It’s All About the Kids, Right?

From Ben Shapiro at Breitbart

…in the Los Angeles Unified School District, two perfect attendees throughout high school received new Chevrolet Sonics, priced at $18,000, for showing up to school every day. During the 2012-2013 school year, LAUSD has handed out monthly prizes to kids who were present every day…the LAUSD system is paid by the state of California only for attendance. Every student is worth $32 per day from the state to the LAUSD system. That means that when students skip school, the unionized teachers and administrators pay the price…It isn’t Oprah running LAUSD and handing out cars. It’s the teachers unions, which are mainly concerned with creating bizarre incentive systems to get butts in the seats rather than knowledge in the brains.

 

Read it here: Attendance Challenge

DJH

 

Irreversible Damage

After the Boston bombings, a poll revealed that Fox News was the most watched and most trusted network covering the incident. Although the rejection of liberal biased networks is encouraging, damage caused by years of voter ignorance aided by media bias may be irreversible.

A recent poll shows that 42% of Americans don’t know that Obamacare has been passed into law. Unfortunately, many of these people vote. The hastily passed healthcare bill that is proving to be a disaster was sold to the public by a media vested in “making history” and reluctant to report on the bill’s failures. Congress is now trying to exempt itself from Obamacare while some unions, avid Obama backers, are trying to get many of its provisions repealed, but the media continues praising it.

Another poll shows that 55% of Americans don’t know that Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the country, actually performs abortions. It receives taxpayer money based on the perception that its function is only women’s healthcare, a notion reinforced by President Obama stating publicly that Planned Parenthood provides mammograms, which it doesn’t.

The current trial of abortionist doctor Kermit Gosnell, accused of killing newborns as part of his abortion practice, went unmentioned by the mainstream media until it was forced to cover it because of the attention from Fox News and other responsible news outlets. The progressive media fully approves of abortion so it is reluctant to report anything negative concerning it.

Due to media-assisted voter ignorance, many abortion practices that most find despicable have taken root in society and flaws in Obamacare adversely affecting everyone have become law. It now seems likely that immigration reform will focus on amnesty and ignore border security, putting us all in danger for years to come.

Permanent damage has been done and more is sure to come if the biased media continues unfettered. A Republican White House would surely compel the liberal media to return to being a “watchdog” critically investigating administration policies. If that doesn’t occur, the damage already done will end up seeming miniscule compared to what is coming.

David J. Hentosh

Who Creates Jobs?

It is not the government’s responsibility to create jobs. Period. It never has been and never should be. The pressing need for jobs today has framed the issue for both political parties and they are both wrong if they believe that government is supposed to create jobs. The only jobs the government creates are government jobs, and we have enough of those already.

The government’s responsibility in this area lies in helping to create an atmosphere that allows the business community to thrive and expand, thereby, promoting the creation of more jobs. When the economy is down and jobs are needed, businesses need assistance from the government, not tighter controls, regulations, or taxes that hamper efforts to invest and expand.

The Obama administration has not created an atmosphere friendly to businesses and the consequence is poor job growth and a weakened economy. Obama’s class warfare has turned many against the rich, the ones who actually can create jobs, and the job market will not open up again until that atmosphere changes. Get rid of the rich and many more jobs will evaporate, along with the unions their businesses keep alive.

Obama doesn’t get it. Romney does. We are in an economical crisis and the solution will not come from a rigid ideology that treats business as the enemy. It will come from a practical understanding of how business works. Obama doesn’t have it. Romney does. It’s as simple as that.

David J. Hentosh

The GOP’s Best Candidate?

GOP presidential candidate debates have, so far, given us a stage overflowing with candidates, inconsistent performances, party in-fighting, and rollercoaster poll results. Fortunately, there is still time to sort it all out, but a clear consensus has not yet formed. Is there one candidate that can rise to the top in time to wage a successful campaign against Obama?

Many in the GOP believe there is such a candidate and they are trying to get him to enter the race. N.J. Governor Chris Christie has been receiving many phone calls urging him to reconsider his decision not to run. He has made it clear that he does not want to run, but there seems to be a huge campaign afoot to compel him or, so to speak, “draft” him as a candidate.

It is interesting that some in the GOP who believe Obama will lose to almost any competent Republican candidate are still seeking the “best” candidate. Politically, that is a much fresher approach than just putting forward any candidate who can win, a tactic with consequences the country is now experiencing.

It is unfortunate that if Christie runs, his weight will become a subject of attack more than his political views. Personal attacks are a favorite tactic of the “elites” and it will be easier to call him fat than to call him dumb. Joy Behar, in anticipation of a Christie run, officially kicked this campaign off when she asked Michael Moore: “Do you think the country will tolerate a fat president?” Asking Michael Moore this question reeks of irony, denial, and ignorance, but it will become a talking point.

As governor, Christie has displayed the character, ability, and values that appeal to the GOP and many conservatives. His straight talk and his stance against demands of teacher’s unions infuriate the left, adding to his appeal. He has stated in the past that he doesn’t believe he is ready to be president, but sometimes the knock at the door is insistent. He surely hears that knock, but will he answer? If he does, the GOP may actually end up with the “best” candidate.

David J. Hentosh

Union Rights?

Unions have been getting bashed in recent years, so it now seems they have decided it is their “right” to bash back – literally. In an action resembling the early union years from the last century, members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) broke down gates and stormed a port in Washington State where workers from a different union were being employed.

