Majority in Poll Back Employees in Public Sector Unions – NYTimes.com

No surprise….

Majority in Poll Back Employees in Public Sector Unions – NYTimes.com.

The Mayor Speaks Some Sense

New York City Mayor Bloomberg has his critics, and many of them are Democrats. However, with regards to unions, collective bargaining, budget deficits and fairness, he is “on the money” with these comments:

Collective Bargaining Can Help Lower Deficits – NYTimes.com.

Governor Walker, rather than destroying the unions, you should talk to them.

Kill the Bill – Unfortunate Hypocrisy

While the proponents of the labor unions in Wisconsin have the right to protest, and their effort to challenge the shady tactics of Governor Walker is highly warranted, they should have the collective sense not to be hypocritical. Being a hypocrite does not make you a liar, and your view still can carry water, but the decision of many of the protesters in Madison to chant “Kill the Bill” shows very bad form and displays a level of hypocrisy which unfortunately is all too common in US politics. What were they thinking??

Just slightly over one month ago, in the wake of the shootings in Tucson, Arizona, which altered the life of Representative Gabrielle Giffords forever, national Democrats generated many sound bites to criticize the Republicans for using the work “kill” in legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Granted, that was using the word “kill” in formal legislation, but the point was not lost – interjecting the word “kill” into political discourse was probably an unnecessary tactic. Granted, the Republicans never changed the name of the bill, although from a public relations standpoint they did seem to try to moderate their language. There is a difference between inserting the word “kill” into a bill, but using it on placards and chanting it in the halls of a state capitol is not all that different.

Shame on the protesters. But long live their right and reason to protest.

On Wisconsin!

[updated, 2/20]

As a proud resident of the State of Illinois, I am doubly proud that our state has been home to the Wisconsin state senators who did the only thing they could do to stop the steam-rolling of union rights in their state. So, welcome state senators! Try a Chicago hot dog in lieu of one of your delicious brats!

On the surface – if we believe Governor Walker – this is a fight about fiscal solvency and balanced budgets. However, coming from a state that actually is not all that bad off in terms of fiscal health, it is hard to swallow that the government needs to strip away the rights of its citizens to supposedly come up with a balanced budget. Spare us the cover story, governor. This is about politics, Republican “values,” and taking advantage of people and their weakened condition.

It is most interesting that Governor Scott Walker, newly elected governor of the Cheese State, is looking to crush the collective bargaining rights of certain state employees, like teachers and nurses, but is not touching the rights of police  and firemen.  Why is that? Do you think it is because he values police and firemen more? Maybe it’s because the police and firemen gave more to his campaign than did the teachers and nurses? Check the facts out. Just proves that this is more about politics than it is about sensible and fair policies. This is a watershed moment…similar steps are afoot in Ohio, Tennessee and elsewhere. Newly elected Republicans, claiming some sort of “slash and burn” mandate to reduce spending and keep taxes low (an untenable position), are using the financial difficulties of states to justify the un-democratic assault on unions and their workers.

In an interesting twist, even those unionized workers who are not being impacted today – including police and fire – are starting to join the protests against Governor Walker. This is nothing new for Scott Walker. Since his days in Milwaukee he has been the source of very strong measures and a lightening rod for some of the same people/issues that he has in Madison. It is a great tactic on his part, and clearly the result of deeply held beliefs, and we suspect that he will start to make the list of potential candidates for the Republican nomination in 2012. Don’t Tread on Him!

Yes, everyone needs to give something in these tights times. Salaries need to be reviewed. Pensions need to be reviewed, managed and saved. We should not have to rely solely on tax/fee increases to improve states’ financial pictures. If fiscal management requires all people (including union workers) to give more, then so be it. But using this logic to crush unions is bad politics and bad policy. Collective bargaining helps to protect workers’ rights, and it provides the less powerful a bit of a leg to stand on. Rather than try to crush the unions, Republicans should be trying to provide all workers a fair wage and a respectable position.

