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Daily Archives: February 4, 2010
FollowHooked On Phonics?
Bush and Clinton were noted for their use of “nukular” and we chuckled. Now comes the most intelligent man with the highest I.Q. ever, so we heard during the campaign,
Barack, it’s pronounced “core-man,” not “corpse-man”
Teleprompters should have pronunciation marks on them.
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Portland Schools’ Kabuki Dance With Teachers
by Rees Lloyd The Portland School District has given parents of students notice that labor negotiations with the teachers are at impasse.
Teachers. Impasse. In a recession styled as the worst economic crisis since the Depression. After the teachers’ union, along with other public sector unions, e.g., SEIU, AFSCME, just spent millions, apparently more than $6-million, to get passed tax increases in ballot measures 66 and 67 which were supposed to be to benefit the “kids,” not the teachers.
Are these oppressed, exploited, “workers,” so underpaid and enduring working conditions so onerous that they must take negotiations with the taxpaying public to “impasse”?
Remember the fight for an 8-hour-day? Well, Portland teachers have a contract that forbids kids’ school days being longer than 6.5 hours. Tax increases in 66 &67 were tearfully touted as being “for the kids” in a “crisis” of funding. All Oregonians were urged to sacrifice “for the children.” It is now clear they meant all should sacrifice, except for the teachers: They are being guaranteed a raise of 3% in the offer which is at impasse, no matter what happens to the economy.
It has to be remembered that, among other things, teachers’ annual salary is really a salary for a 9-month work year. They have two weeks off every Christmas, Spring Break, multiple 3-day and 4-day weekends, never a risk of having to work on Thanksgiving, Christmas, other holidays. They have sick time, personal time, prep time and other benefits that are the envy of private sector; and extremely generous pensions that people who work 8-hour days, 40-hour weeks, 12-months a year, with a two-week vacation if they are lucky, in the wealth-producing private sector, can only dream about.
That teachers, who have been whining and crying about a “crisis” in school funding to impose further tax burdens on the public, would now take negotiations to impasse when they are guaranteed a 3% raise while most in the private sector worry about whether they will have a job at all, evidences that the contemporary teachers and the union they do not repudiate are a disgrace to their profession, and their interest is manifestly their self-interest, not the kids’ interest, as they posture and proclaim with teary-eyes.
They are evidencing that they and their union, which poured millions into the 66 and 67 tax increase campaigns, are no better than the tax consuming so-called “public servants” of the contemporary SEIU, whose posturing Alinsky-ite leader, Andy Stern, former pantywaist “social worker” who postures now as a “tough talking labor leader,” openly states that “workers of the world unite is no longer a slogan;but the way we do business” (against whom, if not taxpayers?), and that SEIU will “use the power of persuasion, but, if that doesn’t work, we will use the persuasion of power.” Against whom, if not the public, the taxpayers who make possible the higher pay, perks, and pensions that the public sector employees enjoy?
Now the teachers’ union pushes negotiations to the point of impasse in what the teachers claim is a “crisis” in funding “for the kids”? Hypocrites –Let them strike. Let them walk off the job. Let them strike – and then let them go. Bye-Bye. Replace them. There will be scores of teachers, eager to teach, not to get rich teaching, seeking every striker’s job. Let them strike.
These are not industrial workers of an earlier age fighting exploiting employers who impose ionerous conditions and employing thugs to beat them down if they protest. These are pampered public sector employees with enviable working conditions, and a 12-month salary for an actual work year of eight months or less. The most dangerous thing in their workplace isn’t falling steel, or a machine taking an arm or leg, or fire, or explosion, it’s an errant paper clip, flying spitball, or obnoxious kid.
Yet they posture as aggrieved “workers” through the dated rhetoric of public sector union leaders pimping them, and the public, for profit, wimps mouthing tough-guy threats like social-worker Andy Stern of SEIU, the most frequent invitee to Barack Obama’s White House according to records, threatening to use the “persuasion of power” against the public.
Its time for the public to stand up and fight back. Oregon in general and Portland in particular are at a crossroads: Those choosing careers in the public sector as public servants are in fact becoming the public’s masters, buying politicians by their union’s political contributions and seeking greater and greater tax burdens in their interests and not the public’s interest.
Its very simple: If anyone choosing a career in the public sector, including teachers, wants to get rich, then they should leave the wealth-consuming public sector and take the risks re getting rich in wealth creating private sector. If teaching is a profession, a “calling,” as is pretended, then do not seek to achieve an affluent life-style. Seek riches in the private sector, where there is risk, not in the wealth consuming the education bureaucracy. Leave the security of the teaching position, and take the risk in the private sector. Make all the money you wish, and create some wealth as you do, instead of consuming the wealth others produce in the private sector which you apparently covet. If you want to be credited and honored with participating in a noble profession, i.e., sacrificing wealth in order to teach new generations of children, then don’t expect to be rich, and don’t believe you are entitled to consume wealth you don’t produce.
