Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Public workers paid better than private workers
Feds: Public workers paid better than private workers - OC Watchdog - The Orange County Register
Here’s the latest on who makes what from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (whose workers, we’ll point out here, happen to be public employees):
Workers in the private sector made an average of $28.13 per hour in total compensation in June (wages contributed $19.81 to that, and benefits added $8.32)
While state and local government workers made an average of $40.40 per hour (wages were $26.41, and benefits, $13.99).
Here’s the latest on who makes what from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (whose workers, we’ll point out here, happen to be public employees):
Workers in the private sector made an average of $28.13 per hour in total compensation in June (wages contributed $19.81 to that, and benefits added $8.32)
While state and local government workers made an average of $40.40 per hour (wages were $26.41, and benefits, $13.99).
What Job 'Training' Teaches? Bad Work Habits
James Bovard: What Job 'Training' Teaches? Bad Work Habits - WSJ.com
Last Thursday, President Obama proposed new federal jobs and job-training programs for youth and the long-term unemployed.
The federal government has experimented with these programs for almost a half century.
The record is one of failure and scandal......
After CETA became a laughingstock, Congress replaced it in 1982 with the Job Training Partnership Act. JTPA spent lavishly—to expand an Indiana circus museum, teach Washington taxi drivers to smile, provide foreign junkets for state and local politicians, and bankroll business relocations.
According to the Labor Department's inspector general, young trainees were twice as likely to rely on food stamps after JTPA involvement than before since the "training" often included instructions on applying for an array of government benefits.
For years the Labor Department scorned the mandate in the 1982 legislation to speedily and thoroughly evaluate whether the programs actually benefitted trainees.
Finally, in 1993, it released a study that showed participation in JTPA "actually reduced the earnings of male out-of-school youths."
Young males enrolled in JTPA programs had 10% lower earnings than a control group that never participated......
Earlier this year, the Government Accountability Office reported that there were 47 different federal employment and training programs, costing taxpayers $18 billion a year.
There is massive overlap and duplication, and few programs seriously evaluate their impact on trainees.
If federal job training efforts worked, Congress would not have thrown out the programs it has created every decade or so and enacted new ones.
In reality, government training has always been driven by bureaucratic convenience, or politicians' re-election considerations.
There is no reason to believe the latest round of proposals will be any different.
This is, or should be, a national scandal!
Last Thursday, President Obama proposed new federal jobs and job-training programs for youth and the long-term unemployed.
The federal government has experimented with these programs for almost a half century.
The record is one of failure and scandal......
After CETA became a laughingstock, Congress replaced it in 1982 with the Job Training Partnership Act. JTPA spent lavishly—to expand an Indiana circus museum, teach Washington taxi drivers to smile, provide foreign junkets for state and local politicians, and bankroll business relocations.
According to the Labor Department's inspector general, young trainees were twice as likely to rely on food stamps after JTPA involvement than before since the "training" often included instructions on applying for an array of government benefits.
For years the Labor Department scorned the mandate in the 1982 legislation to speedily and thoroughly evaluate whether the programs actually benefitted trainees.
Finally, in 1993, it released a study that showed participation in JTPA "actually reduced the earnings of male out-of-school youths."
Young males enrolled in JTPA programs had 10% lower earnings than a control group that never participated......
Earlier this year, the Government Accountability Office reported that there were 47 different federal employment and training programs, costing taxpayers $18 billion a year.
There is massive overlap and duplication, and few programs seriously evaluate their impact on trainees.
If federal job training efforts worked, Congress would not have thrown out the programs it has created every decade or so and enacted new ones.
In reality, government training has always been driven by bureaucratic convenience, or politicians' re-election considerations.
There is no reason to believe the latest round of proposals will be any different.
This is, or should be, a national scandal!
Techniques for Untruth
Techniques for Untruth
Two recent NPR stories display some techniques available to journalist-activists, allowing them to misrepresent truth while at the same time maintaining an appearance of objectivity.
One of these stories, ironically enough, presented itself as a fact check of the recent Republican presidential candidate debate;
Two recent NPR stories display some techniques available to journalist-activists, allowing them to misrepresent truth while at the same time maintaining an appearance of objectivity.
One of these stories, ironically enough, presented itself as a fact check of the recent Republican presidential candidate debate;
Tea Party Bringing The Sunset to Public Sector Labor Unions?
Tea Party Bringing The Sunset to Public Sector Labor Unions? - West Palm Beach Republican Examiner.com
There is however a more far reaching change that will be likely occurring in Wisonsin, and across the nation.