This is not about unions and education. It is not about arcane and bizarre work rules that unions somehow “impose” on employers. This is not about charter schools versus public schools. Those  are different fights and should be waged out in the open. Unions are not perfect, but they are also not the cause of all of our problems. Yes, we need to examine unions, and unions need to adjust their tactics and goals, but subverting them in this way cannot be supported. Buck up Badgers, and hang in there! You are fighting the good fight.

For more: Wisconsin Leads Way as Workers Fight State Cuts – NYTimes.com.

Iraq Restores Monument That Symbolized Hussein Era – NYTimes.com

I love this article (see below pictures) – partly because it shows that the Iraqi people finally have their country back, and can make their own decisions. More importantly, although quite scary, is that in the article a spokesman for Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki actually compares the Victory Arch in Baghdad to the Buddhist statues in Afghanistan and the Berlin Wall. He suggests that the Iraqi people are somehow “better” because they do not destroy their legacy. Interesting concept – did anyone suggest to the Germans that they ought to keep the Wall intact? Also, does anyone think that the Victory Arch in Baghdad equals in stature to the centuries-old Buddhist statues? Interesting….now that the Iraqis have their country back, what will they do? Apparently, they will not destroy their Hussein-era monuments. I suppose that is ok as long as they do not destroy their true legacy.

Iraq Restores Monument That Symbolized Hussein Era – NYTimes.com.

The Polished, Energetic and Seasoned Washington Insider

Remember Virginia Thomas’s early morning call to Anita Hill? She went out of her way to harass Ms. Hill, and now she is again taking an overly pro-active lead in consulting for ultra-conservative issues. While she has the right to do what she wants, and a woman should never have to subsume her career to that of her husband’s, Ms. Thomas’s activities ought to be tracked very closely. Her consulting firm is focused on her ability to be “an ‘ambassador’ between the new citizen activities (tea party movement), the established conservative movement the entrepreneurial class, the alternative media and principled statesmen and candidates.” Does Fox News count as the “alternative media?” The title of this post is taken from her bio found here.

I do not know “Ginny” Thomas, and can only read her husband’s opinions, but I get the sense that their behind-the-scenes activities are dove-tailed to make effective use of their positions and influence.  This is the definition of a judge who is compromised and ought to limit his opinions to those where there is not a conflict. You cannot stop the husband-wife interaction and their general impact on events, but we can make sure that Justice Thomas does limited harm to our country.

See more here.

Modern, Moderate and Democratic?

The title of this post……it describes the ideal country, right? Modern infrastructure and economy. Moderate politics and foreign policy. Democratic institutions that help the people. In an interview with Anderson Cooper of CNN, the leader-in-waiting, Mohamed ElBaradei, proclaimed these to be his goals if he were to lead the country.

What a refreshing take on what is important to a country and what its leaders should fight to achieve. Is this Egypt today? Hardly. While Hosni Mubarak has brought security and limited economic progress, he has left a cesspool of discontent, economic malaise, and political upheaval in his wake.

For that reason, he must go. As of this writing, Mr. Mubarak seems to have received the message and does not plan on running for office again in September. Good riddance, say many in Egypt, but not fast enough. They want him gone now. On the other hand, there is a core group of constituents in Egypt which proclaims strong allegiance to Mr. Mubarak and will not be happy to see him go. Their voices have not been loudly heard, but expect to hear them shortly.

So will we see an Egypt which portrays ElBaradei’s hope? Will Egypt continue to remain a member of the list of stable countries throughout the world? Might this be another Iran? Might it be a Turkey? Do we really know?

We in the United States have a very particular vision of how this should evolve, and we likely share Mr. ElBaradei’s vision. However, are we ready for something that is different? Will we get a modern, moderate and democratic country?

What’s great about all of this? American political junkies now have a September 2011 election upon which to focus. Good practice for 2012!