This Is What Democracy Looks Like!

Coming in hot off the huge success of the unions in West Virginia to finally be recognized and properly compensated, the teachers in Oklahoma, the lowest paid in the nation, put Oklahoma legislators on notice:

Leaders of the Oklahoma Education Association on Thursday unveiled the specifics of their demand for $10,000 teacher pay raises and said new legislative talk of $2,000 raises would not stop public school teachers from walking out en masse on April 2.

The state’s teachers union proposal calls for a $6,000 teacher raise in year 1 and $2,000 each in years 2 and 3, for a total, three-year cost of $1.46 billion.

They also want a raise for school support workers that would cost $292.5 million by the end of those same three fiscal years.

“We cannot — no, we will not allow our students to go without any longer,” OEA President Alicia Priest said. “If the Legislature doesn’t pass $6,000 teacher pay raises and necessary revenue to pay for them, … OEA is calling on every Oklahoma teacher to leave their classroom and come to the Capitol.”

And as in West Virginia, it looks likely that Oklahoma teachers wouldn't be standing alone. The union for Oklahoma state workers is looking at joining the teachers:

tate employees are considering walking out with teachers if raises aren’t forthcoming, the Oklahoma Public Employees Association said Friday.

The group’s board of directors is set to meet Saturday to discuss its options and potentially approve a plan to support a state employee walkout.

Teachers announced Thursday that they would walk out on April 2 if lawmakers failed to come up with a plan for $10,000 pay raises.

“State employees are tired of being ignored and are angry because state leaders have failed to do their job,” said Sterling Zearley, OPEA executive director. “They’ve failed again to provide a pay raise for state employees, and they’ve failed to sufficiently fund core services.”

State employees’ pay shrinks each year, and they are fed up with lawmakers who will not listen, Zearley said.

The organization has about 10,000 members among Oklahoma’s roughly 34,000 state employees, he said.

As we say here in Wisconsin, "This is what democracy looks like!"

Personally, I'd like to see this movement spread nationally and rapidly. Not only that, I'd like to see private sector workers, especially those in the misnamed Right to Work states, to stand up and demand their rights as well.

The big businesses and corporations, and the politicians whom they own, will not give the people their rights or treat them with respect out of the goodness of their hearts. These things only come when the people demand them and are willing to fight for them.

But even now, these actions warm my heart and give me hope for our futures.

Solidarity, brothers and sisters. More of us are standing with you than you realize.

Cross posted from Crooks & Liars (which even has video!)

A Nation Of Cretins!

By Jeff Simpson

Charlie Sykes had a "best seller" a while back called "A Nation of Moochers", which drew tremendous interest whenever he spoke about it.   I think Sykes had it wrong(like usual)!  We are a nation of CRETINS not Moochers! 

Let me present my case:

1.  We are closing schools in the poorest areas of the country, not just a school but now we are closing SCHOOL DISTRICTS!

2.  In Wisconsin, not only did we pass a bipartisan bill telling the poor WHAT they can buy with their food stamps, now we are trying to kick half the people off of the program!  

As Glenn Grothman says - “That’s why I’m for it,” Grothman said. “Maybe they’ll leave the state to boot. Use that quote.”

3.   In Oklahoma, a tea party member is charged with blackmailing a state Senator.

4.  In Virginia a GOP candidate for Attorney General has introduced a bill forcing women to report miscarriages to police! 

5.  The MOST  Egregious act of the bunch is after yesterdays devastating tornadoes in Oklahoma, the two Oklahoma Senators are playing political game with disaster relief!  

Before the final body count has even come in (which currently stands at 51, with officials telling the medical examiner’s office to expect at least 40 more) a pathetic excuse for a human being, GOP Senator Tom Coburn, will apparently require offsets to spending before he votes in favor of disaster relief for the areas of Oklahoma devastated by tornadoes on Monday.

Yes, you’ve read that correctly.  Even with 20 children confirmed dead, along with 31 others (as of 12:30 am CDT), and countless others with their lives destroyed, this sorry excuse for a human is already playing politics with the lives of Americans who are in desperate need of help.

When did this country become one that only helps its citizens when the “proper budget cuts” have been made?

These are elected officials and supposed "leaders" of our community and our country!  Who elects these people, since when has it been ok to leave our fellow Americans stranded in times of need?  Since when has "balancing the budget" trumped taking care of fellow Americans?  Since when have we accepted this as the new normal? 











 This aerial photo shows the remains of homes hit by a massive tornado in Moore, Okla., May 20, 2013. A tornado roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods, setting buildings on fire and landing a direct blow on an elementary school. (Steve Gooch/AP Photo)