| ...Today's Example Of The Consistently Inconsistent GOP.
GOPer State Senators Dave Thompson, David Hann, and Gen Olson are shameless in their desire to inflict heavy-handed state control upon local school boards. Ostensibly, they claim they're trying to "help" local school boards; their manner of doing so - tying local school boards hands - is (of course) the exact opposite of today's "get big-government out of local government's business" GOPer mantra.
OK, if these "conservatives" feel that the power of the State is justified in removing decision making ability for local school boards is just swell, why not continue down that path and take away local decision making authority for small towns and cities, too?
Want to see how easy it will be for Thompson, et al to go down that path? Here's what Thompson said on the subject of usurping local control of local school boards:
"We all want our teachers to prosper, but we cannot ignore economic realities. All taxpayers, whether business owners or employees, are struggling. We must not add to their burden, but still find a way to maintain our high standards for public education," Senator Thompson added.
Let's just change a couple of words (two, to be exact):
"We all want our COPS to prosper, but we cannot ignore economic realities. All taxpayers, whether business owners or employees, are struggling. We must not add to their burden, but still find a way to maintain our high standards for public SAFETY," Senator Thompson added. (emphasis added)
Here's how the Strib quotes that noted "conservative" David Hann in advocating for freezing teacher salaries: |
Hann, who long advocated similar measures when DFLers controlled the Senate, said the bill would "be a way to help the school districts manage their costs in a period in which they know they're not going to be getting additional revenue."(Strib)
Let's assume that Hann would be consistent (yeah, "right") and apply that same principle for screwing the teachers freezing teacher salaries, to tying local municipalities hands by screwing the cops freezing police salaries:
Hann, who long advocated similar measures when DFLers controlled the Senate, said the bill would "be a way to help small towns and cities manage their costs in a period in which they know they're not going to be getting additional revenue."
Is that what Hann is really going to be saying next? That's EXACTLY what Hann (and Thompson, and Olson, and all the rest of the "let's screw the teachers freeze the teachers salaries" GOPers will be saying - IF (and that's a mighty big "if") those GOPers had any consistency in 'em -- which those that pay attention know they don't.
Here's what Gen Olson, GOP=GreedOverPrinciples was quoted as saying:
"Holding the line for a couple of years we didn't think was too much to ask," she said. "And I think the school districts would appreciate that assistance as they try to continue to function effectively on behalf of their students and get through this time."
To be consistent, here's what Olson will be saying next:
"Holding the line for a couple of years we didn't think was too much to ask," she said. "And I think the municipalities would appreciate that assistance as they try to continue to function effectively on behalf of their taxpayers and get through this time."
Here's what Thompson's campaign website proudly proclaimed, while he was running for State Senator:
Education policy should be set at the local level. Parents, family members, friends and neighbors are in the best position to determine what is best for their children.
Is there anyone that's really going to argue that a local school board deciding what and how to pay their teachers is NOT "setting policy"? Class? Anyone? Anyone?
Well, anyone except that flip-flopping Dave Thompson, that is...
It's time for the GOPers to come clean - either they believe in local control, or they don't.
Thompson especially.
And if they aren't honest enough to admit that Senate File #56 isn't just an underhanded attempt to screw the teachers and their union, the cops in this state better be more than a little worried because they (and their union) just may be next.
Unless it's firefighters.... |
