Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Anyone who receives a direct, material benefit from the governement should NOT be allowed to vote. I don't mean citizens who use the roads, parks, courts or swim in Lake Mead. I mean those who have a financial stake in BIG government.
No more federal voting rights for those who work for (or retired from) Uncle Sam or its contractors. No federal voting rights for those who receive FICA or Medicare, Section 8 vouchers, food stamps, etc. No more federal voting rights for workers/retirees for/from the DoD (or its contractors), the Depts of this-&-that, etc. Active duty US Military OK (it's debatable).
No more state voting rights for workers/retirees of the NV government (or its contractors). Disenfranchise CCSD employees/contractors, NSHE employees/contractors/students, UMC workers and ER patients, employees/contractors of NVDOT/NHP/NVDMV/etc.
No more state voting rights for members of special interest groups which receive government-sanctioned, monopoly protection which affords them economic advantage. Deregister union members, Attorneys, Physicians, PE's, RE brokers, etc.
The coalition for BIG government counts all these favorees as members. In toto ~10% of voters in this state. An unbeatable, self-interested bloc.
Actually, that 10% figure is just the BIG government, inner-orbit coalition (employees, contractors, & PERS). Many more voting bodies are in BIG goverment outer-orbit.
NV VOTING AGE POPULATION: 1.87M
# of NV VOTERS WHO ARE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES: ~123,000
In FY '07, in this state, on avg, each month, 92,353 people received gov benefits such as Mental Health services & food stamps. No way of knowing how many of them are current public employees.
168,197 were eligible for Medicaid.
According to NSHE's budget request, in FY '07 NSHE served 61,322 students, > 90% undergraduates. ~85% of them are NV residents.
~250,000 of our residents are eligible for FICA/Medicare.
Small government doesn't stand a chance!
** Statistics taken from gov pubs, NPRI, RGJ, etc.
Showing posts with label Public_Unions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Public_Unions. Show all posts
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Disenfranchise Public Union Members
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
The ESEA is the second largest union in the district with about 12,000 members. Every one of them VOTES. As a bloc. What politician can afford to oppose them? You could make the same argument about all the other public employee unions in this state.
We give teachers, firefighters, etc a legal, protected monopoly. They shouldn't be able to use their monopoly wages and key voting strength to extort even more blood out of the taxpayers.
A casino union (like Culinary) should use its own capital to buy a controlling stake in MGM, and then replace the CEO with someone who will give them 10% annual raises. AFAIK, that's perfectly legal. Why don't they?
Because non-union shareholders would dump the stock. The share price would fall to book value. The union would take a bath. Public unions leverage their political and financial strength to control the crooked politicians. Taxpayers' only recourse is to dump their homes.
That's why you can't give voting rights to *public* union members.
The ESEA is the second largest union in the district with about 12,000 members. Every one of them VOTES. As a bloc. What politician can afford to oppose them? You could make the same argument about all the other public employee unions in this state.
We give teachers, firefighters, etc a legal, protected monopoly. They shouldn't be able to use their monopoly wages and key voting strength to extort even more blood out of the taxpayers.
A casino union (like Culinary) should use its own capital to buy a controlling stake in MGM, and then replace the CEO with someone who will give them 10% annual raises. AFAIK, that's perfectly legal. Why don't they?
Because non-union shareholders would dump the stock. The share price would fall to book value. The union would take a bath. Public unions leverage their political and financial strength to control the crooked politicians. Taxpayers' only recourse is to dump their homes.
That's why you can't give voting rights to *public* union members.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
CCSD: One HUGE Conflict-of-Interest
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Public education is a *political* institution. It's all about
Besides, the true constituency for education fled to the private schools long ago.
Those of you who believe that CCSD is about "the kids" need look no further than all the ridiculous, self-interested unions which fight tooth-&-nail to keep their good things going. And this is just the stuff that we can see.
The sort of crooked deals which go on among Legislators, Board Members, BIG political donors (representing special interests in construction, finance, textbooks, food service, etc), in expensive restaurants here in LV, up in Carson City, and even at exclusive tropical resorts, I can only imagine.
