Friday, February 18, 2011

The Middle Class

Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Wisconsin Gov. Walker have made a special effort in going after public employees.  Why are they especially going after teachers?  While he was still exploring the idea of a run as a Republican candidate for Ohio governor, Kasich spoke in front of a group of Republicans in March 2009.

StarBeacon:

...Throughout his message to the local party, Kasich sounded warnings about runaway deficit spending in Washington and Columbus, the effort to end school vouchers in Ohio and President Barack Obama’s plan to increase the tax burden on wealthy Americans....

...3. Expand the school voucher program and break the grip unions hold on education. "Now my concern with the teachers union is that I am convinced they are a lot more concerned with their own situation rather than the situation of our children," Kasich said.


“We need more school choice, we need to break the back of organized labor in the schools, and we need to turn our schools into institutions that excite our kids and teach them, and the best way to get it done is to give mothers and fathers the power to take their kids out of bad places and put them in good,” Kasich said to a round of applause....

Kasich's plan to end collective bargaining by going after labor unions is really an attack on the middle class.  Teachers, firefighters, police, and public employees make up the middle class, pay taxes, worship with you, and support your communities. They respond to emergencies, provide support services, and teach your children.  This is how Kasich and the Republicans show them respect.

Ohio's public service employees should not be forced into genteel poverty so that the rich can get richer.