Most importantly: Do not continue to bite the hand that feeds you. Do not use the statutorily created right to unionize in order to gouge the taxpaying public who have provided you with better pay, perks, and pensions than most of them can get in the private sector, and without the security you enjoy.
Negotiations with the teachers’ union are at impasse? I say again: Let them strike. Let them go. And replace them. Get people who are truly dedicated to teaching our children and advancing the children’s interest, not their own financial interest through their politician-buying union.
[Rees Lloyd, is a career-long civil rights and workers rights, attorney whose work defending those rights has resulted in the receipt of numerous awards ,and been profiled by such varied media as the Los Angeles Times, ABC’s “Nightline” and “20/20,” Hannity and Colmes, and other media.]
Tell ’em where you saw it. Http://www.victoriataft.com
Metro: No Idea Whether Transportation Plans Work Because They Don’t Check
On deadline for work but here are two extraordinary quotes from today’s Zero about an attempted audit of the efficacy of Metro’s planning for density and transportation. The upshot? They can’t tell. Of course, the Zero missed the lead but here it is:
The underlying assumption of the long-range plan is that denser development would result in an efficient transportation system, Flynn said in the audit. Residents would travel less, have more transportation options and spend less for transportation and housing.
Flynn’s staff also couldn’t determine from Metro’s in-house information whether the region’s transportation projects have been effective. Metro didn’t analyze completed projects, in part because Metro’s planners were too busy planning the next series of transportation projects to circle back and check if the previous ones worked.
Tell ’em where you saw it. Http://www.victoriataft.com
Lister: Mayor Adams Broke the Law
Not by having sex with a teenager and then lying about it so he would be elected mayor, silly. For running for Mayor and not bothering to pay at least one staff on the up and up. Here’s Lister’s piece.
For the rest of Portland: You can go back to sleep while the corruptocrats continue their one party rule, Chicago Style.
Tell ’em where you saw it. Http://www.victoriataft.com
Grand Opening! Grand Closing!
Portland’s $1 Million a Mile Bike Lanes; Vehicle Owners Get Bill
The bike plan in Portland was unveiled this week and City Council will undoubtedly pass this pork barrel plan today in its continuing effort to be “precious” and “green” and “sustainable.” (Here’s where I insert my comment about them caring about sustainability until it comes to my wallet). 
But after talking with Dr. Tim Ball on the show last night about the latest “man made” global warming scams and his going over the original mandate of the IPCC which included looking only at “man made” influences on climate (which are negligible but obviously inflated when only looking at them), I was reminded of the mandates of the bicycle plan.
Yesterday I looked at some of the assumptions the city “stake holders” (no, that doesn’t include you) took into consideration when considering the bike plan. Now, look at their mandate and you will know why we have these people coming up with a half a billion dollars in spending on bike lanes:
The Bicycle Master Plan addresses five key elements:1) policies and objectives that form part of Portland’s Comprehensive Plan Transportation Element;2) developing a recommended bikeway network;3) providing end-of-trip facilities;4) improving the bicycle-transit link; and5) promoting bicycling through education and encouragement.
As you can easily see, the people tasked with coming up with a bike future for Portland weren’t asked if it would be cost effective, the best and highest use of Portland citizens’ money or whether it made sense.
It didn’t consider that bike ridership in Portland is DOWN.
They were asked for a preordained outcome which would include increasing the amount we spend promoting bike use.
The result? A half a billion in bike paths. $1 million a mile.
They say this is only a suggestion. Ha. The city’s ‘want to’s’ have a funny way of becoming ‘have to’s.’
Decisions will be based upon this pork barrel spending.
Tell ’em where you saw it. Http://www.victoriataft.com
Portland Tax Payers: Left With Scraps as City "Comes ‘Right into Kitchen’" to "Change Habits"
I already compost some food scraps (and indeed am in need of another composter), but in its overweening need to be precious and “green” and “be a leader” in something–excepts jobs and businesses–the City of Portland is now asking us to forgo weekly garbage pick up in order to participate in the city’s newest fad: recycling table scraps. Oh, you already do that? Your parents and grandparents already do that–and have been for years? Too bad.
But the city is planning to punt garbage collection from weekly to once every two weeks to help cover the extra cost of picking up the food-and-yard-waste cart weekly. Based on other cities’ experiences, food waste collection and non-weekly garbage service — at the same cost or more — will shock a lot of customers.
“We’re coming right into their kitchen saying, ‘Please change your habits,'” said Bruce Walker, Portland’s solid waste and recycling manager.
I’m sure at some point during the discussion of this effort–which the Zero writes last night has been five years in making–(uh, huh), someone will call this a job ‘stimulator,’ but all I know is my garbage won’t be picked up every week and we’ll be charged even higher prices. It doesn’t sound like this plan will stimulate anything except the need for more vector control and smell abatement.
