Its Labor Day and a time to reflect on all that Labor Unions have done for us. In the beginning they did good things. Better workplace conditions, better pay and benefits and a protections from being arbitrarily let go of your job. These were all good things.
What have labor unions done for us today, eliminated merit based promotions, guaranteed jobs regardless of work quality, taken the workers voices and made it into a farce so that the money machine for the unions keep going. Unions can overturn the vote of the workers and do so if its not in the best interest of the unions. We found this out when my husband was a shop steward for
Kenworth. He found out just how powerless he was to change anything because of the Union.
My mother found out just how much the Union wouldn't help her when they knew that ageing teachers all over the district were being summarily dismissed.
Union products are usually inferior because of lack of motivation to put forth the workers best efforts. In road and construction projects it usually means projects not being done by deadlines and cost overruns.
Today we have OSHA and a firm understanding of how to approach our legislators to get needed changes made. We have ways to make sure that workplace safety is ensured and that workers are paid what the job they do is worth without the need of a third party. So what exactly do Unions do now? They lobby the government about their own agenda's instead of listening to the workers they represent. Case in point most teachers, and emergency workers vote contrary to what the Unions want at the polls. Unions have become a political machine instead of a voice for the workers they are meant to represent.
The Unions did their job. Their workers are now educated about their rights and how to make sure they keep them. Workers now know how to collectively bargain without the intrusion of a third party. Now its time for the Unions to close up shop and move on.
We thank the Unions for all that they have done, but they have outlived their usefulness. Its time for workers to have their voice back and not be puppets to a political machine.
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Saturday, August 30, 2014
Stay- at -home Moms are equal rights activists too
Back in the 70's and 80's the feminist movement tried to pass an equal rights amendment. My mom was against it and now that the feminist movement is trying to resurrect it I am against it as well. Do I think that women should be treated as lesser because of their gender? Absolutely not!
I do believe that women and men are supposed to have different roles. I do believe that women should have the right to choose to join the workforce. The point is that its supposed to be a choice not a requirement. I don't want my daughters to have to sign up for the draft. I don't want the protections now offered to women currently in cases of divorce or abuse. The equal rights amendment would do just that.
Working women look at stay-at home Moms as traitors to their gender because we choose to maintain a traditional gender role. We are not. We go to college and we make informed decisions about our career choices. I for one did not believe that is was possible to be a supermom. If you have children and a career at the same time both parts of your life suffer. Your family because someone else raises your children, your career because of the downtime required for maternity issues, sick children, school issues and the need to be home with the family instead of working extra hours.
Being a stay-at-home mom requires more sacrifice than having a career and being a mom does. Why? As a stay-at-home mom we don't get the intellectual stimulus of a work environment or the social aspect of having co-workers. We muddle through with very little adult contact because there is no longer a large community of like minded women to share our day with. This was our choice but I would stand up for the right of those working women to have the choice to do so.
Men and women are not the same and we shouldn't strive to be the same. I believe that physical fitness requirements for military, police and emergency personnel should be the same for men and women. Why? Because what they are required to do on the job is the same. A women shouldn't get a decreased physical requirement just because they are weaker. That may prevent some women from doing those jobs but I for one want someone physically able to do the job for my safety.
I do believe women can hold their own in business, math and science fields and should have the right to do so.
Women don't have to do the same things as men to be equal, we just have to be able to make our own choices for how we live our life. Since we have the rights to own property, vote, work and run our own lives women are already equal.
I do believe that women and men are supposed to have different roles. I do believe that women should have the right to choose to join the workforce. The point is that its supposed to be a choice not a requirement. I don't want my daughters to have to sign up for the draft. I don't want the protections now offered to women currently in cases of divorce or abuse. The equal rights amendment would do just that.
Working women look at stay-at home Moms as traitors to their gender because we choose to maintain a traditional gender role. We are not. We go to college and we make informed decisions about our career choices. I for one did not believe that is was possible to be a supermom. If you have children and a career at the same time both parts of your life suffer. Your family because someone else raises your children, your career because of the downtime required for maternity issues, sick children, school issues and the need to be home with the family instead of working extra hours.
