Maggie's Farm

It is becoming more and more apparent that Governor "Awesome" as you put it is a one trick pony - unions are the cause of our social and economic problems. Not one word about those who have enabled the Unions to take control of the social and economic dynamic in New Jersey i.e., the good citizens of New Jersey who keep electing those who would create the problems. He's attacking the symptoms, not the root causes.

The definition of a demagogue is "a politician who seeks to win and hold office by appeals to mass prejudice". I think Governor "Awesome" fits the definition very nicely.

With regard to tenure, it is a fraudulent issue. Any teacher can be dismissed for any reason - the only requirement is that the administrators (principals, superindendants, team leaders, etc.) properly document the issues and present an competent case for dismissal. That is basic law school Contracts 101 - you don't meet the conditions of the contract, then the contract is terminated. What tenure does do is require those who are charged with administering the contract to actually do their jobs. I don't think Governor "Awesome" is really up on contract law.

Reading into Christie's background, it would appear that he has had the benefit of FIHP (Friends In High Places). If you take the time to look a little deeper into Christie's career, you will find that he's not exactly the squeeky clean populist he appears to be - in fact, he is a typical political in-fighter and not shy about using his positions to gain advantages to both is caree and his politics.

I don't like him and I think he's a fraud.

to gain advantages to both is caree and his politics.

Whoopsie - make that "his career and...". My bad - fingers got all tangled up in my haste to get it all out.

I really don't like this guy. :>)

I agree that the system needs dramatic and immediate change - and I agree that Unions are powerful adversaries. However, that does not excuse the voters.

Our political system allows for accountability in that when the citizens do not like an issue or situation or decision, they have the ability to remove any politican from office at the very first opportunity by the vote. When a majority of voters consistently validate the political decisions, you get situations like outsized teachers unions or transportation worker unions or what ever.

The only solution is to remove the enablers - the state legislators (in those states where the state is the negotiator) or local school board members who approve contracts that are unreasonable.

If you go to work for somebody and you only ask for $12/hr. The employer says "well, I'll pay you $15/hr, give you a paid hour off for lunch and paid 1/2 hour breaks, 10 holidays, 5 sick days, 5 personel days, hour and a 1/2 for overtime, double time on holidays and Sundays" are you going to turn it down?

And don't tell me that is silly because I've seen it happen right here in CT when Bill O'Neil was Governor. It was a period of unprecedented economic growth in CT and there was a huge surplus in the state coffers. O'Neil gave it away to the teachers of the state raising their base pay by a minimum of 50% to, like Woodstock, 100%. The Mrs. tripled her salary in the space of six months based on state money. They never asked for it, but they got it anyway. And the towns were scrambling to approve the contract salary increases to get the state money never even thinking that the economic good times would evaporate at some point and leave the towns with the huge burden of massive pay increases supported by increased property taxes. And that happened in other states too.

Ultimately in any representative republic, which is what we are, the voters are responsible for their choices of representation. If that representation is inadequate, it is the responsibility of the electorate to remove them from their position. It can't be stated any other way. The unions are only taking what is given to them.

The common definition used in educational contracts defines tenure as "life tenure in a job and specifically to a senior academic's contractual right not to have his or her position terminated without just cause."

The job, in this case, is teacher. Now you can argue whether a life long sinecure is appropriate or not at any level, but the main point is that tenure eliminates the "terminate at will" to "terminate with just cause".

And the "just cause" part is what administrators do not like to do because it requires them to actually document malfesance, incompetence, whatever. And that takes time. But it can, and sometimes does, happen when you have dedicated and competent administrators.

the unions and their allies have rigged the system so far in their favor

I could not agree more - that is exactly my point. And the voters allowed it to happen.