily. But then the Democrats in the Legislature went into hiding, leaving that body one vote shy of a quorum. As of this writing, the Legislature was at a standstill as state police searched high and low for the missing lawmakers.
Like other conservative Republican governors, including Chris Christie of New Jersey, John Kasich of Ohio, Mitch Daniels of Indiana and Rick Scott of Florida, the Wisconsin governor wants to sap the power of public employee unions, especially the teachers' union, since public education is the single biggest expenditure for every state.
Public schools in Madison and a dozen other districts in Wisconsin closed as teachers joined the protest. Although Walker claims he was forced to impose cutbacks because the state is broke, teachers noticed that he offered generous tax breaks to businesses that were equivalent to the value of their givebacks.
The uprising in Madison is symptomatic of a simmering rage among the nation's teachers. They have grown angry and demoralized over the past two years as attacks on their profession escalated.
The much-publicized film "Waiting for Superman" made the specious claim that "bad teachers" caused low student test scores. A Newsweek cover last year proposed that the key to saving American education was firing bad teachers.
Teachers across the nation reacted with alarm when the leaders of the Central Falls district in Rhode Island threatened to fire the entire staff of the small town's only high school. What got their attention was that Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and President Obama thought this was a fine idea, even though no one at the high school had been evaluated.
The Obama administration's Race to the Top program intensified the demonizing of teachers, because it encouraged states to evaluate teachers in relation to student scores. There are many reasons why students do well or poorly on tests, and teachers felt they were being unfairly blamed when students got low scores, while the crucial role of families and the students themselves was overlooked.
******************************************************
--
Saturday, February 19, 2011
True and Funny? Hopefully, Neither
Passed to me by a friend. Not funny but most likely true and not only in Detroit.
Merle
Who's your baby's Daddy?
These are sooooo funny!!
The following are all replies that Detroit women
have written on Child Support Agency Forms in the
section for listing 'Father's Details', or putting
it another way...Who's your baby's Daddy? These
are genuine excerpts from the forms. Be sure to
check out #11, it takes 1st prize and #3 is runner
up.
1. Regarding the identity of the father of my
twins, Makeeshia was fathered by Maclearndon
McKinley I am unsure as to the identity of the
father of Marlinda, but I believe that she was
conceived on the same night.
2. I am unsure, as to the identity of the father
of my child as I was being sick out of a window
when taken unexpectedly from behind. I can
provide you with a list of names of men that I
think were at the party if this helps.
3. I do not know the name of the father of my
little girl. She was conceived at a party at 3600
East Grand Boulevard where I had sex with a man I
met that night. I do remember that the sex was so
good that I fainted. If you do manage to track
down the father, can you please send me his phone
number? Thanks...
4. I don't know the identity of the father of my
daughter. He drives a BMW that now has a hole
made by my stiletto in one of the door panels.
Perhaps you can contact BMW service stations in
this area and see if he's had it replaced.
5. I have never had sex with a man. I am still a
Virginian. I am awaiting a letter from the Pope
confirming that my son's conception was ejaculate
and that he is the Saver risen again.
6. I cannot tell you the name of Alleshia's dad
as he informs me that to do so would blow his
cover and that would have cataclysmic implications
for the economy I am torn between doing right by
you and right by the country. Please advise.
7. I do not know who the father of my child was
as they all look the same to me.
8. Tyrone Hairston is the father of child A. If
you do catch up with him, can you axe him what he
did with my AC/DC CDs? Child B who was also
borned at the same time..... well, I don't have
clue..
9. From the dates it seems that my daughter was
conceived at Disney World. Maybe it really is the
Magic Kingdom .
10. So much about that night is a blur. The only
thing that I remember for sure is Delia Smith did
a program about eggs earlier in the evening. If I
had stayed in and watched more TV rather than
going to the party at 8956 Miller Ave , mine might
have remained unfertilized.
11. I am unsure as to the identity of the father
of my baby, after all, like when you eat a can of
beans you can't be sure which one made you fart.