Equipped with baseball bats, the tool preferred by most thugs, union members damaged railroad cars, cut brake lines, and even held a few security guards hostage for several hours. It seems there were no injuries, but that may not last. After being dispersed for defying a federal restraining order by blocking railroad tracks, the ILWU president assured all that they would be back. So, there is more to come.

The ILWU believes it has a “right” to work at the port. The progressive atmosphere of recent years has convinced many they have “rights” to everything, and the government seems to have gone along with that assumption. Over-regulation and unrealistic union demands are crippling businesses that are now expected to create more jobs. What business wants to invest in a future where they will be forced to operate according to others’ demands and expanding assumed “rights”?

In the UK, riots occur everytime any cutback in entitlements (considered “rights”) occurs due to economic necessity. Once set free, the entitlement cat is hard to put back in the bag. The ILWU is demonstrating that they believe violence is the proper way to maintain their assumed “right”. How long will it be before teacher unions, government worker unions, or other unions begin to believe lucrative clauses in their contracts are “rights” that must be maintained at all costs?

This runaway madness has to stop sometime, and now is certainly the right time to begin putting on the brakes. That is, of course, assuming the ILWU doesn’t cut the brake lines.

David J. Hentosh

Wisconsin’s Reforms are Working

From Christian Schneider at NRO’s Corner

Wisconsin governor Scott Walker’s critics are…loath to put numbers on stats — numbers that show his public-sector collective-bargaining reforms are benefiting the state. Wisconsin is replete with examples of cities and school districts that are reforming their finances to finally balance their books — and doing it without significant cuts to services…under Walker’s plan to require greater health-care and pension contributions from government employees, the City of Milwaukee actually comes out $11 million ahead…the Brown Deer school district is implementing a plan to allow performance pay for its best teachers…In Appleton, the collective-bargaining reforms allowed the school district there to save $3 million by bidding for health care on the open market…In Manitowoc, County Executive Bob Ziegelbauer altered overtime procedures for county employees, saving taxpayers $100,000…all over the state, teacher jobs are being spared due to the increased benefit requirements in Walker’s plan. The Wauwatosa School District, facing a $6.5 million shortfall, anticipated needing to cut 100 teacher jobs — yet they were able to spare those teachers through shared sacrifice.

Read the rest here: Reforms Working

DJH

British Union Whines Over Wine

From NRO’s Corner

France’s infamous riot police are threatening to strike over a new rule forbidding them from drinking wine with lunch… union representative arguing that every worker has a right to their glass of wine or beer during their lunch break… The riot police in turn have accused the Interior Ministry of “trying to make us priests, but without the sacramental wine.”

Read about it here:  Wine at Lunch Time

Coming to You in May: Economic Collapse

From Business Insider:

The Blaze has obtained an exclusive letter sent from Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) to Attorney General Eric Holder regarding shocking video uncovered by The Blaze on Tuesday.

In the letter, Chaffetz references video, posted yesterday on this site, showing a one-time SEIU official, Stephen Lerner, outlining a plan to collapse the American economy — including crashing the stock market — so that unions can become more powerful.

The sinister plan is set to take place in May and includes mass homeowner mortgage strikes.

Read more: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/blaze-exclusive-congressman-presses-holder-to-investigate-terrorist-plans-in-bank-plot/#ixzz1HSiUg3vX

Blatant Threats from Wisconsin Police Groups

From Best of the Web, by James Taranto. (This is a great column and you can sign up for free.)

Last week, as the Wisconsin stalemate was coming to an end, we worried about the potential threat that unionized policemen, in “solidarity” with other unionized government employees, might tolerate or even participate in lawless behavior in order to undermine the workings of republican governance and preserve union privileges. Milwaukee radio host Charlie Sykesreports that Wisconsin businessmen are now receiving letters importuning them to oppose Gov. Scott Walker’s efforts on behalf of Wisconsin’s taxpayers:

The undersigned groups would like your company to publicly oppose Governor Walker’s efforts to virtually eliminate collective bargaining for public employees in Wisconsin. While we appreciate that you may need some time to consider this request, we ask for your response by March 17. In the event that you do not respond to this request by that date, we will assume that you stand with Governor Walker and against the teachers, nurses, police officers, fire fighters, and other dedicated public employees who serve our communities.

In the event that you cannot support this effort to save collective bargaining, please be advised that the undersigned will publicly and formally boycott the goods and services provided by your company. However, if you join us, we will do everything in our power to publicly celebrate your partnership in the fight to preserve the right of public employees to be heard at the bargaining table. Wisconsin’s public employee unions serve to protect and promote equality and fairness in the workplace. We hope you will stand with us and publicly share that ideal.

Read the rest here.

The letter goes on, and is signed by three police unions, two firemen’s unions and two teachers unions.

This type of threat is a fine example of why the efforts of Governor Scott Walker were necessary.

aln

 

Look Out! Unions Plan “Movement-Wide Dramatic Actions”

From newzeal.blogspot.com:

The U.S. labor movement is going on a nationwide offensive to push, not only for the protection of collective bargaining “rights”, but also for a  socialist “wish list”  including an end to the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, a “massive public works  program”, socialized health care, higher taxes on the “rich” and “international worker solidarity”.

In an Emergency labor meeting (ELM) in Cleveland Ohio, last Friday/Saturday,  labor bosses hunkered down to plan a national  fightback against the Tea Party driven GOP agenda of government spending cuts, balanced budgets and smaller government.

The unions are planning more than mere street marches. This is “not-business-as-usual”but will involve  unspecified “movement-wide dramatic actions.”

Read the rest here.