WAKE UP MIDDLE AMERICA !

Unions have played an important part in the development of our country. Child labor laws, decent working hours and wages have helped make the United States strong. Unfortunately there have been excesses. The automobile industry, for years held the public hostage with management and labor rewarding themselves with excessive salaries and wages, all the while producing mediocre products. They've paid the price. NEA & AFT's positions against charter schools, lack of enthusiasm for innovative improvements in education as well as a "protectionist" attitude for senior teachers,regardless of their competency, is not being fair to our children, nor to our nation! Tenure is a joke. There is no tenure in the private sector- either produce or find another job! Teachers and college professors look forward to tenure as it encourages them to "slack off", doing just enough to keep their jobs and in many cases to detriment. to the entire educational process. California, is a good example of public employee unions holding the State hostage. As taxpayers we have allowed Congress and these unions a free rein because of our apathy. While we have idly stood by, wringing our hands in frustration, the unions have stolen our piggybank, sapped our resources and decimated our economies. Let's do thing, starting this fall!

Political Parties: There's " Not a nickel's worth of difference" between Democrats and Republicans! The difference in the "worker bees and the drones" is about the individuals who are "givers" or "takers". Like tomatoes, some are good, some are over-ripe and some are rotten. The success of our Country depends on how to sort out the best ones and toss out the rest. Some of the most senior members need a closer look. Power breeds contempt. Neither should we "throw out the baby with the bath water." Select good people based our independent assestment, not on party affiliation.Voice your positive feelings at the next election, both state and national. It is our only hope!


Power: Power flows from the people! Growing up in a rural church, by the time I was elected to the church Board it was obvious that the church's hierarchy was calling the shots - not the people. Senior members of any governing body sometimes worship power and "forget" the peoples wishes. I know I'm biased when I say small town and country people have the edge on city folks when it comes to commonsense. It comes from growing up in rural areas, making do with the meager resources, and conservative values. In one of my first classes in college, our professor admitted he was an agnostic. Wow! Being in an agricultural program, conservative professors talked our language, but liberals amongst them slid in some new thoughts. Some liberalism is good, progressive. It prevents stagnation and lack of fresh ideas. I finished college with some moderate thoughts, picking up more as I matured, but my country roots hung in there. I was born a Democrat, worked later as a Republican enthusiast and am now an Independent,solidly. A third party won't work, but independent thought is our strongest suit. Term limits or at the very least strong voting by those of us with a grain of common sense is our only salvation! Fewer of us are paying taxes as greater feed at the public trough. Guess which group demands more service(our taxes)? It's our own fault for allowing this to happen. Remember, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE ! Contact your elected representatives in local, state, and national levels, now. Let them know your thoughts. Those folks get uneasy when we show up in big numbers! For God' sake, vote for sanity this fall-2010!

Conflict of Interest: When you're dealing with someone who stands to gain, more than you, from your final decision, not in your best interest. An acid test!