As unions can no longer automatically deduct union dues from teachers paychecks, according to a recent article in The Economist, when this has happened in the past, the percentage of union members paying their dues collapses quickly.
The first such case was in 1992, when such a law was passed in Washington State, and as a result, the percentage of members paying dues dropped from 82% to just 11%.
When Utah enacted such a ban on collections in 2001, a year later there were 90% fewer dues paying members.
By 2011, Indiana has observed a 90% decline in union membership since automatic deductions were ceased in 2005.
And, finally, in 2001, when Colorado passed a law requiring an annual vote to "re-authorize" automatic deductions of union dues, union membership fell by 70% [in that first year].
There is however a more far reaching change that will be likely occurring in Wisonsin, and across the nation.
As unions can no longer automatically deduct union dues from teachers paychecks, according to a recent article in The Economist, when this has happened in the past, the percentage of union members paying their dues collapses quickly.
The first such case was in 1992, when such a law was passed in Washington State, and as a result, the percentage of members paying dues dropped from 82% to just 11%.
When Utah enacted such a ban on collections in 2001, a year later there were 90% fewer dues paying members.
By 2011, Indiana has observed a 90% decline in union membership since automatic deductions were ceased in 2005.
And, finally, in 2001, when Colorado passed a law requiring an annual vote to "re-authorize" automatic deductions of union dues, union membership fell by 70% [in that first year].
Greece imposes new property tax to meet deficit targets
Greece imposes new property tax to meet deficit targets - Monsters and Critics
According to reports, foreign auditors have pressed Greece to speed up privatizations and focus on structural reforms and spending cuts, namely cutting down on the large number of civil servants.
According to reports, foreign auditors have pressed Greece to speed up privatizations and focus on structural reforms and spending cuts, namely cutting down on the large number of civil servants.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Red Cross blood workers' agreement includes 'union security,' pay for strike days, union says
Red Cross blood workers' agreement includes 'union security,' pay for strike days, union says MLive.com: The Red Cross also restored the “union security” clause of the blood workers' contract, which had expired in 2009 with the rest of the contract, Marutiak said.
The clause requires new hires to join a union.
Security for the employees or security for the union leaders?
The clause requires new hires to join a union.
Security for the employees or security for the union leaders?
'Timebomb' fear as 'rationing by stealth' of operations hits NHS
'Timebomb' fear as 'rationing by stealth' of operations hits NHS - Telegraph
"Rationing by stealth" is hitting the NHS, the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) has claimed, after official figures were released showing a steep fall in the number of people referred to hospital by GPs.
"Rationing by stealth" is hitting the NHS, the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) has claimed, after official figures were released showing a steep fall in the number of people referred to hospital by GPs.
Unions on the warpath
PATTERSON: Unions on the warpath - Washington Times
In the wild, a wounded animal is the most dangerous kind.
Right now, the labor movement in the United States is such an animal, reeling from a string of devastating injuries that have eroded its ability to raise money, organize and influence elections.
Consider, just this past year:
In the wild, a wounded animal is the most dangerous kind.
Right now, the labor movement in the United States is such an animal, reeling from a string of devastating injuries that have eroded its ability to raise money, organize and influence elections.
Consider, just this past year:
Sharia Lobby Shifts into 5th Gear
Sharia Lobby Shifts into 5th Gear
He insisted, though, that western Muslims don’t “favor” these aspects of Islam and none seek to impose them.
Evidence that they do abounds (here, here, here, here, here) but Reza said his broad web search found none.
He insisted, though, that western Muslims don’t “favor” these aspects of Islam and none seek to impose them.
Evidence that they do abounds (here, here, here, here, here) but Reza said his broad web search found none.
What to Say to the Totalitarian Left on 9/11/11
Pajamas Media » What to Say to the Totalitarian Left on 9/11/11
Ethnic Arab Muslims are genocidally slaughtering black African Muslims, Christians, and animists in Darfur; Muslims are blowing each other up when they pray in mosques in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Pakistan, Indonesia; Muslim men are shooting down and beheading their own intellectuals and dissidents in unimaginable numbers. According to one compelling source, such numbers far outpace anything the combined American and Israeli forces have done in the last 50 years.
The estimated number of Third World Muslim violent deaths at the hands of other Third World Muslims, country by country, vastly exceeds that of Third World Muslim deaths in so-called “white imperial” wars.
Ethnic Arab Muslims are genocidally slaughtering black African Muslims, Christians, and animists in Darfur; Muslims are blowing each other up when they pray in mosques in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Pakistan, Indonesia; Muslim men are shooting down and beheading their own intellectuals and dissidents in unimaginable numbers. According to one compelling source, such numbers far outpace anything the combined American and Israeli forces have done in the last 50 years.