Merle
Who's your baby's Daddy?
These are sooooo funny!!
The following are all replies that Detroit women
have written on Child Support Agency Forms in the
section for listing 'Father's Details', or putting
it another way...Who's your baby's Daddy? These
are genuine excerpts from the forms. Be sure to
check out #11, it takes 1st prize and #3 is runner
up.
1. Regarding the identity of the father of my
twins, Makeeshia was fathered by Maclearndon
McKinley I am unsure as to the identity of the
father of Marlinda, but I believe that she was
conceived on the same night.
2. I am unsure, as to the identity of the father
of my child as I was being sick out of a window
when taken unexpectedly from behind. I can
provide you with a list of names of men that I
think were at the party if this helps.
3. I do not know the name of the father of my
little girl. She was conceived at a party at 3600
East Grand Boulevard where I had sex with a man I
met that night. I do remember that the sex was so
good that I fainted. If you do manage to track
down the father, can you please send me his phone
number? Thanks...
4. I don't know the identity of the father of my
daughter. He drives a BMW that now has a hole
made by my stiletto in one of the door panels.
Perhaps you can contact BMW service stations in
this area and see if he's had it replaced.
5. I have never had sex with a man. I am still a
Virginian. I am awaiting a letter from the Pope
confirming that my son's conception was ejaculate
and that he is the Saver risen again.
6. I cannot tell you the name of Alleshia's dad
as he informs me that to do so would blow his
cover and that would have cataclysmic implications
for the economy I am torn between doing right by
you and right by the country. Please advise.
7. I do not know who the father of my child was
as they all look the same to me.
8. Tyrone Hairston is the father of child A. If
you do catch up with him, can you axe him what he
did with my AC/DC CDs? Child B who was also
borned at the same time..... well, I don't have
clue..
9. From the dates it seems that my daughter was
conceived at Disney World. Maybe it really is the
Magic Kingdom .
10. So much about that night is a blur. The only
thing that I remember for sure is Delia Smith did
a program about eggs earlier in the evening. If I
had stayed in and watched more TV rather than
going to the party at 8956 Miller Ave , mine might
have remained unfertilized.
11. I am unsure as to the identity of the father
of my baby, after all, like when you eat a can of
beans you can't be sure which one made you fart.
Thanks, Governor Perry
Copied from the Republican Governor Association. What a sad indictment of the radical union bosses, our liberal uninformed (about current events) teachers and our current president paying back the unions who elected him. He didn't even read the bill which EXCLUDES firemen and policeman.
We have a lot of Ivory tower idiots running this country into bankruptcy and embarrassment.
Merle
Friend,
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is in the middle of what will be a defining moment for our country and the conservative movement.
Governor Walker is directly confronting unsustainable state entitlements by asking government-sector unions to agree to reforms that would limit collective-bargaining for most government-sector employees to wages only, with wages capped to inflation. Under his proposal, union members would also have to vote every year to keep their union.
Rather than debate the measure Thursday, Wisconsin Democrat state senators fled the state while thousands of teachers in Madison and other cities called in sick at the urging of their labor union and forced entire school districts to be closed.
Even President Barack Obama’s political operatives have helped to orchestrate protests.
Simply put, the stakes could not get much higher, which is why I am asking you to show your support for Governor Scott Walker today by clicking HERE.
It is essential that we stand with Governor Walker and show political leaders throughout the country that America is ready to take on its toughest political challenges, and we will not be deterred by the protests of a noisy minority.
Please CLICK HERE right now to show your support for Governor Walker.
Sincerely,
Gov. Rick Perry
Chairman, Republican Governors Association
P.S. You can also show your support by clicking here to add a twibbon to your twitter account.
We have a lot of Ivory tower idiots running this country into bankruptcy and embarrassment.
Merle
Friend,
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is in the middle of what will be a defining moment for our country and the conservative movement.