Public education is a *political* institution. It's all about
- Retainers to politically connected law firms.
- Lucrative union contracts.
- Lawsuits for shysters.
- Sinecures for friends.
Besides, the true constituency for education fled to the private schools long ago.
Those of you who believe that CCSD is about "the kids" need look no further than all the ridiculous, self-interested unions which fight tooth-&-nail to keep their good things going. And this is just the stuff that we can see.
The sort of crooked deals which go on among Legislators, Board Members, BIG political donors (representing special interests in construction, finance, textbooks, food service, etc), in expensive restaurants here in LV, up in Carson City, and even at exclusive tropical resorts, I can only imagine.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Hey CCSD Parents: Demand A Revenue Share!
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
CCSD makes >$10,000 per kid. Students receive little education value in return.
Hey >20 parents from Glen Taylor, Twitchell and Vanderburg. Threaten to pull your kids OUT of CCSD unless it revenue shares. The way it already does with its unions. In the aggregate, over your kids' dubious CCSD careers, they represent >$1.2M in state revenue for CCSD. It can't afford to lose you. It'll find a way to accomodate you.
CCSD makes >$10,000 per kid. Students receive little education value in return.
Hey >20 parents from Glen Taylor, Twitchell and Vanderburg. Threaten to pull your kids OUT of CCSD unless it revenue shares. The way it already does with its unions. In the aggregate, over your kids' dubious CCSD careers, they represent >$1.2M in state revenue for CCSD. It can't afford to lose you. It'll find a way to accomodate you.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
CCSD For Union Convenience
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Private busineses operate during hours most convenient to their customers. Employee scheduling and compensation are adjusted accordingly. Nobody cares.
Government control of education means that even decisions which should be decided by objective measures of customer response -- ie how many students sign up for midnight chemistry -- get *politicized*. The paramount focus on customer convenience gets lost in the debate about air conditioning, bussing, union work rules and PERS.
It would be like Southwest scheduling all their flights to LAS to arrive between 0745-0930 and depart between 1445-1730. Shareholders would *revolt* if management was paralyzed over the foolish question of whether such obviously rigid scheduling should operate for 9 months or year round.
Private busineses operate during hours most convenient to their customers. Employee scheduling and compensation are adjusted accordingly. Nobody cares.
Government control of education means that even decisions which should be decided by objective measures of customer response -- ie how many students sign up for midnight chemistry -- get *politicized*. The paramount focus on customer convenience gets lost in the debate about air conditioning, bussing, union work rules and PERS.
It would be like Southwest scheduling all their flights to LAS to arrive between 0745-0930 and depart between 1445-1730. Shareholders would *revolt* if management was paralyzed over the foolish question of whether such obviously rigid scheduling should operate for 9 months or year round.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
CCSD 6th Grader Packs Heat
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
An Ed Von Tobel Middle School student was arrested Tuesday for having a gun at school, Clark County School District police said.
CCSD should come with warning labels. Where did she hide the ammo?
Little Bonnie Parker is a very valuable commodity. She represents as much as six more years of state funding cash flows. Extra bucks if she qualifies for special ed; too valuable to expel. She'll just be quietly moved to another school in the area. But not to a rich, predominantly WHITE school.
Rich kids get superior facilities, the best teachers and AP courses. Poor kids get football, metal detectors, and "culturally sensitive" instruction.
An Ed Von Tobel Middle School student was arrested Tuesday for having a gun at school, Clark County School District police said.
CCSD should come with warning labels. Where did she hide the ammo?
Little Bonnie Parker is a very valuable commodity. She represents as much as six more years of state funding cash flows. Extra bucks if she qualifies for special ed; too valuable to expel. She'll just be quietly moved to another school in the area. But not to a rich, predominantly WHITE school.
Rich kids get superior facilities, the best teachers and AP courses. Poor kids get football, metal detectors, and "culturally sensitive" instruction.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Busybody Politicians Want Annual Sessions
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Article 4 §29 limited regular sessions to 60 days. That's right. Unfortunately, in '58 the BIG government special interests convinced voters to repeal it.
