Union Debate

Should government employees be allow to unionize? In Wisconsin that question is on the chopping block. But ironically to the dismay of the republican majority the Democrats took the chopping block out of state. ( i wonder what would happen if they did that for healthcare reform?)

"Debate in the State Senate over Wisconsin’s controversial bill to cut collective bargaining rights for public workers ended, at least temporarily, on Thursday morning before it began. As the session was due to begin, Democrats failed to appear in the chamber, leaving the body without a quorum and leading the Republicans to send capitol officials in search of the Democrats." (New York Times)

Despite the stunt  by the Democrats in Wisconsin, the question beckons, should government employees be allow to unionize? The danger with having government employee unions is that they can lobby and effectively fight for the preservation of their jobs even if the regulation or the program that congress created no longer has a purpose. That can be very harmful especially when the government has to make drastic cuts to the budget. But with out unions the employees of the state would not have the collective bargaining abilities that they do now. So how else would they be able to voice their option or concern about regulation or issues relating to there employment? What ever your views his push from reform is a very telling sign of the hard times to come.

So once they find the Democrats what will happen to the governments unions and could this be the begin of national reform?

Stories From the Nanny State: Monopoly 2.0

My heart sank after i read this article in the New York times. Hasbro has come out with Monopoly 2.0, but this time there is a computer watching your every move and insuring there is no funny business with the banking, or modifications of rules. It even watch how many space you move. ..


"Hasbro showed a preview of the new version, called Monopoly Live, at this week’s Toy Fair in New York. It is the classic Monopoly board on the outside, with the familiar railroads like the B.& O. and the development of property. But in the center, instead of dice and Chance and Community Chest cards, an infrared tower with a speaker issues instructions, keeps track of money and makes sure players adhere to the rules. The all-knowing tower even watches over advancing the proper number of spaces." (New York Times)

So big brother is even watching over the comical board game of free market enterprise. This truly is a sad day for Monopoly players everywhere. I remember as a child having to do the math in my head as to the cost/revenue figures of property owner ship. Or creating investment plans with my friends to get the highest yielding returns on my property investment. Now with the All Knowing Computer watching over the game the experiences will never be the same. All we need know is the bailout button and the game will be a direct representation of our current economy. I just hope they don't try to change anymore of my childhood board games. Apples to Apples the PC version? Risk the UN addition? The future of board games looks bleak indeed.

Higher Education: Cutting Spending

"In the past two years alone, WSU's tuition has increased 30 percent as the university has attempted to plug the shortfall of millions of dollars in state funding, said Joan King, executive director of planning and budgeting. The amount of support WSU receives from the state has decreased by 30 percent - or $133 million - in the last 18 months."(Daily Evergreen)   

Across the state programs are getting cut drastically because of our state's deficit. Higher education is not alone in feeling the brunt of the cuts, but as the question arises should higher education be cut as much as it is? With cuts as drastic as this the student across the state are starting to wake up the the reality of the state of our government.

Students are confused and angry at the increases in tuition costs for their education. The universities and education union often bus students to Olympia from across the state to lobby for increase spending on higher education, often my means of tax increases.

But propping up education at the expense of businesses  provides our state with more college graduates but creates more post education unemployment. So the real question is what can the students of Washington state do to reduce the cuts in education, without damaging the working environment post education?   

On my blog i try to advocate for realistic solution or to at least propose ideas to drive the conversation to something more productive then just political posturing and banter. If your interested in making a real impact i have posted info on higher education bills that are in the works, that you could get involved in. Check it out, contact your legislature and get off the bench and fight for your future.

(Link to Bill information )