Normally I don't get swept up too heavily in political issues or causes because frankly it would make me mental (and my wife will attest I already have enough of that). But one issue though has grabbed my attention enough so that I can't help but add my voice to already crowded blogosphere.
Over the past week, Republican statehouses in Wisconsin, Ohio, and Indiana have introduced legislation to essentially destroy the unions of Public workers which hits home for me because both my parents worked for the State of Ohio. Before you assume my parents were the oft-repeated stereotype of the lazy, underwhelming, mediocre public worker who could not hack it in the private sector allow me to break some pre-conceived notions.
My Dad managed about dozen investigators for the worker's comp fraud division and annually saved Ohio taxpayers millions of dollars by rooting out bad, fraudulent claims and recuperating money taken from these claims. He was frequently out in the field trying to catch cheats in the act and once had his car window smashed by a baseball bat, and even had a shotgun pointed at him.
Some people liken their workplace to an insane asylum but my Mom actually worked in one. As a psychologist specializing in Schizophrenia, she worked at the Central Ohio Psychiatric Hospital evaluating accused criminals claiming insanity to determine state of mind at time of crime for legal proceedings. Essentially her job was to root out the bullshit artists from those who were actually crazy. Fun bonus fact: the old COPH hospital was creepy and haunted! (a story for another time).
Needless to say due to the nature of thier jobs, when 'Take Your Kid To Work' day came around I was stuck at school. It also meant I could never get away with lying, ever. But I wonder if Ohio Gov.John Kasich (R-Assclown) would consider my parents not worthy of the right to collective bargain pay raises and health insurance in return for good, honest work? My parents like many other public employees were smart, skilled people providing a important role to the general public. Like teachers, policemen, social workers, civil engineers, policy analysts, etc. They chose to take a lower pay in the public sector because they felt their jobs meant something and were important to society at large (see below).
Over the past week, Republican statehouses in Wisconsin, Ohio, and Indiana have introduced legislation to essentially destroy the unions of Public workers which hits home for me because both my parents worked for the State of Ohio. Before you assume my parents were the oft-repeated stereotype of the lazy, underwhelming, mediocre public worker who could not hack it in the private sector allow me to break some pre-conceived notions.
My Dad managed about dozen investigators for the worker's comp fraud division and annually saved Ohio taxpayers millions of dollars by rooting out bad, fraudulent claims and recuperating money taken from these claims. He was frequently out in the field trying to catch cheats in the act and once had his car window smashed by a baseball bat, and even had a shotgun pointed at him.
Some people liken their workplace to an insane asylum but my Mom actually worked in one. As a psychologist specializing in Schizophrenia, she worked at the Central Ohio Psychiatric Hospital evaluating accused criminals claiming insanity to determine state of mind at time of crime for legal proceedings. Essentially her job was to root out the bullshit artists from those who were actually crazy. Fun bonus fact: the old COPH hospital was creepy and haunted! (a story for another time).
Needless to say due to the nature of thier jobs, when 'Take Your Kid To Work' day came around I was stuck at school. It also meant I could never get away with lying, ever. But I wonder if Ohio Gov.John Kasich (R-Assclown) would consider my parents not worthy of the right to collective bargain pay raises and health insurance in return for good, honest work? My parents like many other public employees were smart, skilled people providing a important role to the general public. Like teachers, policemen, social workers, civil engineers, policy analysts, etc. They chose to take a lower pay in the public sector because they felt their jobs meant something and were important to society at large (see below).
But they also from time to time needed the protection of unions because in a political environment like State Gov't, the little guy needs someone on their side. In the 1970's my Mom evaluated a serial rapist named Billy Milligan (good info on Wikipedia) who claimed to have multiple personalities. My mom stated he wasn't crazy but was actually a brilliant sociopath who managed to con several supposed top-flight experts. She was overruled and Milligan was released and went on to rape several coeds at Ohio State. When my Mom blew the whistle her bosses tried to punish her, but thankfully the union stood up for us and protected her job.
Now Mr.Kasich believe it or not we've met before when I was in the 1st grade and you came to talk to us kids about Politics back when you were starting a undistinguished career in Congress. Which dovetailed to a undistinguished TV show on Fox News followed by a undistinguished career in the private sector, which should result in a undistinguished term as Governor. Even then I could tell you were sleazeball and a liar (those lollypops handouts you probably stole from some other kids).