If we had small government in this state biennial sessions would last only four to five days. Like a business conference. Even guys as busy as Wynn could afford to take time off from work to serve. Legislators would get paid $200; no PERS or per-diem. Like their counterparts in New Hampshire.
Of course, since our busybody lawmakers try to control as many aspects of the lives of 2.7M Nevadans as they can think of, even a 24x7 365 legislature would feel time constrained to them.
Article 4 §29 limited regular sessions to 60 days. That's right. Unfortunately, in '58 the BIG government special interests convinced voters to repeal it.
If we had small government in this state biennial sessions would last only four to five days. Like a business conference. Even guys as busy as Wynn could afford to take time off from work to serve. Legislators would get paid $200; no PERS or per-diem. Like their counterparts in New Hampshire.
Of course, since our busybody lawmakers try to control as many aspects of the lives of 2.7M Nevadans as they can think of, even a 24x7 365 legislature would feel time constrained to them.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Education LAST
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
For Fibbons, "Education First" means his highest priority is to shovel money to GOP (donor) firms who do business with the school districts. For example, construction contractors, testing services, Big Pharma, municipal bond underwriters, and so forth.
For Buckfee it means shoveling education money to the DEM constituencies. Unions, lawyers, counselors, LGBT, nutrition, etc.
Public education is a *political* institution.
For parents who want their kids to actually *learn* something, "education first" means sacrificing to send their kids to PRIVATE schools.
For Fibbons, "Education First" means his highest priority is to shovel money to GOP (donor) firms who do business with the school districts. For example, construction contractors, testing services, Big Pharma, municipal bond underwriters, and so forth.
For Buckfee it means shoveling education money to the DEM constituencies. Unions, lawyers, counselors, LGBT, nutrition, etc.
Public education is a *political* institution.
For parents who want their kids to actually *learn* something, "education first" means sacrificing to send their kids to PRIVATE schools.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Does Nevada Have The Fewest State Employees Per Resident?
Originally posted in a LVRJ forum
You really can't compare states in a uniform manner. For instance, some states might classify their public education workers as state employees. Others might not. Some states are constitutionally BIG government. Lotteries, Authorities, income tax agents, etc. Larger ratios reflect a big government culture as well as poor fiscal management.
A government should be "rated" on whether it's as small as it can be. Under our constitution, Nevada small government could be legally had for a biennial budget as low as $80M/yr. That's right. Currently, Nevada spending is running ~$2.5B/yr (in line with revenues). That's ~30X the minimum.
Are we as good as we can be?
Not even close.
You really can't compare states in a uniform manner. For instance, some states might classify their public education workers as state employees. Others might not. Some states are constitutionally BIG government. Lotteries, Authorities, income tax agents, etc. Larger ratios reflect a big government culture as well as poor fiscal management.
A government should be "rated" on whether it's as small as it can be. Under our constitution, Nevada small government could be legally had for a biennial budget as low as $80M/yr. That's right. Currently, Nevada spending is running ~$2.5B/yr (in line with revenues). That's ~30X the minimum.
Are we as good as we can be?
Not even close.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Why Public Schools Exist
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Public education in this state was set up as a "safety net". The constitutional minimum is one little red schoolhouse per district (18 statewide). Attendance was optional by default. Yet
The special interests should save your political activism for your private clubs or RJ Forums.
*Public* schools should do one thing and one thing only. Teach the 3R's. Let me know when CCSD figures out how to do that.
Public education in this state was set up as a "safety net". The constitutional minimum is one little red schoolhouse per district (18 statewide). Attendance was optional by default. Yet
- veterans want it to build memorials
- union members want it to make jobs
- football fanatics want it to score touchdowns
- consultants and municipal bond underwriters want it to generate fees
- (Draft) Board members want it to make "statements"
- and on and on and on
The special interests should save your political activism for your private clubs or RJ Forums.
*Public* schools should do one thing and one thing only. Teach the 3R's. Let me know when CCSD figures out how to do that.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Public Schools For The Public Unions
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
The district is negotiating contracts with the four unions representing teachers, administrators, support staff and police officers.
