A SOLDIER'S PERSPECTIVE
THE WEB'S LEADING MILITARY BLOG SINCE 2004
Unless you live under a rock, you’re most likely aware of the idiocy going on in states like Wisconsin and Indiana where cowardly Democratic lawmakers are fleeing instead of doing their jobs and voting on bills or representing their people. This isn’t a new Liberal tactic. In 2003, Texas Democrats pulled the same stunt.
“We’re here in Ardmore, Oklahoma, because the real problems of Texas are budget problems, are school finance problems, are health care problems that are being cast aside because of a power play by Tom DeLay,” Rep. Jim Dunnam, the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus said. “We are here trying to get Texas government back on the right path.”
In order to force those legislatures back to their jobs, Governor Rick Perry cut off their government credit cards, forcing them to rely on their own finances instead of a taxpayer funded walkout. It worked.
Now, we see the same thing happening in Wisconsin. Instead of doing their jobs, Democrat lawmakers in the state have fled like yellow-bellied cowards instead of just vote no! They didn’t seem to mind the treatment of Republicans in the US House and Senate the past few years when they were doing the same thing and yet not one Republican failed to show up for work.
I read a story today that Wisconsin lawmakers have agreed to advance the budget and found one quote particular funny in both its ignorance and hypocrisy:
So far, the Assembly has taken up 50 amendments, with the only one passing a Republican-authored amendment from the Joint Finance Committee. All the other amendments were from Democrats, and all those failed on basic party line votes.
Republicans hold a 57-38 majority in the Assembly.
Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, said there are concerns on the minority side with limiting the process.
“You can’t limit democracy. You have to let the process happen,” Pocan said.
How exactly is leaving the state to prevent ANYTHING from happening forwarding democracy?
Any lawmaker that skips town to protest bills – Republican, Democrat or otherwise – is a coward and should be immediately impeached from office. Each state should pass laws that ban this type of childish behavior in its elected representatives. Much like schools require students to miss no more than a set amount of days of unexcused absenses before being considered truant, the same should apply to lawmakers – only more strict. They should adopt similar rules to that of the military: AWOL after 24 hours (although technically a Soldier is AWOL the moment he fails to show up at an appointed place and time) and dropped from roles after a set number of days!
This sort of behavior in America is simply unacceptable and should not be tolerated.
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to Anonn, thank you. i thought so. i just want a clear picture of his
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New Scam to be aware of……….I am 2LT. Anderson Darrell Clinton , an off
Anatomy of a Military Dating Scam
New Scam to be aware of……….I am 2LT. Anderson Darrell Clinton , an off
[UPDATE] The "Face" of Military Dating Scams - The Wall of Shame
New Scam to be aware of……….I am 2LT. Anderson Darrell Clinton , an off
Lisa Schmidt
AMEN to that! I am on the fence when it comes to the bill and politically I consider myself an Independent, but the behavior of our Democratic senators is reprehensible and is extremely childish. “I can’t have my way so I’m not going to play” type thing. They were elected to do a job and they need to step up and do it. So much for leadership.
hfetterhoff
would you walk into a minefield without any type of detection equipment? Why then would you want the union members to go in with no collective bargaining measures to protect themselves. They have conceded to both measures Governor Walker requested and he still wants to bleed that turnip. When we walked out on England’s bad treatment of the citizenry, were we wrong? Were we extremely childish? Were we cowards? Give debate a chance.
CJ
Because public employees SHOULDN’T HAVE collective bargaining abilities. It is a conflict of interest as public employees using tax dollars to get paid. Yes, you Dems are cowards. You ran away from the process. So what if you don’t like the bill. Vote against it. Even if you lose, maybe that means you should do better in the next election cycle and fix it! The PEOPLE voted against unions and the Dems have to accept that instead of crying and hiding in a corner. “If I can’t have the toy, no one can.”
Stephen
There’s more democracy in collective bargaining than there is in a thousand congresses. Any person who labors should be able to stand up for himself — and that goes for soldiers like yourself.
