Posted on 02/22/2011 1:40:19 PM PST by kathsua
he Wisconsin government employees who are complaining about proposed legislation affecting collective bargaining need to recognize that in a democracy, government employees exist to serve the taxpayers, not the other way around. Unions representing government employees need to accept the fact that a union cannot have equal status with the officials who exercise sovereignty on behalf of the people.
Government employees don't have a "right" to collective bargaining because that allow the minority of government employees to have as much of a voice in government spending decisions as the population as a whole which would violate the "one man one vote" doctrine of the 14th Amendment.
I worked for county government for 23 years as a janitor. During part of that time I belonged to the SEIU which represented me until the elected county commissioners decided to stop negotiating with unions. I didn't agree with their decision, but I accepted it because I recognize that in a democracy we "hired hands" cannot have equal status with those who are chosen by the population at large which pays us.
Government employees generally have better job security than private sector employees.
Pay may be lower, but the employer isn't going to move to another state or country. Some government agencies can be shut down, but most must continue to function. Government may have to lay off some employees from time to time, but someone must be available to teach in schools, fight fires, catch criminals or clear snow off the highways.
Consumers of private goods and services have more options that taxpayers. Consumers may stop buying new cars or eating in restaurants. Consumers can switch to less expensive products.
But if taxpayers decide to stop paying taxes, government can take their money or property. Taxpayers don't always have the option of moving to a jurisdiction with lower taxes. They can only band together and vote for officials who will reduce taxes to more affordable levels.
If military personnel attempted to pressure the U.S. government into providing higher pay or other benefits we would recognize the action as a potential threat to elective government. If the military formed an alliance with one party to pressure the other in to giving it what it wanted voters would understandably react against that party.
The fact that the demonstrators in Wisconsin are civilian government employees rather than military employees doesn't change the fact that they are attempting to pressure elected officials into taking orders from them instead of from the people.
The proper response to the proposed legislation would be to accept it for now and attempt to elect legislators in 2012 who will reverse the legislation. The confrontational approach union members are currently using might be useful for bringing down Middle Eastern governments, but is more likely to strengthen anti-union sentiment among Wisconsin Republicans.
they are attempting to pressure elected officials into taking orders from them instead of from the peopleThe fact that this FACT is not widely and clearly reported in the MSM is the saddest thing about this whole affair.
Cogent, sensible argument by someone who knows!
soon they will have to accept having no job.
Gov Walker: make your mark and legacy as did the Gipper.
Can’t the Wisconsin legislature majority simply “deem” the legislation as having passed?
“Cant the Wisconsin legislature majority simply deem the legislation as having passed?”
Gosh, do you mean like Pelosi-you-have-to-pass-the-bill-to-know-what-is-in-it?
I guess the people in Wisconsin prefer lawmakers who act within the law instead.
Seems like you’d start to view this as a poker game....and suddenly toss in a wildcard...everyone in the state has bargain rights. So when a teacher shows up to get a muffler...the pricing scheme might be totally different and 18 percent more for them.
Even taxpayers could claim a bargain-right-status, and then shut down the state because they want a lower tax status.
I was trying (apparently ineffectively) to point out the ridiculous lack of media coverage of Pelosi et al’s behavior and point out to the ill-informed that that crap cannot be tolerated by either party. Sorry my point wasn’t clear(er).
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