the most stark demonstration of the public employee unions’ power came in the District of Columbia, where Mayor Adrian Fenty was defeated in the Democratic primary by Council Chairman Vincent Gray. There’s no Republican candidate, and Gray is as good as elected.
Four years ago, Fenty carried every precinct in the city. In office he has drawn national attention for his appointment of Michelle Rhee as school chancellor. Rhee’s reforms have produced higher test scores, stable rather than declining enrollment, a teacher evaluations system that has resulted in dismissals of dozens of incompetents, and a union contract giving administrators greater flexibility in assignments.
Rhee won national acclaim but antagonized politicians like Gray with deep roots in Washington’s black community. Blacks here as in most large cities have been more likely than average to work in public-sector jobs — a legacy of the days half a century ago when governments, at least north of the Potomac, didn’t discriminate against blacks as many private firms did.
As a result, Gray struck a chord with black voters when he denounced Rhee’s teacher layoffs — the same layoffs that gentry liberals hailed as eliminating bad teachers who hold back children from poor families.
This divide is apparent when you look at the election returns. Gray won citywide by a 54 to 44 percent margin. Fenty won 72 percent in Ward 2 (Georgetown and West End) and 79 percent in Ward 3 (west of Rock Creek Park), both dominated by gentry liberals. Gray won 82 percent in Wards 7 and 8 (east of the Anacostia River), both heavily black.
Gentry liberals and public employee unions were allies in the Obama campaign in 2008. But now they’re in a civil war in city and state politics. This raises the question of whether the Democratic Party favors public employee unions that want more money and less accountability, or gentry liberals and others who care about the quality of public services. Right now the unions are winning.
Go to bed with dogs, wake up with fleas. Who can’t ever ever ever be fired.
Couldn’t happen to a better set of folks.
As with the contemporary Tea Party “insurgency” against establishment GOPers, the public union “liberals” may very well be poised to push their agenda on the Dem party — a circumstance that would even further clarify the choices for voters moving forward: are we a free enterprise, classically liberal society? Or are we to be, like much of Europe, a soft socialist nanny state that trades much of its freedoms for poor cradle to grave “care”?
For my part, I quite enjoy the the distillations that are providing us with the kind of clarity we need to appeal to an electorate grown cynical over the political class — whom in recent years they’ve viewed as a kind of homogeneous group that happens to change titular power from time to time.
The more the choice becomes stark, the better we’ll be able to assess whether the election of Obama was a mandate for social democracy and progressive policy; or if it was a mistake born of symbolism and of the idea that there is no real difference between Democrats and Republicans, save for a vague sense that Republicans won’t let you bang who you want to bang, while Democrats think you should use different light bulbs.
Better to lose while defending your principles than to win at the expense of them.
That shit in D.C. makes me just want to throw my hands in air and say fuck ’em. If people don’t care whether or not their children’s education makes any strides from its WORSE THAN MISERABLE level right now, why should I give a shit?
It’s the same in Detroit. The Board of Education was a bunch of idiot thieves. So,the gov took all their power away. Now, they’re fighting to gain back control of the Detroit schools, because it’s a racist plot otherwise.
Fuck ’em all.
I need a cookie or something.
Amazing Grace: Libertarians in bed with Gary L. Bauer?
I moved out of DC in ’95. Here you may see in part why I was happy to do so.
Yup.
We’ve done the long, slow slide thing already, and it hasn’t worked well for the classical liberals. If we make a solid stand on principle, we’ll be able to see who is with us and who isn’t. It may very well be that the country is no longer comprised of enough people who are interested in self-reliance and small government to turn this boat around. If so, I’d rather know sooner rather than later, so I’ll know what to do next.
“Couldn’t happen to a better set of folks.”
While that is smile inducing, the only problem is that the folks that cannot escape to the private school systems get mauled. But you know, prole eggs and progg omlettes…
It is interesting that the disestablishmentarianism aspect of the tea party is finally being noticed. I thought it was obvious when the establishment candidates were being routed in South Carolina (among other places and people like Nikki Haley were getting the nomination. It was, I thought (and said at the time) the best thing to do. Don’t forma third party, take over an existing party that already has the local organization, the brand name, the recognition, and so forth. Remove the current leadership and install new leaders, taking over.
Will some nuts and kooks with their personal agendas and ‘private party of one’ beliefs get into positions of power? Sure, that’s going to happen. But looking at the establishment that is being removed and their behavior at the removal – Castle, Murkowski, etc?
