Jon Stewart just keeps getting better-and-better with his commentary on the American socio-political landscape (though I’ve noticed that he doesn’t bring-it-on-home in quite the same manner with foreign affairs). In fact, just-the-other-day, Jon did a side-splitting, undie soaking expose on the current conservative attacks on teachers. Probably the classic statistic that conservative TV hosts harped upon concerned the average salaries of teachers ($51,000) and the $25,000 that goes towards benefits (which any teacher will tell you we need more than any other public servant [we are exposed to every contagion imaginable in-the-trenches]) – hardly a fortune.
The first thing I ask my wannabe teachers at CSUN is: Are you nuts?! Why would you want to be scapegoated by scumsucking parents, media and administrators – none-of-whom credit their teachers for providing them the voice with which to attack us (teachers [what exquisite irony])?! (This being the second question I pose.) Ironically, most teachers join the profession inspired by, and seeking to emulate, their former teachers – and definitely NOT for monetary gain (perhaps vacations do play a small role in the selection of this profession).
The folks in Wisconsin are true revolutionary heroes – and I hope they can stay the course and not get derailed by cock-sucking, clit licking judges (why does that remind me of Dubya’s alleged presidential victory?). ..Because I can’t fight alongside the Cheeseheads, against the bourgeois currently showing their faces in Wisconsin, I’m writing this OP-ED in support of us unionized folk (besides, I don’t know anyone in Wisconsin whom I could stay with for the duration)!
Someone wrote a rather brilliant letter to my beloved Times the-other-day – outlining the benefits unions have provided over-the-years: one Bigee being: the struggle to bring female wages to-a-par-with male wages. And, I believe that U can line up all the corrupt union bosses of the 20th and fledgling 21st century, and they still wouldn’t have creamed off as much money as a single, robber oil-baron CEO.
Yet my folks continue to watch Fox News and continue to be conditioned by Fox’s anti-union propaganda (who protects the Fox workers [how are their medical benefits handled?] – do they just get-thrown-under-the-boss, er, bus, when their-time-is-up?). The folks continue to send me Tea Party-and Fox-inspired articles that blame America’s travails on the unions.
I counter with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as possibly bankrupting the U.S. coffers – I also mention outsourcing and major corporate subsidies. But somehow, my contentions don’t muster enough moxie to get the folks (or any other conservative for that matter) to look elsewhere for the economic disabling forces that have undermined America’s international, monetary hegemony.
My father complains that as management – he was shut out from life-long medical benefits – unlike the rank-and-file of Generous Motors…I told him that management should have got a “me too” clause. But, when I queried as to how Brother Paul got a cozy, well-paying union job – my Pops had to admit that he placed a call to the personnel office (apparently the union could still be influenced by management).
Well, teachers…I guess it’s time to throw-in-the-towel – time to pay back our easily-earned fortunes and throw those monies back into the taxpayer bucket – where you know Uncle Sam will take great care with the surplus and distribute it to the poorest of the poor – whose numbers grow daily as the middle class disappears…
My credit union is closing their local branch – I thought the luverly workers would merely be transferred – but they’re being thrown under the bus, er, bosses…