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Marie Lozito	April 3, 2011 Marie Lozito is a Registered Nurse, Licensed Massage Therapist, wife, mother, grandmother and life-long conservative. She wrote a text on medical massage and taught at New York College of Health Professions.  Interested in, and observing politics since 1960, she ran for elected office in 2010.

MISCELLANEOUS MUSINGS

An accumulation of thoughts about a few different topics.

When unions came into existence, they were only in the private sector and served a very good purpose. Private sector unions bargain for workers with the owners of the company to gain a bigger share of the profits from what they, the workers, produce. Businessmen who want to be successful, will not bargain away more than they can afford. If they do, over time, the business goes bankrupt. The unions also bargain for safer work conditions. When the idea of creating public sector unions was first proposed, the idea was shunned, even by progressives. The public sector does not produce anything from which to take “a bigger share”. Government provides services.

President Franklin Roosevelt, a strong friend to unions, said in 1937 

“The process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service.” “...strike of public employees manifests nothing less than intent on their part to obstruct the operations of government until their demands are satisfied. Such action looking toward the paralysis of government by those who have sworn to support it is unthinkable and intolerable.” 

In 1955, George Meany, the first president of the AFL/CIO, said that it was "impossible to bargain collectively with the government." and “...in terms of accepted collective bargaining procedures, government workers have no right beyond the authority to petition Congress—a right available to every citizen.”. But starting with Wisconsin in 1959, states began to allow collective bargaining in government (but not the Federal government).

Public sector unions now receive hundreds of millions of dollars in dues from the members, and spend hundreds of millions of dollars supporting Democrat candidates in elections. Once elected, the politicians approve generous contracts for the unions that no one can pretend are sustainable any longer. Union leaders don't want to loose the money or the power. Union members don't want to loose benefits they have been enjoying. Democrats don't want to loose the campaign money or the votes from the unions. So we have the current spectacle. It isn't just in Wisconsin, nor at the legislature here in Concord. It's nationwide: union protesters stormed the lobby of a hotel hosting a GOP fund raiser in Washington DC, trapping attendees inside the building; and, union officials are reported to be in the planning phase of a “general strike” across America as a show of force; and, the LaborUnionReport carried an ad for a “Madison Troublemakers School - April 1 & 2, 2011.” “$25 includes Saturday lunch, Register Now”

Just one example of why I don't approve of public sector unions: San Jose (California) City Council, Pete Constant, (the only Republican) wants to save the city $70,000 annually by performing his own secretarial work and not hiring an assistant. (The city has a $100 million budget deficit.) The Confidential Employees Organization, a public sector union representing Council employees, filed a lawsuit demanding that he fill the position regardless of the city’s financial situation. They say he is acting in conflict with labor agreements between the city and the union. This underscores the problem with collective bargaining agreements for public sector unions. Contracts such as this create huge taxpayer liabilities and hinder the ability of government agencies to make cuts when funding does not meet financial needs. Then the taxpayers end up footing the bill! (Just after writing this, a friend sent me a YouTube video: “Andrew Klavan: Behold! Your Public Sector Unions at Work” I rather enjoyed it, you might too.

I am sick and tired of politicians lying. Remember last fall, Governor Lynch was advertising he and the Democrats had balanced the budget? Then, once the election was over, he admitted there was a deficit. He and the Democrats had given us almost a one billion dollar deficit. NH has a balanced budget law and biennial budgets. This deficit must be made up before the end of this fiscal year. 

Remember Obama claimed his proposed budget would reduce the federal deficit by a trillion dollars? March 19th the Congressional Budget Office said this estimate miscounted by more than $2 trillion! 

Then there is the lie that Social Security is solvent. "As Office of Management and Budget Director Jack Lew wrote in USA Today just a few weeks ago, the [Social Security] trust fund is solvent until 2037. Therefore, Social Security is now off the table in debt-reduction talks. This claim is a breathtaking fraud. The pretense is that a flush trust fund will pay retirees for the next 26 years. Lovely, except for one thing: The Social Security trust fund is a fiction. If you don't believe me, listen to the OMB's own explanation (in the Clinton administration budget for fiscal 2000 under then-Director Jack Lew, the very same). 

The OMB explained that these trust fund 'balances' are nothing more than a 'bookkeeping' device. 'They do not consist of real economic assets that can be drawn down in the future to fund benefits.' In other words, the Social Security trust fund contains -- nothing." - Charles Krauthammer. Just one more lie that will hurt “the people” and I am sick and tired of being lied to by politicians!

About Japan; A horrible disaster, the fourth largest earthquake in recorded history followed by a devastating tsunami. Now, as a result of damage from the tsunami, the nuclear problem. Most of us want to help – Americans are the most generous people on the face of the earth. BUT, please be aware that there are crooks who take advantage of any and every opportunity. 

There were over 4,000 fraudulent charities created to trick concerned citizens out of their hard-earned money when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. As the relief efforts increase in the wake of the Japanese Tsunami, these fraudsters are once again attempting to take advantage of the kindness, concern and goodwill of so many. How to be sure your contribution will get to Japan and not into a crook's pocket? Stick to charities you know. Avoid “new” charities. Be wary of direct solicitations – especially by email. Instead visit the website of the charity by entering their URL in your browser. (Beware: Attachments may contain viruses!) Also you can verify charities with the IRS before donating. Most charities want to receive tax-deductible status and register with the IRS. A quick search on the agency's Charities page will help you to identify real organizations.