Governor Walker is directly confronting unsustainable state entitlements by asking government-sector unions to agree to reforms that would limit collective-bargaining for most government-sector employees to wages only, with wages capped to inflation. Under his proposal, union members would also have to vote every year to keep their union.
Rather than debate the measure Thursday, Wisconsin Democrat state senators fled the state while thousands of teachers in Madison and other cities called in sick at the urging of their labor union and forced entire school districts to be closed.
Even President Barack Obama’s political operatives have helped to orchestrate protests.
Simply put, the stakes could not get much higher, which is why I am asking you to show your support for Governor Scott Walker today by clicking HERE.
It is essential that we stand with Governor Walker and show political leaders throughout the country that America is ready to take on its toughest political challenges, and we will not be deterred by the protests of a noisy minority.
Please CLICK HERE right now to show your support for Governor Walker.
Sincerely,
Gov. Rick Perry
Chairman, Republican Governors Association
P.S. You can also show your support by clicking here to add a twibbon to your twitter account.
If
Sent to me by a friend. Interesting questions.
Merle
No matter what your political affiliation, you have to admit this is truly disgraceful.......pretty sad actually, as most elementary school kids could answer some of these questions, i.e. # states, May 5th, etc. Think about it....!!
SOME OF YOU WILL APPRECIATE THIS AND SOME OF YOU WILL NOT. I DO NOT APOLOGIZE FOR SENDING THIS BECAUSE ALL OF IT IS TRUE. I SURE HOPE MOST OF YOU WILL FORWARD THIS TO YOUR FRIENDS WHO THINK OUR (current 1/1/2011)) PRESIDENT IS SO GREAT.
If George W. Bush had doubled the national debt, which had taken more than two centuries to accumulate, in one year, would you have approved?
If George W.. Bush had then proposed to double the debt again within 10 years, would you have approved?
If George W. Bush had criticized a state law that he admitted he never even read, would you think that he is just an ignorant hot head?
If George W. Bush joined the country of Mexico and sued a state in the United States to force that state to continue to allow illegal immigration, would you question his patriotism and wonder who's side he was on?
If George Bush had pronounced the Marine Corps like Marine "Corpse" would you think him an idiot?
If George W. Bush had put 87,000 workers out of work by arbitrarily placing a moratorium on offshore oil drilling on companies that have one of the best safety records of any industry because one company had an accident would you have agreed?
If George W. Bush had used a forged document as the basis of the moratorium that would render 87000 American workers unemployed would you support him?
If George W. Bush had been the first President to need a TelePrompTer installed to be able to get through a press conference, would you have laughed and said this is more proof of how inept he is on his own and is really controlled by smarter men behind the scenes?
If George W. Bush had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to take Laura Bush to a play in NYC, would you have approved?
If George W. Bush had reduced your retirement plan's holdings of GM stock by 90% and given the unions a majority stake in GM, would you have approved?
If George W. Bush had made a joke at the expense of the Special Olympics, would you have approved?
If George W. Bush had given Gordon Brown a set of inexpensive and incorrectly formatted DVDs, when Gordon Brown had given him a thoughtful and historically significant gift, would you have approved?
If George W. Bush had given the Queen of England an iPod containing videos of his speeches, would you have thought this embarrassingly narcissistic and tacky?
If George W. Bush had bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia , would you have approved?
If George W.. Bush had visited Austria and made reference to the nonexistent "Austrian language," would you have brushed it off as a minor slip?
If George W. Bush had filled his cabinet and circle of advisers with people who cannot seem to keep current in their income taxes, would you have approved?
If George W. Bush had stated that there were 57 states in the United States , would you have said that he is clueless.
If George W. Bush would have flown all the way to Denmark to make a five minute speech about how the Olympics would benefit him walking out his front door in Texas , would you have thought he was a self important, conceited, egotistical jerk.
If George W. Bush had been so Spanish illiterate as to refer to "Cinco de Cuatro" in front of the Mexican ambassador when it was the 5th of May (Cinco de Mayo), and continued
to flub it when he tried again, would you have winced in embarrassment?