So let's be honest Mr.Kasich is it coincidence that three Republican held statehouses are enacting the exact same legislation at the same time? No, because frankly Governor you're really not that smart. I have the feeling this is just the first shot in attempt by the mighty corporate oligarchy of this country to roll back Labor laws to the 19th century. If we follow the money we find the same Billionaires who bankroll the 'Tea Party movement*' (What? You thought it was a spontaneous movement?) funded these politicians to have their self interests enacted under the guise of public policy.
(*-Tea Party officially licensed as subsidiary of Koch Enterprises, Inc.)
I support capitalism as much as Donald Trump but I also support the worker's rights to organize, workplace safety, anti-discrimination, equal pay for equal work among men and women, unemployment insurance, overtime if you work more than 40 hours, and that kids under age of 18 actually have to go to school instead of serving as cheap labor. To answer Glenn Beck these are not communist values but American values. Rights that unions and workers have fought throughout our history and are still worth fighting for today.
If you are a private sector employee and think none of this has anything to do with you think again. Watch, soon we'll be asked to relinquish unemployment benefits, then Medicare, then Social Security in the name of shared sacrifice because apparently raising taxes on rich individuals and corporations to balance budgets is tantamount to terrorism (or something). Notice how public sector workers conveniently provide a scapegoat by both Repubs and Democrats alike to blame for budget deficits and other fiscal misadventures.
Now before the Palinites send the hatemail understand I believe in limited Gov't and balanced budgets. Ideally Gov't should be like an iPhone: small, but highly effective and serving many needs at once while making most efficient use of resources. But I also believe we need Gov't to serve interest of people not corporations. And as the most prosperous country on Earth there's no reason that business owners can't enjoy profits while their workers enjoy a decent wage to have a comfortable living. So in other words. quit blaming public service workers!
And that's all I got to say about that!
Now Mr.Kasich believe it or not we've met before when I was in the 1st grade and you came to talk to us kids about Politics back when you were starting a undistinguished career in Congress. Which dovetailed to a undistinguished TV show on Fox News followed by a undistinguished career in the private sector, which should result in a undistinguished term as Governor. Even then I could tell you were sleazeball and a liar (those lollypops handouts you probably stole from some other kids).
So let's be honest Mr.Kasich is it coincidence that three Republican held statehouses are enacting the exact same legislation at the same time? No, because frankly Governor you're really not that smart. I have the feeling this is just the first shot in attempt by the mighty corporate oligarchy of this country to roll back Labor laws to the 19th century. If we follow the money we find the same Billionaires who bankroll the 'Tea Party movement*' (What? You thought it was a spontaneous movement?) funded these politicians to have their self interests enacted under the guise of public policy.
(*-Tea Party officially licensed as subsidiary of Koch Enterprises, Inc.)
I support capitalism as much as Donald Trump but I also support the worker's rights to organize, workplace safety, anti-discrimination, equal pay for equal work among men and women, unemployment insurance, overtime if you work more than 40 hours, and that kids under age of 18 actually have to go to school instead of serving as cheap labor. To answer Glenn Beck these are not communist values but American values. Rights that unions and workers have fought throughout our history and are still worth fighting for today.
If you are a private sector employee and think none of this has anything to do with you think again. Watch, soon we'll be asked to relinquish unemployment benefits, then Medicare, then Social Security in the name of shared sacrifice because apparently raising taxes on rich individuals and corporations to balance budgets is tantamount to terrorism (or something). Notice how public sector workers conveniently provide a scapegoat by both Repubs and Democrats alike to blame for budget deficits and other fiscal misadventures.
Now before the Palinites send the hatemail understand I believe in limited Gov't and balanced budgets. Ideally Gov't should be like an iPhone: small, but highly effective and serving many needs at once while making most efficient use of resources. But I also believe we need Gov't to serve interest of people not corporations. And as the most prosperous country on Earth there's no reason that business owners can't enjoy profits while their workers enjoy a decent wage to have a comfortable living. So in other words. quit blaming public service workers!
And that's all I got to say about that!
