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Messianic Mistakes
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SELF-INTERESTED
Re: RiShawn Biddle's Golden
Apples:
As a libertarian, I fully understand and appreciate Mr. Biddle's anger with the unions and teacher's compensation, but his anger is poorly aimed and is contrary to a fundamental economic principle: self-interests.
Mr. Biddle either forgets that self-interest is a universal principle or he does not take into consideration the very basic idea that unions' self interest lies in representing their members. The teachers unions have a primary fiduciary and ethical obligation to represent their members' interests, including economic interests; teacher's unions do not represent the interests of the state or any other parties. As a union paying teacher (of this I have no choice: New York is not a right to work state), I want, need and demand that my union fairly bargains for the greatest compensation it can for me. This is true for the unions that represent the police and firefighters, as well any other union. Having a powerful union is in my self-interest and the union serving me well is in its best interest. This is a fundamental principle of rational relationships. So, if the unions are operating to achieve solid Randian/Objectivist (i.e., self-interested) goals, and that these goals are accepted as principled goals by both Libertarians and economic conservatives alike, where lies the responsibility for the fiscal malfeasance and/or incompetence?
The responsibility lies with our elected officials. Representatives are elected to serve the public; the profligate spending against which Mr. Biddle so rightly rails serves no one but the self-serving curs who suckle at the public teat. The responsibility for this punishing and unsustainable spending lies with those who control the purse strings. Mr. Biddle's barbs are better aimed at these local and state politicians; they are not acting in the best interests of their constituents. Corruption has deep and historical roots, but this does not excuse the shirking of their responsibility to their offices or the people. Not all local, state and federal officials are unethical or spineless, but too few stand up to unions. If the reasons politicians cave to unreasonable union demands be cowardice, avarice or other, it matters not. The officials are not carrying out their duties; their actions are either unprincipled or unethical. As voters we can let these officials know that the fault lies not in the unions but in themselves. We are to vote them out or the ultimate responsibility lies with us; still the crushing debt lies in waiting for future generations. If we leave such a legacy, how will the future judge us?
I don't trust the government for much, but I do trust they will
spend money without responsibility or principle.
-- Ira M. Kessel
Rochester, New York
The simple answer is pensions must be funded annually and responsibly managed, the culprit is not the teacher, or, the union, it is the state elected officials who "stole" from teachers by under funding pension systems.
Health/welfare benefits for retirees are a similar issue ... after 20 or 20 or 40 years of service the teacher receives retiree medical benefits, the burden for the employer is greatly reduced after the member is eligible for Medicare.
To reward mismanagement by reducing benefits is
unthinkable.
-- Peter Goodman
OBAMA THE GREAT
Re: Philip Klein's Panetta the Spy:
Put on your Alexander the Great thinking cap to understand Obama. Instead of arrows in Obama’s quiver, you will find words (as most lawyers believe) contain his real sense of power.
Panetta may be able to create and maintain a breathing, operational structure within the CIA. However, if what you want are true creative energies being applied to the intelligence needs of America, perhaps Obama should have looked elsewhere. Time will tell, especially if we suffer a crisis where the CIA is deeply needed to act and respond.
Pay attention to those who screw things up for Obama. See how fast and when they get kicked under the bus. Action speaks much louder than words. Isn’t that what your Mother taught you?
Leadership, like diamonds, has many facets. Great leadership always highlights such. Obama thinks he is great. So did Alexander.
Unfortunately for those of us still living, we will only understand this declamatory vison as we live…or die, through the Obama presidency.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (28) | Leave a comment
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frost| 1.13.09 @ 7:38AM
Oh, would that Dr. Halvenston be right?!? But, no, I fear not; we're being outvoted by those who seek "Something-for-Nothing" and those sanctimonious social-planners who'd prefer to inflict their version of a "brave-new-world" on we producers. We're in serious trouble, and the sheer numbers are stacked very much against us.
Troy| 1.13.09 @ 8:36AM
Wow, Mimi, that was beautiful.
Alan Brooks| 1.13.09 @ 11:16AM
a libertarian should not work as a teacher, hes rationalizing to think he can change anything by being a libertarian teacher.
