Gov. Ritter and unions
I wondered how he developed this brilliant idea.
Well maybe he saw how the unions almost put the entire US automobile industry under. Or could it be the way the unions put some airlines in bankruptcy. At United, they even bought, ran the company and hand- picked a lackey CEO. They proceeded to then put this company out of business. That’s a good model.
Well how about the teacher’s union and the disaster that is our public schools? Another good model. In spite of the fact that our children can’t get a decent education, they fight progressive ideas such as vouchers and charter schools. And what a management model to follow- we can’t have math teachers, in short supply, paid more than other disciplines in excess supply; and we must pay teachers according to schooling and years teaching not according to test results or the ability to teach and to inspire our kids. Want to fire an incompetent teacher. It’s almost impossible. One more good union template for effective management of the state of Colorado, Governor.
Maybe the Governor is finding a good model for union-government cooperation from old Europe. That’s worked so well that Germany and France elected conservatives to help turnaround double-digit unemployment and years of stagnant economies. A union-government cooperative spirit resulted in two pieces of the new A380 not fitting together properly. And in France it’s been the strike of the week, doctors this week, transit workers next and then the nurses and museum workers follow. That’s something to look forward to in Colorado.
Governor Ritter seems like a bright man who surely knows these facts. I have to assume then that this is nothing but a payback for big labor’s campaign contributions and an apology for vetoing a terrible pro labor bill earlier in the year.
One term governor? That may be too long.
This letter has not been edited.
One facet of capitalism is that people try to get the highest price for their product. Should that also apply to employees or are they excluded from being capitalistic?
I think it is disingenuous to say that the unions are the cause of the auto and aviation industry problems rather than a factor in those problems. Management, after all, saw fit to enter into the contracts. And salaries were hardly the only reason the U.S. auto industry fell behind the Japanese.
But what the unions in those cases did was to strike. If they had not been able to strike, they could hardly have succeeded in trying to get optimum pay for their work.
""The governor's order, issued Friday, allows the 49,000 state government employees to organize but says their unions and associations would have to agree not to strike."
"Ritter's spokesman, Evan Dreyer, said Ritter would sign a bill that bars state workers from striking. We don't think legislation is necessary, but if a no strike bill passes the Legislature, the governor would support it," Dreyer said."
There is such a thing as fair comment. But you wouldn't know it from Don Bevis's letter.
Posted by Truth on November 23, 2007 10:42 AMThat Middle Ground
I think there’s much more than one axiom we’re guided by, one having built in extremes being cleanliness and clutter, almost like clarity and confusion. Another is existing versus oblivion, recalling the quick and the dead; maybe, right or wrong is surely included. Many give a choice one or the other, like a light switch being on or off, while others are gradients with those words representing the furthermost conditions as hot and cold water going through a mixing valve, however folks preferring the warm water to bathe.
Why do you suppose, most folks languish in that wide area between Truth and Lies? Not exercising strong principals to live by. What a different world we’d live in if every person spoke the truth 100 % of the time, even if that same truth hurts another person (Jesus talking to the rich man), however slipping into lukewarm water being more favorable to our neighbors or our own reputation. Why do you suppose people that testify in our courts are told to “tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you God”. Judging life or death decisions, not just products could be made a lot easier not having to filter out falsehoods.
I suppose certain professions like Detectives, Defense Lawyers, Politicians, Fiction Authors, and some Employees (not convinced in their wares) would gravitate to some other job. Anyone that profits from dishonesty may be a possible new trainee in that world.
Would people talk much less, not wanting to hear the truth confirmed by someone else, if already knowing it themselves? Perhaps they would think more about what they’re about to do, having the luxury of quiet time available. It’s not easy to have the jaw working while simultaneously pondering decisions too, as you know.
This silence may or may not be radically different than the ”silent majority” having the agreeable listener partially at fault, historically anyway in modern times. Maybe he’s giving the speaker more encouragement to profess more numerous or outrageous lies? Not ever publicly challenging the speaker of his sources or only based on partial-truths. I’m thinking of Adolph Hitler in this example having almost an entire country agreeing with him, if not saluting, following your neighbors in that norm but think otherwise privately, to fend off the Gestapo pulling up to your door one night, then it’s too late for the middle ground. Keep in mind honest descent has a precious price, when Evil in most forms take a foothold in political power.
Posted by Roert E. Snizek on February 9, 2008 06:27 PM