Teachers' Unions...The New Mafia

For the life of me, I cannot understand why the evil, tyrannical, power-obsessed Teachers’ Unions are so anti-education. They care nothing about enlightening our children and have not for decades.

I say this as a State of California credentialed teacher. As a child of the 60’s, I went into Education because I wanted to Save the World. It sounds rather foolish now, especially with the current state of public education. I have watched its slow deterioration year after year. The same can be said for the universities.  

Back when I began my career, I assumed everyone in my field had the same goal; educate the young people and we will all live in a better world. After a lifetime of watching the grift, hypocrisy, and outright thug tactics of the unions, I am not sure if that was ever true.

Anyone with even a few brain cells realizes the horrific damage being done to our students who, in California public schools, have been out of the classroom for nearly a year. Common sense would tell you what the statistics prove: increased depression and suicides, loss of socialization skills, one year of learning down the drain. These are ony a few of the consequences that may very well have a life-time negative effect on our children. And for what? 

When did educators become Mafia enforcers? That is the only logical way in which they can be viewed. Their resolute stance to keep schools closed is in exact opposition to what I had once believed was the motto of the profession: educate the masses. 

A quick look at the curriculum now offered in this State would make one cringe. Nevertheless, I would gladly overlook that disaster if only the kids were allowed back in the classrooms. In many districts, the quality of learning will be as woeful as it has been for ages, but it far outweighs the damage done by locking kids in thier homes. 

My only hope is that parents will finally wake up to the gangster-like tactics of the unions that care nothing about the well-being of their charges. Parents and guardians have a collective power that can take down the unions. 

California State Propositions Nov 2020

One needs to have a modicum of intelligence, and a fair amount of time, to sort through all of the State of California’s propositions that come up every election cycle. This being a presidential election year, there are thirteen initiatives on the ballot.

The State sent out its Official Voter Information Guide a few weeks ago. The quick reference guide in the front of the pamphlet is somewhat informative, but often quite unclear. To be properly informed, one must read the arguments, for and against, see who is endorsing what, read the State’s fiscal analysis, and often do further research. It takes time. Most people I know do not bother. Rather, they rely on the Voting Guides they receive in the mail.

Possibly, if I lived in another area, I might receive voter information from both sides of any given argument. But I don’t. I live in a socialist, brain-dead zip code, where the intelligentsia, and more than a few very wealthy tech folks, reside. It still surprises me that they do not accept diversity of thought.

My counter is filled with voting guides from Teachers’ unions, the AFL-CIO, local politicians, and no doubt I’ll receive more from similar-minded organizations. I realize that any groups with differing opinions feel it is not cost-effective to mail out voting information to my area, but couldn’t they at least try to present an opposing view?  Maybe a few voters would take a look.

I suppose these brochures are helpful if I am not quite sure what a given initiative entails. If the Teacher’s Union is for it, I am against it. (Side note: I am still a State of CA credentialed teacher and have been so for decades. I know whereof I speak.)

For anyone who does not live in The Golden State, and wants a bit of insight on why we have been descending deeper into the Nine Circles of Hell for several decades, peruse what is on the menu for the State this year. Lots of government control and millions and millions of dollars which the State does not have.

 

14 – Authorizes Bonds Continuing Stem Cell Research – Total estimated Cost: $7.8 Billion ($260 million a year for roughly the next 30 years.)

15 – Funding for Public Schools, Community Colleges, Local Government Services by Changing Tax Assessment on Commercial and Industrial Property – Cost to Property Owners $6.5 - $11.5 Billion

16 – Permits government decision-making policies to consider race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin to address diversity by repealing constitutional provision prohibiting such policies.  (i.e., racism in its finest form.)

17 – Restores Right to Vote after Completion of Prison Term, (but before completing Parole, which is part of a sentence.)

18 – Gives 17-year-olds the right to vote in a primary if they will turn 18 by next general election.   Cost up to $1 million

19 – Changes Certain Property Tax Rules.  Removes two voter-approved taxpayer protections form the State Constitution.   (Takes away Prop 13-related protections which states that: Property transferred from parents to children/grandparents to grandchildren are excluded from reassessment.)

20 – Restricts Parole for Certain Offenses/Authorizes Felony Sentences for Current Misdemeanors. (This is one of those crazy initiatives that leaves one’s head spinning). Bottom line: Cost Estimate: $10’s of millions annually.

21 – Expands Local Governments’ Authority to Enact Rent Control on Residential Property.    Cost: (it’s time to sell up and get out if you own rental property.)

22 – Exempts App-Based Transportation and Delivery Companies from Providing Employee Benefits to Certain Drivers.   (Keeps Uber and Lyft Drivers, etc., independent contractors.)

23 – Establishes State Requirements for Kidney Dialysis Clinics.   (Big Brother CA takes over Dialysis Clinics) Estimated Health Care Costs: $10’s - $100’s of millions annually

24 – Amends Consumer Privacy Laws.  (sounds good but the text is very concerning.  Be warned: Big Tech had a huge part in developing this initiative.)

25 – Referendum on Law That Replaced Money Bail with System Based on Public Safety.  (Get out of jail free card – no bail requirements.)

 

I find this all so depressing. I drive through town and see the homeless camps, the filth, the intolerance. I see the money wasted on schools, projects that never come to fruition, and politicians' salaries who only care about power. I cannot forsee a time when California will come back from the brink.

Yes, It is time to leave.