Can’t happen too fast in my opinion.
imagine what would happen if the government pie ever got smaller
Town Hall Questioner To Obama: “I’m Exhausted Of Defending You”
“For my part, I quite enjoy the the distillations that are providing us with the kind of clarity we need to appeal to an electorate grown cynical over the political class — whom in recent years they’ve viewed as a kind of homogeneous group that happens to change titular power from time to time.”
I couldn’t agree more JeffG,
The ideological polarization of the parties is providing a much clearer choice than the usual Dems vs. Dems-lite.
But I don’t know if folks will ever be able to admit that Obama’s election was a triumph of symbolism, style, and “PC” indoctrination over substance. Ultimately they may, retrospectively, after many years have passed.
But for them to admit they did it unthinkingly, reflexively, is to have to admit terrible shortcomings on their own part, interms of intellect, reasoning ability, suceptibility to manipulation by external forces, and dedication to their civic duty. And for some folks, the toughest 3 words are, “I was wrong”.
Which perhaps I have been of late, when trying to defend “team R” as being so much better than “team D”. I still believe that there’s a wide gulf, at least in terms of ideology. But, in terms of how they’re viewed as essentially equivalent by a great many citizens who may not pay as close attention as the PW crowd does, well, as you’ve pointed out here, it probably does seem like a child’s game of musical chairs.
I think, as you said, many were on auto-pilot. I don’t see that as shortcoming with respect to intellect and reasoning ability, because they simply were not employing those faculties. I don’t see that as difficult to admit, but then again, I learned a long time ago how liberating saying “I was wrong” is, because you can then let go and move on.
I don’t always admit my errors, but I’m working on it.
If you (everyone) have the time, read the Tocqueville piece that sdferr linked in another thread. It’s incredibly apropos to what is going on now.
“But, in terms of how they’re viewed as essentially equivalent by a great many citizens who may not pay as close attention as the PW crowd does, well, as you’ve pointed out here, it probably does seem like a child’s game of musical chairs.”
We sort of had an argument about this position of the “independent” voters in the context of Glenn Beck’s “non-political” rally, with some of us thinking there’s really no such thing (that is, the rally was of course political, though not in the narrow sense of openly partisan politics) and others insisting the turn of the non-political phrase as anti-partisan had deep meaning for the attendants of the rally.
I agree cranky-d, and had planned to read the piece sdferr linked sometime today.
OT-As far as the, “I was wrong”, goes, it extends further than one might imagine. A lot of what’s choking our financial system still, in terms of bad loans on and off the books, should simply be written off so that they can get about the business of growth again instead of worrying about how to recoup monies they lost due to bad decisions to loan money, regardless of their motivation, on property that was terribly overvalued anyway.
Instead of trying to protect “their stack”, they should say, “I was wrong”, write it off, and get about the business of making another stack.
And we need to make sure that the public parts of those “motivations” are prevented from happening again.
But this opens a subject and can of worms that we’re not considering in this thread.
“….But I don’t know if folks will ever be able to [admit]…”
– There was a march in DC today of a group of Democrats (growing by the day) calling for “no increased taxes”, “tough immigration reform”, “Rollbacks on all social giveaways”, etc etc.
– If you weren’t told who they were you would have assumed it was T=party people.
– There are signs that the Dems have an even bigger problem within their own ranks, quite aside from the right side of the political divide.
– The GOP caucus on the hill is already planning a two pronged attack when/if they regain control of Congress. A veritable mountain of investigations into Obama backed social programs across the board, and defunding of same wherever possible as the first order of business.
– So here’s a whole plate of fresh chocolate chip cookies Carin, and take heart.
Sort of OT, but my sister wrote asking about this Glenn Hubbard-Chris Mayer piece in the NYTimes, asking me the question “what’s wrong with this?”, asking in gist “isn’t this the sort of problem we were suffering from to begin with?”. Which question I’m not well equipped to respond to, though I do think she deserves a reasonable response. Any suggestions, or analyses of the proposal Hubbard&Mayer make that I might look at or refer her to? Just to throw it out there.
Sorry I missed that one sdferr, but I had pressing duties in a place where there was no connection available.
On first impression, I’d have to agree that his rally was political, in the sense that it had to do with public governance-regardless of any lack of partisan flavor. But, as I said, I was in a remote place and didn’t get many details of his rally.
And, while I agree with him on more than I disagree, I’m a bit uncomfortable with some of the things he said lately; things that, to me, indicate that he knows very well the words of the founders, but is missing some of what they’re saying. But, that’s also a topic for another thread.
I’ll have to think more about what you said in #11 while I run about town on some pressing errands.
