I'm not really keen on this argument I owe the unions a debt of money/gratitude

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

Throughout the Wisconsin kerfluffle I've seen multiple protesters--when they aren't punching women or being racist--claiming we proles ought to support the union because without them we would not have 40-hour work weeks or fair wages or safe working conditions.

I reject this.

Whether the above benefits are true or not I reject the notion that I owe the unions anything beyond a grudging shrug. I certainly reject the notion that I owe any union a dime of tax money.

You see, I am a citizen of the USA not the UAW, AFL-CIO. I pay my taxes to the US so that it may institute militaries and police forces. This is to keep the bombs off the roof and the bums off the street and hopefully somewhere in-between I have a peaceful society wherein I may pursue happiness (happiness being defined as loose wimmenz). The taxes and what they procure are to the benefit of all citizens.

I certainly do not pledge allegiance to the NEA or the hegemony for which it stands. That any private, single-constituency based organization presume to tell me that I owe it tax money for the material benefit of its members is NOT a function of government. It is akin to the publicans of old wherein empires hired tax collectors from among the disarmed populace. So long as the imperial levy was paid the publican was free to keep what was left over. As you might imagine the leftovers where plentiful.

The public employee unions are worse than publicans. Not only do they keep the left overs, they use that money to demand the empire raise the levy to hire more muscle to shake down more citizens.

You have it backwards public employee unions: I don't owe you. You owe me. Had we not consented you would not have public schools or any other function of government. It only takes a legislative flick of the wrist to disband your entire sordid, incestous charter. In case you missed that day in civics class "consent of the governed" means something in these parts.

Perhaps you need to remember the allegiances you owe us.

We are willing to remind you.

[DefiantSix]

Throughout the Wisconsin kerfluffle I've seen multiple protesters--when they aren't punching women or being racist--claiming we proles ought to support the union because without them we would not have 40-hour work weeks or fair wages or safe working conditions.

I reject this.

Whether the above benefits are true or not I reject the notion that I owe the unions anything beyond a grudging shrug. I certainly reject the notion that I owe any union a dime of tax money.

You see, I am a citizen of the USA not the UAW, AFL-CIO. I pay my taxes to the US so that it may institute militaries and police forces. This is to keep the bombs off the roof and the bums off the street and hopefully somewhere in-between I have a peaceful society wherein I may pursue happiness (happiness being defined as loose wimmenz). The taxes and what they procure are to the benefit of all citizens.

I certainly do not pledge allegiance to the NEA or the hegemony for which it stands. That any private, single-constituency based organization presume to tell me that I owe it tax money for the material benefit of its members is NOT a function of government. It is akin to the publicans of old wherein empires hired tax collectors from among the disarmed populace. So long as the imperial levy was paid the publican was free to keep what was left over. As you might imagine the leftovers where plentiful.

The public employee unions are worse than publicans. Not only do they keep the left overs, they use that money to demand the empire raise the levy to hire more muscle to shake down more citizens.

You have it backwards public employee unions: I don't owe you. You owe me. Had we not consented you would not have public schools or any other function of government. It only takes a legislative flick of the wrist to disband your entire sordid, incestous charter. In case you missed that day in civics class "consent of the governed" means something in these parts.

Perhaps you need to remember the allegiances you owe us.

We are willing to remind you.

Request permission to copy this onto Facebook (with proper attribution, of course).  I wholeheartedly agree with everything you wrote, sir.

[rich_t]

Well said Snugs.

Hell, even the Grand-Poo-Bah of American Progressivism (FDR) knew that public sector unions were a bad idea.

I don't have a problem with paying teachers a decent salary, same goes with Police and Firemen, same goes for any other public sector employee.

But don't expect me to pay for thier retirement and medical benefits (often gold plated ones) for the rest of their lives after they retire.  Build your own nest egg, using your own money, just like the rest of us have to.  Particularly when statistics show that you are making well above that of those doing the same type of job in the private sector in many cases.

I am biased when it comes to military retirees.  Having worn that uniform I know the sacrifices, well beyond those made by your typical public service worker, that our warriors freely accept as a part of their duty.  I have no problem with my tax dollars paying for their retirement.  Which by the way, is almost always less than they were earning while on active duty, unlike that of many public service union workers that can end up making more during retirement than they were while "working".

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

Request permission to copy this onto Facebook (with proper attribution, of course).  I wholeheartedly agree with everything you wrote, sir.

Yes, you may post and...

...I'M NOT A GODDAM OFFICER SO DON'T CALL ME "SIR" BUTTERCUP!

[DefiantSix]

Yes, you may post and...

...I'M NOT A GODDAM OFFICER SO DON'T CALL ME "SIR" BUTTERCUP!

I like the way my dad said it better: "Don't call me 'sir'; MY parents were married." 

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

...But don't expect me to pay for your ...

Ya know. I'm not opposed to paying for benes...if they are negotiated based on market forces. It may well be that to attract decent teachers, be they public and/or private, such incentives would have to be offered.

This notion that any organization can impose itself between me and my duly-elected government would be akin to Imperialist Japan claiming it doesn't want war with the US it only demands the power to decide our foreign policy in the Pacific and we must pay to support those decisions. No. No, I say; I elected the government I want to declare MY choice of policies. You union/imperialist types were not elected but interjected. I live in a representative republic that must gain my consent. "Usurp" is the word for what PEUs are doing.

I like the way my dad said it better: "Don't call me 'sir'; MY parents were married." 

Yes, well, that wouldn't really apply in my case.

Or as I like to say, "I was born a bastard and have been perfecting my technique ever since."

[Airwolf]

Unions have not done a dam nothing for me and I owe them nothing, so leave me and my money alone.

[DumbAss Tanker]

I like the way my dad said it better: "Don't call me 'sir'; MY parents were married." 

We used to end that with '...I work for a living' when I was an NCO, but then I got commissioned and found out that, regrettably, it was not a valid distinction.