If George W. Bush had misspelled the word "advice" would you have hammered him for it for years like Dan Quayle and potatoes as proof of what a dunce he is?
If George W. Bush had burned 9,000 gallons of jet fuel to go plant a single tree on Earth Day, would you have concluded he's a hypocrite?
If George W. Bush's administration had okayed Air Force One flying low over millions of people followed by a jet fighter in downtown Manhattan causing widespread panic, would you have wondered whether they actually get what happened on 9-11?
If George W.. Bush had failed to send relief aid to flood victims throughout the Midwest with more people killed or made homeless than in New Orleans , would you want it made into a major ongoing political issue with claims of racism and incompetence?
If George W. Bush had created the position of 32 Czars who report directly to him, bypassing the House and Senate on much of what is happening in America , would you have approved.
If George W. Bush had ordered the firing of the CEO of a major corporation, even though he had no constitutional authority to do so, would you have approved?
So, tell me again, what is it about Obama that makes him so brilliant and impressive? Can't think of anything? Don't worry. He's done all this in 21 months -- so you'll have two years and two months to come up with an answer. Every statement in this email is factual and directly attributable to Barrack Hussein Obama. Every bumble is a matter of record and completely verifiable.
Merle
No matter what your political affiliation, you have to admit this is truly disgraceful.......pretty sad actually, as most elementary school kids could answer some of these questions, i.e. # states, May 5th, etc. Think about it....!!
SOME OF YOU WILL APPRECIATE THIS AND SOME OF YOU WILL NOT. I DO NOT APOLOGIZE FOR SENDING THIS BECAUSE ALL OF IT IS TRUE. I SURE HOPE MOST OF YOU WILL FORWARD THIS TO YOUR FRIENDS WHO THINK OUR (current 1/1/2011)) PRESIDENT IS SO GREAT.
If George W. Bush had doubled the national debt, which had taken more than two centuries to accumulate, in one year, would you have approved?
If George W.. Bush had then proposed to double the debt again within 10 years, would you have approved?
If George W. Bush had criticized a state law that he admitted he never even read, would you think that he is just an ignorant hot head?
If George W. Bush joined the country of Mexico and sued a state in the United States to force that state to continue to allow illegal immigration, would you question his patriotism and wonder who's side he was on?
If George Bush had pronounced the Marine Corps like Marine "Corpse" would you think him an idiot?
If George W. Bush had put 87,000 workers out of work by arbitrarily placing a moratorium on offshore oil drilling on companies that have one of the best safety records of any industry because one company had an accident would you have agreed?
If George W. Bush had used a forged document as the basis of the moratorium that would render 87000 American workers unemployed would you support him?
If George W. Bush had been the first President to need a TelePrompTer installed to be able to get through a press conference, would you have laughed and said this is more proof of how inept he is on his own and is really controlled by smarter men behind the scenes?
If George W. Bush had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to take Laura Bush to a play in NYC, would you have approved?
If George W. Bush had reduced your retirement plan's holdings of GM stock by 90% and given the unions a majority stake in GM, would you have approved?
If George W. Bush had made a joke at the expense of the Special Olympics, would you have approved?
If George W. Bush had given Gordon Brown a set of inexpensive and incorrectly formatted DVDs, when Gordon Brown had given him a thoughtful and historically significant gift, would you have approved?
If George W. Bush had given the Queen of England an iPod containing videos of his speeches, would you have thought this embarrassingly narcissistic and tacky?
If George W. Bush had bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia , would you have approved?
If George W.. Bush had visited Austria and made reference to the nonexistent "Austrian language," would you have brushed it off as a minor slip?
If George W. Bush had filled his cabinet and circle of advisers with people who cannot seem to keep current in their income taxes, would you have approved?
If George W. Bush had stated that there were 57 states in the United States , would you have said that he is clueless.
If George W. Bush would have flown all the way to Denmark to make a five minute speech about how the Olympics would benefit him walking out his front door in Texas , would you have thought he was a self important, conceited, egotistical jerk.
