Posted by
Bill Crawford on Monday, September 05, 2011 7:54:35 PM
It is now a partisan holiday. In Wisconsin, the Democrats tried to ban Republicans from some parades, until they were told that this could only be done if they didn't use any public funds for the festivities.
Hoffa was out today blasting the S.O.B.s from the Tea Party. Joe Biden spoke of holding off "barbarians at the gate". Labor should stand up and defend themselves. Really?
So, leaving Wsisconsin and hiding out, having State workers "call in sick", take up residence in the Statehouse and chasing after recall elections was not war?
This "war" is already a generation old, folks. When the NEA answered their phones in '92, "Teachers for Clinton/Gore, how can we help you", what was that? Union political donations have been 80%+ Democrat for twenty years. What do you call that?
But that is beside the point. The Tea Party is about uncontrolled government spending. At the federal level, the biggest problem is entitlements. At the state level, it is the salaries, benegfits and pensions of the public employees. And the most organized and vociferous support of the latter is the public unions.
I have a relative in New York who is a public school teacher. He is fond of telling me that the Tea Party has it out for public unions, and he "is not the bogeyman". Here is the answer to both: we are not against unions- just the fiscal problems they are causing right now. And whether he likes it or not, he is part of the problem. The salaries that public teachers earn on Long Island is a significant part of why they have the highest property taxes in the country right now.
They drew the lines in the sand. And if one doesn't like where those lines are drawn, you are a "terrorist", or "the new Taliban".
If that means I don't get to celebrate Labor Day until this problem is solved, I'll go along with that. You go ahead and have your own private holiday. It won't stop what is coming, but if it makes you feel good for one day, I won't stand in the way.