Tag: Randy Richardville (page 3)

Perhaps a temper tantrum throwing majority leader issue.

As you all know, I support Right-To-Work.  I not only support it, but have done what is in my power to advance it, guide it, and bring a level of freedom of association, liberty etc., back to the workplace in Michigan.  Forced unionism has no place in a free land. it is antithetical to a country based on free will, a belief in the individual and responsibility.

Yet here we are having to perpetually remind our leadership that it is time to do a little soul searching with regard to labor relations. With contracts between free men, and agreeable partners. In fact I have opined/questioned in an email conversation recently:

"Under what obscene circumstances should I abrogate my liberty, my freedom of association, and pay a ransom for the privilege of applying my craft, or negotiating a trade arrangement with an agreeable employer?"

It is wrong. It is immoral. It requires a "slave's mindset." And I will see it ended before I am through fighting it.

The MEA would toss them at anyone.

Self serving labor organizations (are there any others?) have no friends outside of their official ranks.  Those high paying union jobs (not those of the teachers, etc) and top management positions require careful farming of available taxpayer provided resources.  In fact, a 2009 report by Paul Kersey at the Mackinac center shows its overhead and operating is TWICE what the bargaining costs:

MEA is a bloated organization. According to our calculations, 25.6 percent of the union's budget went to representation, compared to 57.3 percent for overhead. This is actually an improvement from the 2006-2007 report, which showed just 22 percent going to representation. Nevertheless, MEA still spends more than twice as much on overhead than it does on representing teachers. That's the exact opposite of what one would find in reasonably well-run non-profit.

So they had to respond, and the Tomcat on the fence as I pointed out, stands out in full contrast to the moon's glow.  The worn soles are flying, and the MEA is tossing them. By attempting to recall the majority leader Richardville and others:

The Monroe resident leading the recall drive against Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville said the Michigan Education Association notified him today the teachers union will support the effort.

"I was grateful," Ernie Whiteside said. "It certainly will be easier to increase our volunteer group by working officially through the MEA leadership."

Whiteside said Doug Pratt, MEA's director of public affairs, called him today to give him the news.

Except there may be a problem.

I know public teachers who are Republican.  Quite a few in fact.

So what, right?

The point should not be lost that in any organization, there are political preferences that vary.  In any work environment, there are ideas that are different, and in the teaching environment, contrary to the wishes of progressives who would wish to program each generation of children with all manner of degenerate reasoning and backward analytical skills, there are conservative REPUBLICANS who simply wish to work , and teach and fill the minds of those children with what schools are for.

Math, Science, Reading, and writing.  And maybe a little competition training through sports and debate.

Unfortunately, those things, that are not enough for the progressive activities of the teachers unions, specifically the MEA, take a back seat to the unproductive pursuits of political goals by over zealous leftist activists within those unions.  The MEA and others like it, utilizing dues forced from Republicans within their membership work counter to the wishes of those members.

And no further evidence of this is needed than what has been presented recently by the Michigan Republican Party

In an article regarding representative Mike Shirkey's support of Right To Work measures and specifically the plan endorsed by the Freedom To work coalition, it was noted that State Senator Randy Richardville does not support RTW, and that he has a supporter on the other side who agrees a little too eagerly.

Gretchen Whitmer says:

"Opposing Right to Work legislation is one thing Senator Richardville and I have always agreed upon," Whitmer said. "I'm calling on him to stand with me in denouncing these anti-worker efforts and give Michigan's working families the peace of mind that this terrible policy is dead on arrival."

Republicans who have been around and 'know better' are in the positions of power and are no wiser than the Democrats who have just been given the boot.  Creatures accustomed to things done a certain way are hardly the agents of change Michigan so desperately needs.

One would think the taking of Michigan's most important institutions would have set free a newly inspired animal of renewal and dominance.  Sadly however, what appears is a timid beast too scared to fully emerge from its cage, seeking the quickest route back to being walled in where it is safe and secure.  Our legislators are riding along in some ways toward new ways of dealing with problems that have been building for decades, yet some of them who have been around too long seem to have a serious case of Stockholm syndrome and sympathize with the enemy a little too much. In fact, to the point of being called "Squishy":

Led by squishy moderate Randy Richardville, Senate Republicans have always been suspect as a reform ally. And their counter-proposal is a retreat from their mandate for change. Rather than pushing their governor - who has courageously offered a new direction - to be even more aggressive on tax reform and bloated union benefits, the GOPers backslide towards politics-as-usual higher taxes and special interest loopholes.

And covering only the contracts themselves, one could argue the illegitimate role that labor provides, when discussing compensation and bargaining with public entities.  The monopolistic nature of Michigan's public sector employment pool negates any entrepreneurial efforts towards excellence that might develop, and the state's tax payers are hardly served in any constructive or positive manner.  In other words, a free market for those positions residing outside the labor influenced sphere would create great opportunities.

Perhaps that is what labor fears.  So much so, that it has now returned to its base form of thinly veiled threats of violence and extortive measures on the private entities that actually pay the bills.  People OUTSIDE government now facing the very same violent animal attitude of organized labor types. Not yet here, but very, very, close.

It seems for the time being folks, we have ALL become Wisconsinites.

Its not the teachers that are our enemies.  Its not the firemen, the police, or the trade workers. Its none of those people who are concerned about their jobs, and how the current anti union sentiment will affect their lot in life.  They see Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, and wonder openly if they are next.  They are.  And you know it.

And you know the problem is not them.

The trouble our educators, our public service folks, our protectors have, is the ability to benefit from their service.  Teachers that truly teach should be rewarded.  Police and firemen that are trustworthy and truly protectors are stressed because the tax bases of their communities are falling apart.  And we pretend we don't know why?  Is it that easy to believe the union parasites that feed off our public servant's efforts are in it for the good of those public servants?

When teacher's benefit packages cost half again the amount the same package would be from BCBS, you should be asking why.  When a teacher who is conservative looks to a newly elected (presumably conservative) Republican majority, he should have no doubts that help is on the way.  That he or she can count on perhaps a little assistance in being able to chart his or her own course.  When the industries that make up the tax base in so many communities move away or fail because they cannot compete in our environment, safety becomes the casualty.  It doesn't have to be that way, and there is a cure.

When those in the newly elected Michigan Senate decide who will be the leader, it must be someone who is willing to go beyond the status quo.  Make no mistake of thinking the 'leadership' of the Republican party had this election in the bag without the support of the free market, liberty loving tea party types who did a great deal of the WORK to change Michigan and the rest of the nation.  

Ignore our efforts at your peril.

An article in today's Capitol Confidential has a quote by prospect for Senate Majority leader, Randy Richardville:

"I have moved further to the right than I used to be"

What does that mean Randy?  And what about your follow up?

"I don't see unions as being evil. If you want to work in Michigan, I'm probably going to support you. Sometimes working with unions helps get them back to work. ... Some people on the far right want to throw anyone out because they work for a union organization. That's not me."