BBL
– you don’t get any feets. All that sugary goodness has eroded your staunchiness. you need a sweetness timeout so you can come back down to earth.
that’s not very inclusive Mr. Hunter
…a soft socialist nanny state that trades much of its freedoms for poor cradle to grave “care”
Scare quotes right and proper as even that is nothing more than a pipe-dream. Witness the impending doom in Europe. No, all their methods guarantee is perpetual infighting over the ever diminishing spoils of political dominance.
The end of that approach is inevitable, the manner of the end is not.
um maybe this
o/t : from the corner:
Would you want to offer a loan to someone where the collateral — by definition, they’re underwater — is less than the loan at a very low interest rate, sdferr? Further, would you want to do so for a pool of people including many with poor credit ratings and shaky employment outlooks?
If they paid the loan originators off, they might be somewhat interested. Those with underwater loans would definitely be interested. But why would those looking to buy the resulting MBS be interested?
– The T-party, the Beck rally, the internal GOP pushback, Palins clout, all of it.
– I submit what you really see is the “silent majority” finally waking up and signaling to each other, “Hey, fuck this…..this isn’t what we thought we were getting when we believed all the media hype and voted for Bumbblefuck. We did, and it was a train wreck level mistake, but now we’re mad as hell and we’re not going to be silent and take it anymore.”
– Call it political, and of course it is, but it transcends just pllitic’s, it goes to the things Jeff has outlined on so many occasions, the very nature of our freedoms and governance.
– The majority of Americans are socially Conservative. The Left trued a bold gutsy takeover and transformation that in the end most people hate, and are now rejecting in droves, both Dems and Reps, as well as Independents, people all across the political spectrum. The Left is in free-fall all out panic.
– You see the results. A backlash that will set the tone for decades to come. It’s too bad it takes almost the destruction of our country to bring the people to life and get them off their apathetic asses and involved, but fortunately too, its reversible.
– Drop your smocks and grab your socks, we’re in for a bumpy ride, but the end result will be a good thing I think. Let’s all hope so.
These and other thoughts, such as the question whether there is another significant down leg to the housing market occurred to me bh. I’m just too ignorant of the structures and operations of the whole interlocking business to have any confidence in my own judgments of the proposals though. For instance, I don’t have any sense of whether there are better alternatives to the proposal Hubbard makes (or what they are, if they are out there). Or even whether the problems Hubbard sees are the most important problems lacking address at the moment.
In skimming the Tocqueville piece, I was reminded of the old accusation primarily made against Democrats: “The soft bigotry of low expectations.”
The current ruling class is guilty of the same bigotry writ large across the entire population of the US.
i think not smart to have the folks involved in making the crisis involved in its resolution
Blake, give this a listen too, for there is more to the story of guilt in the picture than simply the attitude of the immense and tutelary power at work.
there’s going to be an unprecedented number of houses changing hands due to inheritance in the next 25 years or so, and ongoing for a time from there.
Unfortunately, there isn’t really an easy solution to the housing market problem, sdferr. Housing prices have dropped. The economy is poor. Can’t get around those two factors.
The only real solution is growth. Economic growth would decrease the number of people facing foreclosure who are further increasing supply. Population growth would increase demand.
oh noes
link
I should add the caveat that all population growth wouldn’t increase demand. Broke people can’t buy a house and we’d need significant improvement in the employment outlook to add a bunch of new homebuyers anyways unless they’re entering into the country with a bunch of money.
“opulation growth would increase demand.”
– Only if you also have a concurrent healthy economy providing jobs for new workers and keeping existing workers on the job. Immigration, legal and otherwise, also exacerbates the problem.
I should probably cease taking the thread further off topic, so will leave this here while I think about the thing some more, possibly to return to it offline should I see the need. Thanks all for indulging me thus far and giving me matter to think on.
JD and Bmoe and anyone else interested in a meetup in Atlanta on October 6 (and maybe a little golf thrown in) can reach me at StephanieGAATL@yahoo.com
[repost from the QOTD thread where the question was raised]
Heh, snuck in my caveat just in time, BBH.
– sdferr, one final note on housing.
– The VHA has worked remarkably well through all the decades since WWII. Why?
– First off it was completely bi-partisan, and therefore immune to vote buying or lobbying.
– Second it was based on the idea that through a very limited and specific support of independent home ownership, the fabric of society was strengthened. In other words, independence, not dependence.
– The governments involvement was severely limited to a simple percentage of loan guarantee, and that was it. There were some additional legislative caveats that set rules for home purchase, but those just served to avoid racketeering and under the table practices by unscrupulous realtors.
