Do you remember Sesame Street’s “Who are the People in Your Neighborhood?”
It was a series of songs that introduced kids to people in their neighborhoods in the late 70s. I bet a lot of you are singing it in your heads right now!
Teachers, fire fighters, librarians, police officers… the songs introduce them to kids as friends and neighbors.
Some people in Ohio, though, have decided that public employees in our neighborhoods are not actually our friends and are working hard to take away many of the rights these people deserve.
If you haven’t heard about Ohio Senate Bill 5, I encourage you to do a little research and figure out where you stand. Here’s an article that sums it up pretty well, and a lot of information can be found on the Ohio Education Association website.
It’s not a partisan issue – while every democratic senator in Ohio opposes the bill, this article from the Columbus Dispatch discusses the republican senators who think it goes too far as well.
So, Ohio friends, read up on it and then see what you can do. I tried to call Governer Kasich himself yesterday, but his voicemail box was full. (If you want to give him a piece of your mind tell him your thoughts, his number is 614-466-3555.)
As Jenny’s brother and sister-in-law wrote on their FB status this morning, we (public employees) are not the enemy.
We are the people in your neighborhood.
Wisconsin is having a similar fight. Public employees are not the enemy, but its very politically savy to point the public fear and disgust with the economy at public employees. Keeps it off the private sector and banking. Too bad families, teachers, policemen and firemen will face hardships because someone needs the political capital. Just too bad. Oops, my pro-union up bringing is showing.
Politicians are ALL douchebags!
Opps, did I say that out loud?
UP
KILL THE BILL! Rally in Columbus:
President’s Day Rally
STOP SB 5
Senate Bill 5 will remove the right of all public employees to collectively bargain. All teachers, policemen, firemen, university employees, state workers, union members, and the middle class are encouraged to attend. This bill is on the fast track and may pass next week!
When: Monday February 21st,
2011 at 11:00 AM
Where: Ohio Statehouse Lawn
1 Capitol Square
Columbus, OH
(corner of Broad and High St.)
Exercise your right to peacefully assemble!
awesome way to sum it up!!
I agree with everything you wrote, but think of how the folks in Ohio and Wisconsin voted. Governors Walker and Kasich have always been pretty clear on where they stand with unions. Their actions are really no surprise. Unfortunately, now they have the votes to implement their visions.
We’re all getting an up close look of what happens when a majority of voters (notice, I didn’t say majority of registered voters!) vote for demagoguery and we all live with the consequences.
Thank you for helping spread the word on this issue. It seems like there has been either misinformation or a lack of information coming across our local news…
Hopefully, most people remember that unions and public employees are not the enemey of the state. They are the people who educate our children and keep us safe. They deserve the right to make sure they are protected in thier rights and have a voice.
THANK YOU FOR THIS POST.