The estimated number of Third World Muslim violent deaths at the hands of other Third World Muslims, country by country, vastly exceeds that of Third World Muslim deaths in so-called “white imperial” wars.
Meet the Democratic Party, Up Close and Personal
Meet the Democratic Party, Up Close and Personal Power Line
You might think that the union member is a low-life from the gutter, but the remarkable thing is that in all probability, he makes more money than you do:
In 2007, average annual full-time wages for 15,000 workers at 29 West Coast ports topped $136,000, according to the Pacific Maritime Association, which negotiates and administers contracts between ports and the ILWU.
Longshoremen earned an average of more than $125,000, clerks more than $145,000 and foremen more than $200,000.
Workers also get benefits packages worth $50,000 per year, according to the association’s 2007 report.
This is the ugly face of union privilege and entitlement that the Obama administration is determined to preserve.
You might think that the union member is a low-life from the gutter, but the remarkable thing is that in all probability, he makes more money than you do:
In 2007, average annual full-time wages for 15,000 workers at 29 West Coast ports topped $136,000, according to the Pacific Maritime Association, which negotiates and administers contracts between ports and the ILWU.
Longshoremen earned an average of more than $125,000, clerks more than $145,000 and foremen more than $200,000.
Workers also get benefits packages worth $50,000 per year, according to the association’s 2007 report.
This is the ugly face of union privilege and entitlement that the Obama administration is determined to preserve.
West Michigan Symphony plans 'great experiment' this weekend
West Michigan Symphony plans 'great experiment' this weekend MLive.com
For the first time in recent history, the West Michigan Symphony will kick off its season with a rousing pops concert that Scott Speck hopes will have the audience dancing in the aisles and singing along.
I've always wondered why they've not done this yet.
Seems like a winner!
For the first time in recent history, the West Michigan Symphony will kick off its season with a rousing pops concert that Scott Speck hopes will have the audience dancing in the aisles and singing along.
I've always wondered why they've not done this yet.
Seems like a winner!
Disney | The Path to 9/11
Disney The Path to 9/11 Hillary Clinton The Daily Caller
“The Path to 9/11,” first aired on ABC in 2006, portrayed President Bill Clinton’s administration as ignoring warnings and signs that Osama bin Laden and al Qaida were planning a major attack on the United States — a finding supported by The 9/11 Commission Report.
But since 2006 Disney CEO Bob Iger has repeatedly refused to rebroadcast it, or to sell the rights to other broadcasters.
“The Path to 9/11,” first aired on ABC in 2006, portrayed President Bill Clinton’s administration as ignoring warnings and signs that Osama bin Laden and al Qaida were planning a major attack on the United States — a finding supported by The 9/11 Commission Report.
But since 2006 Disney CEO Bob Iger has repeatedly refused to rebroadcast it, or to sell the rights to other broadcasters.
Greek Prime Minister’s Promises Ring Hollow
Greek Prime Minister’s Promises Ring Hollow
Those difficult decisions, as noted here and here, have involved raising the Value-Added Tax rate, seeking out tax-evaders, selling off state-owned assets, firing 20,000 government workers and cutting the salaries of others, and imposing a one-time “solidarity contribution” tax
Those difficult decisions, as noted here and here, have involved raising the Value-Added Tax rate, seeking out tax-evaders, selling off state-owned assets, firing 20,000 government workers and cutting the salaries of others, and imposing a one-time “solidarity contribution” tax
September 11th: My Thanks to Joel Surnow and His Fellow Hollywood Subversives
Big Hollywood » Blog Archive » September 11th: My Thanks to Joel Surnow and His Fellow Hollywood Subversives
For fear of missing one, I won’t attempt to name everyone in Hollywood who did the right thing, who openly supported our military and refused to participate in the resume-enhancing undermining of our country.
Within the context of the whole of the entertainment business, however, they make up a heartbreakingly short list.
But you know who are and we know who you are and we thank you.
The rest of you can burn in Hell
For fear of missing one, I won’t attempt to name everyone in Hollywood who did the right thing, who openly supported our military and refused to participate in the resume-enhancing undermining of our country.
Within the context of the whole of the entertainment business, however, they make up a heartbreakingly short list.
But you know who are and we know who you are and we thank you.
The rest of you can burn in Hell
Jackie Evancho & Sarah Brightman "Time to Say Goodbye" on America's Got ...
TEN YEARS OLD??!!!!!!!
WOW!!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
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