No one can vote against a union, just as no one can vote for unions. You don’t get handed rights, you assert and defend them. People are their own authority.
CJ
It is a conflict of interests for public employees to be unionized. No government worker should be allowed to unionize. There’s nothing democratic about being forced to pay union dues.
Steve
No one is forced to pay union dues. It’s a conservative urban legend. As both a federal and state employee I was not required to join any union. People who did not join were not harassed in any way, shape or form.
CJ
Are in Wisconsin? Didn’t think so. Wisconsin public employees are required to pay union dues. That is why one of the reforms from Governor Walker is to allow employees to opt out of these dues.
Steve
No,are you? Have you ever been in a civil service position? Didn’t think so.
CJ
You’re just wrong Steve. Public employees in the state ARE required to pay union dues.
Steve
Why would public employees in Wisconsin be required to pay union dues but not Pennsylvania?
When I worked for the state I was given the OPTION of joining SEIU. People who do not join the union are required to pay what is called “fair share” which covers the unions expenses for collective bargaining and other activities exclusive of political activity. The fair share is almost the full cost of union dues because contrary to popular belief a fairly small portion of dues goes to political activity.
When I was a cop we were not required to join the police union. Some officers were involved in a shooting. The G decided it was not politically expedient to back the officers and so would not provide legal defense. Unfortunately, both officers had decided to opt out of the union, which would have covered their legal expenses. They had to pay out of pocket. Maybe, they too, thought it was a conflict of interest for public employees to belong to a union but I bet if they could go back in time they would join.
CJ
Ummm, because Wisconsin isn’t Pennsylvania maybe?
Steve
Are you saying federal law does not apply in Wisconsin?
http://www.nrtw.org/a/a_1_p.htm
CJ
Did you even read your own link? Yeah, didn’t think so. Hell, the second sentence negated your while contention. This isn’t difficult. If you actually do some research, you’ll see how much time you’ve wasted trying to defend this pathetic argument.
Steve
There is a difference between paying membership DUES and the FEE for Fair Share. Which is exactly what I wrote in an earlier reply. The link only proves my point.
CJ
I’m not gonna play tidily-wink word games with you. They are forced to pay money – I don’t care what you call it – for unions. Dues, fees, taxes-I don’t care and they shouldn’t be forced to pay it! Damn, THIS was your entire defense?!
Steve
They want all the benefits of collective bargaining/unions but they don’t want to pay anything for it, got it.
CJ
I didn’t say that and neither of us know that. What I DO know is that no one should be forced to pay unions if they don’t want to. Public service unions are unnecessary and wasteful.
Steve
I don’t want to pay for the V-22, it’s unnecessary, wasteful, and it doesn’t work, but I’m stuck paying for it. My kids don’t play sports but I’m stuck paying for an artificial turf field that was unnecessary and contributes to injured players.
CJ
What’s your point? That doesn’t even compare to CHOOSING a public service job. T if the people want to be represented by a union, find another job. Your comparison is anything but. Careful, your liberal is showing.
Steve
I had to join the officers club and I don’t even drink.
CJ
No you didn’t, any more than I have to contribute to the mandatory cup and flower fund for senior NCOs and officers.
Steve
I tried not joining and I was chastised by my chain of command.
CJ
I get chastised for not doing all the “senior NCO/officer” stuff too. I just don’t care.
Steve
well, that’s the luxury of being a senior NCO nearing retirement vs being a new 2LT.
CJ
Not really. I’ve been shunning these “mandatory” donations since I came in. I still have four years left to retirement. I’m not “safe” for another two years.
Steve
When I got to my first unit I went to report in to the S1. I kid you not, his very first words to me were, “I am in charge of the cup and flower fund which you will be joining”!?!?! Not “welcome to the unit” or “nice to meet you”or “I am CPT SOandSO”. As a matter of fact he never introduced himself. In my mind he was always Cpt Cupnflower. I think it’s Dutch.