If George W. Bush had been so Spanish illiterate as to refer to "Cinco de Cuatro" in front of the Mexican ambassador when it was the 5th of May (Cinco de Mayo), and continued
to flub it when he tried again, would you have winced in embarrassment?
If George W. Bush had misspelled the word "advice" would you have hammered him for it for years like Dan Quayle and potatoes as proof of what a dunce he is?
If George W. Bush had burned 9,000 gallons of jet fuel to go plant a single tree on Earth Day, would you have concluded he's a hypocrite?
If George W. Bush's administration had okayed Air Force One flying low over millions of people followed by a jet fighter in downtown Manhattan causing widespread panic, would you have wondered whether they actually get what happened on 9-11?
If George W.. Bush had failed to send relief aid to flood victims throughout the Midwest with more people killed or made homeless than in New Orleans , would you want it made into a major ongoing political issue with claims of racism and incompetence?
If George W. Bush had created the position of 32 Czars who report directly to him, bypassing the House and Senate on much of what is happening in America , would you have approved.
If George W. Bush had ordered the firing of the CEO of a major corporation, even though he had no constitutional authority to do so, would you have approved?
So, tell me again, what is it about Obama that makes him so brilliant and impressive? Can't think of anything? Don't worry. He's done all this in 21 months -- so you'll have two years and two months to come up with an answer. Every statement in this email is factual and directly attributable to Barrack Hussein Obama. Every bumble is a matter of record and completely verifiable.
Dr. Charles Krauthammer Correctly Nails Obama
Long before Obama ran for president I warned my readers that he was a scary man. Krauthammer describes Obama and Obama's plan for our future. Republicans and Independents and some Democrats should be really worried and must work together to select the right person to defeat Obama in 2012.
Krauthammer describes Obama as a far left secular progressive even more dangerous than a socialist.
I add Governor Walker of Wisconsin to the list of potential Republican presidential candidates with possibly Scott from Florida as his running mate.
Merle
Dr. Charles Krauthammer Brief summary
TAKE A MINUTE TO READ THIS; VERY INTERESTING!
Fast Facts
Born: March 13, 1950
Birthplace: New York City, New York
Raised in Montreal, Canada
Attended McGill University and Harvard Medical School
1972 diving accident left him a paraplegic
Directed psychiatric research for the Carter administration
Began writing career in 1981 with The New Republic
Helped develop the "Reagan Doctrine" in the 80s
Appointed to Presidential Council on Bioethics in 2002
Dr. Charles Krauthammer
We see him on TV every weekday on the Fox news channel
Dr. Krauthammer is on Fox News . He is an M.D. And a lawyer and is paralyzed from the neck down. A friend went to hear Charles Krauthammer. He listened with 25 others in a closed room. What he says here, is NOT 2nd-hand but 1st. The ramifications are staggering for us, our children and their children.
Last Monday was a profound evening, Dr. Charles Krauthammer spoke to the Center for the American Experiment.. He is a brilliant intellectual, seasoned & articulate. He is forthright and careful in his analysis, and never resorts to emotions or personal insults. He is NOT a fear monger nor an extremist in his comments and views . He is a fiscal conservative, and has received a Pulitzer Prizefor writing. He is a frequent contributor to Fox News and writes weekly for the Washington Post.
The entire room was held spellbound during his talk. I have summarized his comments, as we are living in uncharted waters economically and internationally. Even 2 Dems at my table agreed with everything he said!
Summary of his comments:
1. Obama is an intellectual, charming individual. He is not to be underestimated. He is a cool customer who doesn't show his emotions. It's very hard to know what's behind the mask. The taking down of the Clinton dynasty was an amazing accomplishment. The Clintons still do not understand what hit them. Obama was in the perfect place at the perfect time.
2. Obama has political skills comparable to Reagan and Clinton .. He has a way of making you think he's on your side, agreeing with your position, while doing the opposite. Pay no attention to what he SAYS; rather,watch what he DOES!