Has anyone mentioned decomposing food stinks? Has anyone mentioned that decomposing food attracts rats and other vermin?
I already compost. I don’t need a higher bill for something I largely already do. Can’t you busy bodies at City Hall just do fire, police and buildings and just leave the rest of us alone? Don’t you have guys at City Hall have some sex change operations to pay for or something?
Tell ’em where you saw it. Http://www.victoriataft.com
Metro: No Idea Whether Transportation Plans Work Because They Don’t Check
On deadline for work but here are two extraordinary quotes from today’s Zero about an attempted audit of the efficacy of Metro’s planning for density and transportation. The upshot? They can’t tell. Of course, the Zero missed the lead but here it is:
The underlying assumption of the long-range plan is that denser development would result in an efficient transportation system, Flynn said in the audit. Residents would travel less, have more transportation options and spend less for transportation and housing.
Flynn’s staff also couldn’t determine from Metro’s in-house information whether the region’s transportation projects have been effective. Metro didn’t analyze completed projects, in part because Metro’s planners were too busy planning the next series of transportation projects to circle back and check if the previous ones worked.
Tell ’em where you saw it. Http://www.victoriataft.com
Lister: Mayor Adams Broke the Law
Not by having sex with a teenager and then lying about it so he would be elected mayor, silly. For running for Mayor and not bothering to pay at least one staff on the up and up. Here’s Lister’s piece.
For the rest of Portland: You can go back to sleep while the corruptocrats continue their one party rule, Chicago Style.
Tell ’em where you saw it. Http://www.victoriataft.com
Grand Opening! Grand Closing!
Portland’s $1 Million a Mile Bike Lanes; Vehicle Owners Get Bill
The bike plan in Portland was unveiled this week and City Council will undoubtedly pass this pork barrel plan today in its continuing effort to be “precious” and “green” and “sustainable.” (Here’s where I insert my comment about them caring about sustainability until it comes to my wallet). But after talking with Dr. Tim Ball on the show last night about the latest “man made” global warming scams and his going over the original mandate of the IPCC which included looking only at “man made” influences on climate (which are negligible but obviously inflated when only looking at them), I was reminded of the mandates of the bicycle plan.
Yesterday I looked at some of the assumptions the city “stake holders” (no, that doesn’t include you) took into consideration when considering the bike plan. Now, look at their mandate and you will know why we have these people coming up with a half a billion dollars in spending on bike lanes:
The Bicycle Master Plan addresses five key elements:1) policies and objectives that form part of Portland’s Comprehensive Plan Transportation Element;2) developing a recommended bikeway network;3) providing end-of-trip facilities;4) improving the bicycle-transit link; and5) promoting bicycling through education and encouragement.
As you can easily see, the people tasked with coming up with a bike future for Portland weren’t asked if it would be cost effective, the best and highest use of Portland citizens’ money or whether it made sense.
It didn’t consider that bike ridership in Portland is DOWN.
They were asked for a preordained outcome which would include increasing the amount we spend promoting bike use.
The result? A half a billion in bike paths. $1 million a mile.
They say this is only a suggestion. Ha. The city’s ‘want to’s’ have a funny way of becoming ‘have to’s.’
Decisions will be based upon this pork barrel spending.
Tell ’em where you saw it. Http://www.victoriataft.com
Portland Tax Payers: Left With Scraps as City "Comes ‘Right into Kitchen’" to "Change Habits"
I already compost some food scraps (and indeed am in need of another composter), but in its overweening need to be precious and “green” and “be a leader” in something–excepts jobs and businesses–the City of Portland is now asking us to forgo weekly garbage pick up in order to participate in the city’s newest fad: recycling table scraps. Oh, you already do that? Your parents and grandparents already do that–and have been for years? Too bad.
But the city is planning to punt garbage collection from weekly to once every two weeks to help cover the extra cost of picking up the food-and-yard-waste cart weekly. Based on other cities’ experiences, food waste collection and non-weekly garbage service — at the same cost or more — will shock a lot of customers.
“We’re coming right into their kitchen saying, ‘Please change your habits,'” said Bruce Walker, Portland’s solid waste and recycling manager.
I’m sure at some point during the discussion of this effort–which the Zero writes last night has been five years in making–(uh, huh), someone will call this a job ‘stimulator,’ but all I know is my garbage won’t be picked up every week and we’ll be charged even higher prices. It doesn’t sound like this plan will stimulate anything except the need for more vector control and smell abatement.
Has anyone mentioned decomposing food stinks? Has anyone mentioned that decomposing food attracts rats and other vermin?
I already compost. I don’t need a higher bill for something I largely already do. Can’t you busy bodies at City Hall just do fire, police and buildings and just leave the rest of us alone? Don’t you have guys at City Hall have some sex change operations to pay for or something?
Tell ’em where you saw it. Http://www.victoriataft.com