Being a stay-at-home mom requires more sacrifice than having a career and being a mom does. Why? As a stay-at-home mom we don't get the intellectual stimulus of a work environment or the social aspect of having co-workers. We muddle through with very little adult contact because there is no longer a large community of like minded women to share our day with. This was our choice but I would stand up for the right of those working women to have the choice to do so.
Men and women are not the same and we shouldn't strive to be the same. I believe that physical fitness requirements for military, police and emergency personnel should be the same for men and women. Why? Because what they are required to do on the job is the same. A women shouldn't get a decreased physical requirement just because they are weaker. That may prevent some women from doing those jobs but I for one want someone physically able to do the job for my safety.
I do believe women can hold their own in business, math and science fields and should have the right to do so.
Women don't have to do the same things as men to be equal, we just have to be able to make our own choices for how we live our life. Since we have the rights to own property, vote, work and run our own lives women are already equal.
Friday, August 29, 2014
Hello World
Hey anyone out there reading my blog. I started this blog as a way to air my unique views and opinions. I see news stories and form opinions on things going on in the world with no place to speak about them. My arguments may seem odd especially when I back them up with supporting data that other people don't seem to think of or include in their commentaries. You may find them amusing, thought provoking, ridiculous or a combination of all of them. My views may offend some so be warned as they are neither mainstream nor politically correct. Some may think me crazy or an extremist. If I ever obtain a following I will entertain submissions of thoughts about any current issues or events. If I don't ever gain a following then I will just comment on random issues and events. Enjoy and hopefully you will be able to see things from a new perspective.
Are hate crimes really hate crimes?
My teenage daughter and I were having a conversation regarding hate in the world today. She was talking about how hate caused all these problems in the world. I had to stop her and explain to her that she like most of the world had it all wrong. How might you ask did she get it wrong?
First of all hate is an extreme dislike of a person or thing. It is an emotion that leads one to avoid the person or thing that you dislike. We label crimes that show a component of dislike for a religion, philosophy or lifestyle as hate crimes, when really hate has no component in the crime.
What is the basis of violent hate crimes if not hate you ask? Simply put, people commit so called hate crimes to either gain power over a person or a thing, get attention, or even for personal gain. Their motivations have nothing to do with the emotion but everything to do with greed.
when an Islamic extremist walks into a bank strapped to a suicide bomb there is no hatred of the people inside. They do not even know them. There is only a desire to bring attention to their cause. Likewise if an abortion clinic gets bombed, there is no hatred involved just a feeling of superiority and a willingness to use violence to prove that superiority.
When a gay man or any minority is beaten to death it has nothing to do with hatred and everything to do with the perpetrators opinion that the victim is less than them and somehow deserving of their treatment because of it.
Is this feeling of superiority steeped in hatred? Absolutely not it is steeped in fear and ignorance.
Hate crimes have the same motives as any other crime, having a dislike for something about the victim doesn't change that motive.
My teenage daughter and I were having a conversation regarding hate in the world today. She was talking about how hate caused all these problems in the world. I had to stop her and explain to her that she like most of the world had it all wrong. How might you ask did she get it wrong?
First of all hate is an extreme dislike of a person or thing. It is an emotion that leads one to avoid the person or thing that you dislike. We label crimes that show a component of dislike for a religion, philosophy or lifestyle as hate crimes, when really hate has no component in the crime.
What is the basis of violent hate crimes if not hate you ask? Simply put, people commit so called hate crimes to either gain power over a person or a thing, get attention, or even for personal gain. Their motivations have nothing to do with the emotion but everything to do with greed.
when an Islamic extremist walks into a bank strapped to a suicide bomb there is no hatred of the people inside. They do not even know them. There is only a desire to bring attention to their cause. Likewise if an abortion clinic gets bombed, there is no hatred involved just a feeling of superiority and a willingness to use violence to prove that superiority.
When a gay man or any minority is beaten to death it has nothing to do with hatred and everything to do with the perpetrators opinion that the victim is less than them and somehow deserving of their treatment because of it.
Is this feeling of superiority steeped in hatred? Absolutely not it is steeped in fear and ignorance.
Hate crimes have the same motives as any other crime, having a dislike for something about the victim doesn't change that motive.
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