Baumblog EST 1968 - A blog for the Baumbachs who originated in Syracuse, NY

If there is one part of the Democratic Party I'd love to see thrown out, it's organized labor unions. Especially labor groups like the education labor union in Wisconsin. They're easily this bad here in NY, too. They're a big reason our school taxes are out of freaking control.

I'm all for spending money on education--but not on giving teachers better benefits that we in the private sector have.

That said, I don't think much of any of the other unions out there either. Definitely not just a teacher thing.

The minute the fiscal conservatives bail on the GOP and create their own party, I'm there. And don't try to tell me that's the Conservative Party, Steve. :)

Geoff said about 4 hours later

It's the Libertarian Party, GJ. ;)
GJ said about 5 hours later

No, it's not. The Libertarians are basically anarchists. They don't want government. They say they do--they want government to protect the rights of the individual, period. However, government must step on individual rights occasionally, because government is of a *group* of people by a *group* of people. There is a concept of the "greater good" that does indeed involve infringing the rights of some individuals.

The government does indeed go overboard with this. The Patriot Act is a good example--as was Prohibition. There are plenty of other examples. There are also plenty of examples where most people would agree that the government does have a right to intervene. Licensing and regulation of motor vehicles and drivers is something most of us support, I would think. That includes forcing us to obtain car insurance--not that different than forcing us to obtain health insurance, depending on how you look at it.

Anyhow, unless my reading comprehension skills have dropped, the libertarians have such a generic anti-government platform that technically they oppose things like auto regulation. They definitely have a beef with health care reform. :)

So, no thanks, no Libertarian Party for me.

Steve said 12 days later

agreed, most public school teachers make a lot of money. Some are certainly worth it. Others are not.

Don't get me started on unions.....their time has past. Well, their location has past. They should be moving to Asia, where unions are needed for what they were good at - fighting for the safety and proper treatment of their industrial working members.
GJ said 12 days later

Good point on location, Steve--they are certainly needed in parts of the world. Here in the US, I think not.