3. Obama has a ruthless quest for power. He did not come to Washington to make something out of himself, but rather to change everything, including dismantling capitalism. He can't be straightforward on his ambitions, as the public would not go along. He has a heavy hand, and wants to level the playing field with income redistribution and punishment to the achievers of society. He would like to model the USA to Great Britain or Canada .
4. His three main goals are to control ENERGY, PUBLIC EDUCATION, and NATIONAL HEALTHCARE by the Federal government. He doesn't care about the auto or financial services industries, but got them as an early bonus. The cap and trade will add costs to everything and stifle growth. Paying for FREE college education is his goal. Most scary is his healthcare program, because if you make it FREE and add 46,000,000 people to a Medicare-type single-payer system, the costs will go through the roof. The only way to control costs is with massive RATIONING of services, like in Canada .
5. He has surrounded himself with mostly far-left academic types. No one around him has ever even run a candy store. But they are going to try and run the auto, financial, banking and other industries. This obviously can't work in the long run. Obama is not a socialist; rather he's a far-left secular progressive bent on nothing short of revolution. He ran as a moderate, but will govern from the hard left. Again, watch what he does, not what he says.
6. Obama doesn't really see himself as President of the United States , but more as a ruler over the world.. He sees himself above it all, trying to orchestrate & coordinate various countries and their agendas. He sees moral equivalency in all cultures. His apology tour in Germany and England was a prime example of how he sees America, as an imperialist nation that has been arrogant, rather than a great noble nation that has at times made errors. This is the first President ever who has chastised our allies and appeased our enemies!
7. He is now handing out goodies. He hopes that the bill (and pain) will not come due until after he is reelected in 2012. He would like to blame all problems on Bush from the past, and hopefully his successor in the future. He has a huge ego, and Dr. Krauthammer believes he is a narcissist.
8.. Republicans are in the wilderness for a while, but will emerge strong. Republicans are pining for another Reagan, but there will never be another like him. Krauthammer believes Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty & Bobby Jindahl (except for his terrible speech in February) are the future of the party. Newt Gingrich is brilliant, but has baggage. Sarah Palin is sincere and intelligent, but needs to really be seriously boning up on facts and info if she is to be a serious candidate in the future... We need to return to the party of lower taxes, smaller government, personal responsibility, strong national defense, and state's rights.
9. The current level of spending is irresponsible and outrageous. We are spending trillions that we don't have.. This could lead to hyperinflation, depression or worse.No country has ever spent themselves into prosperity. The media is giving Obama, Reid and Pelosi a pass because they love their agenda. But eventually the bill will come due and people will realize the huge bailouts didn't work, nor will the stimulus packages. These were trillion-dollar payoffs to Obama's allies, unions and the Congress to placate the left, so he can get support for #4 above.
10. The election was over in mid-September when Lehman brothers failed, fear and panic swept in,we had an unpopular President, and the war was grinding on indefinitely without a clear outcome. The people are in pain, and the mantra of change caused people to act emotionally.Any Dem. would have won this election; it was surprising it was as close as it was.
11. In 2012, if the unemployment rate is over 10%, Republicans will be swept back into power. If it's under 8%, the Dems continue to roll. If it's between 8-10%, it will be a dogfight. It will all be about the economy. I hope this gets you really thinking about what's happening in Washington and Congress. There is a left-wing revolution going on, according to Krauthammer, and he encourages us to keep the faith and join the loyal resistance. The work will be hard, but we're right on most issues and can reclaim our country, before it's far too late.
Do yourself a long term favor, send this to all who will listen to an intelligent assessment of the big picture. All our futures and children's futures depend on our understanding of what is really going on in D.C., and our action pursuant to that understanding!! It really IS up to each of us to take individual action!! Start with enlightening your friends and neighbors!!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Krauthammer describes Obama as a far left secular progressive even more dangerous than a socialist.
I add Governor Walker of Wisconsin to the list of potential Republican presidential candidates with possibly Scott from Florida as his running mate.
