Changing the Future

Nine years ago this Saturday, a group of strangers on an airplane banded together and made a decision to do something about their plight.  The tale of what they did and the sacrifice they made, giving their lives in service to this country, has probably been as responsible for preventing a repeat of that horrific day as any airport security measures since.  We will never forget those riveting, final words: “Let’s Roll!”

They decided to do something about the apparent inevitability of what they faced and changed the future.  Our task of fighting the inevitability of national bankruptcy is not dangerous, but is no less daunting.  I ask you to honor those on UA 93 this Saturday by standing against the fiscal insanity we face and DO SOMETHING!  In this case, I ask you to find a political campaign that will help turn the corner and volunteer for it; any campaign to replace a liberal spender with a fiscal conservative will do and volunteer hours are often worth much more than a straight donation.  Knocking on doors, or making phone calls for a candidate requires only a tiny amount of the bravery that was shown on UA 93.  But your decision might just make a tiny difference and maybe- just maybe- that tiny change is what is needed.:



SEIU With Guns

The Tea Parties have dealt a lot with attempts to intimidate us out of our First Amendment rights, but NOTHING on the scale I witnessed tonight in a supposedly public hearing on Collin County budget.  The issue of the reduction of the pension match from 250% to 150% pales in comparison to the major problem in the Courthouse working culture I witnessed tonight.

The first stunning act: the shutout of the normal citizens to allow the county employees to pack the room for themselves, leaving nothing but standing room and the hallways for the average taxpayer.  How that came about I’ll leave to an interview I recorded.

Then there was the general tenor of the pro-employee speakers; it was as if it was about sacrificing their first-born.  It is NOT a good situation, and there are good arguments to be made to support retaining the pension.  But the sense of entitlement, the lack of recognition of the right of the commission and the taxpayer  to consider the issue, was eyeopening.

Some of the stunning assumptions from the public sector employees that are non-existent in terms of the private sector?

• Retirement after 20 years, or even less
• Retirement by 60
• Pay for overtime; a couple hours of unpaid overtime is a sign of great commitment and dedication
• Job Security
• Benefit cost increases to the $20 – $40 range is substantial