Everyone knows unions exist to protect the jobs and pay of the membership. Public unions represent a very dangerous constituency for big government. They donate money and campaign workers to political candidates. They vote as a bloc. Very few politicians can afford to oppose them. The constituency for the 3R's, if such a thing even exists, is no match for them. It's a lot less risky for the crooked politicians to just vote for higher taxes.
"Doctor" Rulffes is just another politician. It's obvious that his job depends on union support. He'll do whatever he can to keep them happy, actions which must come at the expense of students.
Abolish public education. Many economy-priced private schools will come onstream to satisfy the demand for education services. Those business owners won't have any time for union politics, because higher costs will drive them out of business. Once those education union bureaucrats are cutoff from public money, they'll be exposed as the leeches they are.
The district is negotiating contracts with the four unions representing teachers, administrators, support staff and police officers.
Everyone knows unions exist to protect the jobs and pay of the membership. Public unions represent a very dangerous constituency for big government. They donate money and campaign workers to political candidates. They vote as a bloc. Very few politicians can afford to oppose them. The constituency for the 3R's, if such a thing even exists, is no match for them. It's a lot less risky for the crooked politicians to just vote for higher taxes.
"Doctor" Rulffes is just another politician. It's obvious that his job depends on union support. He'll do whatever he can to keep them happy, actions which must come at the expense of students.
Abolish public education. Many economy-priced private schools will come onstream to satisfy the demand for education services. Those business owners won't have any time for union politics, because higher costs will drive them out of business. Once those education union bureaucrats are cutoff from public money, they'll be exposed as the leeches they are.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Horsefurd Lobbies For Employment Training. His Own Firms Stands To Benefit.
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Horseford wants to use stimulus funds to train about 3,200 workers, including unemployed people, at an average cost of $3,500
You know this crook Horsefurd owns an employment training firm, don't you? You know that the unions support him, don't you? You know that "prevailing wage" protects union workers from low-priced competition. Of course you knew that Republican senators all voted YEA.
Horseford wants to use stimulus funds to train about 3,200 workers, including unemployed people, at an average cost of $3,500
You know this crook Horsefurd owns an employment training firm, don't you? You know that the unions support him, don't you? You know that "prevailing wage" protects union workers from low-priced competition. Of course you knew that Republican senators all voted YEA.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Abolish PERS
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
BIG government creates big fiscal problems -- especially with future liabilities.
It's bad enough when a fiduciarily responsible government sets aside ever increasing amounts to cover future pension obligations ("pay as you go"). It's a *crime* for the scheming politicians to push those obligations into the future ("unfunded liabilities"). That's a ticking time bomb!
It's time for taxpayers who work in the private sector to *demand* that PERS be abolished. I would even favor Nevada not paying one additional cent to *current* PERS beneficiaries. There's no ethical issue. Those people have used their political influence to rob taxpayers for *decades*. It's no different than telling a thug: "Don't shoot. I'll give you $10,000!". You evade him. He sues. What jury would hold you to it?
If we had small government in this state, the budget for the biennium could be as low as $160M (down from the $6.9B the Republicrats enacted last June). No more state pensions. No more IEDs!
BIG government creates big fiscal problems -- especially with future liabilities.
It's bad enough when a fiduciarily responsible government sets aside ever increasing amounts to cover future pension obligations ("pay as you go"). It's a *crime* for the scheming politicians to push those obligations into the future ("unfunded liabilities"). That's a ticking time bomb!
It's time for taxpayers who work in the private sector to *demand* that PERS be abolished. I would even favor Nevada not paying one additional cent to *current* PERS beneficiaries. There's no ethical issue. Those people have used their political influence to rob taxpayers for *decades*. It's no different than telling a thug: "Don't shoot. I'll give you $10,000!". You evade him. He sues. What jury would hold you to it?
If we had small government in this state, the budget for the biennium could be as low as $160M (down from the $6.9B the Republicrats enacted last June). No more state pensions. No more IEDs!
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