And what does he mean teachers unions dont represent the state? and vice versa.
he works for a govt monopoly! Good lord what games are going on in his pedant's head. no wonder he isnt a professor.
libertarians are more dishonest to themselves than govt is to them.
sound bitter? you betcha. this isnt ben 'n' jerry's love-in blog.
Alan Brooks| 1.13.09 @ 11:49AM
and he mentions police and firefighters. sheesh
teachers are nothing next to them.
publik teachers should all be paid nothing but room and board.
frost| 1.13.09 @ 11:53AM
Sorry, Alan, your logic leaves bunches to be desired. My wife's a Libertarian college professor with Ph.D. (Business) and a few other Masters, and she also was stuck having to be a part of a stupid union. Ira from Rochester has always sounded like a lucid winner in all his previous postings (although he was a might verbose here), and I sympathize with him. I, too, might be called a Libertarian - - except for two things, their policy on illegal immigration, and on American foreign policy. Illegal aliens have gotta stop; they must cross our borders properly, as our grandfathers did - and we're committed: we must follow through and complete the Iraqi thing.
Alan, try reading a little more before opening yourself to ridicule, 'ay?
Dustoff| 1.13.09 @ 12:18PM
Alan
As a retired Fire fighter myself. I must say YOUR wrong. I have no problem paying good teachers.
I just don't want the government doing it.
By the way, there is also lazy fire fighters too.
IMKessel| 1.13.09 @ 4:43PM
Frost,
Thank you for the defense and kind words. (Verbose? Really?)
Mr. Brooks, I don’t accept anyone else’s shoulds. (“Don’t should on me, and I won’t should on you.”) As for rationalizing about making a difference, I didn’t offer any reasons for my teaching other than monetary compensation and benefits. I made no mention of making a difference in anyone’s life. (Though, truth be out, by exposing my charges to alternative thinking, I do make a difference. Thank you for your concern.)
As for teacher unions not representing the state, how can I be clearer? The union zealously represents the interests of its members. Their concern is not how the state gains revenues or balances their books; the unions' concern is getting paid and being respected.
In regards to other fine public representative, yes, teachers are exactly that. Fine public servants. I am also proudly a war veteran. (No need to thank me. Uncle Sam paid me already.) The point was, and remains, even public servants deserve to be paid for services rendered. (From your response, I can see that some teachers may not have provided much service to some students. But then again, some houses do burn down despite heroic efforts of the fire department.)
Lastly, I have fully supported vouchers for years. I work in the public sector because the pay and benefits are superior to the private sector. Ideally, a completely privatized educational system will eventually replace the decrepit system we have now, but as a student of Plato pointed out, the ideal chair may be in heaven, but I need to sit here on earth. I work for a living and make no apologies for doing so.
frost| 1.13.09 @ 8:19PM
That was kinda "tongue-in-cheek," Ira, as you're normally very brief (more so than I) and concise.
We probably agree 96.4% of the time.....
Gazinya| 1.13.09 @ 10:25PM
Unions that depend on taxes taken by cities, counties, states should be the most pro business people out there. Unfortunately, the bigger the union the dumber the union. Most, or all, are democrate and they bow down to the 'big boys' in Washington who are anti business. Throw out the old union bosses or downgrade the union to local control. Screw the Internationals.
ruth| 1.14.09 @ 1:49AM
Unions might represent their members, but they have become another arm of the democrat party. Because of this they impact our elections and our government.
Chuck| 1.14.09 @ 6:26PM
I just wanted to respond to Ira M. Kessel's above take on Teacher Unions. Ira, my position is that if you are a very good teacher, "Having a powerful union is" not in your best interest. You will not get the most you can get, or what you deserve because you are unable to bargain on your own. and the union is not working for you, but all the teacher's, including the crappy ones who do not even deserve what they are already getting. You are being represented as a whole group, not as an individual with your own merits and accomplishments. So while I agree with points about government irresponsibility, I cannot go along with your portrayal of how a strong union is in your best interest. Unless you were a bad teacher.
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