– With Fannie/Freddie/CRA/Big banks/Barney Franks, the entire idea was warped and used beyond imagination, simply for votes and payoffs.
– Barney and his gang should all be doing jail time if there’s any justice.
– Properly applied social programs can be designed to support and promote stable societal growth and independence, or they can be designed to further political agenda’s, destabilize and undercut society, and promote dependence.
sdferr,
Very interesting listen.
Thanks for the link.
– More potentially good news. Watched the guy that does those live audience polls thing on Cavuto.
– Says he just got back from Illinois and the T=}Party is growing by the hour and day back there. They now say they don’t just want to clean up Congress, but they look like they can take the Governorship and the state Legislate as well. He said that even in Bumbblefucks home district people are so angry at the things he’s done they’re in all out revolt.
– Good times
This could end up with Tea Party candidates getting blamed for a collapse of government which may be unstoppable. I’m sure the Democrats and the MFM will spin it that way.
– The MFM’s reaction to what’s going on is telling. As I said last night, they’re trying to have it both ways, one minute they’re generating some feeble effort to praise Bambi, and the next they’re eviscerating him on one of the burning issues everyone is pissed about.
– They may be fickle back stabbing pricks, but they know how to survive, and they’re really tiptoeing the center line right now.
– Cavuto ran a straw poll on his web site asking what people want done with Obamacare…..
– 96% said total repeal. Dayam Sam.
– Good news everybody – “The recession is over”
(Rinse and repeat, repeatedly…)
Whenever I see “Good news, everybody” I think of the old guy on Futurama.
– You must be referring to the line:
“….Good news everybody…..Increased taxes now comes in a suppository….”
“….question what exactly those “principles” are.”
– Yes, well we did that, and the Marxist came up wanting, so I guess we’ll have to stick with Broomhilda.
#42. Heh. Ditto.
I’ll second that notion BBH,
God willing, “Broomhilda” will help sweep the progressive trash out of Washington in November…
limited federal gov’t kinda says it all
Latent ideologues…
Spoken by a true one, willie/meya/RD/whichever gutless nameless troll you happen to be.
Ultima Ratio = 1/0 = troll
It didn’t really have to do with governance except to say that it implored all attendees to first take stock of themselves and follow some of our better examples.
1. Listen to her.
2. Listen to Chris Coons.
3. See how that all shakes out.
Easy peasey.
“sabrina” is doing fine, thanks for your concern, it’ sincerely appreciated,
progg world is bizarre
More pedestrian, stupid and boring than bizarre I think newrouter. Certainly it hasn’t any of the inherent interestingly novel aspect of the actually bizarre.
– Wasn’t really just a thought experiment. That’s exactly what Ultima Stupid was doing as he typed that.
Proggs experiment with thinking?
That answers alot.
You mean she’s as aware as the rest of us that “National Media” = Copperhead mouthpiece? I knew she was smart.
“This is, of course, academic. Ms. O’Donnell has canceled all future appearances on national media.”
Rush advised O’Donnell to do just that today.
She’s running for state senator. Ignore the national media.
dr. deaf your evindence. progg thinking: don’t drink idiotic.
She could start with Greta, but right now, doing rallies, is the best measure; she’s been counted out a little too quickly
It can call itself anything it wants, Ultimate Ratio is not even memorable or witty, but its asshattery and mendoucheity bleeds through no matter what its name is.
UR is just your typical lather, rinse, repeat progressive lib. Not even a particularly bright one.
How many leftist tropes, memes, canards, and talking points do you plan on dragging out today?
Notice how the trolls are A) very agitated, and B) desperate to talk about anything related to Barcky, jobs, economy, health care, and just about anything substantive?
that you’re a soros shill. billionaires fite
So why are you worried, do they actually pay people for this trollery
I’ve never seen a high school gym that holds 30,561.
She’s running for U.S. Senator. “State senator” means “member of the upper house of the state legislature.”
Your point, of course, is that her electorate is confined to a single state, and that is true and a valid point. But it pains me to see mistakes like this.
UR, I’ve decided not only are you not very bright, you also have the mad arguing skillz of a stupid teenager who’s just discovered Boone’s Farm Strawberry wine.
[…] clarification of our political motivations — as I argued yesterday — is a good thing. While some establishment types continue to try to micromanage the means, […]
I do fear violence from public unions in the near future. It’s only a matter of time before they’re paid in government IOU’s, or vastly inflated money. I wish I still had some remote property go to when the system falls down.
I welcome violence from public unions in the near future.
By their fruits you shall know them.