Merle
Dr. Charles Krauthammer Brief summary
TAKE A MINUTE TO READ THIS; VERY INTERESTING!
Fast Facts
Born: March 13, 1950
Birthplace: New York City, New York
Raised in Montreal, Canada
Attended McGill University and Harvard Medical School
1972 diving accident left him a paraplegic
Directed psychiatric research for the Carter administration
Began writing career in 1981 with The New Republic
Helped develop the "Reagan Doctrine" in the 80s
Appointed to Presidential Council on Bioethics in 2002
Dr. Charles Krauthammer
We see him on TV every weekday on the Fox news channel
Dr. Krauthammer is on Fox News . He is an M.D. And a lawyer and is paralyzed from the neck down. A friend went to hear Charles Krauthammer. He listened with 25 others in a closed room. What he says here, is NOT 2nd-hand but 1st. The ramifications are staggering for us, our children and their children.
Last Monday was a profound evening, Dr. Charles Krauthammer spoke to the Center for the American Experiment.. He is a brilliant intellectual, seasoned & articulate. He is forthright and careful in his analysis, and never resorts to emotions or personal insults. He is NOT a fear monger nor an extremist in his comments and views . He is a fiscal conservative, and has received a Pulitzer Prizefor writing. He is a frequent contributor to Fox News and writes weekly for the Washington Post.
The entire room was held spellbound during his talk. I have summarized his comments, as we are living in uncharted waters economically and internationally. Even 2 Dems at my table agreed with everything he said!
Summary of his comments:
1. Obama is an intellectual, charming individual. He is not to be underestimated. He is a cool customer who doesn't show his emotions. It's very hard to know what's behind the mask. The taking down of the Clinton dynasty was an amazing accomplishment. The Clintons still do not understand what hit them. Obama was in the perfect place at the perfect time.
2. Obama has political skills comparable to Reagan and Clinton .. He has a way of making you think he's on your side, agreeing with your position, while doing the opposite. Pay no attention to what he SAYS; rather,watch what he DOES!
3. Obama has a ruthless quest for power. He did not come to Washington to make something out of himself, but rather to change everything, including dismantling capitalism. He can't be straightforward on his ambitions, as the public would not go along. He has a heavy hand, and wants to level the playing field with income redistribution and punishment to the achievers of society. He would like to model the USA to Great Britain or Canada .
4. His three main goals are to control ENERGY, PUBLIC EDUCATION, and NATIONAL HEALTHCARE by the Federal government. He doesn't care about the auto or financial services industries, but got them as an early bonus. The cap and trade will add costs to everything and stifle growth. Paying for FREE college education is his goal. Most scary is his healthcare program, because if you make it FREE and add 46,000,000 people to a Medicare-type single-payer system, the costs will go through the roof. The only way to control costs is with massive RATIONING of services, like in Canada .
5. He has surrounded himself with mostly far-left academic types. No one around him has ever even run a candy store. But they are going to try and run the auto, financial, banking and other industries. This obviously can't work in the long run. Obama is not a socialist; rather he's a far-left secular progressive bent on nothing short of revolution. He ran as a moderate, but will govern from the hard left. Again, watch what he does, not what he says.
6. Obama doesn't really see himself as President of the United States , but more as a ruler over the world.. He sees himself above it all, trying to orchestrate & coordinate various countries and their agendas. He sees moral equivalency in all cultures. His apology tour in Germany and England was a prime example of how he sees America, as an imperialist nation that has been arrogant, rather than a great noble nation that has at times made errors. This is the first President ever who has chastised our allies and appeased our enemies!
7. He is now handing out goodies. He hopes that the bill (and pain) will not come due until after he is reelected in 2012. He would like to blame all problems on Bush from the past, and hopefully his successor in the future. He has a huge ego, and Dr. Krauthammer believes he is a narcissist.
8.. Republicans are in the wilderness for a while, but will emerge strong. Republicans are pining for another Reagan, but there will never be another like him. Krauthammer believes Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty & Bobby Jindahl (except for his terrible speech in February) are the future of the party. Newt Gingrich is brilliant, but has baggage. Sarah Palin is sincere and intelligent, but needs to really be seriously boning up on facts and info if she is to be a serious candidate in the future... We need to return to the party of lower taxes, smaller government, personal responsibility, strong national defense, and state's rights.
9. The current level of spending is irresponsible and outrageous. We are spending trillions that we don't have.. This could lead to hyperinflation, depression or worse.No country has ever spent themselves into prosperity. The media is giving Obama, Reid and Pelosi a pass because they love their agenda. But eventually the bill will come due and people will realize the huge bailouts didn't work, nor will the stimulus packages. These were trillion-dollar payoffs to Obama's allies, unions and the Congress to placate the left, so he can get support for #4 above.
10. The election was over in mid-September when Lehman brothers failed, fear and panic swept in,we had an unpopular President, and the war was grinding on indefinitely without a clear outcome. The people are in pain, and the mantra of change caused people to act emotionally.Any Dem. would have won this election; it was surprising it was as close as it was.
11. In 2012, if the unemployment rate is over 10%, Republicans will be swept back into power. If it's under 8%, the Dems continue to roll. If it's between 8-10%, it will be a dogfight. It will all be about the economy. I hope this gets you really thinking about what's happening in Washington and Congress. There is a left-wing revolution going on, according to Krauthammer, and he encourages us to keep the faith and join the loyal resistance. The work will be hard, but we're right on most issues and can reclaim our country, before it's far too late.
Do yourself a long term favor, send this to all who will listen to an intelligent assessment of the big picture. All our futures and children's futures depend on our understanding of what is really going on in D.C., and our action pursuant to that understanding!! It really IS up to each of us to take individual action!! Start with enlightening your friends and neighbors!!!
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Friday, February 18, 2011
Eric Turner, Peoria City Councilman and Mayor Wanna-be
Turner admits he has "always wanted to be Mayor of Peoria" even if by being appointed, current laws would prevent him from running for election when his appointed term expired.
Based on how Peorians reason, Turner would be the first black mayor and would relieve their conscious by not having an all white administration.
I speculate Turner will be Peoria's next mayor. Meanwhile, Urich will still be the "main" man to help bring the city out of some of their problems, not all financial.
Based on how Peorians reason, Turner would be the first black mayor and would relieve their conscious by not having an all white administration.
I speculate Turner will be Peoria's next mayor. Meanwhile, Urich will still be the "main" man to help bring the city out of some of their problems, not all financial.
Greg Chance County Health Administrator
I speculated that the present Associate County Administrator would be named Interim County Administration after Urich vacates this position shortly. Instead, a person with a background in health services, Greg Chance was selected Interim Administrator.
I was not aware that Chance had the qualifications to administer an $120 million dollar budget and oversee 1000 employees.
Hm.
Why Sorrel didn't get the job indicates there may be more here than meets the eye.
Admittedly, I have been on vacation for two months and have not followed events closely in Peoria. Nor have I been in contact with any County Board members. My comments are prefaced by words like "I speculate" and based on my experience in political dealings.
Over the years, my "speculations" have turned out to be about 95% true.
Just as a reminder, I seldom print "anonymous" comments on this site. But thanks to those of you who don't get printed anyway for giving your erroneous and personal hate comments.
I was not aware that Chance had the qualifications to administer an $120 million dollar budget and oversee 1000 employees.
Hm.
Why Sorrel didn't get the job indicates there may be more here than meets the eye.
Admittedly, I have been on vacation for two months and have not followed events closely in Peoria. Nor have I been in contact with any County Board members. My comments are prefaced by words like "I speculate" and based on my experience in political dealings.
Over the years, my "speculations" have turned out to be about 95% true.
Just as a reminder, I seldom print "anonymous" comments on this site. But thanks to those of you who don't get printed anyway for giving your erroneous and personal hate comments.
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